Project 10 Pan

Hello there, I am so excited to announce that I am going to do Project 10 Pan! While this is not an original idea- many other bloggers and Youtubers have embarked on such a journey before, this is my first Project 10 Pan. It is code named P10P- it reminds me of those code names given to secret agent missions.

Basically, the whole idea of P10P is that you must use up 10 things of what you already have before you buy anything else and it applies to all beauty products. I have seen some bloggers and Youtubers do variations of P10P and some of the more dedicated ones have gone far and beyond to tackle P50P and even P100P! I question my dedication and my low threshold for temptation that I have decided that P10P will be a good start.

I will chronicle my P10P journey and maybe start a monthly empties video and blog post if I go through products fast enough. I am not sure if fate is encouraging me to do this because I am nearly done with my current cleanser! With any luck, washing my face tonight will spell the last of my current cleanser. Do not think that I will simply waste the product just to finish it faster. Pfftttt. I will squeeze the life out of the tube just to get every last bit and use it up. It explains why my tubes always end up looking mangled towards the end. You will see them in my upcoming product empties video which was filmed on Wednesday. I will upload it really soon but those product empties will not be counted for this P10P. My P10P journey will start today: 19 October 2012 and only products used up on 19 October 2012 and onwards will be counted.

Anyhow, here are my variations to my P10P:

- While I will TRY MY BEST not to buy any beauty related products FOR MYSELF before completing P10P (let's be realistic here), if it is an essential product that I do not have a backup/ another of (i.e. shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste), I can buy it.

- If I buy any non-essential beauty product before completing P10P, I will add the number of products I buy to the number of items I have to finish. For example, if I buy a blush while on P10P, P10P will become P11P.

- If it is sent to me for review or gifted to me, it does not count.

My disclaimer is that if you see any haul videos/blog posts/pictures while I am still on P10P, they are most likely my purchases before P10P started. I will be honest if I bought more while on P10P or if they are my purchases before P10P. *pinky promise* And let's face it, this P10P is more for myself than for anyone else anyway. It will make me go through my makeup collection and hopefully, I will focus on what I have and not what I do not have!

I am getting pumped for P10P!

Have you gone on P10P before? If not, are you thinking of doing P10P?

Cheers
annsleyw :)

Update: This has inspired me to finish up whatever products I have opened but stopped using. P10P may be going faster than I thought!

Review: Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick 65 Grenade

Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick: 65 Grenade

Hello Gorgeous! *wolf whistles* Is this not the prettiest lipstick you have ever set your eyes on? For me, Guerlain has become my latest brand-crush. Guerlain has amazing products with amazing packaging but the Rouge Gs are top on my list with the exception of the ever elusive Cruel Gardenia that I want so badly. :(

The jewel lipstick compact has a luxurious look and it does have a good weight to it which adds to the luxe effect. The practicality of the compact to open and reveal 2 mirrors is a good idea since it is troublesome to find a mirror to re-apply lipstick when you are out. However, the hefty weight of the lipstick does not make it ideal for having many of these in your bag. Also, it is very susceptible to finger prints and because I like my things to look as pristine as possible, trying to handle the compact without getting my fingerprints on it is not easy. I end up having to use a cloth to wipe off my fingerprints everytime I use it. Yes, I am weird like that.

Anyhow, here is a description of the Rouge G lipsticks on Guerlain's website:

A jewel lipstick compact with a white gold shimmer designed by Lorenz Bäumer, the young and talented jeweller in Place Vendôme. A horizontal design with feminine curves that houses a secret: a mirror automatically appears when the compact is opened. The lipstick has a pure elegant, contemporary design, and closes magnetically. This exceptional object boasts a comprehensive, premium formula containing a star ingredient: ruby powder, which acts as an optical whitener to bring out the colour and shine of the shades. The blend of natural active ingredients (Tiger Grass, wild mango butter, Gugul resin, used in Ayurvedic medicine) complete the formula to plump up, smooth and bring moisture and softness to your lips.

So with the description out of the way, here is what I think of the Rouge Gs. IT IS AMAZING! It has my vote for best lipstick of the 2012. I applied the lipstick when I got home from the mall which was around 6pm. I wanted to test the colour on my lips, the texture and how long the lipstick would last on my lips. It applied like a dream. It glided onto my lips very easily and it felt moisturizing.

Grenade is a pretty raspberry red with a sheen that eliminates the need for a gloss on top.The lipstick was pigmented and the colour payoff was good. One swipe along the lips will give you an opaque colour.

Dinner time was around 7pm. After eating my dinner and drinking my favourite green tea, the sheen wore off but the colour on my lips was about 75% the strength of how it looked like when it was freshly applied. Throughout the night, I was talking and drinking more green tea. I took a photo around 9-10pm that night and posted it on Instagram saying how impressed I was with the lasting powers of the lipstick. Here's the photo:

Pardon the use of filter in this photo and the photo is not a true reflection of the actual colour. I did not apply makeup sans the lipstick so I was not keen on scaring people on Instagram. Besides, the whole point of the photo was to show the lasting power of the lipstick and not my makeup (or lack thereof).

At 12 midnight, the colour was still there. I was getting sleepy and for me, the knowledge that it would last me for about 6 hours was good enough for me. Though the lipstick did not dry my lips out, the moisturizing feeling I got when I first applied the lipstick did not last 6 hours. Do note that I was not expecting the lipstick to be a lip balm so I was not bothered about the lipstick not moisturizing my lips for 6 hours. It is just extra information to make the review more complete. I removed the lipstick and went to bed a happy girl.

In Australia, Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks retails for $70 AUD while it retails for $48 USD in America. The price tag attached to the Rouge Gs is on the high side but depending on the lipstick that you choose, for example; Grenade which comes with a sheen, you will have no need for gloss over the lipstick. The dual purpose of Rouge G in Grenade makes the price tag seem less intimidating.

Verdict:
Packaging: 7/10 (because it is rather heavy and susceptible to finger prints)
Price: 6/10 (definitely a splurge item)
Texture: 9.5/10 (moisturizing and glides on easily- I am only reserving that 0.5 mark because there is always room for improvement no matter how good something or someone is)
Colour: 8/10 (very pretty colour but not a must-have unique colour exclusive to Guerlain Rouge G in 65 Grenade)
Lasting power: 9/10 (sheen will not last but the colour will last for about 6 hours or more even with eating, drinking and talking)

Do you own any Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks? If yes, which ones do you have? If not, are you looking to try some in the future?

Cheers
annsleyw :)

August/September 2012 Favourites (Hits & Misses) & Halloween Ramble

Hello there! I finally edited and uploaded my August/September 2012 Favourites (Hits & Misses) video. Here is the link to the video if you have not checked it out.

In the video, I sported my potential Halloween makeup look for this year. I have been dressing up as a french maid for the past 2 years. In 2010, I was french maid in a black and white french maid outfit. In 2011, I was a french maid in a black and pink outfit. I was getting tired of constantly revamping my tired french maid outfit and looks. I was watching a Youtube video from Jordan Liberty of givegoodface. It was his tutorial on the Leopard eyes look which inspired me to try the Leopard eyes look using different colours. So now I am thinking of going as a Leopard for Halloween this year. Say "MEOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...."

Do let me know if you are celebrating Halloween this year and what you will be going as. I have more blog entries and Youtube videos coming up so stay tuned!

Cheers
annsleyw :)

PS: Products mentioned in the video are:

Olive Manon Olive Oil (Cosmetic Grade Olive Oil)
Garnier Daily All in One Miracle Skin Perfector (Medium)
Garnier Daily All in One Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin (Light)
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (53 Light Beige)
Rimmel Max Bold Curves Mascara
Becca Eye Tint (Gilt)
Maybelline Baby Lips (Anti-oxidant Berry)
Fresh Sugar Treatment Therapy (Rose)
Essie Mint Candy Apple
Essie Luxeffects Set in Stones
China Glaze Midnight Mission
Hollywood False Eye Lashes

Disclaimer: All products were purchased by me or in the case of the cosmetic grade olive oil; given to me by my grandmother. All opinions are my own and this is not a sponsored review.

NOTD: China Glaze Re-fresh Mint & OPI Black Shatter

NOTD: China Glaze Re-fresh Mint & OPI Black Shatter

Hi everyone, how are you? I  hope everyone is doing well! I know it has been awhile since I last uploaded a video or did a blog post. I've filmed the footage for at least 6 or 7 videos now. Just need to get to editing videos. Editing is not something I am good at YET so it takes forever to edit a video.

Anyway, I thought it would be a lot easier to do short blog post entries to spice things up a little instead of going cold turkey with all the Youtube videos and blogging.  For those who watch my videos or read my blog, you would know by now that I have been (and still am) obsessed with my Essie Mint Candy Apple nail polish! That nail polish is so good that Mint Green is now my favourite colour for the moment. I am obsessed with anything Mint Green now that when I saw China Glaze Re-fresh Mint, I got excited and had to pick it up.

China Glaze Re-fresh Mint is slightly more mint green than Essie Mint Candy Apple. Essie Mint Candy Apple has more blue tones to it. The colour is fantastic- I got compliments from cashiers, sales ladies and friends. :) It applies nicely and is opaque in two coats. The brush applicator is decent but nothing to write home about.

BUT the lasting power is not as good as Essie Mint Candy Apple. I used China Glaze Re-fresh Mint with Essie Protein Base Coat and Wet n Wild Fast Dry (same as what I used together with Essie Mint Candy Apple) but it chipped within a week. The Essie Protein Base Coat, Essie Mint Candy Apple and Wet n Wild Fast Dry can last for 3 weeks without chipping at the nail tips. Having said that, Essie Mint Candy Apple is like a superwoman nail polish so I don't blame China Glaze Re-fresh Mint for not lasting as long.

I was lazy and didn't feel like redoing my nails after my nail polish started to chip so... here's my tip! Go over your manicure with shatter nail polishes. I used OPI Black Shatter and it covered up my chipped areas perfectly. It looked as if I just got my manicure done (though my base manicure was one week old already). The effect is pretty and striking. The look reminds me of speckled easter eggs.

I have also uploaded this photo on my Instagram because I got introduced to Instagram yesterday and I am obssessed with it now. My instagram username is annsleyw if you are interested in following me.

Hope you enjoy this short blog post! Please stay tuned for my upcoming Youtube videos and blog entries! In the meantime, take care and have an amazing day!

Cheers
annsleyw :)

Singapore! The first of many parts to come...

Hi everyone, I hope you all are doing well.  I haven't been updating my blog as much as uploading videos on Youtube so I am here to rectify that.  For those who don't know, I was in Singapore for about 3 weeks for a holiday.  I tried filming while I was in Singapore but to be honest, I was not very successfully because it was so hard to film without having people in the background, background noises and having people asking me what I am doing halfway through filming.  Having said that, I did manage to film ONE video without having those problems.  Since Singapore is Summer all year round, I decided to film a Summer tutorial.  A neutral look is pretty much what I would wear when I am going out so there you go.  It was a no-brainer as to what tutorial I was going to do.  To watch my Summer Tutorial- Neutral Look video, click on the video below!

And synonymously linked to travelling, it is very popular for Youtubers to do a "What's in my makeup travel bag/case?" video. I tried to film it in Singapore but alas, the footage was not fit to be used.  I ended up filming the video after I got back to Australia. It was not hard since I literally filmed it the morning after I got back to Australia (I got back at night). To watch what I brought with me to Singapore, click on the video below!

While I was in Singapore, I did a lot of damage (financially).  I tried to curb my financial damage by not hitting the malls, but ALAS!  The internet is the gateway to more stores than the malls.  I ended up buying things ONLINE and OFFLINE. -_-''' It was easy to get carried away with the holidaying spirit and go "Oh, I am on holiday. I'll just get this and it will be the end of shopping once I get back". OHHH NOOOOO, trust me, that is not how it works in real life. Retailers have a way with getting under my skin and my shopping itch will resurface.  I have a shopping problem!!! To see what I got, check out my Sephora haul video below. Sadly, that is not the only haul video. My Singapore haul will be divided into 4 parts and there will be 4 haul videos. I am sure you must thinking, WHAT??? FOUR? OH MY GOODNESS, how much have you bought??!  Well, you'd just have to watch it for yourself! 

And since, it was the end of July, I had to film my Favourites video.  It is one of my favourite types of beauty videos!  I did not film my June Favourites video so I thought I would combine June and July's favourites into one video.

I still have not figured out how to customize my own thumbnail for Youtube videos so please excuse my less than glamourous thumbnails.  Hmmm.... I am thinking of creating a slideshow video of my travels in Singapore.  I am very happy with the photos that I took and despite being the concrete jungle that it is, Singapore has some truly wonderful sights.  What do you think?  Would you like to see it? 

I am also thinking of reviewing some products as fodder for my upcoming videos.  However, there are haul videos waiting for me to edit, and I actually managed to haul somemore since I got back.  :/ Seriously, I am just waiting for my beauty shopping addiction to end.  The amount of makeup I have will last me forever.  And I am thinking about buying the Revlon Whipped Foundation... Talk about irony!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the videos and please stay tuned for more of my upcoming Youtube videos and blog posts!  In the meantime, take care and have an amazing day!

Cheers
annsleyw :)

Shrub Cocktails Unique to Lumia- Rosehip Cream Fizz

Okay. So this is a blog entry where I am supposed to write on my favourite Shrub Cocktail unique to Lumia at the Crown Hotel in Melbourne despite not having tried any of the Shrub Cocktails. This will be a test for my imagination to see which imaginary taste will be my favourite!

So what is a Shrub Cocktail? From the website it says that:

Devised in the late 18th Century, Shrub was a technique to preserve summer berries and fruits for consumption all year round. By adding sugar and vinegar, the fruits were reduced down to a dense liquid known as Shrub. The process not only ensured the fruits' preservation, but compounded the sweet and sour flavours, producing phenomenal taste. Now, in the 21st Century, Lumia has taken Shrub and mixed it with modern spirits to produce cocktails that are, well, a little bit glamourous.

Sounds like a mix of the old and new, and it definitely sounds yummy! Lumia has 10 Shrub Cocktails on its Cocktail selection and they are priced at AUD$19.50 each. The flavours are:

Apple Daisy
Russian Standard Vodka, shaken with cloudy apple juice, lemon juice, dandelion and apple shrub and floated in dry cider.

Coconut Husk Punch
Appleton Golden Rum shaken with coconut syrup, ginger shrub, lime and pineapple juice and finished with a couple of dashes of bitters.

White Chocolate Martini
Russian Standard Vodka shaken with pistachio shrub, white cacao and lemon juice, then topped with bitters and ginger beer.

Banana Sherbet Smack
Russian Standard Vodka shaken with banana Demerara shrub, lemon juice, lemon curd and banana skin sherbet.

Cherry Martini
Plymouth Gin shaken with juniper and cherry shrub, sweet vermouth and topped with Angostura Bitters.

Rosehip Cream Fizz
Plymouth Gin shaken with pink grapefruit juice, rose shrub, milk, cream, lemon and lime juice, and then filled with grapefruit soda.

Watermelon Sherbet Martini
Russian Standard Vodka shaken with watermelon oleo saccharum, pomegranate, lime sugar, fresh watermelon finished with a watermelon wedge.

White Peach Martini
Russian Standard Vodka shaken with Lemon Oleo Saccharum, vanilla and peach syrup, topped off with peach liqueur and cream.

Strawberry Shiraz Cobbler
Makers Mark shaken with orange chunks, red wine ‘burnt orange and pink peppercorn shrub’ and strawberry liqueur.

Green Pear Reviver
José Cuervo Gold Tequila shaken with Lemon Oleo Saccharum, orange, lemon and pear chunks, topped with fennel sugar syrup, served tall with a cinnamon sugar rim.

All of them sounds delicious but after reading the list, I knew what would be my favourite: Rosehip Cream Fizz! I love Rose anything- macarons, desserts, wines and liquers etc. Sence has one of my favourite wines and liquers of all time! So this is a no brainer that I would choose Rosehip Cream Fizz. I also have a soft spot for pink grapefruit juice and grapefruit soda. While I am not a fan of the actual grapefruit, I love grapefruit products. Grapefruit juice and soda just have the extra pizzazz about it, that little bit more complexity of citrus acidity than the usual orange or lemon. Plymouth gin gives it the slight sweetness with a hit of alcohol goodness. The juniper and lemony notes from the Plymouth Gin harmonizes with the citrus flavour in this cocktail. I can just imagine this to be a bit floral yet fruity, milky cream and yet refreshing from the bubbles in the soda and the acidity from the pink grapefruit juice. All washed down with a hit of smooth concentrated Plymouth Gin. I also like to think that it will take on a pink pastel colour-- pink from the rose and pastel from the milk and cream. Ahhhh... Can't wait to try it already!

Which is your favourite? Have you tried it? What do you think? Let me know! :)

Sasa Haul/Mini Review: Philosophy, Shu Uemura, My Beauty Diary & Lancome

Hello everyone, I hope everyone is doing well. Sasa has been on a roll with all the promotions i.e. sales, discounts, free shipping etc., hence this haul. For those who does not know about Sasa, Sasa is a cosmetics retailer based in Hong Kong. Sasa has stores all over Asia such as China, Hongkong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore etc. Sasa also offers shipping worldwide and the shipping rates are quite reasonable. The link to Sasa's online store is : www.sasa.com

To see my Sasa haul video, go to the video below:

So the above video was pre-filmed quite some time ago and so I have had a chance to use some of the products for awhile. Some I have used before and they are repurchases.

Products mentioned in the Sasa haul video are:

1. Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser (90ml) USD$8.40

Philosophy products are very renowned and I have heard so many good reviews of Philosophy products that I could not resist trying the Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser. At 90ml, it is a decent size and it is not too big that if I do not like it (I hope I will), it will not be too much of a waste. Also, at USD$8.40, it is pretty reasonable. I have not tried this product yet but I will post a review of it once I have used it enough to form an informed opinion of this product.

2. Philosophy Hope in a Jar Oil-Free Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin (15ml) USD$13.60

Same goes for this product!

3. Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O Advanced Formula (150ml) USD$31.30->$26.60

Okay, so I have used Shu Uemura's Cleansing Beauty Oils before. I have tried the Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil (Blue/Purple) and the Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil (Pink) and I liked both a lot. However, when I was hauling from Sasa, the promotion was for the Premium A/O Advanced Formula Cleansing Beauty Oil (Green). A/O stands for Anti-Oxidant and this cleansing oil is targeted at aging concerns but hey, it says that it will leave the user with a more youthful appearance. One can never start anti-aging measures too early right?

I have used this for awhile and I must say that I prefer the Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil (Blue/Purple) and the Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil (Pink) better. Not because that the Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil and the Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil suit my skin concerns better, but because of the scent.

Somehow this cleansing oil reminds me of olive oil. It smells like it too. The other two have a nicer scent. Out of the 3, I prefer the Whitefficient one better. It removes my makeup really well and leaves my skin feeling clean. Also, it does help brighten my complexion. This Premium A/O Advanced Formula Cleansing Beauty Oil does remove my makeup really well but it does have a slightly oily feel after I wash it off. Perhaps it is meant to be more moisturizing for aging skin. (Shrugs) Who knows?

4. My Beauty Diary Sake Yeast Mask (10 piece) USD$12.70->$10.20

I am a huge fan of My Beauty Diary's facial masks and Sake Yeast is one that I have not tried out yet. I am very excited to try it!

5. My Beauty Diary NATURAL KEY LINE Black Pearl Mask (10 piece) USD$12.70->$10.20

This is a repurchase. I have used the Black Pearl Mask for several years now and I have gone through a few boxes of this mask already! After using the mask, it makes my skin feel really soft and supple. It also seems to leave a radiant and luminating effect on my skin. TWO THUMBS UP!

6. Lancome Genefique Youth Activator (30ml) USD$73.10->$54.80

This is also a repurchase. It makes my skin feel so soft, supple and my skin can literally go "boi-ing boi-ing" when I touch it. It improved the elasticity of my skin and makes my skin feel like new skin. I should also mention that my grandmother and my mother are great fans of this product too!

7. Sasa Cotton Puff (20 sheets) (1 box)

This is the free sample that came with the purchase. Not very exciting- I would rather have a sample of a product to try but it is handy to have cotton puffs around.


Products that I have used in this video are:

Face:
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector in Medium
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
Silky Girl Brow Pencil in Soft Black
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette
Models Prefer Glitz and Glamour (Highlighter)
MAC Eyeshadow in Coppering
MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe
MAC Eyeshadow in Shroom
Lancome Virtouse Precious Cells Mascara (Voluptuous Black)
Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner (Black)
Silky Girl Pencil Eyeliner (Brown)
Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss (Classic)

Nails:
Essie Protein Base Coat
Essie Mint Candy Apple
Wet n Wild Fast Dry

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this video are purchased by me with my own money and this is not a sponsored video.

Please stay tuned for more of my upcoming Youtube videos and blog posts! In the meantime, take care and have an amazing day! :)