Make Up Shopping Spree

So I feel like in the last few months I have gotten really content with living in Singapore and therefore have not been doing anything too exciting with my time here. There really has not been much to warrant a blog post on other than my trips with the girls...until now!

If you don't know I have recently gotten addicted to watching youtube videos...and in particular the ones the "makeup gurus" have on their makeup storage/collections. It really inspired me to clean and organize my makeup. So I did like 2 weeks ago and I realized other than face makeup and mascara...the makeup I brought with me 2 years ago is basically all the makeup I own...which is a little bit gross right? How long does makeup even last?

So I've been kind of on a makeup shopping spree that culminated in a BIG spree today after work!

The first things I bought was some new MAC blush and new lipgloss because I ran out. Not too exciting...although I love the Mac pro longwear lipglass in Full Speed Ahead. It is just such a bright fun color. I also got the MUCH raved about Urban Decay Naked palette since pretty much all my eyeshadows are like 4 years old, which is probably not good. And I honestly love this palette...I have used it every day since I got it!

Then after reading A TON of reviews on all the asian brands of makeup I got really curious about all the brands I have seen around Singapore. I have noticed all these brands I am about to show you but the main thing stopping me from buying these things was the fact that I can't read most of the packaging! But one of the brands I have noticed every time at the drug store is this brand that is SUPER cute called Majolica Majorca is actually a branch of Shisheido which really made me trust it...and the packaging is just SO cute! So some of this stuff I bought over the weekend but mostly P and I went on a major shopping spree today after a HARD day of work! We didn't spend too much...I don't think...but it was really one of the best days in Singapore I have had in a LONG time.

From left to right: Skin79 BB cream, Etude House panda lip balm, Holika holika Star Lights hightlighter, Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek in Apricot Macaroon, Etude House Aloha Eye Color Art Pen, Fairy Drops Mascara (and a cute free aloha makeup pouch I got)

So first off I think I need to tell you about BB Cream. Its this like Korean skin stuff that is all the rage that even American brands like Maybeline have created BB Creams for Asia. I guess the best way to describe it that BB creams are made to be like multi purpose products...for instance the one I bought, Skin79 Super Plus BB Creme, is anti aging, sun protection, brightening and provides great coverage. It makes my skin look almost flawless. I love it!

Next the Holika Holika Star Lights highlighter is a total dupe for benefits moon beam only cheaper and the packaging is super cute. Holika holika is a really cute store...everything is like witch and black cat themed! Asian cosmetics packaging is ridiculously cute. I seriously wanted to buy the whole store!

I totally only bought the panda lip balm from Etude House because of the packaging...I also bought the eyeliner because it is this awesome dark purple shade and literally does not budge! And the Majolica Majorca blush is basically the cutest thing I have ever seen. Its supposed to look like a macaroon. I adore it! Last is the original Fairy Drops mascara which I have heard so many great things about. They have even repackaged this mascara to sell at Sephora for more money!

From Left to Right: Etude House Anti-Shine Mist, The Face Shop Snow Tree Sleep Mask, The Face Shop Mango Body Lotion, The Face Shop Mango Body Wash, The Face Shop Herb Cleanser Wipes (and a free face mask from Etude House)

So I so think this Anti-Shine Mist at Etude House sounds potentially awesome and really wanted to try it out...I thought it would be great to keep at my desk for a refresher after lunch. The shops we went to all had these like masks you put on before you go to bed and wash off in the morning. I really wanted to try a whitening one because I have gotten ALOT of freckles since living here and I heard that whitening stuff really just makes your skin tone more even. Then the lotion and body wash were just on sale...so I bought them because it was a set and I needed new body wash. And the makeup wipes look a lot like the Mac makeup wipes packaging...so I am really excited to try them!

I am kind of sad that it took me SO long to discover all these asian brands that have like have cult followings back home. But at least I still have time to try out some more! After this spree I am going on a shopping ban for 1 month until P and I go to Bangkok for crazy intense shopping. Until next time, xxoo from Singapore!

Myanmar

So 2 weeks ago I went to Yangon, Myanmar with P and J. Let me start of by saying we spent WAY too long in Yangon and hence my mixed review on Myanmar. I think my expectations were just too high, because I have heard SUCH great reviews from people who have liked it more than Cambodia (which is probably my favorite place in Southeast Asia that I have been to). Well Yangon did not really live up to my hopes but I still had a great time.  But I've heard the other cities like Mandalay and Bagan are beautiful, so I definitely want to go back and experience these places.

We spent 3.5 days in Yangon and stayed at the AMAZING Strand Hotel. If you go to Myanmar you must stay here. It's a lot like Raffles Hotel in Singapore...a colonial building that is very grand in the inside. The service is excellent...although we had a few issues that I guess come with staying in a historical building like the toilet not working one morning and the lights going out. My pictures of the hotel do not do it justice..so here is one I found online:

this is the restaurant that became our home..i kind of miss it!

The best part of The Strand was the cafe! We ended up eating here for almost every meal...as sad as it sounds. The food was out of this world especially the breakfast was included. They had the most amazing almond crusted french toast...I am still dreaming about it! We sat at the same table every time we went down  and it really became like home.

So if you are planning to go to Yangon...let me tell you you only need max 2 days! There are not that many like attractions i guess you can say....and its really kind of small town. The Shwedagon Paviliion was pretty much the only thing I wanted to see in Yangon and it was really awesome.

The only thing is that the structure is just SO gold that it almost looked fake if that makes any sense. The top of this structure is supposed to be covered in jewels that have been donated from around the country...I used my camera's zoom to look and I really didn't see any sort of jewels. All in all, I have never seen anything like this...but I also kind of felt like I was at like an epcot-esque theme park.

Aside from this there is also a giant budha that is laying down. That's pretty much all I can say about it:

We did see a cultural show that was in this traditional looking barge. It was a ridiculously LONG show...which we were not able to sit through. We did see some cool costumes and attempted to eat Burmese food.

this elephant costume thing was really colorful and shiny

The last kind of touristy thing we did was go to this temple that was built in the middle of a river...again it was really GOLD:

If you are thinking you could see/do all these things in one day...well you totally can! There is a national museum, but it just so happened to be closed the entire time we were there. I so regret not going to another area in Myanmar. I also really regret not shopping around at the markets. I don't know why the markets didn't really interest us when we were there BUT when we were at the airport I saw SOO many cute knick knacks that I would have liked to buy. But knowing that airport prices are way more expensive than that outside I knew it wasn't worth it.

So that is basically our entire trip...we don't have another trip planned until October so I am just going to enjoy Singapore until then. XXOO lovelies!

Things that Caught My Eye - August

August went by so quickly...work was beyond stressful and just way too busy and there was not much time to do anything else! But here is a quick look at some things that caught my eye this past month!

1. Curlformers...I know they look crazy BUT I totally want to try this no heat way of curling hair. I showed you all the video of the headband trick to curl hair which is great, but never manages to really curl my hair in the back as much as the front. I think look so easy to use and kind of fun!

2. BB Texture Creme- I became totally obsessed with this stuff after watching the video below. I got P to bring it back for me from the states and I love it! It really defines the curls I get from using the headband trick and it gives my usually straight flat hair volume and texture like nothing else I have ever used. I am seriously in love with this stuff! 

3. Coastal Scents Makeup Palettes- Lately I have been a LITTLE bit addicted to youtube videos...and my a little I mean kind of a lot! I just never knew the wealth of information/how-to's that are out there. I've seen so many reviews on things that I have never heard of like the Coastal Scents Makeup Palettes! Most reviews I have seen on these have been pretty great and there are just SO many fun colors and they are really affordable. I can't wait to go home  and buy some of the palettes for myself.

4. Celine Luggage Tote- I am in LOVE with this bag. It has such a great shape and would be perfect for work! Its such a sophisticated grown up bag, and at 24 I think it is definitely time for a bag like this. This is the exact one I like....

5. Goa- P, J  and I have been planning (well talking about planning) a big trip to INDIA for next January. We are definitely going to do the Golden Triangle but I am dying to go to Goa as well. I've heard such great things about it...India is going to be such a great trip!

6. Hunger Games trailer- I was introduced to The Hunger Games trilogy last year when my good friend told me to read the books and I immediately became obsessed and forced my other friends to read them! I desperately wanted these books to become movies because some of the stuff described in the book (like the costumes they wear riding into the ring that are lit on fire) I really just wanted to see. A few months ago my wish came true and they announced that the first movie will come out March 2012. Well they just released a short trailer...and I am SO excited! I seriously cannot wait!

Check back soon for an update on my trip with P and J to MYANMAR (bet you can't point to myanmar on a map...don't worry I couldn't either until about a month ago). Until next time, xxoo!