Gifts & Ginormous Collective Haul

Hollaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...*echoing away*
Anybody still reading my blog posts?!?!

So I've been MIA for the past 3-4 months. However, I have a very valid reason: "WORK".

The line of work I'm in goes into a MASSIVE overdrive annually during the final quarter (October-ish -> January-ish), not to mention ad-hoc projects from time to time :(

And after a whole day of slaving away...erm...I mean...working...at the office, the last thing I need is to crank up the home lappie to edit YouTube videos and Blog.

My apologies, but really, WORK = $$$ = HAULS...So, unless I win the lottery... ^_^

Some Gifts & A Ginormous Collective Haul Ahead...
- Because When I'm Under Pressure, I Shop, A Lot!
- So Be Warned, Judgmental Peeps!

- Just bear in mind that the whole shebang (and some minor items which I can't seem to recall :P) spans over a 3-4 month period...

- This is a TONNE of stuff; thus I'll be doing my usual "Reviews"/"Short Reviews" in BATCHES, ok? :)
- Stay TUNED!

Anyway, I have a strong feeling that I won't be hauling all THAT much this year ^_~ because 2011's focus will be on....

..."Bases"...

&

..."Skincare"...- Hey! I'm 35! I need to amp it up yo!

X'Mas & Birthday Gifts from FuzKittie:

Yes, I turned 35 the week before last...
Damn! I can't even "lie" and say I'm in my early 30s now because I'm officially over that threshhold!

However, much comfort came in the form of a Gift package from the Fooz with some items I've been lemming for ages... ^_^

- Estee Lauder Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in "Extravagant Gold" <3 (Holiday 2010)

(This is what I'd hoped Guerlain Rue de Francs Bourgeois to be, but sadly, its texture leaves a lot to be desired :(  Even the super-luxe packaging was no consolation)

- Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer

- Bare Escentuals High Shine Eye Colour in "Golden Khaki"

- Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (deluxe sample)

- Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in #120

- Kameria Water Drop BB Cream

- Kiehls eye cream sample sachets

And she even filmed a video for me *touched*...TWICE...because she forgot to press the Record button the first time round :P

Another PicTut...Lunasol Spring 2011 Ocean Scene Eyes - 02 Natural Ocean...

Can you tell I'm on the roll with PicTuts? ^_~ I'm taking advantage of a lull period :P

PicTut: Asian Eye Brow 101 - Fuller Brows

Finally...After a 3-month hiatus...A new vid...Sorry if the editing's a little rusty... :(

BB Cream/Blemish Balm Swatches - All 16 of Them!

I Confess:
   ...I am a Masochist...
   ...A Masochist who feels perverse pleasure in failure of finding The One (my apologies to Keanu Reeves)...
   ...The One Blemish Balm ("BB") which matches my NC25-NC30 skintone...
   ...The One BB whose texture agrees with my finicky preferences in base products...
   ...The One BB which doesn't make my skin erupt...
   ...And the Search continues...
   ...Alas...
   ...For I Believe...
   ...The One is still out there...

   ...Awaiting Me...

Most BBs are either way too light, way too pink, or both.
Really, people can rave all they want about how uber natural BBs look, but they only look natural IF they match your skintone.
As for their "miraculous chameleon-like-one-shade-fits-all" colour-adjusting property, well, let's just say ONE shade can only "adjust"/oxidise so much... =_="
In fact, using BBs makes me feel like I am the most tanned Oriental Asian O_o
(I know - rehashed - but I still stand by what I said back then...)
And don't get me started on the texture issues, please...
(...Thick, pasty, hard-to-blend, spackle-like...)

Edited 16 January 2011:
Important!
Sometimes, BB swatches are NOT accurate representations as certain BB creams may LIGHTEN or DARKEN as you blend.

Note:
I do NOT own the BBs in Batch 1 anymore, except for the Nude Cosmetics Skin Radiance 3 in 1 Multi BB SPF 25 PA++.
You can use that as a Control to gauge the other BBs undertones and colour depth.

Behold...Batch 2 of BBs I've been dabbling with in the recent months.
Most of them are failures and I shall be looking up new homes for them soon (via my BlogSale).
However, my stubborn streak is still trying to make the more promising ones work...The Vichy in particular because oil-control is superb!