Everytime a brand released a new highlighter, you went crazy and swear THIS IS your highlighter and IT IS THE ONLY highlighter you need. You hunt for it, you bought it and then, another brand also released a new highlighter, you find yourself repeating the same reaction or process. And another brand, and another. The story goes on. “I only need this highlighter in my life”. How often have you said that or heard your friend said that? Too often . “I only need this highlighter in my life” – NOT!

As much as I still go gaga or ooohhhs and ahhhhs over new highlighter releases, I don’t find myself wanting to purchase them. It’s getting stale. I find that everybody in the whole wide world is forever never ending releasing a new highlighter. It’s getting too repetition that I got bored and stopped buying highlighters. Let’s be honest here. Highlighter never finishes! I piled them up on my face every day and I don’t see that I’ll hit pan anytime soon. Let me show you my small little highlighter in my collection, which are my favourite and why I don’t purchase anymore highlighters.

Ultimate favourite, the one I regretted not buying a few more

I have heard Zoella talking about the Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée Blush so many times that I regretted not getting it while I still can.

2 years ago, I went to Estée Lauder Staff Sale and I saw this! There she was, sitting beautifully on the table with no one near it. Everyone probably thinking it is too shimmery to be used as a blush but I knew this is not a blush type of blush but a darn pretty highlighter. I giggled my way to the table and grabbed one without blinking. Not even a split second. I had an urge to grabbed another one but I thought I wouldn’t use this as much as that time I wasn’t into all the contouring and highlighting routine. It was my one and only highlighter and I have used it so much so that it has a small dent to it. It’s a waste that Estée Lauder no longer make them anymore as they are the most absolute gorgeous highlighter ever. I was hoping that I will see this at the next warehouse sale but nope, these never make an appearance anymore. It was made in 2013 so Estée Lauder wouldn’t sell this at 2016 staff sale. No way I am throwing this away. There is something about a pink highlighter that goes on so beautifully on the skin. I never quite get this effect from other highlighter except from this. It’s the only highlighter that shows up on photos for me.

The one that shocked me and caught on camera

I tried this Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips All-in-1 Custom Nude Palette For Face & Eyes one day on camera and my shocking reaction was caught on point on camera.

Not only this Shimmer Strips has a cute lace box packaging, albeit a bit bulky but I like lace so yeah. It is said for the face and eyes. So far I used it as highlighter as that’s what I learnt from international Youtubers. Plus I have a separate eye palette within the range for my eyes so I don’t use this for the eyes. Some people has been using the warm bronzey bottom as their bronzer but I find it to be too shimmery. As a topper yes, not as the main bronzer alone. I like to use the top two rows, run my brush on them several times and voilá. The highlighter is so blinding that it lasts the entire day. If you have darker skin, just swirl everything together. Another thing I notice is how fine the shimmers are. There aren’t much powder kick back to it. Although I have been using this like crazy, I still don’t see a dent. How is that even possible! I am so totally recommending this if you need a good highlighter that is absolutely affordable.

Waitlisted, bought and disappointed, the one that is cheap but does nothing

I wanted to complain about the ELF Illuminating Palette so much but it is so cheap, like RM26.84 cheap that I shut my mouth lol.

I own a ELF Contour Palette and it was not too bad so when iHerb has the Blush Palette and Illuminating Palette, I bought immediately. However the Illuminating Palette was sold out within the next minute that I was put on waitlist. I immediately check out when it was back in stock.

It was a disappointing palette to be honest. It has no pigmentation AT ALL. The only shade that is more shimmery is the 1st shade on the top left. The rest is more of a matte shade with no pigmentation at all. I don’t reach out for this palette at all nowadays as this palette require plenty of time piling up. And the end result is not wow even though so

Does better than how it look

I decided to lump these two Essence Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter and Wet n Wild Mega Cushion Highlight together because my thoughts on them are pretty similar.

Essence Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter is an exciting purchase this year. It is so cheap and it’s pretty interesting to see a rainbow highlighter turned into a golden highlight. It is beautiful on the skin, with super fine shimmers and almost no powder kick back. The highlight is subtle but definitely there type of highlighter. As it is a golden-ish type of highlight, I can’t see clearly in my dark room and I always end up piling them. What amazed me was that, no matter how much I used, it is not blinding or looking too overly done. It is still beautifully highlighting and yet not overly done type of highlighter.

Wet n Wild Mega Cushion Highlight on another hand requires a little bit of getting used to at first when it is new. At the beginning I ended up with a patchy highlight strip on the top of my cheeks and that freak me out. Later on I found a way around; and that is to tap on the back of my hand to even out the liquid highlight before dabbing it on my cheek bone. It is so gorgeous! I was blown away everytime I whipped this out to use. The end result looks like as I was using an expensive highlighter but actually this cost just $5.99 each. I’m glad I bought 2!

The most outrageous expensive highlighter I use

Ahhhh Guerlain Coque D’Or Perfumed Shimmer Powder Body & Hair. I fell in love with this mainly for its packaging. Do I have any use for perfumed powder? Not at all

These days no one goes out with shimmery hair or skin unless you are in a photo shoot or fashion show. I missed the previous one so I told myself I have to get this. And I did. Then I ended up not knowing what to do with it. It cost me nearly RM400. I told myself it’s too expensive as vanity table decoration lol. So I ended up using it on my cheek bone as highlighter! It works but the misting has to be really precise and on point. If not and you need to spread it out with your fingers, you will find all the shimmers stick to your fingers instead of the face. It’s a waste of money I tell you lol. During my earlier highlighting days, I used to use this a lot but I can never get a precise mist. It always ended up on my cheeks rather than on my cheekbone. It also has fly away shimmers that tend to get on every other part of the face. It’s outrageous, it’s expensive and I’m using it as highlighter. Oh well

Now, confession time. Which one of you cannot stop buying highlighter? I think I have problem to stop purchasing contour or bronzing product but highlighter? I don’t need a lot. So far I have been doing pretty good.

The post “I only need this highlighter in my life” – NOT! appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

I am not a fan of Essence Cosmetics. I once bought a dried up gel eyeliner from them, confronted them and they refuse to do anything with it and even pushed the blame to me. And so I brought my money elsewhere, over to Catrice. As you know, I AM A HUGE FAN OF CATRICE. Yeah I know the principal brands are from the same company. But not in Malaysia. I prefer to spend my money on something I know good and worth the money and that is definitely not Essence. I have been quite good with not buying anything from Essence until today. I saw someone posted a photo of the Exit To Explore collection AND the Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter yesterday and that is how I broke my no-Essence shopping ban.

I have been wanting a rainbow highlighter for ages. I nearly ordered one from Wet n Wild a few months ago but they were out of stock . Then I found out Tony Moly launched one too but I was too lazy to go over Tony Moly. I predict the price would not be cheap aka around RM60-ish for that highlighter and that makes me even more lazier. I prefer Wet n Wild. So I wait. I have known about Essence Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter for quite some time, no thanks to Instagram. What I did not predict was that Malaysia will bring it in. Totally did not see that coming lol. I went to the nearest mall which I knew has a complete Essence display yesterday first thing in the morning.

This is the MAIN reason why I broke my no-Essence shopping ban. Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter (RM18.90). Urrgghh! So pretty, I can’t.

I have been so curious about rainbow highlighter. People have been using it as it is aka a rainbow on the cheek as highlight. For Instagram yes you could get away with it but in real life? You will probably be deemed as lunatic! I was more intrigued with how it is when all colors are swirled together. Will it be blue? Or red? The answer is, a beautiful light gold shade. I even wanted to buy off every single one of it from the shelf after swatching them. Three times to be precise. I swatched the damn highlighter THREE TIMES to make sure I am not hallucinating. Plus the guard was not in yet so I took my sweet sweet time swatching and taking photos lol.

Exit To Explore Collection

The second reason why I wanted to check out Essence this time is this new Exit To Explore collection. The collection theme evolves around the exotic world of the Amazon. I was attracted to the blush packaging. Essence packaging are typically bland but this My Heart Is Beating Like A Jungle Drum (RM18.90) is one of its kind. I seriously cannot stop staring at it. And the Hornbill on the blush is so Malaysia. If you put plant and flower on the packaging, I can’t stop thinking about it. And if you add one exotic animal on the packaging, you have my money lol.

There was no tester for this blush but while I was at the store I could see that it may be an ombre blush. I was right. I quickly tore the tape off as soon as I was home and was glad to see it is indeed an ombre blush. I have posted everything on my Instagram so if you’re not following me, too bad . You’re missing out all the shopping deals, bargains, irresistible findings and many more

There was supposed to be three single eyeshadow in the collection but there was only two at the store.

The lipstick was kinda meh. I would give this a pass.

Moving on, something new and it was interesting. BLUSHplay Sculpting Blush Palette (RM21.90). Essence website shows that there are two shades but I only spot one.

Another new product and it is a massive one. Single eyeshadows! Lots and lots of it. Each single eyeshadow pan is retailing for RM9.90. There are two empty palette for sale. Small one goes for RM9.90 while the big one RM10.90.

There are also three new brushes. I am holding two because I could not find the third one. Smokey Eyes Brush looks good!

Now, this one I cannot brain. Rock ‘n’ Doll Duo Stylist Eyeliner Pen. It has a ball-shaped felt tip. I don’t think you can do a feline flick at the end with the “ball” but according to Essence, the ball-shaped tip is supposed to make your life easier by dotting on to create a line. Let me warn you that the ball is big therefore the dot would be too. Unless you have huge eyes or eyelid space otherwise I would recommend a normal eyeliner.

This last product is something I was impressed with. 2-in-1 Eyeshadow & Liner is just RM15.90 each, can you believe it? The browns are beautiful and it sets almost immediately after I swatched it. I had a tough time scrubbing the swatches off with a tissue paper so I presumed the longevity of these would be good? I had enough browns at home so I did not get any despite the temptation was strong lol.

That is all from me today on Essence Cosmetics. If you have been following me on Instagram, you are already on a “shopping trip” with me yesterday morning. More shopping shenanigans on my Instagram stories! Until the next post…ciao!

The post The Long-Awaited Wish to Own A Rainbow Highlighter Came True with Essence Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

Essence and I, we don’t get along. I used to like the brand until they screwed up customer service on their social media. Then came a nut case going after me on Facebook because the eyeliner pot I bought was all dried up and Essence did not want to take responsibility. It’s either this nut case is a hard core fan of Essence cosmetics Malaysia or she is someone working in Essence Malaysia lol. Anyway…

So. I’ve been hearing about the Essence Longlasting Lipliner for quite some time. I am on the lip liner kick a few months ago and it never crossed my mind to even check out Essence. Why spend on a brand that doesn’t care about their customer and customer service right? That’s what I had in mind for years. One crazy afternoon swatching at Watsons without any supervision and that’s it. I went home with these lip liners.

Despite the brand having a permanent placement in selective Watsons stores and they are quite easy to bump into, I always find that their products are either out of stock or they are not fully displayed. I absolutely hate shelves that are neither here or there. The Longlasting Lipliner are quite a new range in Essence and they are a pain to search for. It is always out of stocks. I finally found tons of it at Watsons Damansara Uptown. That afternoon, I bought just 2 lipliner – 08 Girl Next Door and 07 Plum Case. A week later, I took a casual morning stroll at Watsons Kajang and bought another 2 lipliner – 05 Lovely Frappucino and 06 A Girl’s Dream.

I don’t know how many shades they have because like I mentioned, their stocks are neither here or there. There’s always something missing. One thing I have to warn you is that the packaging colour does not reflect the lipliner shade. What you see on the outside is different from the lipliner itself. I went back to repurchase 2 more lipliner because they are really good.

I’ve heard about 05 Lovely Frappucino a lot, but upon swatching all 3 nude shades available (09 Purely Me, 08 Girl Next Door, 05 Lovely Frappucino), I have decided with 08 Girl Next Door as the nude shade are not too light or dark. On my hand that is lol. Upon applying onto my lips, I regretted not getting 05 Lovely Frappucino instead. I looked like I am sick or something. It is too pale on me.

My favourite shade has got to be my all-time go-to mauve shade. 07 Plum Cake is the perfect everyday mauve shade. I am so happy with this shade as I can even wear it on it’s own as replacement to lipstick.

05 Lovely Frappucino is the most confusing shade. On swatch, it is more red brown than a nude brown. That is also the reason why I didn’t want to get it at first. I just don’t do chocolate shade for my lips. However, on my lips it’s a gorgeous nude with a hint of pink in it. Kinda reminds me of Burberry Lip Velvet Peony Rose.

06 A Girl’s Dream is a deep red shade. I thought I needed a red lipliner in my life. I fell in love with it upon swatching, but on my lips it is far more red than I expected. Usually I just top it up with a lip gloss or a sickly nude shade that are not suitable to be worn on it’s own

Now, what are so awesome about these Essence Longlasting Lipliner you asked? I have tried so many lipliner and they are all too waxy, too draggy and too drying on the lips. Some even tend to detach the top skin layer off from the lips and I ended up with huge skin flakes on my lips. Before this, I find that Golden Rose Dream Lips Lipliner that are equally good and affordable although I think they are a tiny bit waxy for my liking. But they are good. When I’ve tried these Essence Longlasting Lipliner, that’s it. I have found the holy grail lipliner that I’ve been looking for.

Normally before I start to do my makeup, I will apply a thin layer of lip balm and blot all that way before using lipliner. These Longlasting Lipliner went on the lips SO SMOOTHLY and non patchy. When you do apply the lipliner on dry lips, you will find that it is slightly waxy on application. That’s what I discovered when I was photographing the above lip swatches. I didn’t know that as I’ve been applying them after I removed the lip balm. It stays on the lips without any tackiness even when I pressed both lips together. It does not dry my lips nor does it flakes the skin. I like that it prolong my lipstick even after food and drinks. Did I also mention that it doesn’t crease or settles into the nasty fine lines on my lips? A RM8.90 lipliner that I would highly recommend

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought the product on my own.

The post Essence Longlasting Lipliner: Who would have thought a lipliner that cost less than 10 bucks is this good appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona