Nerdy Review // Battle of the Powders

I have been a powder person for as long as I'm aware of. But recently, to be exact for the past 6 months, I have been slowly ditching the powder face & started to embrace the healthy glow. The 3 powders you see in the above are the ones that have been rotating in my makeup/travel makeup bag. After using them quite a good period of time, I can now provide my verdict.

1. Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in 53 Beige Clair
One of my favourites so far. The price is reasonable, could be found in the drugstore, so finely milled it doesn't cake up, has a slim packaging with build-in mirror, light weight, has a faint floral scent and most importantly it doesn't clog pores. The faint floral scent however might not be everyone's cup of tea. For a drugstore powder, it has done everything it should have done. There isn't anything to complain about, other than the colour range. Since it is from the drugstore, this powder comes in 4 shades only.

The reason why I've partially stopped using this is because shade 53 a little too neutral for my skin tone. As my skin has yellow undertones, this doesn't match me perfectly. Overall, I would still recommend this to people who needs a simple powder that works.

2. Soap n Glory Instant Retouch Pressed Powder
Best face powder till date. By looking at the picture above, you could tell the powder is very yellowish which really brightens up my face without changing the colour of the base! No matter how much I slap this on, this powder somehow doesn't show on the skin. Weirdly amazing how invisible this product is. I like how the compact comes with a mirror and doesn't have a scent. Personally, I don't think this has any coverage at all. But since I don't mind my little imperfection peeking through, it's not an issue to me :)

Soap n Glory makes good beauty products and this is the very first makeup product I've tried. I have the 'One Heck of a Blot' powder at home and is currently being testing out.

3. Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Pact
Before my trip to Seoul I did some research online just get some knowledge on Korean cult beauty products and all that jazz. This powder was largely recommended by several bloggers so I caved in and bought it. At the first sight, don't you think this product is organic, natural and lightweight? After using it a handful of times, I stopped reaching for it. This is why:

~ It is so powdery that the powder clings onto my dry patches like no other. Emphasizes them as if I have skin disease.
~ Doesn't apply smoothly. Picked some up with my brush, gently swiped across my face and ended up with a blotch of white powder in the middle of my forehead. LOL.

Gosh, thank goodness I bought one only. Seriously considered buying two because the reviews were so convincing! Anyways, do you have a powder that you love? After I'm done testing out all powders on hand, Laura Mercier's loose setting powder is next :)

Happy Saturday people!

What's Next : Manicure May // Essie Midnight Cami

What's In my Travel Makeup Bag + Car accident update

I love travelling and I think almost everyone around me knows. For my last work trip, I downsized my makeup bag and brought only the essentials. However, I ended up using my Tony Moly brow pencil and Fresh Sugar Lip treatment only. Since it was a work trip, I didn't want to overdo anything so I kept it simple and just enough to rock the day.

What I brought:
- Bourjois 123 CC Cream in 32 Beige Clair (Fantastic product with a  medium coverage & most importantly it provides a silky finish)
- Bourjois 123 CC Eye Cream
- Tony Moly Eyebrow Pencil in 02 Black Brown
- Nature Republic Eye Pencil in No 3
- L'Oreal Butterfly Waterproof
- Maybelline the Rocket Volume Express
- Essence Beauty Beats Highlighter
- Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder
- Lush Mint Julip
- Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry
- Essence XXL Lip gloss in 25 Bright Side of Life
- 20's Factory Orange Lip Tint in No 2
- Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Tulip
- Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 111 Kiss of Life

Brought a bold lip option just for those random night outs. Used the Bourjois 123 Eye Cream once only which was on the morning I had a minor hangover hahaha :) Its not necessary for me to powder because it largely depends on where am I and what will I be doing for the rest of the day. If its a colder climate, powder is not needed but if I know I have to go about doing work, I'll just gently sweep on some powder, focusing on ze T zone.

On a side note, I know Innisfree is now available in Malaysia. Tried this powder several times and still cant give an opinion yet. But so far I find it too powdery for my liking. It happened where I ended up with a white cast on my forehead...not cute :/

What are your travel beauty essentials? <3

Update: I had a car accident on the 12th Jan. Thank you for those who asked about me, especially my friend who called all the way from Germany to check me out. To be honest, I feel blessed to be here still. My back tyre exploded and I lost total control over the car. Car crashed.

For the sake of my life, the windows did not shatter, and I was totally unharmed. Sprained my shoulder and neck but what is that in comparison to me losing my life? My friend brought me to the hospital immediately and I got my neck X-rayed. Doctor was afraid I dislocate my neck. Report came out and thank god, it was good news. :)

My parents were not informed because they were on their way back from UK and was already on board. Which led to the reason why I drove a bigger car that day. I know that they have several large luggages with them therefore wanted to pick them up from the airport.

I am still alive because I drove a bigger car. Both airbags ejected and that saved my life. To be honest, I thought I was gone. I choked on smoke and could barely see because my specs fell off. Vision was blur....At that point of time, I could only think of my family..

After the body check-up, my uncle fetched me home. I went to bed after taking my medications. Thankfully I woke up with my parents being at home. I didn't say it out loud so I texted my mum the next day. I told her:

 " Mummy, when my car crashed yesterday, I thought I passed away. At that point of time, I could only think of the 3 of you..I have no regrets in my life. I have been to places I wanted to go, said things I wanted to say and I lived my days being happy...The only thing that I can't really let go is the 3 of you..Don't tell me you have never thought I would leave before you because life is unpredictable. People who say this are people who don't appreciate life and who takes life for granted. Nothing lasts forever. Therefore I hope if there is one day where I leave first, I hope the 3 of you can live happily. "

I feel bloody lucky to be able to talk to my family and friends still. Anyways, I hope my little story made you realize the importance of living everyday happily as if its your last. :)

Busy Day!

What I had on for the lazy & busy day?

Slapped on some CC cream from Bourjois, curled those darling lashes using NYX eyelash curler, added 1 coat of L'Oreal Butterfly Waterproof Mascara, groomed those brows using Tony Moly eyebrow pencil and lightly tinted my lips with a hot pink lip lacquer.

Spent quality hours planning for the week ahead, scheduling blog posts, improvising the blog and even writing thank you cards to my friends recently met in Seoul! By the way, I totally forgotten to take a photo of my ootd . Will do so next time =)