Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition Contents, Unboxing, Review: Ships WW

Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition Contents, Unboxing, Review: Ships WW

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Beauty Expert's latest edit is their best ever! ONE product in here is far more than the worth of the entire collection, and has me gobsmacked. Everything about each of these brands screams LUXURY, and everything is ideal for this season.
For those who came in late, Beauty Expert ships worldwide - they have seasonal curations of cult must-have beauty products in "collections", in a nice wash bag. Everything is full-sized, and the collections are worth far more than their price-tags, and sell out within seconds, if not minutes, of launching. I have my previous Beauty Expert collections all unboxed here.
The latest is the Gold Edition. Gold obviously stands for luxury, and the moment I heard the name of the edit, I knew we would only see high-end products in here.
This is what Beauty Expert says about this collection:

Discover the power of Gold in this luxurious edit of Gold-infused and Gold-inspired beauty products. We’ve handpicked six premium beauty products that will make you feel instantly more glamorous and glowing with radiance. This capsule collection includes skincare, body care and hair care products, so you can add a touch of Gold to every element of your beauty routine.
With six best-selling beauty products housed in a premium cosmetics bag, the Beauty Expert Collection: The Gold Edition is the perfect way to add a little luxury to your everyday. We’ve also included a special extra addition to help you create a Cleopatra-inspired eye look.

Now, there are six full-sized products in here, and a little extra mini. A total worth of more than £300, and a price-tag of just £99.
The Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition is available worldwide NOW right here!

Scroll down for the contents of the Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition.

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Beauty Products Used Up in October 2017

Beauty Products Used Up in October 2017

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, October 31, 2017

I've had a nightmarish last few days - while already nursing a foot injury, I woke one fine morning to an acute allergic reaction to the point of severe anaphylaxis. Apart from bad urticaria and joint inflammation, I couldn't move my neck/head at all, and landed in the ER. They pumped me with 'roids and antihistamines, and the former have broken me out, but as my doctors said, it was a question of priorities. I'll have to navigate my skin through bad acne all over again (long-term readers will remember I battled it for the major part of 2016, and am currently undergoing scar revision). Boo!
And, we don't even know exactly what caused the anaphylaxis - they'll do an allergy test after three weeks of no meds and no hives. They suspected a peanut allergy, but it turns out it wasn't one after all. Good. I adore chilli-and-lime peanuts.
Enough whining. Let me show you the beauty products I used up in October 2017, and what I thought about each one.

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Beauty Products Used Up in September 2017

Beauty Products Used Up in September 2017

The Ordinary Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, October 02, 2017

I was going to do an Empties' video; unfortunately, my studio is still undergoing acoustic treatment. The good news is that there are results and the echo is definitely reduced, but the bad news is that all the acoustic foam and the panels are ruining my walls, although they haven't affected the lighting. So this one is a blog post.
Pity, that - I actually managed to use up quite a bit of makeup this month! I'm very proud of that; I now have a self-imposed scheme. For every 10 makeup products (the same applies to skincare) that I empty, I can buy ONE product. I hope this scheme will help curtail buying in 2018, and help me finish up more.

Scroll down for the beauty products I used up in September 2017, and my quick impressions of each.

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Beauty Empties For August 2017

Beauty Empties For August 2017

Vitamin C Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 29, 2017

I only managed to use up a handful of products in August 2017. It has been a distracting month all around. I hope September is more stable.
Among my empties for August 2017 is one of the best facial oils ever, and the best rosehip oil I've tried (out of three different brands). Not much by way of makeup in here, save for the one mini-sized item. You'll see it all below.

Scroll down for the beauty products I used up in August 2017, and my mini-reviews in each.

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LookFantastic Beauty Box January 2017 Review, Unboxing

LookFantastic Beauty Box January 2017 Review, Unboxing

Vintage Cosmetic Company Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, January 19, 2017

The first LookFantastic Beauty Box of the year is here. It is themed the Beauty Revolution Edition, meant to overhaul our routine and help make new beauty discoveries. You would expect this box to be skincare-centric, but three of the products are actually makeup this time!
I love the positive design of the box itself. Lots of hope for the new year. The box comes with the January edition of the Elle UK magazine, and the regular beauty-box magazine, which is now glossy and contains breakfast recipe ideas and lifestyle articles, apart from more on beauty products.

Scroll down for the contents of the LookFantastic Beauty Box January 2017.

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Makeup Look With 2016 Favourites

Makeup Look With 2016 Favourites

Palette Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, December 05, 2016

It has been a while since I did an FOTD post; I have been taking photos of several makeup looks, though I haven't got around to sharing them. This one features some of my favourite makeup products discovered in 2016.
My favourite makeup discovery is Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer. I bought it on Norah Salazar's recommendation, as a concealer. However, in this look, I ended up "taking out" too much product, and have had to use it all over, as a foundation.

Scroll down to view my FOTD with Kevyn Aucoin SSE, Lancome Auda[City] in London, and By Terry Terrybly Velvet Rouge.

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Baking Makeup Technique: What, How To, and FOTD

Baking Makeup Technique: What, How To, and FOTD

Zelens Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Just when I thought I had the hang of strobing and highlighting, the trend changes to "baking". What next, the stir-fried makeup look? Or the parboiled one?
So what is the baking makeup trend? No, you don't stick your head in the oven. There are different ways of "baking" or cooking your makeup out there, but the majority of the beautysphere, particularly on Reddit, follows these steps:
1. After makeup, you apply a tonne of powder. Some recommend baby powder, but you can also use any old pressed or loose powder, or setting powder in your own shade.
2. Then, you proceed to dunk your face in a basin of water. Some do this by liberally spraying on a face-mist, but I find that leaves most of the powder on the face and actually combines with the powder "to create a sort of blancmange".
3. Post-dunk, pat your face dry - gently, please.
Fans of the trend claim your makeup will be set, matte and long-lasting. Let's see what happened when I "baked" my mug.

Scroll down for the lowdown on the baking makeup trend, and for a "baked" FOTD using the Lorac Pro 3 Palette and more. 

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FOTD: Wycon Olive Green Eyeshadow, Korean Cosmetics

FOTD: Wycon Olive Green Eyeshadow, Korean Cosmetics

Wycon Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, August 15, 2016

A few days ago, I received a fun Korean beauty box, which I will show you later this week. I have been playing with the contents of the box ever since. This is a makeup look I did with some of the products, supplementing whatever the box lacked with other cosmetics from my own stash.

Scroll down for a full-face makeup look using olive green eyeshadow, Etude House BB Cream and other Korean cosmetics.

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Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review, Results

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review, Results

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, January 27, 2016

When a woman with sparse eyelashes marries a similarly sparsely-eye-lashed man, their offspring - me - ends up with fuzz, in place of proper eyelashes. I have more hair on my palms and soles than I do on my eyelids. Yes, that actually means none. And I have no idea how to use a curler (something I intend to rectify this year). Not that I have lashes long enough to fit into one.
Back in August, Duty Free had a 3-for-2 offer on Benefit. I stocked up on PoreFessional primer and looked a bit lost, so the SA talked me into adding Benefit Roller Lash Mascara to my stash despite my attempts to stick to mini-sized mascaras. Them full-sized tubes just lead to colossal wastage. 

Scroll down for the review and before and after photos of Benefit Roller Lash Mascara.

Ipsy Glam Bag December 2014 review, unboxing

Ipsy Glam Bag December 2014 review, unboxing

Tarte Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, January 02, 2015

My December 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag turned up a day after December was over, which is more than can be said of some beauty subscriptions. Possibly because of all the Holiday mail. I like the black and pink bag sent out this month; it will come in handy for packing a toothbrush, toothpaste and other toiletries that do not fit into my makeup bag while travelling.
The product card informs me that I am a "brave soul". While I wish I could have participated in a bayonet charge or cavalry charge in the 19th century, I'm sure that anyone who has seen my behaviour within a few metres of a lizard will disagree wholeheartedly with the product card's sentiment. There are three full-sized products in this bag.

Check out the contents of my December 2014 Ipsy bag below:

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara review, photos

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara review, photos

Urban Decay Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, October 09, 2014

I know that mascaras work differently on different people. In my case, most mascaras do make a difference to my non-existent eyelashes, but very few give me extraordinary, "wow" results, combining length, separation, volume and curl. So far, only Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara, reviewed here, had made the fuzz on my eyelids look like well-defined eyelashes, giving length, volume, separation and a bit of curl without using a primer or torture device curler.
But I have a habit of looking for backups. What if they discontinued the product suddenly, or availability stopped for some reason? I tried a dozen mascaras from drugstore to high-end, but nothing gave me the oomph that Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes did. Nonetheless, I have persisted. And, the latest to come under the scanner is Urban Decay Perversion, which created quite a bit of hype when it launched a few months ago. I haven't tried any of the other products from the Perversion range so I did not have many expectations.

Read on for my review of Urban Decay Perversion mascara.

Le Volume de Chanel mascara review

Le Volume de Chanel mascara review

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, June 09, 2014

I could probably be considered for the role of Grima Wormtongue from the Lord of the Rings, as that character and I share a lack of eyelashes, although I have more decent eyebrows. I envy all you ladies with long, luscious eyelashes. I was born with fuzz and grew up with fuzz. I will, in all likelihood, kick the bucket when the time comes, with fuzz, unless I lose even my fuzzy lashes someday - I have been reading about ladies who lost eyelashes during pregnancy. Eeeeeeek!
Having discovered Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes - which remains my all-time favourite mascara - last year, I have not really wanted to spend a lot of money on another high-end mascara which may or may not work, so I have been trying out quite a few trial-sized tubes. I was delighted with the Chanel SA gave me a sample tube of Le Volume de Chanel mascara when I picked up a couple of lipsticks from her counter.

Here is the review of Chanel's Le Volume de Chanel mascara.

Teeez Trendy Mascara Midnight Sky review, swatch

Teeez Trendy Mascara Midnight Sky review, swatch

Teeez Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Today is a very special day - my beloved "Gramps" and Gran celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary! It means all the more because last year, he was diagnosed with malignancy. So I am having a blast celebrating with them.
Teeez Trendy Cosmetics is one new brand I discovered and fell in love with in 2014. Although the year is not over, I doubt I will be this wowed by another brand-discovery. Teeez first came in my Lip Factory beauty box, with an eyeshadow and an eyeliner. This was followed by a mascara and a lipstick, and I decided to order more. But I will show off those lipsticks shamelessly later.
Teeez is Dutch-based, paraben-free, cruelty-free and animal derivative-free and packed in jawdroppingly beautiful cases and external boxes.

Here is my review  of the Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Desert Metals Mascara in Midnight Sky.

WondeRuci Mascara Remover review, usage and results

WondeRuci Mascara Remover review, usage and results

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, March 31, 2014

When I signed up for Memebox - that was when they were shipping worldwide and answering emails promptly, treating customers from all countries alike - I had $10 in referral and sign-up vouchers and decided to treat myself to some makeup, apart from ordering Memebox Global Edition 4, which is unboxed and reviewed here. I saw the WondeRuci Real Mascara Remover for $14 on their website and ordered it.
The WondeRuci Real Mascara Remover promised to get rid of even waterproof and/or fibre mascara in a jiffy, without tugging or rubbing, and I jumped at it because getting all my mascara off is the least-favourite part in my cleansing routine, even with NUXE Micellar Water and Lancome Bifacil, both of which always get in my eyes. I know, I am clumsy.

Here is my review of the WondeRuci Real Mascara Remover.

Lip Factory February 2014 unboxing, review, contents: International Beauty Box

Lip Factory February 2014 unboxing, review, contents: International Beauty Box

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, March 02, 2014

The February 2014 Lip Factory Box is the best they have sent out so far. I know I say this each month. For sheer consistency, value for money, customer care and range, this is my favourite beauty box.
Lip Factory is a US-based makeup-centric beauty box that ships worldwide. You get full-sized makeup products and maybe a sample or two and the value always exceeds the $22 that the box costs ($32 if you're outside the US). They bring in some amazing brands and, every four months, there is an all-lips box. To subscribe, hit their website here. Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (can be redeemed for products or boxes).

Here is the unboxing and review of my Valentine's Day Edition Lip Factory Box for February 2014.

Too Faced Lash Injection Tubing Mascara review, photos, comparison

Too Faced Lash Injection Tubing Mascara review, photos, comparison

Too Faced Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, February 16, 2014

If your lashes are incredibly sparse, thin and short like mine, you know that most mascaras will not even make them visible. My lashes are so invisible that, even with lashings of mascara, they look like other people's lashes do without mascara. I finally discovered a Holy Grail in Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara reviewed here in April 2013.
But because companies tend to stop production of HG products, I continue to search for decent back-up mascaras. I haven't tried fibre-lashes or magnetic mascaras yet, hoping that there are excellent normal formulations out there. I got to try my first tubing mascara, the Too Faced Lash Injection Extreme Volume Tubing Mascara, which came with A Few Of My Favourite Things eyeshadow palette.

Here is my review of the Too Faced Lash Injection Extreme Volume Tubing Mascara and before and after photos. 

My basic makeup products for daytime wear

My basic makeup products for daytime wear

Primer Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, February 04, 2014

I'm leaving out the skin care; this is makeup alone - else we'll be here all day.
The photograph includes tools and multiple palettes and eyeliners for options, but I only use seven or eight makeup products in my everyday routine:

• Face primer
• Powder foundation
• Sutble eyeshadow
• Eye primer-cum-concealer
• Eyeliner
• Mascara 
• Lipstick

I may tack on a blush and brow gel if I can spare the time. I do go in for a more detailed routine, including highlighter, lip liner and so on, for special occasions.

Here are the makeup products I use in my daytime routine.

Clarins Travel Bright White face palette review, swatches, photos

Clarins Travel Bright White face palette review, swatches, photos

Travel Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Usually, I am not really fond of travel/all-makeup palettes, preferring eyeshadow palettes, and individual products such as mascara, concealer and face powder. But I do own two travel palettes - one from Clarins and the other from Lancome. I thought I would dig them out now, as I am leaving for Doha in two weeks' time and am about to pack for the trip.
This is the Clarins Travel Bright White Face Palette. I love the packaging. Inside the red external box is this cute, chic white rectangular "clutch".

EOTD: Smoky eye makeup with Sleek Candy Collection palette

EOTD: Smoky eye makeup with Sleek Candy Collection palette

Smoky eye Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, November 29, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's an EOTD with some sweet shadows for this day. The Sleek iDivine Candy Collection palette (swatched and reviewed here) contains some very versatile eyeshadows that will have you hopping out of your comfort zone and trying on some unlikely combinations that actually work! I shook my head over quite a few of these candylicious shades but soon realised that the Sleek Makeup people knew what they were doing when they chose the 12 shades.

Here is a smoky eye makeup look I've done with the Candy Collection palette. The eyeshadows I used are:

EOTD: Green-eyed monstrosity with Golden Rose Cosmetics

EOTD: Green-eyed monstrosity with Golden Rose Cosmetics

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Saturday, October 19, 2013

I used to dislike coloured eyeshadows but ever since I began blogging, I've loved the blues, greens and maroons. You can achieve a subtle enough look with any colour, once you step outside the neutral/brown comfort zone. Green is a colour that will pair well with most eye colours and skin tones. I figured I would go for a bright teal-green look, with Halloween around the corner. Here's a look from the Golden Rose eyeshadow duo I received in my last beauty box swap with a pair of Greek bloggers (see here) - doused in Beauty So Clean overnight and sun-bathed till the palette even developed its own tan.