Paul & Joe reviews | What I got from Cosmogirl HK & FOTD

A little back story - I won a Christmas makeup competition using this look (HERE) from Cosmogirl Hong Kong and my prize was a set of Paul & Joe cosmetics. I personally had never owned any Paul & Joe products that was why I was really really excited. They said that the best 30 makeup looks would win this prize. I anxiously checked the website on the destined date the winners were announced. Apparently less than 30 people had participated so every single person automatically won wtf-_-

Lucky me I guess?

The products came in with a really very well made green pouch with silver embroidery, that includes 3 sample sized and 2 full sized products: 

- Protective Powder Compact Foundation

- Facial Treatment Oil

- Moisturizing Foundation Primer

- Lip Lacquer in 001

- Metallic Eye Gloss in 001

Swatches of the Metallic Eye Gloss & Lip Lacquer

Both products are of such good quality. They are highly pigmented and very long lasting.

The Metallic Eye Gloss in 001 is a cool tone grey with silver shimmers with a slightly white undertone. It spreads easily and is not sticky once it is on. The felt tip applicator takes out the right among of products and makes it messless (besides the finger needed to spread out the product!).

The Lip Lacquer in 001 is a medium pink with a slight corol undertone with micro gold and silver shimmers. They look more like a sheen when on. It is in a plastic applicator just like the Lancome Juicy Tubes, of which I am not a huge fan of in terms of its design. I don't know! I always feel like they look like makeup for kids. However after a few minutes of serious thinking, I understand why some of the most popular companies do design their lipglosses that way - because its the most effective, convenient and easy to control for get products. Compared to other neutral colored lipglosses I own, this is definitely one of the best quality, most comfortable to wear with a mild stickiness and versatile lipglosses that can easily stay put for a few hours. It has a slight floral scent and can be reapplied without causing peeling.

In action 

I have been really digging the combo of brown and grey. I like to dap the Eye Gloss on the center of my eyes. It looks rather natural yet the shimmers completes the look with sophistication. The lipgloss is just overall a match for no matter what type of eye colors I am wearing. Overall I really enjoyed these products. Since I am traveling at the moment thus don't have a lot of makeup with me. These versatile, comfy-to-wear products definitely help me out a lot. 

FOTD

Since I got my lash extensions I have not been lining my eyes using other pencil/liquid eyeliners. I love the overall fresh look! I will be sure to check out more Paul & Joe products in the future despite the fact that they are discontinued by Anthropologie and extremely difficult to get our hands on. 

Check out more of their products from their website in English here:

http://www.paul-joe-beaute.com/en/

Hope you all are having a fantastic weekend! See you all when I am back from Taiwan on Valentine's Day <3!

Hana Professional Flat Iron 1" Review | Photo Demonstration

Descriptions |

Materials : Ceramic, Tourmaline

Plate Width : 1 inch

Cord Length : 8 ft

Adjustable Heat : 140" - 450"F

Price : $119.98 (Free Shipping from Misikko HERE)

First off I'd like to say thank you to Misikko for sending me the product! I am not paid to do this review. For the matter of fact, I was looking for an alternative to my Remington Sleek & Curl Styler for this trip to Hong Kong and had read such good reviews about this straightener online. Misikko has such great customer services and the product came within 4 business days.

Stuff that came with the package |

Storage pouch, tin case, silicon mat, comb, eye mask, hand sanitizer, nail files, bath rose petals and even ELF stuff that don't really matter to me but would make a great gift

Some cool functions |

1 | Adjustable Temperature Dial - 5 settings from 140-450 °F 

2 | Independent on/off switch

3 | LED indicator light remains steady when heating up and blinks when desired temperature is reached

4 | 360" swirl cord of 8 ft

5 | Hanging loop

6 | Corduroy-like top parts prevents burning when crumping hair

7 | Curved plate edges for curling, flipping and straightening

8 | Ergonomic handle design with non-slipping grip

9 | Made in Korea wth

Compared to my beloved Remington Sleek & Curl Styler (Review HERE) |

Pros:

More compact in size - about 1.5 inch shorter in length and 0.5 pound lighter in weight

Corduroy-like plastic makes burning fingers harder to happen

Con:

Does not come with a click plate closure

Material feels cheaper

Demo |

Before

After
straightened & curled

My thoughts | 
When the straightener is heated up it takes almost no effort in straightening. It's very light-weighted which is perfect for traveling and not getting tired arms. I do find it performs better on straightening then curling, though its meant to be made for both. For its wide temperature range, its easy to get the job done within seconds. I also think the ceramic makes less damages to my hair as it is styled with a shine even without a heat protection spray. I don't have a ton of hair but I notice some slipping (plates not tight all the way) during straightening that distributes uneven heat, and makes curling even harder to control. However its really mild and the corduroy-like grip does help.

My biggest concern is the material - it feels rather cheap to the touch. Thus overall though it's a beyond average heating tool, it would be very difficult for me to splurge that much on a mediocre quality product. I still prefer my Remington Sleek & Curl Styler  unless I am traveling.

NEPAL | Family Travel Story

It has been a long time since my family and I travel together. From kindergarden all the way to secondary school, my parents always took my brother and I somewhere every Chinese New Year. Not only we could skip being asked "when are you getting married?" by relatives, it is also the only time of the year that they can have around 10 days off.

My family hates holiday stuff, we rarely go to relatives' houses or do any relatives' dimsum. My parents are the utmost unpretentious and easy-going people I have ever met in my life so when there is something they ask me to go to, I know its the real deal, the gangster stuff, jk.

Looking past today, we have been to quite a few places already, especially in Asia, given the allowed time. The first country I had ever flew out to was the Philippines when I was 5. Since then, we experienced something new every year. We saw our first snow during our trip to Kyoto, experienced Dubai while it was still not as developed, stole a few bottles of sand at the Sahara Desert wtf, saw a lot of nemos and dorys at the Coral Reef in Australia, got really emo at the Nuclear Museum in Hiroshima, got scared to death when we saw the first naked topped lady boy show in Pattaya Thailand, etc.

Every year around Chinese New Year, we would pick a place to fly to, to get away from this crowded island, and to get a time just by the 4 of us.

Time flies, we then moved to the States to continue our education mid way through secondary school, and then, our family travel tradition had stopped. My parents then used the money saved from spending on the two of us to travel to somewhere even more expensive like Europe, South Africa and New Zealand wtf.

It is rare to be able to go travel with them again since I live in the States now, so when I found out I was able to travel with them this year, I was ubbbberrr excited! Since there are many places we have been already in Asia, I suggested to go to India, and my brother wanted to go to Russia. After discussing with the travel agent, it was pretty much only Nepal that could provide this kind of cultural sightseeing tours.

So here we go, props to you if you have read through the whole story. Let me know and I will send you a bottle of Nepali dirt wtf

Hong Kong >> Kathmandu, Nepal
& the hotel we stayed for 3 nights that I loved!
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
Taragaon, Boudha, Kathmandu

Boudhanath Stupa & Swayambhunath Stupa | Hindu and Buddhist Monkey Temples

Durbar Square | Old Palace

Pokhara | natural scenaries

Nagarcot | sunrise

Chitwan | wildlife

Wandering around some Newali villages in Kathmandu

Nepal, not being a wealthy and material-filled country, fulfills my heart visually and spiritually more than anything I have seen even only by spending 8 days there. Without a planned transportation layout, Nepali people and cars and motorcycles are sharing the same spaces. It was very overwhelming coming from a city that is famous for its efficient transportation system. You always have to stop, watch out for something, and tense up because you can never just walk carefreely on the streets. However, the people seems to care less. The adults sit outside on the ground right outside feet away from the roads. The kids still run around in the dusty city with very dirty cloths on. They are friendly, easy-going, unpretentious, and blessed after all.

"All is nothing, and nothing is all" I am starting to understand why my parents always tell me to own less and contribute more no matter how much this materialistic world is bringing us.

I didn't bring much makeup thus I look like shit in most of the pictures. This would be a good time to crop my pictures to gloat if you are a hater wtf. I don't bother to edit them. I could care less, because I was so into the moment, so into spending time with my folks who are just as blessed as the people in Nepal.

xoxo