My Travel Makeup Bag for December’s Trip to Malaysia

Four more sleeps and I’ll be back in Malaysia. This time, I’d be back for almost a month! I’m beyond excited, and there’s so much to do. To be more precise, there’s so much to *ahem* shop

This time, instead of lugging a whole lot of makeup, I’ve decided to bring less with me to Malaysia this time as I know I’ll be bringing more home to Melbourne.

My makeup bag for the trip (a GWP from Kanebo):

Clinique Superfit foundation
MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation
Smashbox primer
YSL Touche Eclat
Max Factor Pan Stik concealer
Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Neo mascara
Flirt blush in Dapple Apple
Bloom Shadow Liners (double as eyeshadow as well)
MAC eyeshadow in Crystal Frost (I bought this years ago, and it’s still my go-to eyeshadow)
Bloom eyeshadow in Beige (used as a base)
Majolica Majorca eyeshadow in BL724
Scott Barnes eyeshadow in Urban Legend
Shu Uemura eyelash curler
Makeup brush roll
Ecotools retractable kabuki brush (to apply the powder foundation)

Not pictured – steel lash comb, tweezers and MAC makeup brush cleaner (decanted)

I’m actually only bringing the liquid foundation, stick concealer and all that eye makeup just for the wedding I’d be attending on the 12th. Other times, it would only be sunscreen, a light sweep of the powder foundation, and I’d be done.

Hoping to meet up with some beauty blogger pals when I’m back. Hmm would I be meeting up with you?

“I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it!” *ala Pointer Sisters*

Keeping It Simple Stupid

As the end of the year draws near, I’ve been reviewing all of my past posts, and have decided that 2010 would be the year I introduce a different style of blogging when it comes to product reviews. I know I haven’t reviewed any products in ages, and it’s not because I don’t have anything new to blog about. It’s just that, I’m finding it more and more difficult to write 2-3 paragraphs on a lipstick. You know what I mean?

With the vast number of beauty blogs rising and the number of beauty blogs I subscribe to increases, I find myself struggling to keep up with wordy posts. I’m not putting any of your blogs down, if you do write lengthy ones. Good on you, in fact, for having that capability to do so. As for me,  I’m afraid I’ve run out of juice, and I think it’s time to keep my reviews concise, to-the-point, and a whole lot easier to write and read.

From now on, product reviews will be made in point form with pictures. If the product is good, you will be able to tell by my added gushing paragraphs.

Still, I would really like your input on this. After all, my readers maketh my blog. Should I maintain the usual lengthy paragraphs? Or just K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) it up?

Beauty Commandments – The Thou Shalt Nots

I received Paula Begoun’s newsletter in the mail today, and her article on the ten beauty commandments everyone should know had me cracking me up big time. Not just because it was funny, but I nodded vigorously at every “thou shalt not” commandment. Really, how many of us has fallen into the traps below?

*sheepishly raising my hand*

THOU SHALT NOT believe expensive cosmetics are better than inexpensive cosmetics.

THOU SHALT NOT believe there is any such thing as a natural cosmetic (or that natural means better).

THOU SHALT NOT believe in miracle ingredients that can cure skin-care woes.

THOU SHALT NOT covet thy neighbor’s perfect skin (or believe her perfect skin came from a particular product or cosmetics line; skin is more complicated than that).

THOU SHALT NOT believe everything a cosmetics salesperson tells you.

THOU SHALT NOT believe in the existence of wrinkle-eliminating, firming, toning, lifting, or filling-in creams, lotions, or masks that can permanently erase wrinkles. Aging skin can become firmer and more resistant to future signs of aging with the right products, but even those aren’t going to get rid of wrinkles or replace what cosmetic surgery or cosmetic corrective procedures can do.

THOU SHALT NOT be seduced by every new promotion, new product, or new product line that the cosmetics industry creates. (slap that “sucker” sticker on my forehead, for I fall for this every time)

THOU SHALT NOT get a tan; sun is your enemy, not your friend; it is the primary reason that skin wrinkles and develops skin cancer (and it isn’t just about getting a sunburn—turning the skin brown is equally as damaging when done on a regular basis).

THOU SHALT NOT buy a cellulite cream, nor shalt thou assume it’s possible to dissolve fat from the outside in, because you absolutely cannot. If these products worked, who would have cellulite?

THOU SHALT NOT see pictures of pubescent, anorexic models (who spend two hours getting their hair and makeup done and another two hours posing while the photographer and a corps of assistants determine the most flattering lighting, after which the resulting picture goes through a battery of digitally enhanced touch-ups and adjustments) and believe you will get the same (or even similar) results from using the products being advertised. That is, unless you happen to be pubescent, anorexic, and a model and can somehow stay in the right lighting all the time.

I would also like to add the following:

THOU SHALT NOT forget to keep simple items like makeup brushes, hair brushes, combs, shower caps, shower sponge/mesh clean. There’s nothing ickier than slapping bacteria onto your skin.

THOU SHALT NOT believe that a 1 hour facial session at your favourite beautician’s will miraculously remove eye bags, wrinkles, etc. SImply enjoy the relaxing and pampering session without expectations that those problem areas will disappear for good.

THOU SHALT NOT share makeup with anyone else. Unless you spritz your makeup applicators (e.g. makeup brushes, sponge applicators, etc) with a brush cleaner or rubbing alcohol everytime you dip into makeup.

What about you? Is there anything you’d like to add to the list? What are your “thou shalt nots”?

Bloom Cosmetics Warehouse Sale

Time to stock up! Christmas pressies anyone?

Dealing with Hateful Comments

Since I’m having a bit of a dry spell when it comes to writing about beauty products (mainly because I haven’t gotten anything new to even talk about), I shall touch a little on the subject of receiving hateful comments on your blog and how to deal with them.

Picture the following – you start blogging, and it has become a great hobby (and even a source of income) for you. You put your heart and soul into writing with hopes that your readership will grow, and that it wouldn’t just be your mum and best friend reading it. As time goes by, your readership increases. It’s exhiliarating, and it drives you to keep up with what you’ve been doing so far.

And then out of the blue, you get a negative comment on your blog. And it’s not just constructive criticisim, it’s downright nasty. With all the flowery cuss words a sailor could muster, and then some. Suddenly, you feel as though you’ve been attacked, and you don’t know why. It was an anonymous commenter. It’s hurtful.

Does that sound familiar? It sure does to me. Because when I received my first hateful comment (in was on my personal blog), I was confused. And then I got really angry. I didn’t even know the person, and there he/she was, spreading that sort of nonsense on my baby.

Anonymous Haters Are Chickens

First of all, calm down. I know that it’s easier said than done, but there’s hardly any use in getting all worked up over something someone wrote, especially if it was an anonymous comment. I never take negative anonymous comments seriously because I believe that words worth listening to are the ones from a person who’s man enough to say them to my face (well, in this instance, on my blog). Anonymous haters are cowards. All talk but no balls to own up (pardon my French).

If a hater wants to hide behind an anonymous persona, then he/she can be my guest and write vile stuff on my blog. They get deleted in an instant anyway.

You’re the editor of your blog, so edit and moderate as you see fit.

At the end of the day, it’s your blog. It’s your website. You reserve the right to allow content to be published, and this includes comments left by your readers too. If you don’t like what is written, by all means remove it. It’s up to you if you want to remove any sort of negative comments. Personally, it it’s constructive criticism, I leave it in. Or any form of criticism that isn’t foul.

If you get hateful comments on a regular basis (I’m sorry if you do), then it might be a good idea to moderate your comments for a while. When they stop coming in (and they will. Unless the person is really out to get you, chances are they’ll get tired of it and move on to another blog to poo on), then you can remove comment moderation.

Take comments with a pinch or two of salt. In fact, take a tablespoonful.

You might think it’s true what the negative comments say about you, but unless these commenters know you personally, chances are they’re only talking about you based on the photographs you posted. Unless you’re a professional photographer, there’ll be times when the photos do not really reflect the best of you, and this gives them an excuse to attack. I’m not saying that you should stop posting any photos of yourself. After all, practice makes perfect. But these haters are simply attacking you on face value, thus you should treat their comments the same as well. Delete!

Beware of trolls masquerading as other bloggers

I once had very nasty comments left by some prominent bloggers. It astounded me completely because my first thought was, “why are these people attacking my wee blog?!” These were not just negative comments, they were nasty cursing-about-my-mother-and-adding-genitalia-in-the-equation words. It was a good thing I was a a reader of their blogs, and from the their writing style, I had a funny feeling the nasty commenters were not them. So I contacted them and asked if they were the ones who wrote those comments. They responded immediately, clarifying that it definitely wasn’t them, but the work of some sick trolls lurking on the Internet. It was a huge relief, but just to be safe, I moderated comments for a couple of weeks before it died down.

So if you do get nasty comments from other bloggers, and you roughly know their style of writing, it doesn’t hurt to contact them about this. And if you get anything mean and untoward from me, well, it’s obviously NOT from me, because I never leave nasty comments on blogs. Well, not unless you blogged about *gasp* kicking a puppy or something

You’ve got it made!

Let’s put it this way. What’s the point of writing a blog if no one but yourself ever reads it? Once you get your first nasty comment, rejoice, for you’ve made it! Your readership has increased to the point where you’re attracting the meanies. It’s a good thing Have a laugh at their atrocious English (I’ve had some who couldn’t even spell properly), and then hit Delete.

Never sink to their level

The urge of wanting to fight back is incredibly strong. I know, because I’ve blogged about asking haters to leave me alone one too many times. By all means, blog about it. Respect your blog, because it’s something you’ve worked hard on. Be firm, but leave those nasty words about these haters out of it. Take the high road and not sink to their level.

So there you go, some pointers on dealing with hateful comments. At the end of the day, it is still your blog, and I’m no one to tell you what to do with it. These are my personal views, is all, and how I deal with them. Still, I hope they are useful to you.

Down with haters!