Parting is always heartbreaking

I haven’t been blogging for a long while as I have been busy finishing my internship in Hong Kong and getting ready to come back to Denmark.

Makeup wise… Of course, one of the hardest parts was to decide what makeup products to throw out, what to send home and what to take with me. Initially, I wanted to bring everything home, but it ended up in a very awkward moment at the airport. I had to go through one after the other eyeliner, lipsticks, blushes…… It was heart breaking for me to put everything “I don’t need” in a bag, and have it sent to me instead of bringing my babies home myself. Regardless, I did it because I refused to pay the overweight fee.

What I’ve already parted when packing from home.

Life wise… Living in Hong Kong for almost 2 years has made me more attached to the city than I thought I would. I have had a really weird feeling the last week – leaving something that has become so familiar – for the so-called home that suddenly seems to strange to me. I didn’t know what to feel when the plane landed, and I saw a white layer of snow over the landscape. Kind of excited to be home, but also at the same time already bored by the grey landscape I have been growing up in. Lately, I have been panicking because I’m not sure where I belong anymore. It seems like there is not really a place that screams home. Asia stands for excitement and Europe stands for settling down. Not that I can’t have excitement in Europe, but the Hong Kong memories are still very fresh in my mind, and Amsterdam will not be before a few weeks. I do look very much forward to that though: new place, new language, new people and one familiar face. I hope that everything works out, and I can start settling down there.

Me re-packing at the airport. So pathetic…

The decisions have to be made… I knew I had overweight with all my makeup, but couldn’t get myself to do it until the lady at the counter told me I had 9 kilos too much, and I had to sit down on the airport floor and pick the products out one by one. For me, leaving Hong Kong is the same feeling – it’s something I think I really want, but is merely a place I can do without. Sometimes, it just hurts to part and let go of something you’re starting to be attached to. But I think it really is healthy to take the plunge once in a while in order to just move on.

I only know my next destination… I was having a chat with my niece yesterday. She has to leave primary school soon and is still deciding which (high) school to choose next. She said it’s because she doesn’t have a certain job or job role to aim for. But then I told her – actually only very few know. I will be graduating my master’s soon – even I don’t know! Regardless, I feel like I have had some very meaningful years at uni because I’ve kept setting short-term goals which have included many stays abroad. I really didn’t know where I was going – I still don’t. But not knowing exactly where to go is actually the exciting part isn’t it?

So my next goals (also a part of my new year resolution) are; Graduation, Amsterdam, a job in IT, take the supplementary IT course – ITIL, learn Dutch. Everything might not work out as I hope. I might end up hating Amsterdam. But I won’t know unless I throw myself out there and try right?

What is your next adventure?

Maria xoxo

And Happy Chinese New Year!

Nature Republic CC Cream

A short review of this Nature Republic CC Cream. First of all, this tube does not belong to me. I just had a chance to try it quickly on my hand. I was so impressed that I wanted to make a post about it. It’s a Korean brand, and they sure know how to make beauty products!

What hit me was that it claimed to be whitening. I know that this feature is not the most desirable in the Western part of the world but it’s indeed huge here in Asia. I just want to say that this one works! It didn’t give me a really obvious white layer of colour, but simply made the skin look less dark the most natural way. I was so impressed! And the texture is very light, and smelled nice. I’m wearing it on the one hand, and look at the instant brightening effect!

I just thought I wanted to mention this although I wouldn’t use a whitening product. Thumbs up!

Maria xoxo

P.S: my colleague that owns this cream has mentioned that she has got better skin after wearing this every day for a while.

New Year, New Hair

Finally, I’ve got what I have been wanting for soooo long! Permanent curls!

Before my Babyliss Pro straightener died on me, I was not too fussed about getting a perm as it really did a great job. It took me no time to curl my thin hair. But now, I’ve got an HSI Straightener. It CAN make curls, but takes me too long, so I’m not really bothered anymore.

I’m very excited about this new hair as it kind of symbolises a new start for me. 2013 has not been the smoothest one, and I can already feel the positive energy from 2014. Also another reason I got it is because I’m going back to Europe where it’s ridiculously expensive to get perms. So I decided to get it before I regret once I’m back 🙂

Maria xoxo

My top 10 for 2013

It’s my turn to do my top 10 of 2013! Here is my list. I know that the following products are not strictly cosmetics, but they are products I have discovered and really really enjoyed during 2013.

First, I want to mention the Maybelline Color Tattoos 24H Eyeshadows. They are in a gel formula, and I like to apply them with my fingers. If you want more coverage, just build up slowly, and you will get the most beautiful result. The first one I got was Back to the Bronze – a light browny colour. Absolutely love it. It can be the perfect base for a neutral look or simply be worn alone. When I’m in a rush, this is all I need. Pomegranate Punk is the most beautiful  red-burgundy shade. I have been using it as a base, and top off with a powder shadow in a similar shade which is the one in the top right corner of the Sleek Storm palette. There was a period where I wore this combination every day!

  

Talking of which… the Sleek Storm palette made it on the list. I have cheated a little, and have included the NYX eyeshadows also. I just got the NYX Wicked Dreams palette – it has so many nice shades! For the singles, I have 4, and I already have a huge list of all the rest to get! For the Sleek i-Divine palettes, the Storm is my favourite (as shown above). You can go for the most neutral look to a darker, but still colourful eyelook. A very sophisticated palette in my opinion. The others I have are Au Naturel and Snapshots.

I discovered this Milani Multitasker Powder. It is a really good one compared to the price. This thing only costs 5.99USD, and I use it to set my foundation. It is perfect as it gives a very light and natural finish. I still love my MAC Studio Fix, but that one has a better coverage and would be better if I only want to wear a powder without anything underneath. I am using Tan, and I’m an NC42.

I just thought the Burt’s Bees was so so in the beginning when I used it. I had to try it because there was so much hype around it. But I’ve really grown to love it. I love the minty feeling, and when applied, it does last me a long time.

The Summers in Asia can be really really hot and humid. The Skindinavia setting spray can really help my makeup stay put. Now that it’s colder, I use it when I have a night out or whenever I need my makeup to stay. It’s not cheap, so I only use it once in a while. I just got myself one from NYX which is much cheaper, so would be more liable to grab for a setting spray now.

The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion has been a life saver for me. I have been breaking out so much in Hong Kong. And this one takes the edge of the worst. I hope that my skin gets better once I get back to Europe. I did a post of this product here.

Again, I’m cheating a little bit. Obviously, I have been incredibly fond of Revlon’s lipsticks this year. The first line is Super Lustrous. Mine are all matte, and I like them for their great pigmentation and the moisturising feel. The shades are fantastic. The three I’ve got are Certainly Red, Cherries in the Glow and Pink Velvet. And then there are the Lip Butters. They are so moisturising!! My favourite shades are Berry Smoothie and Lollipop. As buttery as they feel, you would think that they would be sheer, but no. You can really build up the colours!

Beauty So Clean is a bottle of magic I cannot live without. It’s not a makeup product, but it sanitises them! Click here for my post on this product.

The main reason I like this Revlon Colorstay concealer is the shade. I have mine in medium/medium deep. Sometimes when buying foundations and concealers, it can be really hard to hit the right shade. So I’ve been using this a lot.

The LA Girl Glide pencils are so extremely creamy and just really nice eyeliners. They only cost 5USD, but often on sale at cherryculture for 3!! To set the liner, I like to go over with a Q-tip, and preferably set it with a powder. Then you will get a beautiful liner that will not budge. There are 18 different shades. Mine are Champagne, Gypsy Teal and Very Black.

Now that I’m already cheating a little bit, I want to sneak in this last item I now literally cannot live without, and that’s my Tweezerman tweezer!

I hope you liked this post. And I look forward to see your favourites of 2013!

Happy New Year.

Maria xoxo

Happy New Year 2014!

I just want to say a quick Happy New Year!

I am looking very much forward to enter this year. It will be a very special one because I will be graduating after six years of study. Ahead of me is a new chapter of my life where the student life ends, and time to look for a job! I am so excited and can’t wait to meet the new challenges I put up for myself! 

Best wishes,

Maria xoxo

P.S: I’m wearing my newly arrived NYX matte lip cream in Amsterdam. Absolutely love it!