Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish Review

Nail Polish is never my beauty addiction. I would have proudly announced that before I realize how many nail polish I HAVE and DO NOT USE. I had a period where I am OBSESSED with nail art. When I was started to binge watch youtube and enjoyed A LOT of nail tutorials. Upon viewing my collection I am proud to say I buy nail polish for the color. I am not one of those manicure junkies who own one same color from various brands, who also try to defend themselves saying things like the formula and opacity is different...

Judging from all that vocabulary, you may already found out I know my way around the manicure world. Enough rambling, I have been decluttering and I am going to throw out 5 out of 7 Revlon Colorstay Nail polishes. Let me tell you why...

The color range of this collection is definitely not disappointing. Some of the colors make this list of cult favorites. Such as vintage rose, french toast and rain forest (sparkly green one above). 

In terms of opacity, a lot of the colors are pretty disappointing. I have to do three or more coats to achieve the color in the bottle. I, for one, sadly do not have the PATIENCE or time to wait for them to all dry without doing anything. As the result, my nail design always gets chipped before I even put on a top coat. 

Int terms of stay-on power, this is my whole point of the blog post. THE COLORSTAY POLISH DO NOT STAY very well. As you can see from the collage photo I did. Those pics were taken 2-3 days after I put on coats of polish. I found them chipped soooo badly especially after I wash my hair or take a bath as if they are washable. The stay-on power rating is at bottom line - DO NOT STAY.

I am sitting typing this post on the last day of 2015. For a fresh start, it's very very nice to throw out something old. Some nail polish, few books, some clothes and other bits and bobs. I am also donating those still in good condition. What are you doing on this last day of the year??

Buying a Blog Template!!

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As you may have noticed. I bought a blog template from DESIGNER BLOGS and I am VERY EXCITED. This template is called Tamsin. It's background and header reminds me a LOT of tangerines slices so it's a clear winner. Their blog template is $15 dollar for one which is very affordable and cute. I have been on the hunt for pretty blog templates forever and I was beyond delighted when I saw those. The above picture of "Cecilia Nicole" template is the "runner-up" of choice. Check it out if you want to :)

I decided to buy it to get people (mainly myself, to be honest) excited about the blog. Plus I always wanted a simple, nice design for my blog with not much to customize or "html edit". Whatever that means. I am totally not computer savvy. I love the layout and sidebars especially. 

I would try much harder to get this blog going for 2016. A lovely new blog template seems like a very good start. I have a few ideas about what to write for the future and I am constantly looking for ideas in other people's blogs. Leave me your blog perhaps and we can share post ideas and get inspired. 

What should I write next?? 

HOW TO : NEW JEWELRY ORGANISING / DISPLAY IDEA!

I'll admit to you, I have a "mild" obsession to ROSE GOLD. Before I even notice, rose gold has invaded my possession. From accessories to makeup brushes to phone cases o actual handbags, I'm happy to find a bit of rose gold everywhere.

Back when I was in Tokyo this past April, I walked into my favourite store category : Homeware / Decorative /  Furnishing... You know, places filled with little witty fun stuff to sass-up your home. (Yep, that's a category for me.) I walked into FLYING TIGER COPENHAGEN, a household goods store (thanks to Google).They also have stores located in the UK and the US. The store is filled with quirky, cute and cheap homeware. And surprise surprise, I got some rose gold stuff in there for real good deal.

It's a house-shaped storage basket and a picture frame (all in rose gold) !! Plus my rose gold accessories and a cute picture of a floral porcupine from IKEA. Correct, Smarties~ I am using this storage basket thing to organise my jewelry. Here's HOW:

I stood it upwards and hang all my earrings on them. Yeah you can judge me, I have a lot. :|

I was more than happy to see the way I put them up, it's clear and easy to see, it's very convenient to just grab and go. I couldn't be happier with this. (Or could I??)

Then I realise this major issue : WHAT ABOUT MY EAR PINS? I have a ton of those. And now I don't have a good home for it. They didn't want to stay in a box where they're randomly scattered and super hard to find the right pair. 

Then it goes without saying, I am up for this challenge. I noticed how the backside of the basket is completely empty an free. I decided to cover the back with some kind of fabric so I can pin my ear pins on! Genius, no? I spent about four hours yesterday doing trial and error, going back and forth, Here's what I used -

I used the fabric I bought the other day from again IKEA. It's printed with different flowers and plants which if I love anything more than rose gold, it's floral. I also have my half burned violet tea light with me the whole blimey 4 hours. ><

I started with tracing around the basket on a recycled A4 paper. Then I saved about a half-inch distance from the traces so I can fold the fabric in. I then cut the trace paper out to help cutting the fabric. Next, I fold in the sides of the fabric and sew them together in order to make it sturdier. If you have fabric glue you can use that, I just kinda don't. Then I have something like this - 

Final step is just to cover it onto the back of the rose gold storage basket and VOILA. 

Just kidding, of course the final step is to hang up the Jewelry and I am DONE!!!

Well upon viewing this I noticed I should have the right side up for the fabric so the plants don't look upside-down but... well I'll go with it. Also if you try this you may want to put the front side in instead of what I did so you can see the beautiful fabric facing in. 

Nonetheless I am very happy with how this DIY project turned out. 

 Oh and I used these tiny floral bowls to store my rings and they sit nicely at the bottom of my basket.

Lastly I feel like I should give credit to my cute blog planner notebook thing.

Thanks to this, my blog post are much more on-time and I type much faster knowing what to say. I draw the "Let's blog some shit" on and the notebook is all blank pages from IKEA. 

Thanks for reading, try it out if you want to and tell me how it goes. ^^

Have Fun.

Tangie.

My Top Summer Beauty Tips / Hacks

Almost all my life I have been living near the Equator. Yes, I said it. THE EQUATOR.
Living in a hot hot humid place isn't so much fun ALL THE TIME. Surely we have the SUN, the BEACHES, the DRINKS, the BIKINIS. And we also do have the HEAT, the OIL and the PATCHY MELTING makeup.

Recently I went on a family holiday to Thailand which to me and my skin means an even hotter environment. When we go in and out of the sun, we have to take extra care of our skin to prevent SUN BURN and AGING.

As the very SOUTHERN girl or 'belle', here's my top summer beauty tips / hacks I am livin' and swearin' by.

1. Refrigerate Your Toner

This makes all the differences!!

a. it feels awesome!

b. it helps closing your pores after washing your face!

c. it's a great way to freshen up and make you feel more awake.

2. Blotting is Everything

Put blotting products in your purse!

You may avoid looking oily like you just eaten a super oily meal or patchy like you don't know how to put on makeup. Also remember to bring a brush with you if you're not okay with using the puff it came with. (the germs ewww) 

I found this Pond's Magic Powder with oil / blemish control and double UV PROTECTION back in Thailand and immediately bought it. I think it comes with around SPF50 but I can't be sure when it's written in Thai. A blotting powder with SPF, doesn't it sound like a perfect SUMMER MUST-HAVE?

3. Summer Makeup = Less is More

In summer, there's less room for makeup as the 'MELTING PERCENTAGE' of your makeup is higher than ever. When you use a blotting tissue and press on your sweaty face, you are also smudging off some foundation, some eyeliner, some blusher and some lippie. You then end up looking either patchy or smudged. 

I once heard that a girl should be able to go out the door with only drawn brows and a bit of concealor. That's what I've been doing lately. Bit of brow powder, some brow gel and some more concealor / highlighter under the eyes, topped off with some "SPFed" lip balm. If we go the extra miles, powder foundation is the best and find lipsticks that won't smudge easily. 

4. Sunscreen is Your Best Friend

 

a. choose sunscreen with higher SPF if you're lazy like me.

b. never be too lazy to re-apply every 2-3 hours.

c. don't ever use body sunscreen on your face.

d. check the expiration date if you bought it last summer.

5. Aloe Vera Gel is Your New Body Lotion

Aloe Vera gel is an amazing aftersun treatment for your skin. It restores moisture, heal sunburn and chapped dry skin. Plus it absorbs super quickly which makes it an even better body lotion than your others. I've been using it after shower and just times when I feel like doing it. My skin feel much more smooth than before and I don't even have dry skin. I bet it works even better on dry skin.

6. No Makeup To The Beach

Going to the beach with makeup can go either way.

a. It melts under heat and looks oily, patchy, and smudged colour products combined. Did you just got out of a face-painting booth? Yeah, you don't look too good.

b. You have much powder on so it won't melt. Great, you just look cakey and they clog your pores like crazy.

That's all for my summer beauty tips / hacks. You've read all the way through my rambling. Thanks sooo much. I'm just glad I put this up before August ends. Happy summer holidays and Happy going back to school!

Do you have other beauty tips / hacks we can share?

Thanks for reading 

HUGS

Tangie

June Favourites

JUNE is my first "official" month of summer holiday, which, thanks to 18-year-old me who busted all her effort to go to university, I have about 3 and a half month for summer holiday as an average university student here.

The end of June means the end of the first half of 2015. And much like the 2014, 13, 12s, it fly away and before you know it, it's "Happy New Year" and all others again.

So before that happens, I want to share my beauty and book favourites (my absolute 2 faves to share and discover) with you.   

For the Beauty side, I have been avoiding the sun like a shady vampire this month as we're talking about 30-35°C here every freakin day. Plus I still fail to find a nice SPF product my skin and nose like. (I hate the smell of a lot of sunscreen out there) I have been trying to avoid heavy makeup. And I will do so ALL SUMMER. We don't want our face to look like a melting sweaty pudding, right?

By saying that, I have been using the above products to help me achieve the summer prove, sweat prove, very light makeup. 

I have been using the L'OREAL true match super-blendable two way powder foundation because summer makeup rule #1 "POWDER IS EVERYTHING" For an oily complexion like mine, powder is the best to FIX my makeup on the face and not migrating somewhere else. Just use a nice brush and a light hand to avoid "cakey-ness". 

Still on the sweat-prove side, I have been using L'OREAL Super Liner Black Lacquer to line my eyes. Long story short, it STAYS PUT. No matter how many times I blot or blink or wink (rhymes, haha) it's still there. It did not claim to be water-prove but I use a lot of micellaire water to take off.

I also use Maybelline Define-a-lash mascara ON MY BROWS. First of all, it dried out and i wipe off some before applying so it won't splash dark dark ink on my brows. Second, i have black eyebrows and black dried out mascara works surprisingly well. For the REAL mascara I put on the lashes is the Too cool for school Pop-up Mascara. It holds the curl, it adds volume like crazy, it's also a bitch to take off. Yep, very satisfying. It's not the drugstore price though, bit on the pricey side.

For eyeshadow in the summer, I go with gel. I believe we all deserve to sparkle in the summer (on the eyes or off) I choose gel because again it won't go everywhere. Those little eyeshadow glitter dust powder will get into my eyes and gets all itchy. I have been using the two Maybelline Color Tattoo, Bold Gold and Bad to the Bronze, I love the way they sparkle and drawn attentions. I am also using innisfree shadow pencil in no.5 when I don't have time to grab a brush for the color tattoo. They all look really nice with sun shine and even florescent lights indoor. 

Lastly comes my absolute fave out of all beauty products. Lip products. Having oily skin I HATE all lip gloss. But lipstick all-the-time means high high maintenance means no go for summer.  So I use Etude House fresh cherry lip tint in OR201 to just dab on my lips to give it a bit shine and colour. I know the package says otherwise but it's actually a sheer pinky coral colour. Perfect for the "'no makeup" look. Being a huge lipstick addict I cannot pass a month without loving a lipstick. It is BEEHIVE from topshop. It's a blue-toned baby pink and the perfect pink for me. It is buildable and it covers a lot, with a moisturising formula it is very hard to go wrong with it. Bonus points for the nice drugstore price.

The BOOK favourite / recommendation of the month is THE LIFE LIST by LORI NELSON SPIELMAN. It's about a girl who thought she had it all. The perfect job, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect life. Until it got upside-down after her mothers death. She lost it all (almost). The book tells her journey trying to get her life back together by finishing a life list she had written herself at the age of 14, twenty years ago. 

The story is interesting, funny and very heart-warming. It has inspired me to look on my life and start my own list. And I guess I'll say, of all my favourites of June, The Life List stands out.

Oopsies, I sat and typed for an hour. Too much to read? sorry

Love, Tangie 

Japanese Cherry Blossom

Guess who have been organising / looking back on my photos

It's ME...

I found more things on my phone that I would love to share with you guys

I guess these are not very common on diy/beauty blogs but hey,

my blog is about me (mostly)

and things I want to share

So...

I went to Tokyo and Osaka Japan this April

solemnly because it's Cherry Blossom season

which only come around once every year for 4-7 days

(Gollum voice)  PRECIOUS   no?

Plus my bestie is head over heels about cherry blossoms

I went there for eight days and were fortunately  accompanied by cherry blossoms all our way

They are white, they are pink, they are beige, they are even kinda green

They are delicate, they are soft, they smell like nothing really

Their petals fall down like pieces of snow flakes

Here they are

I also looked at their flower pots on the side of the paths

Sooo freakin beautiful

Love the colours

Also, what's a vacation without some desert indulgence (pout up lips)

I had this AMAZING crepe the day we went shopping

it's banana cream and chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate drizzle and crispy coconut toppings

I forgot the name but it's very tasty ^^

If you guys ever go, it's called Angels Crepe 

I have been looking back a lot lately

might do more travel/trip/random shares

And I see a June Fave Coming up

Or another nail tutorial??

Thanks for reading,

Tangie