MMBB, Meow, Garden of Wisdom And More

Due to lack of internet access and all, it's been awhile since I've really had time to update so this entry will be quite a long one!

Veena Velvet: I've been wearing Lumiere VV foundation for over a week and I don't think it is making my skin worse. I am getting a bit of acne right now but I don't think it's due to the VV. Also after wearing it for long periods of time (think half the day) I didn't experience any tiny pustules popping out which is usually a sign that the makeup is irritating my skin. Anyway, this is great because I do like the texture of VV very much!

MMBB: Lisa from MMBB was sweet enough to send me test samples of two new foundations she hopes to carry in future: Yellow Beige and Peachy Beige. Thank you, Lisa! Side-by-side in the baggies they both look very similar and are close or identical in depth to MMBB Tan foundation. Peachy Beige does look slightly more peachy compared to Yellow Beige. So far I've only worn YB and I found it to be a great match for me! Upon application the shade really looks perfect. However I think it does darken a smidgen after I've worn it a few hours so I'm curious to see if Lisa may eventually make a slightly lighter version. Otherwise, I may try to lighten it with a bit of Bright Eyed. I honestly don't think the darkening is obvious to anyone but myself, knowing how I scrutinize my foundation. I probably look like I got a little bit of sun but in no way does it look unnatural. YB will probably be the answer to Asian girls with medium to tan skin and yellow undertones looking to find a match with MMBB :) Formula/Texture-wise the jury is still out for me... MMBB doesn't make me itch, breakout or make my face feel tight but I'm not sure if it sits well with my rather oily skin despite the presence of kaolin in the formula. Sometimes I think it's just the weather though. Heat and humidity just tends to make me feel uncomfy no matter what. I will probably save this as a night time foundation or if I know I'm going to be in an air-conditioned environment for most of the day.

Meow: My Meow order finally arrived! I ordered samples of Manx in Frisky and Naughty and a sample of Abyssinian in Frisky as well as a couple feliners and their Intense Medium bronzer. Frisky-Abyssinian totally shocked me when I first saw it. It looks positively white with an uber-pale yellow tinge! I have no idea how I'm going to wear it and I haven't tried it yet. Really if their Frisky-Ab looks this pale I can't imagine what their Sleek and Inquisitive shades must look like. Frisky-Manx in Purrfect and Pampered looked pale too but not as white as Abys. Today curiosity got the better of me and I pulled out both Frisky-Manx samples, picked the one that seemed slightly darker (Pampered) and applied it over my freshly cleansed face. In the baggie, the foundation looked much paler than the other brands I normally wear but surprisingly it didn't look at all pale on my face. It might have been a tad light when I put it on but after wearing it awhile I checked my face and it had settled down into quite a good match! I only wore it for an hour so I can't really judge the feel of it, but the one gripe I've always had about the Pampered formula is that it doesn't really cover any of my imperfections or even blur the edges. I actually find that Purrfect is slightly better in this respect. Anyway, I haven't really tested Manx properly so maybe it's too early to tell. I sure do agree with everyone that Manx is yellow! I find it so strange that Frisky-Manx looks much paler than Naughty-Angora yet when I wear it, Manx matches and looks yellow-toned while Angora tends to be a bit pale and not quite yellow enough. Oh well, I have always found it hard to understand how Meow works!

Garden of Wisdom: My GoW order arrived at my friend in CA a few days after Markey sent it out. He flew to Malaysia on Saturday and I met him on Sunday for tea and to collect the goodies. After he left for his next appointment, I sat in my car and eagerly ripped into the box! I'm a very patient person in real life (honest!) but not when it comes to opening online purchases! And what a beautiful sight were the contents of the box! Adorable bottles and jars in various sizes, all very good quality materials, perfectly packaged and neatly labeled. Yes, it was instant love! My favourites are the Mandelic Acid 10% (5ml) which came in the cutest pump vial and the HA Serum which although is quite viscous, just sinks in instantly the moment I smooth it over my skin! I've never tried anything that absorbs as fast as this so I'm absolutely thrilled. I love how the serum seems to be mattifying, perfect for wearing under MMU. The famous Lemongrass Cleanser is also quite delightful. I'm not sure if its exfoliating properties are a little too much for me and I don't think I can use this everyday. But after emulsifying it with a little water, cleansing my face with it and rinsing, my skin did feel incredibly soft and smooth. Plus the lemongrass scent is so refreshing! The only blot on this otherwise perfect order was that a bottle of camelia oil was accidentally left out! However, Markey being the angel that she is, responded to my email right away and sent a replacement out the very next day. Gotta love customer service like that. I'm already dreaming up a second GoW order. So many other products I just want to try! I've only just started using my products so it's hard to say if any effect is taking place yet. My Mom was also very curious about all the bottles and spray mists and I think I may just convert her to natural products sometime in the future ;)

Lumiere: And finally, what bonafide MMU-addict can resist a good sale? I totally caved the moment I heard about Lumiere's 33% off birthday sale and ordered a whole bunch of things including a travel size VV Med Warm, more samples and a 9-pc brush set. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I hear my bank account screaming now.