10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Her

 Hey gorgeous, welcome back to my blog! Christmas is just around the corner and if you're having difficulty finding the perfect gifts for your friends/girlfriends, fret not coz I may have the perfect gifts for you! 

1) Fresh Mini Loves Mask Set, $90

First thing on my list is one of my favourite and I find myself buying this (for myself) every year and that is the Mini Mask set from Fresh. If your friend happens to be a skin care guru, then this is the perfect set for her. So this set consists of their 5 best selling masks and my personal favourites are the Vitamin Nectar and the Umbrian Clay Purifying mask. And if they are new to Fresh's mask, with this set, they get to try all the mask and decide which one suit her most before going in for the big tub. Anyway the mini size mask usually can last me 3 to 6 months, depending on my usage. 

2) Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask trio, $30

This next one is also my holy grail skincare product and I absolutely cannot live without it. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is one of the most nourishing and moisturizing lip mask I've ever used. And it has the sweetest scent to it too. This lip mask trio is a Christmas edition so you won't be able to get this 3 scents any other time. Also, even though they come in very small tub, I promise this trio can last you for months because a little goes a very long way and you only need a teeny weeny bit amount each application. The packaging is also very colorful and festive which makes it a perfect gift for Christmas. 

3) The Body Shop Warm Vanilla Gift Set, $35

This next gift set is literally Christmas in a bag! The warm vanilla smells exactly like a vanilla ice cream cone from a cute ice cream shop and just imagine you eating it on white Christmas. The smell is so luxury and the shower gel is so creamy and moisturizing. The body yoghurt that comes in the set is very lightweight and absorbs effortlessly on the skin. The handcream is really moisturizing but not greasy. Really love this set and I think this is the best Christmas scent ever. 

4) Loccitane Floral Hand Cream Trio, $43

A hand cream set can never go wrong when it comes to Christmas gift. Every girl likes a nice, luxurious hand cream in their purse and Loccitane has one of the best formula when it comes to hand cream. The scent is long lasting and the moisture level is insane. This is definitely one good and practical gift for anyone and everyone. 

5) Tarte Give, Gift and Get Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Wardrobe, $86

Alright I'm not gonna lie, this is probably the Christmas set that I am most excited about this year, because 3 eyeshadow palettes for the price of one and a half, hell yeah! I used to own a Tartelette in Bloom palette years ago which I totally loved  but it expired and I had to throw it away (unwillingly). And I always wanted to get the Tartelette in toasted palette so imagine my excitement when I saw this trio on Sephora! And the limited edition Tartelette in Juicy palette really does seem nice and fun to play with. If the person you are gifting to loves playing with eyeshadows or just makeup in general, then this is the perfect gift for her because she gets a good cool tone,warm tone and rosy pink tone palette all in one set. What else can she ask for? I too bought this for myself and I'm waiting for it to arrive at my doorstep now. 

6) Laura Mercier Body Souffle Quartet Mini, $59.50

 Almost forgot about this Laura Mercier Body cream set but I am really intrigued by their packaging because don't you agree that they look very luxurious and definitely more expensive than it's price tag. The body creams come in four aromas: Amber Vanille, Almond Coconut, Fresh Fig and Creme Brulee and they are all up my alley. I mean one can tell from the names of the scents that these body creams are gonna smell incredibly creamy and sweet and that's Christmas for you. The more I'm thinking about it, the more I think I'm gonna add it to my cart. Now I'm wondering if I should be doing this post because I may end up buying more 🤐. 

7) Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Christmas Set, $151

Fragrances are also one of the easiest gift for your friends during this festive season and among all the fragrance sets that were launched this year, I personally like the Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Christmas set the most. While I was reading the description of this perfume, I was immediately sold by it. Creamy vanilla caramel and sensual amber scent just sound so amazing don't you think so. A playful, sweet floral fragrance with a hint of vanilla and amber is a perfect perfume for the girl who enjoys being in the limelight or who likes her perfume to stand out amongst others. 

8) Marc Jacobs Beauty Oui Mon Cherry Lip Oil And Favourites Set, $76

For the price of $76, you get a full sized lip oil, a travel sized highlighter, bronzer, mascara, and also a Marc Jacobs Clutch in this limited edition set. Why not?! I have heard really good reviews about the Marc Jacobs Omega bronzer which is included in this set and it really is the very reason that got me purchasing the set (also because the red bag looks pretty). I think this is definitely a value for money limited edition set and the items in it are really very practical for everyday use. Plus it comes in a really cute cherries printed packaging too! 

9) Fenty Beauty Glossy Posse Holo Daze Lip Gloss Set Mini, $55

This second last gift recommendation is also another no brainer because if you grab any girl out there, chances are she would have heard of the Fenty Lip Gloss too. In fact, the first makeup gift that I received from my husband was the OG Fenty Beauty lip gloss and I remembered he told me that he didn't spend too much time in Sephora at all because when he asked the sales assistant to recommend a gift for his wife, she told him to just get the lip gloss because every girl loves it which I did at that time. Every year, Fenty Beauty would come out with their Christmas limited edition lip gloss and this year is no exception and I really quite like the colours she chose for this year's collection. 

10) Laneige x Joseph & Stacey Limited Edition Lumi or Stacey Set, $110.50 

The last and final gift idea is a set that I really wanted it for myself but I haven't gotten the heart to cart it out yet because of the price tag. I know I definitely wouldn't mind to receive it as a Christmas gift because the packaging is so minimalist and chic. The bags that come with these sets look so pretty and easy to match with and I can already imagine myself bringing the bag on a daily basis. The eyeshadow palettes look like something you can wear to work or to school every day too. So if you are gifting to someone who is into K Beauty, definitely consider this pretty limited edition set from Laneige too. 

And that's all I have to recommend for your peferct Christmas gift. I hope you have something or an idea of what to get for your friends by now because Christmas is really just around the corner now! Please stay safe while shopping or Christmas gathering and will see you in my next post, xoxo. 

Ps disclaimer: all photos are taken from either Sephora website or Shopee. 

Catrice All Matt Plus V.S. Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation

 Hey gorgeous, welcome back to my blog!

In today's post, I will be doing yet another foundation comparison and this time I'm going in with the two popular foundations from Catrice! The first one is my holy grail drugstore foundation, the Catrice All Matt Plus Foundation and the second one is the one I am excited about because I've heard and read all the good reviews about it and today I'm finally gonna try it and that is the Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation! 

For the shades, unfortunately I didn't manage to get them in the same shade. I got a nude beige for the All Matt Plus which is my usual shade and a porcelain beige for the HD Liquid Coverage which is a tad light on me but I  guess I can still make it work. 

As usual, I will apply the foundation one on each side of the face so that I can compare them side by side. 

Catrice All Matt Plus Foundation

For the Catrice All Matt Plus Foundation, I am almost finishing the bottle so that says how much I am loving it. Also the shade in nude beige is a perfect match for my skin tone. I like that the consistency of this foundation is pretty creamy yet giving off a air brushed matte finish. 

So here I did my left side of the face with the All Matt Plus Foundation and I love how it applies smoothly on the skin. Only down side is that the coverage is not as high as I wanted it to be as you can see that one layer of the foundation is hardly enough to cover my dark circles. My skin tone was even out with the first layer on. 

Went in for a second layer here and immediately the coverage increased and the dark circle was hardly visible already. Definitely a very buildable coverage and even though I had already applied two layers, the foundation still felt really lightweight on the skin and was not tacky at all. 

Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation

The HD Liquid Coverage Foundation on t

he other hand is of a watery consistency and it comes with a weird artificial smell which I am not quite impressed about. And like I mentioned earlier, I didn't manage to get the foundation in my shade so it is a little fair for me but rest assured that this will not affect my opinion about the foundation itself. 

While I was trying to apply the foundation to the right side of my face, I noticed that this foundation dried up way too fast so you've got to be really quick if you want to blend the foundation out nice and even. It also applies better with a wet sponge in my opinion. Honestly at this point of time, just by comparing the first impressions of the foundations, I think I would prefer the All Matt Plus one. 

For coverage, I got to say the HD Liquid Coverage Foundation is so much better than the other one. As you can see from my photo above, just one layer of the HD foundation was suffice to cover my dark circles and I dare say the result was better than two layers of the All Matt Plus. So if you are looking for a high coverage foundation, I think I've gotten the perfect one for you. However do bear in mind that the HD one is really drying so if you have dry skin, definitely go for a very hydrating primer first. 

Alright full face makeup completed and I must say, the two foundations look exactly the same! They have the same matte finishing and I really like how both the foundations are able to make my skin look so poreless and flawless. I really like that these two foundations are so lightweight on the skin but yet reasonable coverage. They don't feel tacky at all too. Let's see how they look like after 8 hours! 

And there you have it! My makeup still looked pretty much the same after not 8 but 10 hours of wearing them. I did look slightly glowier than before but it's a really healthy looking glow that looks so good on me too. Apart from that, there was literally no changes to the makeup. 👍

Review

If I have to pick one between the two foundations, I think I will go for the All Matt Plus Foundation because I do prefer a creamy foundation to a watery foundation. Also, I like that the All Matt one is fragrance free whereas the HD Liquid one has got a strange scent to it. Most importantly, the All Matt one is not drying at all and it glides on my skin so smoothly but the HD Liquid one is really drying and it is very hard to apply with a dry sponge. Both have the same matte and air brushed finished and they literally last forever. If you are looking for a high coverage foundation, then I suggest you go for the HD Liquid Coverage Foundation but if you want a more natural, my skin but better foundation but still matte and lasting, then go for the All Matt Plus Foundation. 

And that's all I have for this post! It's so fun doing foundations comparison like this! Let me know if you find this post helpful and do comment down below if you have any foundations that you would like me to review too! See you in my next post, xoxo. 

2020 Empties

Hey gorgeous, welcome back to my blog!  It's been so long since I last updated this space because I've been so busy with my new work as well as being a new mom. If you're reading this now, thank you so much for not forgetting me. 🙏🙏

So anyway, let's dive right into today's topic: the products I've been using and finished in 2020. If you're interested to find out more, keep on reading.

1) Co Lab Dry Shampoo

Let's start with some hair products that I have finished using and the first one is this CoLab Dry Shampoo in Mermaid. 

If you haven't already tried this dry shampoo, please go to your nearest drugstore now and stock this up! Hands down the best dry shampoo I have ever used! I like that the smell is really refreshing and not heavy at all. It really does absorb all the oil on my scalp, leaving my hair looking fresh and clean. And most importantly, it does not leave any white residue on my hair after spraying, unlike the other drugstore dry shampoo brand, Batiste. So if you are looking for a good and cheap dry shampoo, look no further and give Colab a try now! 

2) Percy & Reed dry shampoo original

I got this Percy & Reed dry shampoo sometime last year from Sephora and I think I finished it within a month. First thing first, I really didn't like the spray as it is not strong enough. I have to spam a lot to get the same effect as the Colab one. The smell is alright but not my favorite scent. It also doesn't leave any residue which is unfortunately the one and only plus point for this dry shampoo. I definitely will not repurchase it again since it is more expensive than the Colab one and I prefer the latter one anyway. 

3) Assorted Hand Creams

I finished using a few hand creams this year and these are the three that I kept. Crabtree & Evelyn's hand creams are really one of the best in the market but unfortunately the brand moved out of Singapore so I shall not talk about it since it's really hard for us to get it now. I also finished a hand cream from The Faceshop in Apple Pop and I didn't really like it that much. The fragrance is really fruity and sweet which is totally up my alley but the cream itself is very lightweight and watery so I felt that it is not that moisturizing. Will I repurchase it? Probably not. The last hand cream is one from Miniso in the flavour Lemon. I remembered talking about it in my Miniso Haul post and to my pleasant surprise, I honestly did like it and I think I will repurchase it. The Miniso hand cream is really inexpensive ($3.90 for 2) and I think for this price point, the moisture level is really pretty impressive. I do have really dry hands so I prefer hand creams that I borderline oily and this Miniso one definitely feels that way. It also has a light citrusy scent which I personally like so hundred percent will repurchase it. 

4) Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

Well so the next product is a major disappointment for me. You know I have always been a huge fan of the Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes so when I saw that they have the water version, I knew I had to get my hands on it. BUT, it turns out to be one of the worst micellar water I've ever used. The most turn off thing about this Micellar water is that it has the most disgusting smell ever. It literally smells like saliva of a person with bad breath and I really don't understand why the smell. I mean it's not like I haven't tried any micellar water before and they usually don't come with any scent. The cleansing part is pretty decent but because of the smell, I know for sure that I will never ever touch this product again. Guys, just stick to their Micellar wipes you can thank me later. 

5) Etude House Monster Micellar Cleansing Water

This next product is a huge contrast to the Simple Micellar Cleansing Water because it has no scent to it at all and I am all for that. It works pretty well in removing my face makeup and certain eye makeup, other than waterproof mascara. It is very gentle on the skin and does not sting the eyes at all and I really do love the texture of this Micellar water too. I probably will repurchase this if I happened to pass by any Etude House Outlet when they are having sale just coz I usually don't wanna spend too much money on Korean beauty products if they are not on sale because they are already much more expensive in Singapore than anywhere else. 

6) Mamonde Rose Water Toner 

Next up, I also finished a bottle of Mamonde Rose Water Toner and I kinda don't know how I felt about it. It is quite moisturizing in my opinion and I definitely like the rose scent of the toner as well as the texture. It feels almost slippery on the skin and really smooth in my opinion. But apart from the moisturizing effect, I honestly didn't notice any other effects on me after using an entire bottle and I still have the Fresh Rose Toner with me so I don't think I will be repurchasing this for now. Overall I think this is a good toner if you like rose scent and is on a budget. 

7) Cotton Pads

This year, I was on a mission of finding a good cotton pad to replace my Daiso one so I've been using cotton pads from different brands. I think the closest dupe is the purple box one from Watsons. The texture and the overall design of the Watsons cotton pad is very much similar to the Daiso ones and in fact, I think the Watsons are a teeny little softer than the Daiso ones and I absolutely love the Watsons one now. As for the other one from Be Youtiful, which I believe is a local brand is slightly more expensive than the other two. The cotton pad is much thicker which I don't really think is necessary for me because I usually only need one to two layers for my skin care routine. I would say if you feel like indulging yourself with a more luxurious cotton pad, then go for the Be Youtiful one, otherwise I think the Daiso and Watson cotton pads are good enough and I will definitely repurchase them. 

8) Sephora Collection Matte Perfection Stick

In 2020, the one foundation that I've been using on a daily basis is this stick from Sephora in the shade 20 Cream and I love it to bits. It has a matte finishing yet it looks so natural and like second skin to me. I love that it is not drying and it is so easy to apply. It glides on the skin so smoothly and the coverage is definitely high. With this foundation, I do not have to apply concealer at all and it is able to cover all my blesmishes as well as dark circles. It also last a whole day on my face without caking up and I literally cannot see any differences after an entire day with make up on. Love this foundation and I have already repurchased it during the recent Sephora sale. 

9) Make up puff from Donki

I also finished a pack of makeup sponges that I bought from Donki and I don't think I will repurchase it. I still prefer my Daiso makeup sponges that I have been using for years now and they are cheaper and easier to get as compared to the Donki ones. In terms of usage, I think both of them are pretty similar so if you don't have a Donki store near your house, the Daiso one is pretty much the same and cheaper. 

10) L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray

Holly Molly, this setting spray is everything you need! I love this setting spray as it sets my makeup down nicely and my makeup literally last a whole day with this spray. The mist is really fine as well. In fact, I find that this L'Oreal setting spray is a dupe for the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and it is much cheaper. It makes me wonder how is it even possible that no one is raving about this setting spray?! If you love the Urban Decay one, then you really should try this Loreal one too because they are literally similar. Even the smell of this spray reminds me of the Urban Decay one. Definitely will repurchase it when I am done with my other setting sprays. 

11) L'Oreal Revitalift anti wrinkle+ firming eye cream

Unlike the previous L'Oreal product, this next one that I finished is not to my liking. I find that this L'Oreal eye cream does nothing to my eyes and I definitely did not see any improvement in the fine lines around my eye area. I ended up using this eye cream in the day time, before applying my makeup as it does sort of hydrates my under eyes and my makeup looks less cakey with it. However, I could have used any other eye creams for this purpose so I will not be repurchasing this ever again. 

12) Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye

This next product is my holy grail eye cream and I have been using it for years now. I like that whenever I use this eye cream, my eyes immediately look less fatigue. I also noticed that my fine lines are visibly lesser when I use this eye cream. Even though it does really help in reducing my eye circles, I do really like this product as it does improve the overall eye appearance and I definitely will keep repurchasing it. And by the way, I'm still looking for a good eye cream for the dark circles so do comment and let me know if you have any good recommendation!

13) Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Gel Moisturizer

Another holy grail skincare product of mine is this Origins Gel Moisturizer which I have recently finished. I like to use this in the daytime after I cleansed and toned my face. I like the citrusy scent which makes me feel more refreshed in the morning. The consistency of this moisturizer is gelish and borderline watery which I like because it is easier to absorb into the skin. It is very lightweight which is good for oily skin because you don't want your face to feel heavy even before applying makeup. It does hydrate the skin without making it look greasy. If you have oily skin like me, you might want to try this out. I am currently into my third tub of this moisturizer now and I know I will definitely repurchase it again and again. 

14) Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

This next product is not something new on my blog and I have also been using it for years now. I like that it is very moisturizing and yet not greasy. I hate the feeling of waking up to a super greasy face in the morning and this product does not attribute to that. The one and only thing I dislike about this moisturizer is that the pump sucks. You can tell from the picture above that I clearly still have some moisturizer left in the bottle but the pump didn't allow me to get them out no matter how hard I tried. So ya be prepared to waste a little of your moisturizer when you get this. Other than that, this is a decent moisturizer for oily skin. 

15) Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum

Next up, I finished a bottle of Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum. I like the scent of this serum and the texture of this serum is very different from other serums that I have used. It is thicker in its consistency yet easily absorbed. The most significant effect on me is that I noticed my face always look brighter after applying this serum. The price point of this serum is pretty good as well. I believe it's slightly lesser than $50 for this 15ml. A little goes a long way for this serum so even though it only has 15ml of product, it lasted me almost 6 months. But would I repurchase it? Not at the moment because I have any other serums that I prefer and I think I can live without it.  

16) Elizabeth Arden Around the World with 8 Hour Lip Protectant

I believe this lip Protectant from Elizabeth Arden was in one of my monthly favourite post and I still stand by it. It is probably one of the most moisturizing and hydrating lip product I have ever used and it really helps to soothe my chapped lips and protect it from getting dry. Hundred percent will repurchase it and highly recommending it to those of you who have got very dry lips too. 

17) Etude House Curl Fix Mascara

Lost counts the number of tubes I have gone through for this mascara. If you have stubborn lashes that refuse to curl up like mine, this is the mascara for you. I like that this mascara doesn't clump my lashes together and yet still give a reasonable volumising effect. My lashes look very natural and beautiful the entire day. It is very waterproof so no worries of becoming a panda on a rainy day. However, because it is very waterproof, it is really difficult to remove as well. I always use a mascara remover first before going for the makeup remover so it is not an issue for me.  Definitely will repurchase it again. 

18) Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil (mini) 

Got this brow pencil for my post on the full face makeup with mini products and it got me hooked. I like that the pencil is really thin so that you can draw feather-like strokes. My eyebrows look really neat and tidy with this brow pencil and I finally understand the hype about it when Benefit first launched this product. And can I say that they totally nail the name of the product because it really is Precisely My Brow hahaha. Have already repurchased it during the recent Sephora sale as well and this time, I got myself the regular size one. 😉

19) ZA brow liner

And the final empties of this post goes to Za Brow Liner! Love this brow pencil and I think it is the best drugstore brow pencil ever. I have already gone through so many of it and I think at this rate, this brow pencil will appear in all of my empties post. If you haven't already tried this Za Brow liner before, I don't know what're you waiting for?! 

And that's all of my empties in 2020! I hope you've enjoyed reading this post and I'm really grateful for every single one of you who have been reading and following my blog since day one. Thank you for being there and it really means a lot to me to know that people are actually reading my post. I will definitely try to do more posts regularly so do let me know what are the content you would like to see. That's all for today and I'll see you soon, xoxo.