MOVED TO BEAUTYCABBY.COM

Hi all,

Thanks for hanging on with me during this migration.

I have moved to Wordpress and my site name is still the same however you may need to update your bookmars / rss feeds / subscriptions. But I don't believe there's a need to. Unless you're new to this site.

Please visit my blog at : http://beautycabby.com

lots of luv,
lyn.

Yes, We Are Still Here

* a balancing act... photo taken at Chinese acrobatic show in Beijing *

Just a quick update that the Wordpress move is taking a bit longer than expected due to the domain transfer procedure. I plan to resume to my regular post schedule by early next week because I actually miss blogging!

Hope that by then I'll be seeing y'all with a new blog layout :-)

Thanks for hanging on and wishing everyone a bee-yoo-tee-fooooool life!

lotsa luv,

lyn.

A Little Movement and Housekeeping

I'll be moving over to Wordpress and won't be posting during this transition period.

There should not be any changes to the links or rss feeds. *fingers crossed*

The blog will be back up and running with a brand new look very soon!

~lyn~

Nail Polish on the Brain ~ Butter London Victoriana

I have heard so many raves about Butter London Nail Lacquers that I just had to get a few to see what the fuss was all about. One of the colours I picked up was Victoriana.

Victoriana is a teal-blue with a good dose of dense silver shimmers throughout. It looks almost textured but it dries down without any gritty feeling. I don't own many blue polishes and to me, Victoriana is a pretty unique colour.

* crikey, sausage fingers! *

When I first got the nail polish and swatched (very quickly), I didn't think it was anything special and couldn't really see why everyone was raving about Butter London. But over the weekend, I decided to whip it out and gave myself a proper manicure, and boy, oh boy, did the formula impress me. It is very smooth and the polish just glides so easily over my nails. It really does apply like buttah (corny, I know)!

The rectangular outer cap can be removed to reveal a shorter, round inner cap with a printed little crowned birdie on it. Cute, yes? One thing that took a bit getting used to was the longer, thinner brush, which feels similar to Zoya's except that it is thinner and slightly floppier. However I can appreciate that it gets to the corners a bit better than wider brushes.

So yes, I think I'm a Butter London fan now! Victoriana has really good pigment and was completely opaque with just two coats. It has a nice, smooth consistency which I didn't find to be too thick unlike a number of polishes I have tried in the past. It started showing some minimal tip wear after 2 to 3 days but it is hardly noticeable.

Butter London can be purchased from zuneta.com (UK site) or kissandmakeupny.com (US site). It regularly retails at £12 each so depending on your currency exchange, it may be slightly cheaper to get the polishes from the US site for US$15 each.

A Beauty to Behold ~ Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites

When I first saw pictures of Guerlain's Cruel Gardenia floating about last year October, the artistry and design of the powder really captured my attention (and heart). I had missed out on getting Laura Mercier's Rose Rendezvous and based on a number of reviews I've read, it is supposed to be a little similar to Cruel Gardenia. I enlisted the service of my high-end makeup Secret Agent to get me one as soon as or even before it hits the counters.

It is such a delight to view Cruel Gardenia in person. The raised 3D floral design emerging from the pan is absolutely beautiful. I'm not terribly familiar with plant species so I can't say for sure if the flower is a gardenia but honestly, who cares when it's so pretty.

An Overview of Topshop Kohl Eyeliner Pencils

One of my favourite high-street guilty pleasures is Topshop Makeup. I first discovered them early last year and at that time, they only had the makeup line available at the KLCC Topshop store. They have recently expanded to carry their makeup range in more Topshop stores.

Some time mid of last year, I picked up four of the Topshop Kohl Eyeliners in the colours Bolt, Saddle, Juniper and Slate. They were having a promotion at that time, which was why I purchased four different shades at one go.

The Topshop Kohl Eyeliner has excellent application. The pencil glides on easily without tugging and the pigment applies very smoothly. I usually apply pencil eyeliners on my top lash line and create a little flick at the end. These pencils perform really well without issues.

The staying-power is also pretty good. It lasts a full working day on me with slight fading towards the end of the day. Just bear in mind that I normally have my makeup on for more than 12 hours and anything that stays is quite good in my books. It does smudge a little as my lids are oily but it definitely lasts longer when used with an eye primer.

Pros:

• Smooth application.

• Pigmented.

• Long lasting.

• Good variety of colour selections.

• Very affordable.

Cons:

• May not be available widely across Malaysia.

Topshop Kohl Eyeliners are sold at most Topshop stores in Klang Valley. Each pencil costs RM23. The makeup range is available at KLCC, Pavilion, One Utama and Sunway Pyramid stores. The sales assistant mentioned a few more outlets but I cannot recall them.

Have you tried any Topshop Makeup before and do you like them? Do share and let me know what else is worth checking out :-)

NEW! Have You Tried the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Yet?

By this time, I'm sure many of you would have heard of or seen the brand spankin' new Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter around town. I thought they would be arriving to our shores in March but it looks like the release date has been pushed forward and we lucky folks can now get our grubby little hands on these babies.

There are eight yummy shades brought in locally; 020 Brown Sugar, 025 Peach Parfait, 030 Fig Jam, 070 Cherry Tart, 075 Lollipop, 080 Strawberry Shortcake, 085 Sugar Plum and 096 Macaroon. I tested them all at Watsons and fell in love with four of them. The other four were nudey pinks and browns that I don't tend to wear well.

Reaching Beyond the Realm of Spring with Blush Horizon de Chanel

Spring releases are my biggest weakness. With all the enchanting, water-colour inspired shades arising in the form of makeup, I find it difficult to resist their prettiness. One of the most anticipated pieces this season is the Blush Horizon de Chanel, and it is the star product of the Harmonie de Printemps 2012 collection.

"The luminous hues of sunset are now captured in one elegant highlighting face powder. Subtle gradations of rose, coral and peach can be applied on their own or blended together, to highlight and sculpt the face or achieve an overall warmth and radiance." ~ Chanel's description

* photo taken with flash to illuminate the golden shimmer *

The Blush Horizon consists of assorted strips in luminous pinks, peaches to berries and plums. The top half of the blush has a sheer and shimmery white strip, which is meant to highlight and impart a soft glow. The lower part is peachier with a mix of berries and is the more pigmented half of the blush. Ultrafine golden shimmer is strewn across the blush and I believe it goes all the way down through the pan. It comes with an angled brush in its own velvet cover but I didn't find the brush usable as it is rather small.

Dove Lathering Oil Makeup Remover

I came across a few new Dove products at a local drugstore recently and picked up the Lathering Oil Makeup Remover. I think this product has been released for a few months and is available in most drugstores (pharmacies) nationwide.

The Dove Lathering Oil Makeup Remover is not an oil cleanser in the traditional sense but dispenses as a fluffy foam instead. Dove recommends 3 pumps and the foam can be applied onto wet or dry skin. The foam feels soft, spreads easily and is not oily. The bright yellow bottle is quite a cheerful addition in my bathroom too.

I find that it takes off face makeup quite well but heavier or waterproof eye makeup may require a separate remover first. I have read this product can sting eyes but haven't experienced it because I try to keep my eyes tightly shut when cleaning my face. It doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped and uncomfortable. I still follow a double cleanse routine because I use the Dove cleanser more as a makeup remover and prefer my skin to be thoroughly cleaned before applying the rest of my skincare for the evening.

Overall, the Dove Lathering Oil Makeup Remover is a relatively good and affordable makeup remover. It is not particularly effective at removing eye makeup but if you generally wear light makeup and sunscreen, the Dove remover may be enough for you. This product can be found at most drugstores for RM32.90.


Ingredient List:
Water, PEG-8, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pottasium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, BG Laurate, Lauryl Glucoside, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylparaben, Perfume, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethanol, BHT, Sodium Carbonate, Magnesium Nitrate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Tocopherol, Magnesium Chloride

WINNER ANNOUNCED! BeautyCabby Blog Birthday Giveaway

CONGRATULATIONS TO

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(drumroll, please)

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toh e. @electronicfly

You are the lucky winner of my first Blog Birthday Giveaway and you will be receiving some really cute, pink goodies :-) Congratulations!!! I will write to you soon so please check your mailbox and keep your eyes peeled for my email.

To everyone else who participated, thank you taking time to enter the contest and do stick around as I will definitely be organising more giveaways in the future. Thanks for all the Twitter follows, retweets, blog comments and rss subscriptions as I sincerely appreciate them.

Lots of Love,

~ lyn ~

CLOSED! BeautyCabby Blog Birthday Bash Giveaway

The Blog Birthday Giveaway is now CLOSED and the winner of the PINK LOOT will be announced on Sunday, 5th February at 1PM (GMT +8). I will write to the lucky person requesting for further details and a mailing address. I would appreciate if the winner can respond in 48 hours otherwise, it will roll to the next random person.

Thanks to all who participated and making this a success! I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to subscribe to my blog and going through the entries. There will be more fabulous giveaways in the future as I had so much fun organising this one. So do keep a lookout for exciting events to come :-)

Lots of Love,

~ lyn ~

Affordable and Effective Lipliners by SilkyGirl

Don't you just love it when you find a drugstore cheapie that actually works? I was honestly so chuffed when I came across these Silkygirl Long-Wearing Lipliners in Guardian. I don't really know much about the brand except that it is local and has a pretty good selection of very affordable cosmetics.

The Silkygirl lip pencil is an automatic liner and doesn't require sharpening (just my kind of thing). It comes in a simple plastic twist-up casing and is coloured to reflect the lipliner shade. The texture of these lipliners is waxy and slightly creamy.

I believe they offer five different shades and the ones I picked were in Nude and Rose. There are times when you want a more polished lip look and this is when lipliners really help to outline your lips and prevent lipsticks or glosses from feathering. Lip pencils can also help extend the wear of your lip products.

I sometimes wear lipliners on its own by filling out my entire upper and lower lip with the pencil and then adding a touch of lipgloss. It is quite a versatile product and is very pocketable since pencils are usually slim and can fit into almost anything.

Silkygirl cosmetics can be found in most local pharmacies (drugstores) nationwide and the Long-Wearing Lipliner retails at less than RM15 each. These lipliners are made in Germany.


PS:
My blog birthday giveaway is ending at 1PM today so do make sure you add your entries to the raffle to win yourself some fabulous goodies!

In a Buff Disposition with theBalm Nude 'Tude Eyeshadow Palette

theBalm Nude 'Tude palette was released in November 2011 and carries a fabulous range of neutral shades with a good mix of highlighters and middle to dark tones. I guess it is inevitable that most cosmetic companies will start naming their neutral palettes with words like "nude" or "naked" since the Urban Decay version has been such a big hit.

The Nude 'Tude palettes come in Naughty or Nice variations. Both contain the same eyeshadows but the Naughty version (pictured in this post) features a bunch of naked women with their hoo-hoos and ya-yas covered up by eyeshadow pans. I know some people will cringe at the images but I think it's quite fun!

There are twelve lovely shades in one palette and it comes with a dual-ended brush, which I find to be pretty rubbish. The angled side is probably more usable and you can use it as a liner or brow brush. It is a very well-rounded palette with shades to suit most skin tones and you can use them to create natural to smoky looks.

Sassy - Pearly white frost.

Stubborn - Light peachy-pink frost.

Snobby - Light golden shimmer.

Stand-offish - Peachy-bronze champagne frost.

Selfish - Shimmery taupe.

Sophisticated - Dark brown with slight shimmer.

Sultry - Satin warm medium-brown.

Schitzo - Shimmery copper-bronze.

Sexy - Matte burgundy with a hint of brown.

Serious - Matte medium-black.

Silly - Slightly red-brown with fine gold glitter.

Sleek - Matte brown-black.

The overall texture of these eyeshadows are of very high quality. They are satiny smooth and buttery but not too soft that it will create much fall-out. The eyeshadows are also pigmented and yet very blendable, if you'd like to sheer out the colours.

I really, really like this palette! Really! I would definitely recommend Nude 'Tude to all you neutral lovers. You can find theBalm Nude 'Tude palette at Sasa stores for RM115. Each palette consists of twelve lovely, mixable shades and is quite value for money. I got mine at RM97 because Sasa was having some year-end discounts at the time of purchase.

more of theBalm products previously reviewed:
• theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer a.k.a. The Luminizer
• Eye Combo from theBalm Shady Lady vol. 2
• theBalm Hot Mama! Shadow / Blush
• theBalm Cabana Boy Shadow / Blush
• theBalm Down Boy Shadow / Blush
• theBalm Frat Boy Shadow / Blush

PS:
There are still a couple more days to participate in my blog birthday giveaway, so make sure you don't miss out!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation ~ Original vs Serum

I have been meaning to write a quickie comparison review between Bourjois' Healthy Mix foundations in the Original and Serum formulas and finally got around to it. They are both in shade #51 Vanille Clair, which I think is the lightest available.

Packaging:
Original - Plastic, bottle is a little shorter and wider, has pump mechanism, solid brown cap that clicks in place.
Serum - Plastic that looks like glass, bottle is taller and slimmer, has pump mechanism, solid red cap that clicks in place.

* the foundation shades are the same but appear different in swatches due to lighting *

Texture:
Original - Liquid and not too thick.
Serum - Liquid but a bit more "gel-feeling" and fluid, not too thick.

* the foundation shades are the same but appear different in swatches due to lighting *

Consistency:
Original - Lightweight, smooth, spreads easily and applies evenly.
Serum - Lightweight, smooth, spreads easily and applies evenly.

Coverage:
Original - Light to medium, not cakey, slightly dewy finish and skin looks more glowy.
Serum - Light to medium, not cakey, more powdery finish and semi-matte.

Oil-Control:
Original - Skin gets oily within 4 hours and requires blotting, holds up well throughout the day and doesn't get patchy.
Serum - Better oil control but still requires blotting after 5 to 6 hours, holds up well throughout the day and doesn't get patchy.

Scent:
Original - Smells like fresh berry juice.
Serum - Smells like fresh berry juice and a tad bit fruitier.

I have been using both foundations without issues and they do not cause me to break out. In terms of texture and consistency, they are pretty much even. However there is a slight difference in the finish and oil-control properties.

I used to prefer the Original version because of the finish as it seems to look better on me in certain lighting but my skin does get oilier quicker. It is difficult to pick a favourite between the two now because they are equally good foundations.

So in summary, I like them both. And very much so! The Healthy Mix foundations help even out my skin tone, cover most redness and make my skin look brighter and better. They are still not Holy Grail material but they do come pretty close.

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundations are not available in Malaysia and the nearest place you can get Bourjois is in Singapore. I purchased the Original in Australia and the Serum version in Hong Kong but sadly, cannot recall the pricing on them as I have had both for a while now.


Ingredients (Original Version):

Aqua (water), Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol Denat, Parfum, Panthenol, Alcohol, Aluminum hydroxide, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Pyrus malus (Apple) fruit extract, Cucumis melo (Melon) fruit extract, Zingiber officinale (Ginger) root extract, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) fruit extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, [+/- May contain: Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 77891]

Ingredients (Serum Version):
Aqua (water), Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol Denat, Parfum (fragrance), Panthenol, Aluminium Hydroxide, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Silica, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Pantolactone, Punica Granatum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid [+/- May contain: CI 77007 (ultramarines), CI 77019 (mica), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI77891 (titanium dioxide)] 10BMT001-1]

Nails of the Day ~ Zoya Jana Nail Polish

I went a little crazy recently and ordered a bunch of Zoya polishes. One of the colours I picked out was Jana from the Fall 2011 Smoke and Mirrors Collection. Jana falls in the "Smoke" part of the collection and is a dusty, greyish-purple coloured cream. It is a little difficult to capture the actual colour on camera and in my photographs, Jana looks a bit more grey-ish beige (griege) but in some lighting, in does show more purple.

It has a wonderful glossy finish on its own and I did not need to add a topcoat (as photographed). The polish applies smoothly with decent drying time. It is completely opaque with two coats. I absolutely love the Zoya formula and consistency. Their polishes are so lovely to use! I started experiencing slight tip wear after two days but that's because I didn't use a topcoat.

Zoya nail polish retails at RM33 on Nail Fiesta but stocks are limited. I have no clue where else they sell Zoya locally and even if a nail salon uses the brand, the polishes may not be for sale.

What have you been wearing on your nails lately and have you tried Zoya before?

Multi-Task Brush from Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman

I am sure most of you would have heard of the Pixiwoo sisters, one of the most successful beauty gurus on YouTube. Samantha Chapman who is the older sister, has launched a line of synthetic brushes called Real Techniques some time last year. I have been contemplating on ordering them for a while but to my surprise, Shins (the store) now have the brushes available locally.

The Multi-Task Brush is from the Travel Essentials set and it includes two other brushes, a narrow Foundation Brush and a Domed Shadow Brush. I have given away the foundation brush to my youngest sister and kept the remaining two brushes, which I quite like and have been using frequently.

My favourite brush from this set is the Multi-Task Brush, which they recommend for application of powder, blush and bronzer. I have not been using this brush as recommended and instead have been using it as a liquid or cream foundation brush. Let me just say that it works beautifully!

The bristles are made from taklon and the brush feels very plush, dense and soft. The extended aluminium ferrule feels light and comfortable. You are supposed to be able to stand the brush up on its own as the base is quite wide but I don't see much use for this function. The set also comes with a Panoramic Brush Case, which is a foldable, standing brush holder.

As mentioned, I use the Multi-Task Brush with liquid and cream foundations. What I normally do is to stipple on some product onto my face and then blend out with light, swirly motions. My foundations look flawless with this brush and it works better than a regular duo-fiber stippling brush (I have the 187 from MAC). As the brush head is so dense and soft, it blends everything like a dream.

I have washed this brush a few times and it doesn't bleed or shed. It dries relatively quickly for a synthetic hair brush too. I like the Multi-Task Brush so much that is has more or less replaced my other foundation brushes and I have been using this solely since getting it last month.

I purchased the Travel Essentials set from the Shins shop at RM135. Sadly, the Multi-Task Brush is not available individually and you'd need to get the whole set. It is a pretty fair deal though because the pricing in UK (where the brushes come from) is £20.99 but after adding shipping, it will be more expensive to purchase online.

PS:
Did you miss my blog birthday giveaway? Do have a look and join in the fun!

Reminder to Take Part in the BeautyCabby Blog Birthday GIVEAWAY

Don't forget to participate in my Blog Birthday Giveaway and you stand a chance at winning some really cute prizes :-) Visit the link below for further details and to enter!

>> CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO GIVEAWAY <<

Happy Chinese New Year... Gong Xi Fa Chai!

Wishing all who celebrate a

Happy New Year of the Dragon!

恭喜發財

万事如意

Have a wonderful reunion and to those who are travelling, have a safe journey!
May your year be filled with more joy, luck and prosperity!

PS - I will be returning to my husband's hometown for our annual reunion and will be taking a short bloggy break. But I will be back very soon! In the meantime, do check out my blog birthday bash giveaway and participate as there are some fantastic goodies to be won :-)