2011 Anna Sui Beach Collection *Limited Edition*

I splurged. I am seldom able to resist when Anna Sui launches a new collection -- because I simply love vibrant colours and glitters! Anna Sui just launched a new limited edition collection, The Beach Collection. I love everything about this - from packaging to colours. The theme is Glittering Mermaid.

Double Eye Color, 0.8g, $39 each

Comes with double sponge applicators

Sponge picks up the eyeshadow which is inside the cap

The Double Eye Color eyeshadow is convenient to apply as the eyeshadow is in stick form with double sponge applicators. The eyeshadow is inside the cap so when you open the cap, the sponge will pick up the powder from the cap's interior.

Each stick has a frosty shade and a sparkly shade. The frosty shade is usually more intense while the latter more sheer. I am not an expert when it comes to textures, but I think the eyeshadow is a semi cream powder, so the colours apply really well, very pigmented and long lasting.

01 - brownish pink with red shimmer (sheer, sparkly), royal blue (intense, frosty)

02 - gold (quite sheer, sparkly), turquoise (intense, frosty)

03 - pale blue (quite sheer, sparkly), violet (intense, frosty)

05 - apple green (light but not as sheer, sparkly), yellowish gold (intense, frosty)

07 - silver (very sheer, sparkly), green (intense, frosty)

So far, I think my favourite is 01.

Eye Makeup Set 01, $58

The make set comes with a lovely tin box and consists of an eye glitter and a waterproof colour mascara.

Color Mascara Waterproof, 3.5ml

A vibrant violet, with matches well with pink, purple, blue, green and gold eyeshadow colours~

Glittering Eye Color 01 (Mascara-Eye Color), 3.5ml

This has clear base color with multi color glitters. The texture is a little like lipgloss, which takes sometime to dry after application. It can be applied to both the eyelids and eyelashes. It gives any eye makeup look a lovely glittery finish!

From left to right: glitter (alone), Double Eye Color 01 with glitter compared to without glitter

Pedicure Set 02, $78

The set comes in a cylindrical tin and consists of a set of toe separators, 2 nail polishes and a leg spray.

Leg Spray (leg lotion), 50ml

At first I really thought that this leg spray is totally a waste of money, but after I tried it, I love it! It has the Anna Sui signature rose scent and leaves my tired legs and feet relaxed. There is menthol in this leg spray, that is why it gives my legs a cooling sensation when applied.

Nail Color P, 5ml each

Left: 150, right: 950

Shade 150 is a frosty + shimmery turquoise whereas shade 950 is a translucent green glitter polish with big pieces of square gold glitters and small green ones.

I didn't swatch them on my nails as I could't get a clear picture of the colours on my nails.

For more details about this range, you can read it here!

*Limited Edition* Jill Stuart Jewel Crystal Eyes Amazonite Dazzle 102 & Sparkling Morganite 103

I picked up the 2 Jill Stuart limited edition eyeshadows from Gooddealer last week. This time, though the packaging is gorgeous, I was attracted to these palettes because of the colours, rather than the packaging.

Jill Stuart Jewel Crystal Eyes

Amazonite Dazzle 102

Without flash

With flash

From left to right: silver, moss green, dark moss green-blue, reddish brown

With flash

The colours of this palette are very untypical of Jill Stuart. I guess that is why I see more bloggers buying this than Sparkling Morganite? I bought this palette because I thought that the 3rd shade of the palette looks like dark turquoise from the photo on Gooddealer... Personally, the shade looks more like dark moss green with blue-ish hues, rather than dark blue with greenish hues… a little disappointed, I must say!

However, what is interesting about this palette is the last shade, the reddish brown. Instead of being extremely sparkly like the 1st 3 shades, this brown is more frosty than sparkly! I tried layering the brown over the green, but the brown is not dark enough to use as liner, so I probably will have to use it as a blending shade at the outer corner of eyes. I have to experiment further before I can tell how these 4 shades work best together.

Sparkling Morganite 103

Without flash

With flash

From left to right: champagne, light pink, purplish pink, dark grey/black

With flash

I had high hopes for this palette as I thought that the 2 middle shades are dusty pink and dusty purple. To my surprise, the 2 shades turn out pretty 'pink' instead of 'dusty'. Fortunately, when I tested the shades on my eyes, they give my eyes a really sweet and sparkly look! I really like how intense the dark grey/black is. It is very dark and very good as a shadow liner.

Just like all Jill Stuart eye palettes, it is recommended that eye primer is used prior to eye shadow application as the texture of the eyeshadow is, as usual, powdery, not silky.

In conclusion, I must admit I am disappointed. The products did not turn out as I expected, and they are not that unique after all. They look pretty on, all sparkly and glamorous, but just not what I wanted when I made the purchase.

NOTD: Blue Glitter Leopard Print Gel Nails

My new set of gel nails. Very different from my previous set of pink ones.

Dark blue glitter with light blue leopard print nail art.

What do you think?

Update on Ettusais Medicated Skincare Range & Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I am loving my currently skincare regime. It is cheaper than the previous SK-II range, and is working better!

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, 30ml, $90

I use this beauty essence right after Ettusais's Dual Effect White Shooter. It contains mainly Squalane, a botanical lipid similar in molecular structure to Natural skin lipids, Evening Primrose Oil, rich in Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Essential oils like Lavender, which provides a boost of moisture to depleted skin. It claims to 'instantly penetrate the skin surface to help replenish it. It works at night when skin is most receptive to repairing itself from daily aggressors'.

Hygienic drip bottle

Just like essential oil

Ingredients

I really love how the concentrate smells. The lavender scent is really soothing, not too 'organic', not too overwhelmingly sweet. I feel relaxed when I apply this. I apply this like how the SA taught me. I put 2 drops of the oil onto my fingers, warm them by rubbing my fingers together, then pat the essence over my whole face. Although this essence is just like an essential oil, it absorbs quickly into the skin, and does not leave my skin oily, sticky, or anything. I apply this only at night. The next morning, my skin looks and feels smoother. I do see the difference before and after I use this concentrate. Although this concentrate is a little overpriced in Singapore, I think it is quite worth it, as I only use this once a day at night, only 2 drops, so I see this lasting for more than 6 months probably!!

Ok, now let me update on the Ettusais Medicated Skincare range… For my original post of this range, please read it here.

Pore care wash, 125ml, $30

My 1st impression: This facial wash is very foamy and seems to cleanse really well. Skin feels smooth and pores seems smaller... or am I thinking too much? But skin definitely looks clearer. I like the smell of the cleanser. Smells herb-y... or maybe its the scent of medicated skincare…

Update: My 1st impression stays. Skin is clean and clear after using this foamy cleanser and I still like the herb scent! I think this cleanser will last pretty long because I only use a small amount each time. Great cleanser at a great price!

AC skincare version up extra, 85ml, $37

My 1st impression: The softener looks like emulsion, but feels quite watery on skin. Takes a while to be absorbed into skin, so requires a little massaging. No visible effect yet, but texture feels light and not sticky/ oily. Skin feels fresh after application. 1-1.5 pumps to be applied with hands.

Update: I have now gotten used to massaging this into the skin. I use 1 pump of this now. 1/5 bottle used after 3 weeks. This is going to last long. Skin is moisturised after use. I do not think this product work wonders on its own, but I do believe it is an essential step in the Ettusais regime, as the Dual Effect White Shooter might not be moisturising enough on its own.

White shooter dual effect, 170ml, $43

My 1st impression: This is a toner + moisturizer. This is applied after the softener Version up extra. Although texture is watery, it feels moisturising after application. It takes a while to be absorbed. Quite fresh on skin. SA told me that if I want to apply any essence I should apply it after this. For night time, I might want to apply an additional layer of moisturizer if I sleep in an air-conditioned room. So far so good but nothing extraordinary yet. I pump 3 pumps of this onto facial cotton and pat the product into skin. For better absorption, I follow with my usual mini facial massage.

Update: I enjoy patting this onto my skin with facial cotton as it is so convenient to use. A toner + moisturizer! Skin can feel a little sticky after use, so it is vital for me to apply the Medicated Acne Nighttime Defense to smoothen out the skin. However, the strange thing is, although this product feels a little sticky on skin, my skin feels less oily in the morning the next day. I am thinking that it is good in sebum control, that is why it is good for skin that is prone to acne!

In the morning, I apply the SK-II Cellumination Essence after this. At night, I apply Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.

Medicated acne nighttime defense powder, 8g, $40

My 1st impression: Easy to apply and removes any dewy/ oily feeling after moisturizer application. I don't like the smell of it though. There is a faint, weird smell as I apply it. I really can't describe it, but I just don't like it.

Update: Like I just mentioned, this step is VITAL in my current skincare range. It really removes any dewy and sticky feeling after moisturizer/ essence and controls oil on the face. Furthermore, it seals in all the goodness of the products I use before that and I think that is why my skin looks better than before now! I think even if I decide to change the regime when I finish all the products, I will still repurchase this powder. The 'faint, weird smell' no longer bothers me as I have gotten used to it.

In conclusion, this regime is the best one I am on so far, even better than the SK-II and Laneige one which I raved about earlier on. SK-II is really too expensive and Ettusais' oil and acne control seems better than Laneige. My colleague recently commented that I look fairer recently =)

Yes I know I am going to try something else again after this, even though Ettusais is working so well for me, but for one thing I am sure… I will definitely repurchase products from this range sometime again!

O.P.I Pirates of the Caribbean Collection + O.P.I Silver Shatter

O.P.I's latest collection: Pirates of the Caribbean is an AWESOME range ~

I would describe the colours from this range to be 'chalky', as I can really imagine using these colours on the chalk board ~

The formula is good and easy to apply. The colours look 'bumpy' on my nails, not because the formula is streaky or anything, but because my nails are artificial... still haven't removed my gel nails yet. The surface of my gel nails is not exactly even.

O.P.I Pirates of the Caribbean Collection + Silver Shatter

The colours are applied without top coat.

Sparrow Me the Drama, P15

2 coats

Sparrow Me the Drama is a muted purplish pink. I find myself drawn to this the more I look at it =) Any pink lovers would adore this!

Stranger Tides, P17

3 coats, I think 2 coats should do on natural nails.

This happens to be my favourite colour of the lot! Just a glance of it the colour is light grey. But when you look closely, it is actually a greenish grey! This is a really unique colour to me =)

Mermaid's Tears, P18

2 coats

Mermaid's Tears was the first colour that caught my attention. It is a pastel dusty green that looks surprisingly flattering on my nails. The SA told me this is one of the more popular shades in the collection. The colour looks slightly lighter and dustier in real life.

I didn't buy Planks a Lot (dusty medium purple), Skull and Bones (light grey) and Steady as a Rose (light pastel pink). I thought the colours are a little common. I took out some of my own older colours to play with the Silver Shatter.

Thumb: China Glaze Light as Air

Index: OPI Sparrow Me the Drama

Middle: OPI Stranger Tides

Ring: OPI Mermaid's Tears

Little: Nubar Citadel

OPI Silver Shatter

The OPI Silver Shatter is just as cool as the Black Shatter. Just like the Black Shatter, the Silver Shatter 'cracks' into silver pieces on nails after a thin layer is applied and dried. It works best with pastel/ chalky/ dusty shades to give nails a mysterious look (if that is possible...?) So fitting for the Pirates of the Caribbean range!!

With flash

Without flash

With top coat for a glossy finish. I personally prefer the look with top coat.

Nice work, OPI. I am in love with you again.