[Sharing] Loreal Paris Beauty Countdown Contest

Hello my dear lashesandstroke-ians!

How has November been treating you so far? I can't wait for Christmas!   

Wokies, anyway I wanna share something really cool with you. 

Have you been shopping for makeup lately? 

If you have been shopping for yourself or your friends or loved ones..  You would want to read on.

If you or your friends have been purchasing L'Oreal products totalling more than RM20,

you would want to join L'Oreal Paris's Beauty Countdown Contest!

L'Oreal Paris is giving away amazing daily and weekly prizes over the next 10 weeks to reward their highest spenders! If you spend the most overall on L'Oréal Paris products by 31st December 2014, you'll drive home our Grand Prize - a brand new car worth over RM100,000!

So, what are you waiting for?

Start digging for your receipts! 

How to join? No worries, I shall guide you through it!

Step 1 : Go to www.lorealbeautycountdown.com.my

The link will bring you to this page!

Step 2 : Sign Up

Step 3 : Submit your entries

Steps on how to submit your entry : 

• Step 1 : Key in the total amount spent on L'Oreal products ONLY stated on your receipt. 
• Step 2 : Take a picture of your receipt and upload it to the website.  
• Step 3 : Select the correct answer. Please read the question carefully. 
• Step 4 : Click on the yellow box to tick the "I accept the Terms & Conditions". 
• Step 5 : Final Step. Click ENTER to submit your entry. 

Easy peasy.

I have read the Terms and Conditions and it didn't say anything about not allowing backdated receipts. So, better start digging for the receipts! For this contest, you can submit in as many entries as you can or want. The more entries you have, the higher the chance of snagging one of the prizes. 

You can keep track of your entries by clicking on the "MY ENTRIES" tab on the top right of the website which is located in between "JOIN NOW" and "PRIZES". Look at the red heart below!

L'Oreal Paris truly knows how to show their appreciation towards their loyal fans by holding this contest. Good for you, L'Oreal Paris! Check out the prizes : 

• GRAND PRIZE : A car worth over RM100,000. 
• WEEKLY PRIZES : A mystery prize will be revealed each week on their Facebook page. 
• DAILY PRIZES : 3 x L'Oreal Paris Hampers worth over RM100 each. 

Here are the line ups for the Weekly Prizes I found in their Terms and Conditions:

Note that the brands and value of prizes given are at the Organiser’s discretion.

***
10th Week: Slow Juicer
9th Week: Slow Juicer
8th Week: iPad mini
7th Week: iPad mini
6th Week: Kitchen Aid Mixer
5th Week: Poh Kong jewellery
4th Week: Poh Kong jewellery
3rd Week: Poh Kong jewellery
2nd Week: Poh Kong jewellery
1st Week: Poh Kong jewellery
***

To not miss any of these awesome contests in the near future, make sure to follow L'Oreal Paris on every social media platforms.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/lorealparismalaysia

Twitter : https://twitter.com/LOrealParisMY

Instagram : http://instagram.com/lorealparismy

I'm pretty sure they would love to hear from you. That's what social media is for, to socialize.
Alright, that's about it I guess. All the best in the contest!
Go get 'em tiger! :D

Love,

Sarah :)

Sharing : Carousell Flea Market, 8th & 9th November 2014

Dear readers,

I would like to share with you that I will be selling my preloved treasure at Carousell Malaysia's first Pop-Up Market @ Bangsar! Do watch the space on my Facebook page & Carousell account as I will be uploading more stuff.

• Date : 8th & 9th November 2014 (Saturday & Sunday)
• Time : 10am - 6pm
• Event Page : Carousell Malaysia's Pop-Up Market
• Facebook Page : Carousell Malaysia

Here are the links to my Facebook page and Carousell account :

• Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/lashesandstrokes?ref=br_rs
• Carousell : http://carousell.co/day24-ff/

Here's the map. Hope it helps!

If you still feel unsure about the location and prefer to use GPS, here's the address :

38, Lorong Maarof
Taman Bangsar
59000 Kuala Lumpur,
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

And the Google Maps link to the place :
GAWPS Community Hall, Bangsar

My sister (Arisa) and I will be sharing a booth! Look out for us at Booth 11 on the 2nd Floor ya! :D

There'll be other bloggers and friends as well!

I really hope to see you in person and thank you for the continuous support!
See you there! :)

Love,
Sarah :)

Swatches & Review : Dark-coloured Lipsticks

I'm aware that Halloween has come and gone but dark lips are still in the rage. I have always been intrigue with dark lip colours since 15 years old, but I didn't know how to get my hands on a black coloured lipstick. At that time, I owned only a Silkygirl black eyeliner and pressed powder. I loved lining my eyes just like Avril Lavigne when she was my style model, the 'Sk8er Girl' before she turned.. 'Hello Kitty'. Oyvey. Yes, I did go through a phase where I wore everything black. Ah, those were the days. 

Anyway, allow me to present to you my beautiful collection of dark coloured lipsticks! 

First up, we have Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Mulberry. Now, this is my very first almost-black coloured lipstick I own. 

Source : google

As you can see, it looks almost black in the tube but when swatched, it has that red-purple (plum?) base to it. It isn't entirely pitch black. The given name, Mulberry is suitable for the shade as it may be inspired by the mulberry fruit. I'm glad to share that Mulberry glides on the lips quite effortlessly because I didn't experience any tugging even when I did not prep my lips. Mulberry has a sheen finish, hence the easy application but that's where the pigmentation is questionable. At the first layer of application, it seemed patchy but after layering it, it turned out fine. It's accessible at most online beauty stores such as Luxola, Colours Cosmetics Malaysia, and Mesmerize.

Next up, we have Wet n Wild Megalast Lipcolor Vamp It Up. Vamp It Up has a very obvious purple base to it which reminds me of black grapes. The finish is matte hence it does affect the application but nothing too serious to be peeved about. All you have to do is prep your lips well by exfoilating and moisturizing your lips before applying Vamp It Up. In the pigmentation department, there's no arguement as you can get a full colour in one swipe which means no layering is needed. 

If you are looking for a black-ish lipstick that's affordable, do look out for Make up Revolution Black Heart from Vamp Collection. It does not disappoint. Based on the swatch above, it looks black at a glance but if you look closely, it's not entirely jet black. It has purple - red undertones. To be honest, I was expecting it to be waxy or patchy when applied like MUA's but to my surprise, it glided on my lips beautifully without tugging. I didn't even have to use a lipbalm! The finish is in between a cream-sheen finish and it's pigmentation is amazing for it's price. I had always wanted pull off a vampy look and now, I'm able too! Just need to find the courage to work it out without freaking people out. 

The lightest among it's peers, MAC Matte Lipstick in Smoked Purple was a gift from a dear friend. I literally squealed with joy when she passed it to me. My second MAC lipstick that I own. As much as I love MAC's lipsticks, it is expensive for a student's budget. Funnily, the colour doesn't really match its name. I was expecting a gorgeous, dark purple but as you can see from the swatch above, it's undertone leans more towards reddish plum - quite similar to Sleek's Mulberry, don't you think? Since its a matte finish, as usual it somehow affects the application. It didn't go on smoothly but if compared with Wet n Wild's Vamp It Up, this applies better but layering it need to achieve a full, even colour.  

Another lipstick from Make up Revolution's Vamp Collection, Make up Revolution Lipstick in 100% Vamp is without a doubt - worth every penny. It has a strong purple undertone and it looks pretty similar to Wet n Wild's Vamp It Up but it is definitely much more moisturizing than Vamp It Up. I would say it has a cream-sheen finish and pigmentation is amazing. 

Last but not least, Make up Revolution Velvet Matte Lip Lacquer in Vamp. I haven't got the chance to try this out yet but based on the swatch, the colour looks so much better than it's Vamp lipstick peers. It is a beautiful plum colour that looks flattering and has a matte finish. No debate on the pigmentation but I have come across some reviews sharing that it has a tendency to crack throughout the day and it does not look pretty when it does. I haven't got a chance to confirm that yet for myself but will update here when I have tested it out. 

Before I sign off, there's one thing you have to know about applying dark lipsticks. Since the colours are dark, there's a high chance of mistakes being obvious. Here's some tips on how to tone down or avoid making lip-stakes (pun intended) :

1. Prep your lips. Exfoliate, moisturize, and prime. The lip primers I use are ELF Lip Lock Pencil and Sephora Universal Lip Liner Waterproof.
2. Try using a dark-based lip liner as close to your preferred lipstick. It will help reduce the chances of your lipstick feathering or bleeding. Sephora carries NYX has an affordable, wide range of lip liners in various colours at RM19 each. 
3. Like it or not, a good lip brush does come in handy when applying dark colours. The lip brushes I'm currently using are Real Techniques Retractable Lip Brush, Stage Lip Brush, and Covo Magic 4 Stack Up Brush. 

Well, that's all for this post. There will be more post on lipsticks coming up. I hope this post has helped you in any way possible. Enjoy! 

Love, 

Sarah :)

First Impressions: Maybelline Big Eyes Eyeshadow and Maybelline Hyper Glossy Liquid Liner

Last Saturday, my bf picked me up from work and we had lunch at Texas Chicken @ Jaya Shopping Center, PJ. Shamefully, I have to admit that's the second time I had Texas Chicken in that week. There's no denying that their fried chicken is deliciously made. It's juicy yet crispy! Hungry yet? My tummy is grumbling with hunger as I type. Hush, stomach. Just a few more hours to breakfast. 

After lunch, I spontaneously walked into Guardian which was located on the same floor as Texas Chicken and stumbled across new goodies at Maybelline. Yes, I always have a tendency to do a rain-check on Guardian or Watsons when I'm in a mall. It's a very dangerous habit that I am trying to kick. Dangerous to my bank account, that is. Okay... Back to Maybelline. I saw this very interesting eyeshadow quad with a bolded pink word "Big Eyes" in a pink bubble smacked in the middle of it. There were no products, only testers in the picture below. 

Close-up on Smokey Brown and Gorgeous Pink

Close-up on Copper Gold

I don't exactly know what's the official name for this eyeshadow but my best guess would be "Maybelline Big Eyes Eyeshadow" and nope, I did not made that up. I got it from an internation Boots website from googling. 

As you can see from the photos above, there are three shades available:

• Smokey Brown
• Gorgeous Pink
• Copper Gold

The texture of these eyeshadows are buttery smooth and had very minimal fallouts. As for the pigmentation, all of the eyeshadows are extremely pigmented except the last eyeshadows from Section D (under eye area). Rating wise, Gorgeous Pink scored the best followed by Copper Gold and last but not least, Smokey Brown. There was no problem swatching the eyeshadows except the section D (eyeshadow for under eye area) for all three as I find it hard to reach and had to use my pinky to pick the eyeshadows up. If these eyeshadows are used with proper brushes, there would be very little or no problem at all in accessing it. Among all three, my favourite would be Gorgeous Pink as I love the colour combo. 

Next up, it's an all-brand new Maybelline Hyper Glossy Liquid Liner! As you can see, they have changed the design of the packaging and brought in these three shades below. I must stress that these coloured liquid eyeliners has the best pigmentation and application I have ever come across. 

The three shades consists of:

• Electro Shock (Blue)
• Gold-iation (Gold)
• Lazer Green (Green)

Maybelline has named their shades well this time. Electro Shock does live up to its as a shocking, true blue without any obvious undertones to it. This shade of blue reminds me of American Idol's logo. The "in-your-face" kind of blue. The wowza kind of blue. 

Gold-iation, should be renamed as Gold-nation instead. This gold is b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. I'm usually not a fan of gold in makeup because it either leans too yellow or too olive-ish. But this gold shade has the perfect balance and I believe it would make dark-skinned beauties' eyes pop! 

Lazer Green, should be renamed as Peacock Green or Mermaid's Tale. It's a truly jaw-dropping, breath-taking shade I have ever swatched. I'm not exaggerating. Its 'the' I want to own as it looks so magical and unique. I meltz.  

All of them applied smoothly without any trouble. Superbly pigmented even with just one stroke! The best part of this eyeliner is, it has staying powers but comes of easily without staining the skin or damaging the skin by tugging it. It comes off with water and become flakes when you gently rub it off. No colour-bleeding, no smudging. Amazing. 

Alright, that's all for now. I have tons of reviews to share with you but have been facing with a writer's block of late. It doesn't help when I'm particular about my writing or photo-editing. My convocation was last Thursday and finally got my certs and academic transcripts. Shall share more about it in my next post. See ya soon! 

Love,

Sarah :)

Review : Colours Cosmetics Flat Top Foundation Brush

New Product Alert : ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Fiji (Matte)

Attention all 'oil-rig' skinned ladies! (I'm oily-skinned too, y'all)

ERMAIGADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

ELF Cosmetics has finally. Yes, like finally. *flipshair*

Finally launched their new ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Fiji, a MATTE - 

I repeat, MATTE version. 

OH, I IZZ ZZO EXCITEDDDDD!!

Well, this product might ring a bell or two as I blogged about their first version of ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, in St. Lucia (previously known as Original) : http://bit.ly/elfstudiostlucia which contains shimmer. Based on the multiple reviews I have come across, quite a handful of ladies steered clear because it would add on unwanted shine or enlarged their pores due to their oily skin. 

Now ELF has heard your cries and ANSWERED with a MATTE version! Good job, ELF! Keep reeling us in and making us stay because of your affordable products. Still feeling a little sore at you for not shipping your products to Malaysia. Hmmph. But I still love ya! 

The million dollar question.. Will I purchase this product? In a heart beat, YES.

Does this product strike your fancy? 

Yay or Nay? 

Thank you for reading!

Love,

Sarah :)

Sharing : How to Stay Safe on Carousell/Online (Pervert Edition)

Hi everyone,

I never expected or wanted this to be my first post on Carousell. But I have to quickly brief you about my experience on Carousell earlier this week. Please know that I have a few Carousell posts lined up for you. Need more time to arrange my thoughts well.

Earlier this week, for the first time I have encountered a pervert (yes, I am confident he/she is) on Carousell. Here are the screenshots of the conversation with this "@jennyhello" who later changed his/her name to @shane89 :

RED ALERT : Hey Babe! Is the material very thin? I'm from Aus and I don't really wear bra. Can u model it for me so I can see if it's too sheer for me? Many thanks!

Note : No (man or woman) in their right mind, would ask a random person for a modelled picture WITHOUT a bra. Or reveal that they don't really wear (a) bra. Seriously???

ADVICES :

• If the person claims that he/she is a 'serious buyer' and insists on knowing how sheer is the material of your clothing, just provide a picture with your hand behind the material. It's easy and requires no extra photography help. All you need is good lighting. If the person demands for you to model it, you know something is very wrong.
  
  Example :
  

  

  Source
  As you can see, that's my left hand with a ring on my middle finger.
  Hence your potential buyer is able to estimate without you 'modelling' it.

• Never provide modelled pictures of clothes you know that is revealing/sheer. Especially lingerie. The pictures can be used against you or used without your knowledge on unscrupulous websites. Save yourself the drama and trauma.

• If you are confident in providing modelled pictures, please do at least edit your pictures to keep yourself safe. There are many apps on Andriod/Itunes. My favourite is CatWang, because it has faces of cats and I love cats. #crazaycatlady.
  
  Example :



Source



• Be polite. Regardless of how the person is on the other side, be the bigger person and decline in the most gracious way possible. There is no need to throw accusations unless proven guilty. As for me, I prefer my 'teacher' tone - no nonsense, strict, and unflinching.
• Report to the admin. If you encounter a suspicious character on Carousell or he/she still presses on the 'modelled picture' matter - report him/her immediately. Do your part as well to keep the community safe. Below is the steps on how to report to the admins.
  
  Step 1 : Tap on the 3 white dots on the top right of your phone screen.
  Step 2 : Select 'Report user'. The list of reasons on 'Why are you reporting this user?' will pop up.
  Step 3 : Scroll all the way down and select 'Suspected fraudster'.

Example :

This is the latest version of Carousell on Andriod.

The Carousell team should respond/investigate within a 24 - 42 hours time frame depending on the availability of their manpower. Below is the screenshots on my instagram and twitter where +Carousell responded to them quite promptly.




I feel safe and glad that Carousell is doing all they can to keep the community safe for us to confidently sell our preloved or brand new items. I have been on Carousell's app since last year when they first started out and when Friendly Fashion Malaysia was forced to close down. So far, this is the best app for selling unwanted preloved or brand new items. Keep up with the awesome job, Carousell Malaysia!

Follow Carousell Malaysia on :
Facebook : http://bit.ly/carousellmsiafb
Twitter : https://twitter.com/thecarousell
Instagram : http://bit.ly/carousellmsiainstagram

Download the app on :
Andriod : http://bit.ly/carousellandriod
ITunes : http://bit.ly/carousellitunes

Have you experienced weirdos such as this before?

Share with me on how to handled them.

Love,Sarah :)