How To : Clean Your Make Up Brushes with RM5!

RM5??

Pic credits to Google

Yep, I bet most of you viewers would like to pick up your jaw from the floor. 

For this review, I am taking my Color Cosmetics Malaysia Short Handle Flat Top Brush as a model. 

What you need :

• Any unused container with depth.
• A dirty brush (LOL)
• Daiso Detergent for puff and sponge. 

Step 1 

Step 2

Step 4

Step 5

Steps : 

1. Pour about 1 or 2 tablespoons of Daiso liquid detergent into the container. 
2. Fill container with water about half of the container or less. 
3. Stir and mix well the liquid detergent and water together. 
4. Dip your selected dirt-filled brush into the mixture. 
5. Leave your brush in the water for about a minute or two. 
6. Watch MAGIC in the video below. 
7. Rinse brush till its squeaky clean. 
8. Repeat till you are satisfied. 

TADA!

*waves the magic wand* 

♥ ITS WHITE AGAIN ♥

Right : Before
Left : After

    

CLEAN BRUSHESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ♥

Okay, what is this detergent you may be wondering. 

Its supposedly to wash off powder/foundation from powder puff or sponge. So, it could work for brushes as well, yes? HEHEHE. 

Where to get this magical and CHEAP brush cleaner?? 

At all Daiso Malaysia outlets (the ones I am aware of is around PJ/Selangor/KL area) :

• Mid Valley

• One Utama

• The Curve

• IOI Mall 

• Sunway Pyramid 

•  AEON Bukit Tinggi Klang (contributed by Aida, tq!)

•  Setia City Mall (contributed by Aida, tq!)

*Please do let me know if I missed out anymore outlets, so that I can list down here for easy references. 

How much is this awesomely, CHEAP thing?? 

RM 5 only, my friend. RM 5 :) 

Is it SAFE for our skin??

Well, I have been using this brush cleaner for about 1+ and have not found any fault in it. The chemicals did not cause any breakouts, allergy reactions, etc. But it is best for you to test it out for allergies, etc. 

Is it SAFE for our babies (make up brushes) ??

YES. It is safe. My brushes has never been so happy and clean. MUMMYLURVESYA! No negative signs of possible damaging such as drying, thinning, rusting, etc. 

So, now you know my secret to clean brushes. I was reluctant to share as my biggest fear would be whenever I wanna get it, its out of stock. *sobs sobs* But oh well, I can't keep something so amazingly affordable and pocket-friendly from anyone :)

#extra note : I have tried out Cyber Colors Brush Cleaner. (That reminds me, another review coming up). It sucks BIG time. It is so difficult to remove the soap and my brushes felt sticky even though I have rinsed it many, many, many, many times. ARGH!! Wasted my RM30+! Should have just stuck with my Daiso one.

What are you waiting for? Quickly go grab yourself one now!

Love,
Sarah :)

Disclaimer : The product (except CCM brush) was purchased with my own money and I am not paid by or affiliated with the brand and company mentioned in this post. Hence, my review is 100% based on my honest opinion.  

Review : Colors Cosmetics Malaysia Flat Top Foundation Brush

Hey girls, 

Here is the long-awaited review is finally done! Phew. 

I have been using this Flat Top Brush by Colors Cosmetics Malaysia for about a month now and quite frequently as well which I am quite confident in doing a full review on this little baby. The review starts after this jump!  *** Meet Colors Cosmetics Malaysia (quite a mouthful, so I shall shorten it to CCM throughout this review. Hee.)'s newest creation - the Short Handle Flat Top Foundation Brush. Very similar to Sigma's F80 eh? 

TADA! So cute yet super functional.
Please excuse the extremely chipped off nail polish. >_>

The size fits in my palm just nicely! 

Similar characteristics as the Sigma F80 with its metal handle holding the bristles and  body firmly together.

Sleek, short, black body with CCM's sticker logo on it!
Can't wait for an embossed on version of this. I bet it would look more cool with it :)

Compacted, soft and kinda-even surface bristles.

Thick and packed bristles. Great for buffing in your foundation!
Please excuse the dirty picture as I have a reason for it! >,<

A side by side visual comparison with my Sigma F80. 

 Okay, now to the facts :-

Price : 
Its is currently selling at RM55. Postage fees varies from WM/EM. 

Availability :
Currently only available online in their online store (here). 

According to information provided by CCM on this brush :

CCM says : The brush is modeled after the quality of the F80 Flat Top Kabuki by Sigma. The length of the bristles are almost exactly the same. However, we improvised it to be denser so it can pickup more product.

Sarah says : Yep, it feels almost quite luxurious as my Sigma F80. As for the density, it is slightly more dense than my Sigma F80 but somehow I don't see how it affects my foundation/BB cream application drastically. 

Left : Sigma F80.
Right : CCM Flat Top Foundation Brush

CCM says : Bristles are synthetic fibers, that means its halal. 

Sarah says: Kudos to CCM for thinking long-term in order to survive in our Malaysian market. Its an everything-friendly brush for every Malaysian girls to use ;)

CCM says : We hand checked each brush, however, the bristles do tend to shed during the first wash, it should stop shedding after the 2nd-3rd wash.

Sarah says : The brush I received was in excellent condition except for the fact that the surface of the bristles is not even. As you can see there are some bristles sticking out. Based on my observation when I washed it for the first time before using, there was no color or weird smell released (which is good) but there are some loose bristles here and there as highlighted on their page. It is a good thing that they have highlighted that fact, so that we as consumers know what to expect and not be turned-off by being caught off-guard. 

CCM says : The brush is easier to use due to the shorter length of the handle and closer proximity to the face. Asian hands are typically smaller, so short handle is actually a better option as it gives more control during blending. 

Sarah says : I was intrigue by this brush and to be honest, it stands out as a foundation from most brushes I have seen online it is solely because of the brush's short handle. I don't find any problems with my current F80 brush's length but the short handle does help ease application when it comes to applying foundation close up in front the mirror (whenever I don't use my contact lenses. @_@ ). 

*Off -topic* I wished that CCM would come up with a quality eyeliner brush or eye brushes line with sturdy, short handles as well as I face problems trying to draw my gel liner whenever I go up close to the mirror especially times where I don't use my contact lenses. #blindasabat 

PROs :

1. Does not have any dye-bleed.
2. No weird chemical smell after wash.
3. SUPER convenient for traveling. (brought this brush to Malacca for CNY!) 
4. Easy to clean and DRY. 
5. Does not shed after 2-3 wash. 
6. Excellent customer service provided by CCM. 
7. Uses less products. 
8. Malaysian made! *Proud*

CONs : 

1. Price.
   Personally, I think it is quite pricey for a Malaysian made brand when you can get your hands on Sigma's for about RM 60-70 with/without postage fees. What I am trying to say is, to compete against a brand like Sigma which is an internationally renowned brand, hailed and raved by thousands, if not millions of beauty gurus and bloggers slapped across all over the internet is indeed challenging. I wouldn't say that it is not worth the price but if I can get my paws on Sigma. I would pass the CCM's brush. Sigma has a fine marketing team, same goes for Urban Decay making girls of all shapes and sizes covet or lust over almost every single thing they release. It is SCARY. I fear for my bank account. (T______T)
2. Quality.
   After using this brush for about 15-20 times (yes, I use foundation/bb cream quite frequently due to my bad skin nowadays. Sigh.). It does slowly reveal its 'age' or wear signs. If CCM carefully experiment and get constructive feedback from users, I am very certain they will be able to find the PERFECT formula to come up with brush that will give Sigma a run for their money :P

Sarah's conclusion (I bet you'd be thinking, FINALLY right?) :

I love this brush, but not as much as my Sigma F80. (IAMSORWEEE). 

I'd switch usage between this brush and my Sigma but somehow found that I would still go back to CCM's Flat Top more often as its convenient when it came to application and it has cut down my foundation application time by half. Plus, I used to use about 2-3 pumps of foundation when I used my fingers to apply my foundation.

Plus, it is easy to clean and dry especially living in a hostel when I don't have air-conditioned rooms to speed up the drying time. Besides that, I do move around a lot or do a lot of 'internal' travelling from hostel to home to friend's place to home back to hostel. Whew. It is indeed travel-friendly, taking up less space in my make up pouch. SCORE! ♥

Would Sarah repurchase?

Yes. Yes and Yes. Support QUALITY Malaysian made brands! ♥

Sarah recommends to :

• Beauty and cosmetic lovers of all ages :) 
• Working ladies/students who travels from WM to EM or EM to WM or anywhere in the world. More luggage space for other stuff. Hehehe. 
• Make up artists who needs a quick fix for their customers/models. 

Sarah rates this brush : ♥♥♥♥♥, A- 

How about you? Have you heard of this brush?
If yes, how do you find it?

Comment away!

Love ♥
Sarah :) 

Disclaimer : This brush was provided by CCM for reviewing purposes but it has not in anyway affect my view and experience towards this product. My review is 100% based on my own honest opinion after using this product for about more than 6 weeks.  

Review : Rapid Lash Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

Ha! Finally. 

Ever since I used mascaras back in 2007, my first mascara being Silkygirl's Lash Prism mascara :D I love how mascaras open up my eyes, giving it an illusion of bigger & sultry eyes. *wink wink*  And of recent, I felt that my lashes weren't thick and long enough. So I googled on how or ways to make my eyelashes grow naturally without causing my wallet a big hole. I am totally hopeless in fake eyelashes and up to date, I only wore it twice in a span of 2 years (2010 - 2012). Haha! 

So I stumbled on this lash serum from drugstore.com (a US website) and this had 918 reviews & rated 4 out of 5 stars! (as checked on 9/2). I'm WHAT IS THIS?? Clicked on it and read the reviews. My eyes were furiously scrolling through the reviews, looking for a reason for me not to purchase this magic serum. But no avail. When I converted the price to Malaysian ringgit, I was stopped in my tracks for a while.

Then I came to find that SHINS carried this product at their website here : SHINS Malaysia. I felt that I struck a gold mine! Once again, the price tag manages to stop me from clicking 'buy'. Or even 'add to cart'. Oh the woe. Anyway, I navigated to their Facebook page and it so happened that they were promoting Rapid Lash and were giving out free products to be reviewed. Oh how I jumped for joy and quickly email them my details. *tears of joy*

Okay. Story ends here.

Now I shall draw your attention to the product :

I would like to start off with reviewing its packaging. The Rapid Lash Eyelash Enhancing Serum comes in a shape of a typical mascara packaging with a smooth, matte surface. Its aluminium-alike body making it lightweight, sturdy and easy to bring around.

Made in the USA by International Research Laboratories.

Below are the information about Rapid Lash which can be found at their website.

WHAT YEARS AND THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE TAKEN AWAY…RAPIDLASH GIVES BACK!

RAPIDLASH IS:

• A cosmetic product that is clinically proven to be safe and effective
• Proven to boost the look of your lashes and brows
• Affordable – Unlike other products at $100 to $175, RapidLash sells for only $49.95!
• Infused with a potent blend of polypeptides
• For a complete ingredient list, please see Frequently Asked Questions section.

It has a mascara like wand but its tip is a slim brush which helps ease application  close to the lash line.

I am not so crazy about the wand it came with as I would prefer a wand that has a comb-like similarities. It is just a personal preference as I find wands with brush or comb ends, applies better by helping even the product out better.  

For the ingredients and before you ask me questions such as "Is it safe to use?", "Does it irritate the eye?" & all the factual questions you can think of. Do have a look here at their website's FAQ answering questions from ingredients and medical related issues. They should provide a more accurate answer than me!

Below is a collage of pictures taken over time from the Week 1 to Week 6.

Left Eye : Top right : Week 1 

Right Eye 

Apologies for the poor quality pictures. When I first started out this challenge, I was not technologically prepared. I only had my Samsung Ace camera phone to take the initial stages and when it was week 6, I decided to give in ask my bf to lend his compact camera. #behtahan

: Process :

I used this product for about 6 weeks and to be honest, I didn't apply it every night as suggested as there were nights I just couldn't be bothered because I was exhausted. But I did use the serum for about 13 days constructively, I do see results as my eyelashes were slightly longer and my mascara application became much easier.

Note : By not applying constructively for 6 weeks, nothing bad will happen except it will merely slow down the process. Which means that you won't be able to see the results fast. 

: Aftermath :

Now, I have stopped using the serum entirely for about 1-2 months and I did not experience any eyelash loss nor my eyelashes reverted back to its normal sad state. This is the part that got me going,
"OOH. AHH. Interesting..."

*stroking my chin*"

I did not suffer from any allergic reaction which is surprising. Because I have sensitive eyes & I'm a contact lens wearer. Just last year, I had to change my lens solution from Baush & Lomb to Oxysept Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfection System as my eyes are allergic or reacts badly to preservatives. 

: Overall :

I'm glad to announce that, this serum WORKS. 

But then again, please note that the results varies from individuals as no human being on earth is the exact same :) 

To purchase the Rapid Lash serum, click here.
To read more about Rapid Lash - website.
Follow Shins Malaysia for upcoming offers or promotions, here.

This product provided by Shins Malaysia for reviewing purposes, nevertheless it does not affect my approach towards the product. The review is based on my honest opinion and experience using it. 

Love,
Sarah :) 

How Tickled are you when it comes to the color Pink?

The size of the eyeshadow

Front Cover - Gold Embossed 'Milani'

Ingredients

As you can see, it is quite a pretty big pan of a whopping 3.1g of  pressed powder! It is slightly larger in size if compared to the MAC Paint Pots. The packaging is made of sturdy plastic and hard plastic cover to cushion accidental drops. *gasps* You wouldn't want to do that on purpose now, would ya? I rather not test it on my purchase. No thank you.

The size is just nice for you to hold it in your palm, not too small nor too big. Making it easy to open and close without fumbling. So far, I have not experience any dissatisfaction using it and it gave me no problem at all physically speaking.

Now, on to the product itself.

Based on the swatches I seen online, it swatched really well showing it glorious pigmentation. But when I swatched it, I must admit I was like, "Uh, that was it?". Most importantly, the colour did show up quite well on one swatch. But not enough to make me go, OMGEEEE.

The texture is quite powdery as you can see the picture below :

POWDA!

 In my opinion, it applies averagely smoothly but a little base might help in this area to keep it in place. 

Now, onto the colour. This is the MAIN reason why I purchased it. It strongly reminds me of my Smashbox Trio Eyeshadow in Headshot where the I'm in love with the pink shade called Golden Orchid. The color has a very pretty golden sheen to it which makes in unique and wearable for warm toned girls. ITSOPRETTYIMMAGONNADAIIII ♥

Okay, since I was playing around with this shade. I decided why not let you girls see how you can bring your favourite eyeshadows to life with a simple thing called, a base. My little wee project consist of :

• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
• MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study
• MAC Paint Pot in Rubensque 
• MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork
• MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist 
• Milani Powder Eyeshadow in Tickled Pink
• ELF Essentials Eyeshadow Brush
• ELF Studio Concealer Brush
• Konad Cosmetics Drawing Style Eyeliner in Black

  

Below are the swatches on the primer & base.

• Ori - Eyeshadow w/o primer or base
• UD - Urban Decay Primer Potion
• P - Painterly
• BS - Bare Study
• R - Rubensque 
• G - Groundwork
• C - Construtivist

From the pictures, you can tell this little gem shines the brightest with MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study & Rubensque :) Somehow UDPP & Painterly just kills the color by making it look flat and pink, toning down its beautiful golden sheen. It can be paired with Groundwork & Constructivist for a pink-brown smokey eye which I have been loving for sometime now. It is a match-made in heaven.

OVERALL : The unique shade it is this eyeshadows' saving grace and honestly, it is a beautiful piece to own and wear for days you wanna look extra sweet. So are you tickled yet? 

Would love to hear from you girls :)

Comment away below!

Love,
Sarah.

A mini US haul ♥

Hi girls,

Yep. I have just gotten my results yesterday.

And..

I got above 3. Not at the borderline of 3. Surprisingly.

*HAPPYDANCE*

Why blog about it?

Well, I'm the kind of person who just simply can't sit down and studies/books-only-kind-of-person.

Ever since primary school till today.

I joined extra curricular activities & took part in various projects but yet still manage to maintain a quite satisfying result. I'm no born genius, mind you.

Example : 

Normal student  : Would take about 2-3 tries at a maths question & would be able to understand the       concept.
Sarah                 : Would try the question 10 times and in different number but same concept, still does not understand the concept. #uberphail 

~(T^T)~

Anyway, you'd get what I mean.

It is quite an improvement from the previous semester. I guess all those sleepless nights paid off finally :)
Thank you, God! <3
I shall up my target for this coming semester. Must!!

Now ON TO the REAL reason why you are reading this post. Heh.

These are my mini US haul for the month of Feb! Nope, I didn't place any preorder. It's ready stock, babeh!

Where :
I got my drugs from my 'drug dealer'  (lol. I hope she doesn't kill me. meep. ) from Retail Paradise sole managed by Ms Wee who hails from Johor. She takes preorders from various & AWESOME brands from the US. Which Malaysia currently lacks.

What :
The items I purchased are :-

1. ELF Baked Eyeshadow in Enchanted. 
2. ELF Studio Complexion Brush.
3. Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush. (I have been hunting for this shade!) 
4. NYX Matte Lipstick in Sierra. 
5. Milani Powder Eyeshadow in Tickled Pink.
6. Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in 24 Carrot Gold. 
7. Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in In The Flesh.

All in all, I am really happy with my purchases as I have carefully selected and studied each item to make sure it is a guilt-free purchase! So far, so good.

I shall do individual review/first impressions on each item as fast as I can. I have taken pictures on the first day itself when I received the items. But as usual, with my 'perfectionism' approach I have towards my reviews and this blog. It's not as easy as "click-slap watermark-write-post". I usually try my very best to provide true to colour swatches and personal honest opinions for you girls as I find it hard to come across true to color swatches and non-overhyped reviews.

Below are the swatches of the items listed : 

From left : Wet n Wild In The Flesh, Wet n Wild 24 Carrot Gold, NYX Matte in Sierra, ELF Baked Eyeshadow in Enchanted, Loreal Infalliable Eyeshadow in Amber Rush & Milani Powder Eyeshadow in Tickled Pink.

Well that's all for now folks!

Over & out,
Sarah :) 

Maybelline New York Pure Liquid Mineral Healthy Natural Liquid Foundation & Maybelline New York Pure Liquid Mineral Healthy Natural Concealer

*testing 123 testing*

I am actually blogging from my new baby, Sony Xperia TX via the app "Blog It!" which I downloaded a few days ago. Let's see how it fares :)

Just bought this duo today from Watsons as they were on sale and I have been meaning to try it ever since I tested it. The texture is really runny which makes blending so easy and effortless. I sincerely hope that it will help me look effortlessly made up! :p

Stay tuned for a review!