daffnee: foundation

[the makeup] five products, five minutes

17.2.18

june favourites 2017.

1.7.17

Did I just go and do that thing where I disappear for a couple of months without warning? Rhetoric question, you don't have to answer that. But apologies - honestly, I don't know where the past two months went? I have a couple of projects in the making, and hopefully, I'll be able to share them with you guys soon. But in the meantime, let's put that all behind us and focus on what we're going to talk about today - the makeup favourites for June 2017.
Between the 30C summer days and constantly bending over my iPad/sketchbook, I've been opting for the 'bare face, top knot and glasses' look for the majority of the month. But when I do decide to pull myself together and wear some makeup, the innisfree Water Glow Cushion Foundation is always my base choice. Not only is it extremely lightweight, comfortable to wear (aka - I won't want to claw my face off after 5 minutes outside), and has pretty good coverage, this is the only base that will allow me to forego powder in the summer. It's glowy, it's easy to use, and the dozen of cases you can choose from are flippin' adorable. The only gripe I have with it is the shades tend to run on the lighter side. That said, I do think that they're expanding their shade range, slowly, but it's happening.
I'm one of those people that will opt for a full eye look whenever I put on foundation, meaning eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. But it doesn't mean that it has to be complicated - I've been reaching for the Sephora Crayon Jumbo Liner in Taupe every time. It's literally one of those 'scrawl and finger blend' eyeshadows - no one will know the look only took you 3 seconds. Plus, they are not kidding when they say it has a 12-hour wear time and is waterproof - this eyeshadow stick has never failed me - rain or shine.
I've been ditching the bold and matte lipsticks the past month and have been opting for the lowkey bright and creamy lip colours. The IOPE lipstick in #46 is a beautiful red-toned coral shade that is so so moisturising. It's light and easy to wear but packs a punch of colour without being obnoxiously loud. The second one - I never thought I'd own a Tom Ford lipstick as well, it's ridiculously expensive. Especially considering that I have near 100 lipsticks. But then one of my best friends surprised me with Twist of Fate as a late birthday present and well...let's just say I've been pleasantly figuring out how to use this lipstick without smudging away the TF engraving. I'm also trying to convince myself that it's just an engraving but at the same time, it's not? Who said beauty bloggers ever made sense.
Last but not least, I'm throwing in a skincare product to mix things up a bit. My pores have been clogging like it's their new hobby - I blame it on the humidity, pollution, temperature, sweat, oil, and bad sleeping habits. I've dug out the Aesop Parsley Seed Clay Masque again after months of abandonment. I've been more of a sheet mask kinda girl in the past year or so - but you can't beat a good ol' clay mask when it comes to cleaning those pesky pores. This clay mask was the golden kid once, but I feel like barely anyone talks about it these days? Or maybe I've been away from the beauty blogging game too long. But you really can't beat this clay mask when it comes to deep cleansing. Although, full disclosure, I've been wanting to try the innisfree volcanic clay mask for a while now.
Overall, June has been quite the month - what have you been loving in the past month?
With Love, Daphne x

april favourites 2016.

5.5.16

Well, there goes another month. I've been pretty quiet on the blog front the past month - things have been quite busy with life lately and it just seems that I've lost a bit of my blogging mojo. I'm trying to find it back, so leave me comments on any kind of posts you want to read for inspiration. But all in all, April was quite the busy month. The weather has been wonky in Taipei, with it pouring like the island is about to drown one minute before burning up like the oven on the highest heat the next. It's been a rollercoaster ride for sure. Which also means that I've been swapping my makeup bag contents in trying to keep up with the weather.
I'm not going to lie, I was intrigued by the NARS Matte Skin Tint when it launched a while back. But I resisted the urge and dug out the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint instead. I've been all about dewy bases the past couple of seasons and completely forgot how much I loved this grey tube of wonderfulness. While it's not as dewy as the bases I've been favouring, it's still 'glowy' in the sense that it looks like real skin and works perfectly when the temperature starts hitting the high 20s/low 30s (celsius - just in case you're from the one country that doesn't use the metric system). The stay time of this base is insanely good. It's great at oil controlling, and this sounds insane, but I'm convinced that this base somehow, mixes with the oils and makes it look even better than when first applied. I know, I know, it sounds insane, but it's true????
But I've still been adding some glow back into the face with Milani Luminoso. An old favourite that I can't believe I forgot about, this peachy pink blush is perfect for the spring/summer. True to the name, this is a blush that just adds enough glow to look as close to divinity as humans can get.
Even though it seems like we're headed straight into summer, I've been trying to create some sense of 'spring' through my makeup. The Laura Mercier Eye Art Artist Palette has pretty much been the only eyeshadow palette I've used the whole month. I love the toned down purples and the subtle shimmer gold-bamboo shade in the palette. These eyeshadows are insanely pigmented and the shades are all so sophisticated and maintain quite neutral while adding some colour.
The last makeup product that I've really been enjoying the past month has been the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner. I've had this little one for almost two years now and it doesn't show any sign of drying up. Granted, I probably forgot about this for a year, but despite it, the colour is still inky black and performs insanely well. This is definitely one of my favourite products for when I want to achieve a (relatively) equal sharp cat eye look as it stays all day and is easy to use.
One of the main reasons I've been distracted from blogging, other than the insane amount of things that just never seem to stop, is I've picked up a new hobby. As much as I love technology, I'm still more of a pen to paper kinda person. Physically writing something down just makes it feel more real. Modern calligraphy is a field that I've been standing on the outside looking in for years, I never knew where to start and it all just seemed a bit farfetched. But luckily, I have a friend that's really into fountain pens, and from there, I got the start I needed. I've been practicing for just under two months so I'm still trying to get the hang of things. But if you're interested, I did open up a second instagram account to document my handlettering process.
With an average temperature of 28 degrees, May has welcomed Summer onto this island. April was a busy month and I don't think May will be any less hectic. But, it's also my birthday month and I'll be quite happy to finally spend my birthday with family for the first time in 4 years. Also Jenn's visiting Taipei in a couple of weeks so hurrah! How was your April and what were some of your favourites? With Love, Daphne x

the 'autopilot' makeup products

28.4.16

You know those days when you seem to be running on autopilot as your brain refuses to function even after a dangerously large cup of coffee, or you're too distracted to put focus on the makeup process. It doesn't necessarily mean that you need to cut down the routine to fit a 5 minute time frame, it just means that you're unconsciously reaching for the products that won't require any brainpower for the whole process. I made note of the products piled on my table after an autopilot morning and while most of these no fail products won't come as a surprise, I still thought it'd be interesting to show you the ones I tend to reach for when my brain decides that it just can't be bothered.
My base choice shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that's been around these corners for a while, but there seems to be a gravity force around the NARS Tinted Moisturiser (review) that sucks me in every time. It's the Bermuda Triangle in my foundation collection, people. It's one of those do it all bases and will not fail you no matter how you choose to apply it.
Under eye concealing is something that I do whenever I wear makeup and the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is the one I always reach for when I have a temporary brain lapse. It's brightening and has just enough coverage to highlight the under eye area while still looking quite natural with a tint of shadow showing through.
I tend to go for a simple eye look on these days, with either the options of roughly lining my eyes with a large bronze eye crayon, like the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze, and then smudging it out either with a pencil brush or just a simple q-tip, depending on what I have on hand.
If I'm feeling a little more sophisticated and less 'low key grunge', then the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette is my go-to. Mixing two midtone shades to slightly define the crease before mixing the only shimmery shade and the other two lighter shades to brighten up the lid area. I usually either press the black eyeliner into the lash line or use a brown eyeliner, such as MAC Powerpoint Eyeliner in Stubborn Brown, before going with a couple coats of mascara.
Last but not least. I was more than a bit surprised at my lip product choices when I was making note of the products I reach for when my brain is boycotting. I was sure that it would be entirely of MAC lipsticks (seeing as they're the only part of my makeup that's remotely organised). However, it seems that I have a soft spot for my drugstore buddies. Most probably because they're the more hydrating options in my lipstick collection (explanation here). Anyway. Rather than a bright bold lip, I seem to be a lot more sensible in my autopilot mode, reaching for shades that'll fall under the neutral zone. Catrice In a Rosegarden, Essence Natural Beauty, and Rimmel 08 (all swatches here) were all dug out of my jacket pockets, which shows how much I rely on these lip shades when my brain decides to call it quits that day.

I'm sure we've all had those days when your brain just decides to turn off but life just doesn't allow you to roll around in bed all day while watching reruns of your favourite show. As much as I like makeup, it's not necessarily the bit that I want to use the little amount of brain power I have working for me that day. In times like these, autopilot mode means there are certain products that have a stronger gravitational force. What are some of your 'autopilot, no brainer' products? With Love, Daphne x

march favourites 2016.

31.3.16

March has been a pretty good month. I had two technological upgrades (well, one was more of a battery update), picked up a new hobby that doesn't require staring at a computer screen, started a ~~semi-~~regular jogging routine again, got to see my grandmother for the first time in near 18 months, managed to enjoy the one week we had sun, spent a lot of time with Jo as we brainstormed a potential business plan while munching on baguettes and drinking tea. In terms of beauty, March has been one that's been filled with rediscoveries. First up, I've been breaking out like mad the second half of the month and needed a base that provided a bit more coverage than my usual tinted moisturisers. The Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation ticked the boxes and was pulled out from storage. I mixed it with the Dior BB Cream (review) as the foundation itself was a couple shades too dark now I'm at my palest. I've also been using my fingers to press in the foundation and discovered that it really helps to 'melt' the base into my skin, leaving a natural looking base that doesn't skimp on coverage. I forced myself to put down the matte eyeshadows at the start of the month and fell in love with the Stila In the Light Eyeshadow Palette all over again when I used it for my cousin's wedding. I also used this same palette the last time I went to a wedding. It's perfect to create a bright eyed, soft and glowy look that will suit special occasions or just your average day. While the packaging leaves quite a bit for desire, the quality of the shadows are impeccable (although the more shimmery shades are prone to fallout) and the price is quite reasonable and affordable. I've pushed liquid liner to the back of my collection the past few months. But I've been getting the winged liner itch again and fished my trusty Collection Fast Stroke Liquid Liner (review) out of the drawers. A traditional pot and brush approach, the nib of the rubber/silicone(?) brush is flexible enough to draw a line without scratching your eyelids and firm enough for someone with a heavy and unsteady hand to operate. I would suggest wiping off the excess product on the rim of the bottle before going in to draw the line as the product is quite watery and might take a while to dry. It's always easy to go back in and darken the line. If I'm feeling like a particularly sharp wing that day, I like to go in with the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner to finish the ends of the wing. As for lip products, it's been an oldie and another that I don't think has been mentioned on the blog before. I've been wearing a lot of natural lip colours since the year started, storing my brighter and bolder shades for special occasions. However, I've been using MAC All Fired Up (review and swatch) much more the past month. A medium pinky red, this is bold enough to make a statement but it's dark and muted enough to wear on a daily basis and not feel overdressed. It's also a matte formula that'll ensure to stay in place through constant snacking and copious cups of coffee/tea. The new lip product that I've been throwing in my bag is the Essence Natural Beauty Lipstick. It's a mauvey pink shade that's fabulous for an everyday natural shade. It's a sheer-ish creamy formula that's quite hydrating. It's one of those shades that you can apply on the go and sans mirror. It reminds me of the MAC Lustre formulas but slightly more hydrating. Last but not least, I don't normally feature products outside the beauty/skincare category in my monthly favourites but I thought I'd make an exception. I finally upgraded to an iPhone 6S+ at the start of the month. I've been operating on my aunt's old iPhone 4 the past year and a half, so it was definitely time for an upgrade. It was expensive, but I was able to leech onto Jo's contract renewal to bring the price down a bit. I also decided to embrace my inner 7 year old and dress it in a rather loud Pikachu phone case. It's not everyone's taste (both my younger siblings despise it) but I find the ears rather endearing. I've forgotten what it's like to have a smooth operating phone that doesn't threaten to shut down every 5 minutes. I've also forgotten what it's like to be able to have memory capacity to download apps. Tell me, what are some apps that I should download? All in all, March was a much welcomed change from the horrible month before. I'm hoping that the rest of the year will only improve and not go the other way around. What have been some of your best moments in the past 31 days? With Love, Daphne x

5 to try from innisfree

24.3.16

Korean makeup is having its moment on the international platform and rightly so. I have more access to this trend now that I've moved back to this Eastern Asian island. But I must say, I've been completely enticed by one brand and haven't really explored other options. Innisfree is an ecofriendly brand that was born on Jeju Island. Most, if not all, of the brand's products include various natural extracts. They also have a great membership that encourages recycling old packaging. It's not an understatement to say that Innisfree is my favourite Korean brand to date. I've tried a fair amount of products from the brand and these are the five products that I think you should definitely give a shot.

MakeupThe first one is going to be no surprise to anyone that's read my blog in the past couple months. The Water Glow Cushion Foundation has been a firm favourite since I got it at the start of the year. So much so, there's a complete review on it right here. A light coverage that's just enough to even out the uneven patches, this cushion foundation gives a natural, slightly dewy look that will last all day without the need for powder. It's perfect to use on the go as it literally holds everything that you need to apply your base, and can be layered up so you can forego concealer when you're in a rush.
The next makeup product is actually the product that got me hooked onto the brand. Jo gifted me the Creamy Tint Lip Mousse when I first got back to the island country and it's been love at first sight. First things first, it's called a tint, but it's really a liquid lipstick. One coat and you get full opaque colour. These dry down to a satin, almost matte finish, and lasts for hours without feeling drying. I haven't worn these through a particularly greasy meal, but they hold up to your usual light meals. The texture of the product reminds me slightly of the Sephora Lip Creams, liquidy but slightly on the moussey side. I think these might be my favourite liquid lipsticks, winning on the scent. Unlike your usual 'sweet cake batter scent', the offering from the Korean brand is more on the tingy side, smelling like the powdered lemonade that I loved as a kid.

Skincare

Korean beauty brands are probably most famous for their skincare, and not without reason. There's even the infamous 10-step skincare regime that's making its rounds on the internet. While I'm still a step or two short of the comprehensive routine, I've since developed a more advanced regime that includes half a dozen Korean products. Innisfree, without surprise, has secured its spot in my skincare lineup.

The Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil was the product that convinced me to switch to oil-based cleansers. Not only is it true to the name and smells like juicy apples, this is like a makeup assassin, breaking down my makeup in seconds. It also leaves my skin feeling plump and almost hydrated after I wash it off. Plus, how cute is the fresh green packaging?

I know it's a bit weird to include samples in the recommendations, but seriously, I have enough samples of the Orchid Enriched Cream to last me a couple of months. If you've ever been to a Korean makeup store, you'll know that they hand out samples like air. I normally don't fall in love with samples, but this purple-packaged moisturiser was an exception. The slightly gel-like texture hydrates the skin without feeling too heavy, and leaves behind a soft hydrated glow when the product is completely absorbed. Also, I love purple.

Last but not least, I've completely fallen head over heels for the Eco Safety Daily Sunblock. Armed with SPF35, this is one that I've really been enjoying when the sun isn't out to blaze the land. There isn't that weird sunscreen smell, nor does it have the annoying coconut scent that some brands do (I really don't like coconut, alright?). It's light on the skin, easily blendable, and doesn't leave a white cast behind. I've really been seeing a difference since I started wearing sunscreen on a daily basis. My skin is a lot smoother and my old acne scarring has since faded a lot quicker. In short, I've been converted to wearing sunscreen on a daily basis.

While Innisfree may not be the easiest brand to physically locate outside of Asia, their official website does international shipping at an affordable price. Plus, there's almost always some kind of offer going on. I really should venture out and try other Korean beauty brands, but quite frankly, I'm completely infatuated by Innisfree and can't see myself cheating on it. Have you tried anything from the brand before? If so, what are your favourites?

With Love, Daphne x

[the review] innisfree water glow cushion foundation

18.2.16

january favourites 2016.

4.2.16

I can't believe I actually typed 2016 correctly the first time around - at least for the title. I somehow messed up the first sentence by typing 2015...oh well, small victory-ish. The past month has been one with reunions - I've had some old friends fly back to the island country to vote in the presidential elections and of course, reunions were warranted. Also, I never thought I'd be freezing in Taiwan as the winters here have the average temperature of 14 degrees celsius. So about 3 days, it seemed as if the apocalypse was near as the temperatures were around 3 degrees celsius - on flat land. The mountains were pretty much decked with snow - even the ones that were only a several hundred meters high. My fingers are freezing as I'm typing this and I never thought I'd wish to have central heating here in Taiwan. The absurdity.
Enough with the life update and back to the consumerist front. I haven't changed my makeup look that much, but I've been shaking up the products that I've been using. I've rounded together some items that have really given me the heart eyes the past 31 days.
The most exciting thing has to be the Innisfree Water Glow Cushion Foundation. I hauled this at the start of the year and it's been a great start in the 2016 makeup newbie lineup. This is the base that I've opted for 90% of the time, only ditching it when I was massively breaking out and needed a slightly higher coverage foundation. I have a review of this in works so hold your horses, people.
I've been getting back into blushes the past month as the Innisfree Cushion Foundation does tend to wash me out a tad. The first one should be no surprise as I've harped on and on about Tarte Exposed. Even going as far as making the bold claim that this would be the one blush I would keep if I had to give away all the other cheek colours in my collection. It's a natural looking blush that adds life and dimension back into the face and will work with any look, ranging from au natural to flamboyantly glamorous.
Another cheek colour I've really been enjoying is Essence Berry Me Up!, this is the first blush I've tried from the brand and I can see why they're just about everyone's favourite drugstore blush. Heck, it's probably even one of the best formulas in my collection. Soft to the touch, the formula is pigmented enough to create a natural looking blush colour with your usual blush brush, but not overly so that it's hard to work with. Berry Me Up! despite the shade name, is a beautiful medium rosey mauve shade. I could see this being a good natural shade for people with medium skin tones, but it's a great flush of colour if you lean more on the fair-light shade spectrum.
Last but not least, let's get to the usual suspects of lip products. The year started with the odd sense that it seemed to be a new beginning and I'm still not sure what I'm doing with myself. Combined with the constant rainy days and the sun refusing to show face, I needed an equally gloomy lipstick to match the lethargy I was going through. MAC Up The Amp (swatch and review), a grey-ish lavender shade, was the perfect colour. It's moody enough to match the sentiments but had just enough brightness that it didn't drag in depression - it was almost that depressed romantic feeling.
Things started getting better towards the latter of the month - not so much the weather, but I was compelled to go out a bit more and socialise with people that I hadn't realised how much I missed. There's something weird about wearing a grey-lavender lipstick to meet old friends. Under these circumstances, MAC Taupe (swatch and review) was the my go to. It's a lip colour that walks on the fine line between looking natural and adding some drama. It's a wonderful daytime shade, adding a bit of red and effort into an otherwise neutral look.
January, overall, has been quite the emotional up and down. I'm still not quite sure how I've felt about the month in whole, I think I enjoyed the most of it. But the makeup products have not let me down, I hope that's a good indication of what's to come in the 2016 makeup lineup! What have been some of your favourite products in the opening month? With Love, Daphne xWhere to Buy in Taiwan: Innisfree - in stores, Essence - selected Watsons, MAC - Sogo

three drugstore foundations.

18.12.15

i had to have two.

15.12.15

I don't tend to double up on the same products, and I'm not talking MAC lipsticks or eyeshadows here. I'm talking, literally, same product, in two shades. But there have been several products that I love so much, I just...had two. ~~please don't throw rocks at me.~~
The first one isn't going to be a surprise. Probably my oldest makeup love, the Bobbi Brown Corrector (£19) has been a firm staple of mine. I always had mine in Peach until I started realising that it was just a tad too dark for me during my paler months, and would cast a shadow to my concealer - not exactly helping matters. So I immediately bought Light Peach without any hesitation, and I honestly wouldn't even hesitate to purchase a darker shade of this if I miraculously became really tanned some day.
I don't ever double up on my bases. There are just too many options out there to have two shades of the same base product. But I've been in a strong committed relationship with the NARS Tinted Moisturiser (£29) in Grogenland for over a year now, even dedicated to make it work when I was too pale for this by mixing it in with my lightest bases. I finally decided to throw my silly rule of 'no two same bases' out the window and bought Alaska when the sales were going on some weeks ago. Let's face it, complete with SPF and all that jazz, this is the base that I reach for 85% of the time. I'm not quite sure why I have all my other foundations at this point.
The next two don't exactly fit in the same category as the above mentioned products. But they still kinda do. I'm quite iffy about what products I spend my money on - especially if they're from the same brand, or the same line. So I wasn't particularly fussed about the Urban Decay Naked2 Basics (£23) when it came out as I was so done with the whole Naked line even before they announced the release of the Urban Decay Naked 3 a couple years ago. I had and was content with the Urban Decay Naked Basics (£23). But I had a weak moment and bought the latter version, fast forward to now, this is not one I regret. Do you need both? No. But the shades are different enough that I use both on an equal basis to justify having both.
The same goes for the Jo Malone Fragrances (£42 ). I was content with my fragrance collection, and I was utterly in love with the Jo Malone White Jasmine and Mint Cologne as it carried some of my favourite memories. But then I sniffed it in Wood Sage and Sea Salt and it was pretty much just a matter of when, rather than if I would buy it. These two are different enough for me to not look back and weep at the money spent - and quite honestly, this is 66% of my regular fragrance wardrobe.
I don't buy duplicates that often, but there have been certain loves that prompted the end result. Are you someone that buys the same product in different shades? If so, which are the ones that you have two of? With Love, Daphne x

Where to buy in Taiwan: selected Sogo Department Stores (Bobbi Brown, NARS, and Jo Malone), Beauty Bay (Urban Decay)

november favourites 2015.

4.12.15

The past month has been a transition phase - easing back into a whole different culture, learning how to move back home, figuring out how to take things from here. It's been a weird ride and I'm not going to lie and say that it was all fun and no pain. But it's something that I had to go through and learn from.

Moving onto something lighter, I'm also in my makeup transitioning phase as it's been a crazy bipolar weather change. It was brisk and chilly when I left London, and let's just say that Taiwan had a 'cold front' of 16 degrees Celsius, which was a nice change from the average 28 degrees. It's a warm autumn - no, scratch that. I'm hesitating to even call it autumn. I've switched back to my beloved NARS Tinted Moisturiser (£29) (review) for a quick everyday lightweight base that'll hold up to the heat and hold it's ground against the blazing sun with SPF30.

I wrote of my first impressions on the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (£17.50) and I'm happy to report back that it's good enough to have made it into my monthly favourites. This is everything I had hoped the NARS Creamy Concealer would be, except at a lower price. It's medium to full coverage, liquidy and won't dry out my under eye area. Plus, my favourite thing about this is the applicator. I don't think I've ever come across a applicator as soft and flexible as this one before. It's almost like the applicator is softly caressing my under eye area when I apply the product. Nope, it's definitely not as weird as I made it sound.

I've gone back to using my Urban Decay Naked Basics (£23) for a quick and simple eye look. I mix together Naked 2 and Faint for a subtle crease definition while sometimes adding a touch of Foxy and Venus all over the lid if I'm feeling particularly fancy. I'll also like using Naked 2 as a contour shade if I decide it's going to be a wild 'buying coffee' errand run. I live an exciting life.

I have my usual monthly lip product round up - but some of you sharp eyes might have realised something's different. I haven't been reaching for my brights as frequent in the past month - or rather, I should say, when I do, it's either MAC All Fired Up or Flat Out Fabulous, which both made it into last month's favourites. But back to present day, I've been reaching for more neutral shades in the past month as things have been generally quite low maintenance. MAC Faux (15.50), a mauvey pink with slight grey undertones, has been my most used lip colour the past month. I recently did a whole post on my MAC lipstick collection where you can find a more detailed review and swatches of said colour.

Another neutral shade, but this time more beige, that I've been loving the past month has been the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick (£5.49) in 03 (swatch here). I'm still on the fence about the scent, but I really can't fault the formula of these lipsticks. It's an easy to wear pale neutral shade with hints of peach to make it wearable.

Last but not least, another neutral, easy to wear shade that I've been quite enjoying is the Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick ($2.75) in Rose Bud (swatch). A little more brighter than the previous mentioned, this rosey pink is a matte lipstick that makes a low-key statement. One of my favourite formulas, this one will easily last a good 5-6 hours with constant coffee breaks and light snacking.

I'm looking at the roundup of my favourites from the past month and it's quite interesting. On one hand, none of these products are really all that surprising, but on the other hand, it's quite unusual that there's practically no colour in the selection. It's been quite the monochrome month, I suppose. What are your monthly favourites?

With Love, Daphne x
Where to buy in Taiwan: Sogo Department Stores (MAC + NARS), Beauty Bay (Urban Decay), Beauty Joint (Wet N Wild), lookfantastic.com (Rimmel)

worth investing in #2

20.11.15

I've been toning down the makeup spendings since I moved back to Taiwan. I'd like to think that it's mostly because I'm more than happy with my makeup collection - which I am - and am now more sensible with money (read: I'm batshit poor). But let's be real, my mum's horrified reaction when she saw all the makeup I owned and the following lecture is probably what's stopping me from raiding the Korean makeup stores that seem to be on every street corner here.

Anywho. That ramble has a point, which I probably should've made like, three sentences ago. There's a difference between products worth the money and those worth investing in. I've gathered together some more products that have a performance record well beyond their price tag and worth those hard-earned pennies.

I've been quite vocal about the Urban Decay Naked Basics (£23) since back when this blog had a culinary name. Fast forward 2.5 years later and I'm still very much in love with this palette. Depending on your preferences, both the original Naked Basics and the Naked2 Basics are worth investing in as matte eyeshadow palettes are already rare enough and for the each shadow to be insanely high quality is like finding water in the desert. Plus, it's not just an eyeshadow palette. Old dog, new tricks. Break the rules, think outside the box. I like to bring this little one when I travel as I can also use the midtoned shades for contouring and the one shimmer shade as a highlighter.

Another old love that's been well documented on the blog, the Bobbi Brown Corrector (£19) is one that you need if you have serious dark circles. Like bold, capital letters NEED. I've always had this little pot of perfection in my makeup bag since, well, since I started wearing makeup. It works wonders at colour correcting even the darkest of pits, meaning that you minimise the potential for major undereye concealer cake-up when piling on concealer after concealer in vain.

I haven't talked about the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (£30) in a while, but it's still well loved. This is a tinted moisturiser that's different from everything else on the market. It's a satin/matte finish that seriously looks like real skin when applied and wears ridiculously well throughout the day. I mean, it'll look good when you first apply, but it'll look fantastic three hours later. The mousse-like texture provides coverage on par with a light foundation while feeling weightless on the skin. Plus, travel friendly squeezy tube? Uh, yes please.

Last but not least, I never thought a lipstick would ever be worth investing in. But the NARS Audacious Lipsticks (£24) have proven me wrong. These are not just worth the money, they are the one lipstick line I would keep if I was forced to give away all my other lipsticks. Bold claim, I know, but let's break it down. First off, insane colour payoff. Wears really well through coffees and burgers. Formula while not hydrating, but very comfortable even after 6-7 hours. Also, the magnetic packaging? Yes. The extensive shade range, funnily enough is a bit hit or miss as there seems to be a huge gap between the jump in colours while having handful of shades that are extremely similar. So if you can find a colour, or five, that you really love. I'd say go forth and invest, my child. You won't regret it.
Saving money isn't the easiest thing when you love buying makeup. But there are several products that are definitely worth the investment. The 4+1 mentioned in this post are all those that I would happily part ways with my money again and again as they pretty much qualm the further seeking of any other products in the same category. What are some of the products you think are worth the investment? With Love, Daphne x

Previously On: Worth Investing In #1Where to buy in Taiwan: Sogo Department Stores (NARS + Bobbi Brown), Beauty Bay (Urban Decay), Cult Beauty (Jouer)