The Christmas tree is decorated, all the shopping's done.
Stockings line the fireplace one by one.
-- Andy Williams "Christmas Needs Love to be Christmas"
Lately it's been mostly beauty and makeup posts here, I know. Well, in my own defense who can really resist all those pretty limited edition packagings in this festive season? I know I can't ; ) Anyway, this post is mostly about my more recent Sephora haul during the holiday season. Truly there's no better time in my opinion to shop there, as a lot of brands would launch limited edition items with gift-worthy seasonal packaging at this time of the year, and usually there would also be value sets for those not willing to take the plunge in full-sized products just yet. Well, let's begin with my own little Christmas haul now, shall we?
最近都在寫彩妝，因為看到聖誕限量外貌協會的我就克制不住自己了啊 ＜囧"＞ 繼上上篇的吉隆坡Sephora戰利品文後，今天來分享比較接近聖誕檔期入手的美妝收穫。真心覺得黑五跟聖誕檔期是Sephora最好逛的時候，因為很多品牌除了推出包裝精美的限量，還會有各種小樣組合，非常適合只想先試水溫還不想買正品的消費者。以下簡單介紹一下這次（其實不多？的）戰利品啦～>///<
＊ Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick in Amber
＊ Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
＊ Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in Confetti
Not exactly seasonal limited edition items here, but I took the opportunity to snag a few Fenty Beauty items during the Black Friday sale. As I plan to write a post later on that lilac Confetti highlighter (R) and the Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer (C), I'll not further elaborate here. The Amber contour stick though, I find surprisingly flattering on fair-skinned girls. While most contour shades marketed in non-Asian countries (and intended for tan-loving Caucasians and dark-skinned ladies) are either too dark or too orange for fair skin, this taupe Amber shade with its tinge of grey looks pretty much like natural shadows on the face. One thing I don't like about it though is how big and blunt the contour stick is, it makes shading around the nose a bit clumsy and messy, you have to transfer the product onto a smaller brush, then work it on both sides of the nose.
並不是聖誕限量，只是當時有黑卡全館八折趁機入手。因為之後打算寫右邊那隻囂張的紫羅蘭色打亮跟中間的萬用色唇蜜，這裡就不詳細介紹啦！（懶） 最左帶灰調的修容棒Amber個人覺得非常適合偏白肌。市面上歐美系修容為因應偏愛健康膚色的外國女生常常做的太橘或太咖，偏白肌用起來往往會有點突兀，這支灰調咖啡色反而像是陰影一樣感覺比較自然。缺點是修容棒的膏體很粗很鈍，直接用來打鼻影太粗大很難控制，必須借助比較細的刷具先沾取再上在鼻樑兩側。
＊ Pixi Best of Bright Kit (2017 Holiday Edition), includes:
- Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser
- Pixi Glow Tonic
- Pixi Glow Mud Mask
I've been eager to try out the British cult favourite Pixi Glow Tonic, and this set has a sampling of the brand's three bestsellers in a pretty holiday edition rose gold-embossed gift box, so what's not to love? Glow Tonic is a gentle exfoliating toner with 5% glycolic acid, a gamechanger for oily skin and skin with pore problems and gentle enough for sensitive skin. I've read that some users encounter minor irritation after the first use before getting used to it, I did not have that problem, but due to inconsistent usage (probably laziness lol) I did not see much pore shrinkage with it either. The Glow Mud Mask on the other hand is a winner for me. It looks like mud and feels like mud, and upon application your face would just look like a freshly-cemented wall. Over time you can literally see the mask absorbing the sebum and oils from the pores as the pore areas gradually darken in colour, and after washing off the mask my face felt just smooth and deeply cleansed. I would consider repurchasing the Glow Tonic and the Glow Mud Mask (though in regards to mud masks I'd like to try out Glam Glow's too some time).
一直很想嘗試在英國很火的Pixi Glow Tonic，這一組小樣剛好能一次試他們家三樣明星商品，加上聖誕限量的燙金松果圖案外盒我就投降了 XD Glow Tonic是一款敏感肌也可用的溫和去角質型化妝水，含5%甘醇酸，特別適合油肌跟毛孔粗大肌膚。據說有些人初期用完皮膚會有灼熱感需要一段適應期，我是沒有遇上這問題，倒是因為一直沒能連續用它（因為有時太懶 orz）所以至今還沒能感受到明顯的縮小毛孔效果。不過我非常愛右邊Glow Mud Mask，面膜是灰土色的，塗上去完全像臉上一層洋灰 XDD 放置期間可以看到面膜把毛孔油脂吸出來的地方逐漸變成深色，洗掉之後完全就是深層潔淨後的清爽感。目前化妝水跟面膜都會想買正品（雖然泥面膜也有點想嘗試Glam Glow的）。
＊ the Balm PhotoBalm Powder Foundation in Lighter than Light
＊ Kat von D Lock-it Setting Powder
Kat von D Lock-it Setting Powder, at 19g this would last me ages really. As the photo above shows, there's no powder puff included, and the powder looks a little yellowish in person but translates as almost translucent on the face. The powder itself is finely milled, does not cake and sets nicely on the skin, so it would be a greatt choice for setting under-eye concealers I think.
KVD的透明定妝蜜粉大罐裝，19g對我來說大概用到天荒地老吧！打開就像照片裡一樣沒有粉撲，粉體肉眼看雖然有點偏黃但是上臉後基本沒什麼顏色。粉質非常細緻且貼合肌膚所以不會有粉感，是拿來定妝眼下遮瑕的好選擇。
the Balm's powder foundation, honestly I didn't even know they had a powder foundation until I came across this at the store. Despite a measly number of reviews at Makeup Alley the reception is mostly positive, and with Sephora KL inexplicably pricing it almost 50% off its official webstore's price, I had nothing to lose I guess. I find the retro packaging really cute (as the Balm's products usually are), and interestingly the cover girls' skin colour differ with each shade. Mine is Lighter than Light which is the fairest shade, and the next shade Light with more of a yellow tone has an Asian girl on the cover and so on, and not surprisingly the darkest shades feature black women in various degrees of darkness. As for the foundation itself, I have to say, unless you are born with flawless skin it's difficult to use this alone. It is very light and doesn't cake, and performs quite well at hiding pores, but really it doesn't do much concealing, so don't expect it to hide your acne or spots or dark circles. You have to conceal whatever flaws properly before applying this powder foundation. Another shortcoming would be the lack of a sponge, or even the space to accomodate a sponge. Perhaps this product is meant to be used with a brush, but this really makes it terribly inconvenient to touch up on the go or take it on a trip.
the Balm的粉餅，感覺滿冷門的 XDD 查了一下Makeup Alley雖然心得不多但是普遍好評，加上吉隆坡Sephora不知為何這款粉餅定價只要馬幣59，大約官網的一半（應該不是快過期，因為這商品今年才剛推出），抱著撿便宜嘗鮮的心態買下去了。外包裝是the Balm一貫的可愛復古風，有趣的是按造不同色號封面的女生膚色種族也會不同。我這個是最白色號Lighter than Light，第二白比較偏黃的色號Light封面的女生就是個亞裔女性，最暗的幾個古銅色號的封面就以黑人女性為主這樣。至於粉餅本身的表現只能說除非是無瑕肌，不然大概很難單用這款粉餅。它真的很薄透，反覆疊上也不會厚粉，修飾毛孔方面不錯，有點柔焦效果彷彿天生好皮膚，但是本身並不遮瑕，所以遮痘遮斑遮黑眼圈就別指望它了，還是要乖乖做好遮瑕。還有個缺點就是它沒附粉撲，而且包裝設計連個裝粉撲的位置都沒有，可能產品是設計為用刷子上的，但是這對於帶出門跟補妝太不友善了 : (
＊ Sephora Collection Shiny Star Lip Gloss (Limited Edition 2017)
＊ Sephora Collection Midnight is Coming Eyeshadow Palette (Limited Edition 2017)
＊ Sephora Collection Winter Wonderland Premium Brush Set (Limited Edition 2017)
I must applaud Sephora for its fox-themed Christmas releases, these are really too precious! And it's not just cosmetics, they even have a fox sleeping mask, a fox night-lamp, fox-shaped Stick-its. This star-shaped lip gloss with a fox ornament looks bright pink in the container, but on the lips it's more a clear lip gloss with a tinge of pink. There are iridiscent micro sparkles in it though, but it doesn't accentuate lip lines, and even have a little lip plumping effect. It smells of strawberry-scented shower gel, which I myself rather like.
這次Sephora自家品牌出的聖誕限量彩妝真的太可愛啦外貌協會表示崩潰！！！是狐狸的主題，而且不光是彩妝，連狐狸睡眠眼罩、狐狸夜燈、狐狸便條紙都有 XDD 這款狐狸星型唇蜜看起來是亮桃紅，實際上是帶點粉色的透明唇蜜。本身有細緻的七彩亮粉，不顯唇紋甚至有點豐唇的效果。帶有類似草莓沐浴露的香味，甜甜的肥皂味還滿好聞的。
This eyeshadow palette with a fox motif, despite being comprised of mainly cardboard, is really well-made and held together with a magnetic closure (btw I posted a little video of this palette on my Instagram a few days ago, you may head over to @bonjourjasmineblog if so inclined). The shades are tried-and-true earthy tones, but the powder is really finely-milled and pigmented, the quality of these eyeshadows actually exceeds many drugstore brands that I know of. This and the exquisite packaging, all for a paltry RM29, how can you not??
狐狸眼影，雖然是紙盒包裝但是非常精緻，打開放式是磁吸式的（我IG前天有先放這盤眼影的影片，有興趣可以到那裡看啦﹐帳號bonjourjasmineblog）。配色是老梗的大地色系，但是粉質意外的非常綿密顯色，比很多開價的表現都好。這麼可愛的包裝跟優秀的粉質，只要馬幣29，台幣大概200左右能不買嗎！？ （喂）
A simple eye look with the fox palette using only fingers -- with the left shade as the base, apply the middle shade over the outer 1/3 of the eyes and blend inwards, then accentuate the outer V areas with the darkest right shade and complete the look with black eyeliner.
簡單的用手指上的眼妝 -- 左格打底，眼尾疊上中間格往內暈染，再用右格加重在眼外V區，最後加上眼線完成。
A set of brushes in a fox-themed box, the handles look gold because of the sunlight but it's actually a beautiful rose gold. This set comprises of a fluffy powder brush, an angled blush brush and an eyeliner brush. The brushes are soft and comfortable, and while perhaps not as densely packed as higher-end brushes, they did their jobs quite well. And don't overlook the black base under the brushes, it's actually a magnet that holds the brushes (yes, these are magnetic brushes ; ) ) upright and in place on your vanity.
狐狸外盒的刷具組，刷柄因為陽光照射的關係照片看起來偏金黃色，實際上是氣質的玫瑰金色。這一組包含蜜粉刷、斜角刷跟眼線刷，大刷們毛質鬆軟不刺，毛量大概沒高價牌子那麼紮實但是用起來效果還是很不錯的。然後別小看下面那塊黑色的底座，那是磁鐵。沒錯，這套刷子是磁吸式的，收納時可以直接把刷具立在上面擺放在化妝台上。
＊ Zoeva Opulence Eyeshadow Palette
Zoeva's recently released Opulence Eyeshadow Palette, truly as opulent as its namesake suggests. Apart from the elaborate designs, the names of the shades are also opulence-themed. And the shade selections are truly gorgeous in my eyes, all are shimmer shades with the exception of the candy apple red matte shade and the rightmost dark brown which has minimal sparkles but applies matte. Anyway I'm definitely doing a post on this so I'll save the swatches for next time!
Zoeva最近出的新品Opulence眼影盤，包裝超美超奢華！！！Opulence本身就是奢華的意思，所以除了外觀華麗，這次各色號的命名也都跟奢華有關。這次配色完全深得我心，除了那一格超搶眼的霧面正紅以及最後的深褐色外，其他都是帶漂亮光澤的金屬珠光色。不過這盤之後會另外寫一篇介紹，所以這篇就不放詳細心得跟試色啦 : P
As I went there during the Black Friday sales and Christmas launch period, the freebies were not as abundant as my previous haul. Nevertheless, it's still a pretty respectable yield as shown below!
因為碰上全館八折以及聖誕新品推出，這次拿到的贈品沒像上次那麼澎湃啦！不過我覺得收穫還是相當豐富的～～拿到這些 ↓↓↓
（Left section）
1. Sephora Collection Cleansing Cream packette in Rose
2. Mario Badescu 50th Anniversary Box (includes Glycolic Foaming Cleanser and Whitening Mask）
3. Sephora "Makeup is my Bae" canvas makeup bag
（Center）
4. Aquis Rituals Headband in White (full-size)
5. BECCA First Light / Backlight Priming Filters sample card
6. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer deluxe sample
7. Sephora Collection Pore & Fine Line Filler deluxe sample
8. Caudalie VineActiv Energizing and Smoothing Eye Cream deluxe sample
（Right section）
9. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser packette
10. Kat von D Mini Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II
11. Nudestix Mini Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone
12. Sephora Lipstick USB
13. Sephora Collection Outrageous Curl Mascara deluxe sample
There's less makeup freebies this time, mostly skincare and a few tools such as the makeup bag and the headband (and the USB too lol). Sparse as it may be, I'm pretty pleased to get a mini Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in their uber popular shade Lolita II and a Nudestix lip pencil in Greyhound. The paper swatches are shown above and a close-up of both shades on the lips below (lines galore, beware!!!)
這次拿到的彩妝類贈品比較少，大多是護膚品跟零星的用具（化妝包、Aquis的正品髮帶跟口紅USB←這個算嗎？XD） 不過送的竟然是超紅的KVD Lolita II 液態唇膏還是很滿意啦，還有Nudestix的唇膏筆。上面是兩支的紙上試色，下面有試在唇上的圖（巨唇出沒注意！）
(Sorry for those very detailed lip lines, thanks to my trusty macro lens lol) How do I begin to describe the famed Lolita II? Well it's got a tinge of orange for sure, over a brown nude base I think. It's matte, obviously, and frankly not as dry as my swatch photo portrayed. Problem is, I put on the Nudestix Greystone (which is pretty drying) without priming my lips first, and after removing Greystone I immediately applied Lolita II, by which time my lips were well and truly shrivelled like a prune LOL
（抱歉因為使用的是微距鏡頭所以唇紋拍的一覽無遺 XDD）KVD 的液態唇膏Lolita II，怎麼形容呢？大概是帶橘調的豆沙紅，霧面質地但其實沒照片看起來那麼乾 XD 主要是因為沒有先潤唇就上了下面那支Nudestix（那款真的頗乾）拍照，卸掉後馬上擦這支嘴唇簡直要乾裂了XDD
The Nudestix Magnetic Lip Color in Greystone is a very dark earthy brown with a touch of grey. It's obviously not your everyday shade but if you want to make a dramatic statement this could be a good choice. The formula though is pretty drying, and gets drier over time so you might want to prep your lips with a balm first before applying.
Nudestix的磁性唇膏筆，Greystone這個顏色真的非常非常土色，還帶有一點灰調。這個顏色顯然很不日常，但是如果追求高調的妝效的話這款應該不錯。只是質地真的蠻乾的，而且會越來越乾，所以上之前一定要做好唇部保濕不要重蹈我的覆轍（泣血相勸 T__T）
＊ ＊ ＊
That's all this time, I guess! Am still reluctant to do away with my Christmas thingies though ; )
這次就先這樣啦！雖然已經新年但是還是很不想收起聖誕裝飾 XDD
As usual, a medley of recent Instagram pics to end the post. Still in a festive mood, apparently. By the way, I also posted a swatch video of the Fenty Beauty highlighter and contour stick previously, head over here if you're interested : )
照例的IG拼圖結束。最近完全還是聖誕色系的畫面 XD 另外除了狐狸眼影，之前也有放了Fenty Beauty紫羅蘭色打亮跟灰調修容的渣畫質（XD）影片，有興趣的話可以去看看啦～（→ 帳號 bonjourjasmineblog）
Bises! ♥♥
