Hong Kong Essentials

Now, I know many of you may not be traveling to Hong Kong in the near future, but I wanted to show you the staples of my makeup bag while I was there. Hong Kong's weather is very much like the southern United States in the summer---hot and very humid (think 85 degrees F and up, and up to 90% humidity daily). In fact, the weather is like any tropical region as well-- including Hawaii, so if you are hitting up a humid spot this summer, this just might come in handy!

Above are the very bare bones of what I brought ( I brought more, but these were the workhorses) mixed in with some of my kitschy finds!

1. It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin ($18): I received this free with an Ulta order (you can pretty much get this free at Ulta all the time) and a few spritzes made my hair look awesome, even with the crappy hotel blow dryer and the crazy humidity.

2. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Apricot ($4.99): This perfect peachy color and thin tube meant I could stick this in a pocket and I never looked overdone during the daytime of crazy touristy things!

3. Benefit Gimme Brown in Light/Medium ($22): A no fuss tinted brow gel that kept me polished for nice dinners out but never smudged or ran, even when I was 'glistening'.

4. bareMinerals Ready blush in The French Kiss ($22): Great staying power and a universally flattering color!

5. Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream ($35): A larger review of this will be up soon, but this kept me looking gorgeous (and people complimented my skin) even when it started pouring with monsoon-status rains.

6. NYX Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner ($5.99): Has officially made holy grail status as a black liner for me, especially since it withstood extreme humidity for up to 15 hours straight.

7. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Grapefruit ($7.50): With SPF 25 and a cheery scent, it wasn't so hard to perk up from the jet lag with this.

8. NYX Matte Blotting Paper ($3.99): Blotting papers are a must in weather like Hong Kong's, and these are my favorite!

What are your favorite hot and humid weather products?
Oh, and more photos!

Above is my favorite pastel-colored building, the Stanley beach, and the entire city at night from the tallest point!

Kourtney's Kardazzle!

I have to round out the bunch. She may be my favorite Kardashian. But Scott is well...Scott..

 

Her case has a rose tone to it and is indicative of the colors inside. While Kim's is dark and smokey and Khloe's is neutral, Koutney's is feminine.

 

 

For $12.99, you get 4 matte shadows (which didn't show up, like Khloé's. Kim's mattes performed the best) and 4 sparkly shades. You get 3 face colors too.

 

 

I love the sparkly shades. No fallout, creamy and pigmented. A bright gold, a rose-toned silver, a burgundy, and a dark brown.

 

 

Again, the highlighter is basically the same in all three palettes.

 

Kim's had to be the best, Kourtney's the second, and Khloe's the worst. I guess that corresponds to people's opinions on them all rather nicely eh? Cute travel palette.

 

Price: 7/10

Performance: 7/10

Color/Wearability: 8/10

Packaging: 10/10

Overall Quality: 7/10

Total: 39/50 = C+ = Mildly Dissapointed Panda

Who is your favorite Kardashian? Or favorite palette of the three?

 



Kourtney's Kardazzle!

I have to round out the bunch. She may be my favorite Kardashian. But Scott is well...Scott..

 

Her case has a rose tone to it and is indicative of the colors inside. While Kim's is dark and smokey and Khloe's is neutral, Koutney's is feminine.

 

 

For $12.99, you get 4 matte shadows (which didn't show up, like Khloé's. Kim's mattes performed the best) and 4 sparkly shades. You get 3 face colors too.

 

 

I love the sparkly shades. No fallout, creamy and pigmented. A bright gold, a rose-toned silver, a burgundy, and a dark brown.

 

 

Again, the highlighter is basically the same in all three palettes.

 

Kim's had to be the best, Kourtney's the second, and Khloe's the worst. I guess that corresponds to people's opinions on them all rather nicely eh? Cute travel palette.

 

Price: 7/10

Performance: 7/10

Color/Wearability: 8/10

Packaging: 10/10

Overall Quality: 7/10

Total: 39/50 = C+ = Mildly Dissapointed Panda

Who is your favorite Kardashian? Or favorite palette of the three?

 



IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush Set

Hello Pandas!

The foundation for all good makeup application is good makeup brushes. It is a known fact, but still, beauty mavens often scrimp because brushes just aren't as appealing as a new blush or lipstick. Or maybe it is just me. In the past year or so I have treated myself to middle-range brushes including Sonia Kashuk, Ecotools, and RealTechniques, all of which I love and highly recommend. But recently, I received the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set, and now I am thoroughly spoiled.

 

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set is a set of 6 essential brushes housed in a travel, black stand-up case for $45. They are made from 100% cruelty free fibers as the company claims. IT Cosmetics has all of the proper cruelty-free labels and stamps on their website and it is amazing how these look and feel like real hair. I am SO happy these are eco-friendly too.

The brushes you get, from left to right: A foundation brush (large, flat and tapered), a powder/blush brush (so soft, perfectly round), a small eye shadow brush, a crease/blender, an eyebrow/eyeliner brush with a spoolie on the other end, and a concealer brush.

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good quality travel set of brushes. The handles are beautiful and have little jewels at the bottom and the brushes do not shed and hold their shape as well as apply makeup flawlessly. If you are willing to shell out the little extra, this really is a great value.

 

This is a close up of the foundation brush. It is so pretty and sturdy and the bristles are packed so tightly!

Close up of blush/powder brush.

The black case closes shut with a velcro tab at the bottom and can be flipped open to stand on a sink or vanity whilst getting ready.

I love this brush set. Good quality, all the essential brushes, and cruelty-free!

 

Panda Approved!

 

Have you tried anything from IT Cosmetics?

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush Set

Hello Pandas!

The foundation for all good makeup application is good makeup brushes. It is a known fact, but still, beauty mavens often scrimp because brushes just aren't as appealing as a new blush or lipstick. Or maybe it is just me. In the past year or so I have treated myself to middle-range brushes including Sonia Kashuk, Ecotools, and RealTechniques, all of which I love and highly recommend. But recently, I received the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set, and now I am thoroughly spoiled.

 

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set is a set of 6 essential brushes housed in a travel, black stand-up case for $45. They are made from 100% cruelty free fibers as the company claims. IT Cosmetics has all of the proper cruelty-free labels and stamps on their website and it is amazing how these look and feel like real hair. I am SO happy these are eco-friendly too.

The brushes you get, from left to right: A foundation brush (large, flat and tapered), a powder/blush brush (so soft, perfectly round), a small eye shadow brush, a crease/blender, an eyebrow/eyeliner brush with a spoolie on the other end, and a concealer brush.

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good quality travel set of brushes. The handles are beautiful and have little jewels at the bottom and the brushes do not shed and hold their shape as well as apply makeup flawlessly. If you are willing to shell out the little extra, this really is a great value.

 

This is a close up of the foundation brush. It is so pretty and sturdy and the bristles are packed so tightly!

Close up of blush/powder brush.

The black case closes shut with a velcro tab at the bottom and can be flipped open to stand on a sink or vanity whilst getting ready.

I love this brush set. Good quality, all the essential brushes, and cruelty-free!

 

Panda Approved!

 

Have you tried anything from IT Cosmetics?