Beauty: Benefit Watt's Up

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter is a delicate 'champagne' sheer highlighter. It has cream to powder finish... Just glide on cheek & brow bones, then use the blender (sponge) for the perfect glow. 

I was going to buy Benefit High Beam but I found it too 'white' for my complexion (yellow based). I tried the Sun Beam but it just sinked... So the beauty advisor advised me on trying Watt's Up... It more easier to apply and control because Watt's Up is in stick form whilst High Beam is in liquid form. Slightly pricier than High Beam... Watt's Up is £24.50 (9.4g). It came in beautiful & cool package and has a sponge at the other end for blending...

Swatches...

Overall;

Price: 3.5/5 - it's a bit expensive for a small volume of make-up...

Colour: 4.5/5

Application: 4/5

Reliability: 4.5/5

Overall experience: 4.5/5

Longchamp Le Pliage "Shopping" S (Tote in Small)

I bought a new Longchamp Le Pliage...

Image from Longchamp UK website

Longchamp Le Pliage "Shopping" S (Tote in Small)

Colour: Taupe

Dimension: 25 x 25 x14 cm

High street price: £59

Airport price: £50

For more information, please click here

Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm

Benefit claimed the primer/balm can minimise the appearance of pores. It oil-free, lightweight, translucent and silky. 

It can be use before make-up as primer and touch-up. I was surprised how efficient this product can be! Not only, the primer/balm sinked into the skin, the balm colour also 'disappeared' into my skin colour. I'm happy that this primer/balm did not contradict with my foundation colour. My skin became smooth and silky. Applying the foundation became easier. Seriously, I am so impress with this product. I tried to use this balm as touch-up, I just pat on lightly over my make-up, and my face looked fresh afterwards.

I bought the special set (available in airport outlet) came with It's Potent eye cream (3g) and "That Gal" brightening face primer (7.5mL).

High street price: £24.50
Airport price: £20.80

Overall;

Price: 3.5/5 - expensive for 22mL primer

Colour: 5/5

Application: 5/5 - really easy, no brainer... 

Reliability: 5/5

Overall experience: 4.5/5

December Beauty Haul - Benefit

Suddenly, I becoming obsessed with Benefit... This month I bought three Benefit products...

The POREfessional - Primer / Pore Reducer Balm (22mL) set. 

With It's Potent eye cream (3g) and "That Gal" brightening face primer (7.5mL)

High street price: £24.50

Airport price: £20.80

Watt's up! Soft focus highlighter for face (9.4g)

High street price: £24.50 

Bought: £22.05 (I bought it from John Lewis with 10% discount)

Hydra Smooth Lip Color in Fling Thing (3g)

High street price: £15

ASOS price: £11.25 (with 25% discount during Christmas shopping promotion)

So far, I am really happy and satisfied with the quality of each product. They got a lot of positive reviews from beauty bloggers... But a little concern on the prices. Even though Benefit has really cool packaging and naming, is quite expensive if you calculated based on the volume. Benefit sells less volume compared to other brand.

Well, definitely, these are not going to the last...

To fellow students, subscribe to UNIDAYS and get 10% on Benefit... 

Cath Kidston Bucket Bag in Royal Rose

I went to Bicester Village* last week on single purpose... To buy Cath Kidston day bag. I was hoping that the outlet will store a day bag this time. I was frustrated with the last two visits.

* Cath Kidston Designer Outlet at Bicester Village offer at least 30% discount of high street price. 

Hooray!!!

They got 3 patterns that day; Light Green Spot, Royal Rose and another design of small white wildflower with brown background (similar to current Kew Sprig). I chose Royal Rose. Funny as I found Royal Rose is really similar to current Kentish Rose... 

Royal Rose was a 2012/13 pattern. The bag ranges doesn't have this pattern anymore, maybe they replace it with Kentish Rose pattern but some other item like homeware and mugs still have this pattern (with various background colours).

The bag has 2 outside pockets (each end) and one inside zipped pocket. The handle is long enough to if you would like carry on your shoulder.

RRP (as stated on the tag): £45. 

The current RRP price of different pattern: £50

Outlet price: £30

L'Occitane Hair Care - Repairing Oil and Control Mist

My history...

When I was in Paris, I saw a lot of L'Occitane shop around city. I had a chance on trying some of their products a few years ago but the high price tag hindered me from being their customer. After hours of waiting for my train at Paris Gare Du Nord, I took a lap at their shops (there is no tax-free shop in here). I went into the L'Occitane shop. I tried their repairing oil and OMG!!! I totally hooked...

Let me me share my experience with you...

Transform your hair from dry and damaged to strong and shiny. The formula captures all the effectiveness of sweet almond oil, rich vitamins and Omega 9, as well as five essential oil with regenerating properties. Just a few drops of this treatment applied to the tips of hair before styling or blow drying - L'Occitane

I can't remember how much I paid for this hair oil in Euro but you can get it in UK outlet for £15 (100mL). Still a permissible amount for travelling. I have been using this for 4 months plus now. From summer to autumn. I found this oil is amazing.  It's now 'heavy' for summer and its adequate for autumn. Apart from the divine smell, it totally work! I just need one pump for my whole hair. If I'm planning for an up-do, I used a little bit more.  

My hair feel so much softer afterwards and smell tremendously great, like wearing a perfume on your hair. I'm not exaggerating, giggles... The texture improved after a few weeks of usage. And again, my hair is well moisturised without being oily and weighting down. 

The repairing oil pump

One doesn't enough isn't? So, I bought another product under the same range; Control Mist for dry & damaged hair (£14.50 for 100mL). I use this hair mist in between washes as the repairing oil would be too 'heavy' for me. The mist is more watery and light in texture, perfect for everyday. It's also perfect to remove unpleasant odours (cigarette and cooking odours). 

The Control Mist spray

p/s - my other half loves it too (the first ever product that I bought that he totally get, LOL!). If an alpha male with a rocker hair loves it, why don't you? :)

Anecdote 2017: Sadly this product is not available in Malaysia

Marlow Zip Clutch by Fossil

Marlow Zip Clutch in Navy. Refined hardware, glazed leather and season perfect colour. The clutch has the perfect place to store your necessities.

Details;

• Closure: Zipper
• Exterior details: zip pockets
• Interior details: 12 credit cards slots, 1 leather ID slot, 2 slide pockets, 2 gusseted pockets, 1 interior zip pocket
• Interior materials: leather and jacquard lining - 100% polyester
• Material: leather
• Measurement: 20.5 x 2 x 11 cm

RRP: £55

Outlet: £24.99

Autumn / Winter Beauty Haul and Favourite!

Living in four seasons country is quite tricky. You have to change your lifestyle every 3-4 months and keep on changing or finding a suitable body care or skincare to suit your need... It's getting cold and the air is getting dryer. Not to mention that your skin will getting dryer indoor due to heater...

Now I'm changing my beauty regime to extra moisturising type and creamy texture skincare. Without further a due, I present to you my Autumn-Winter favourite!

From top left clockwise: Lancome Teint Miracle (04), Lancome Advanced Genefique, Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser, L'occitane Repairing Oil & Mist and Clarins Extra Comfort Cleansing Cream.

Longchamp Bag Hunt at Paris

Discover Paris Magazine

For my second trip to Paris in 2013, I aimed to buy Longchamp bags. I did 'homework' vigorously on what, where, how to shop... This is my experience...

My first Longchamp stop was at 404, Rue Saint Honore, Paris. Pretty decent boutique with full collections. I was looking for long handle large shopping bag but unfortunately, it was not available. Well, no problem as I just arrived and I have two more days to go.

The next day, I went to La Vallee Vilage (a sister outlet as Bicester Village, Oxford UK). I went there by special tour bus that costed me €22 return. We were given a special Ralph Lauren voucher and three VIP voucher each. These voucher enable you to have additional 10% discount in all shops. My mind was spinning like a top, planning to splurge at the Longchamp boutique or maybe MK. The Longchamp boutique is situated near the customer service kiosk. So, Longchamp is the first designer brand that you will see. I went it and my heart sunk. Just 4 designs of Le Pliage! Are you kidding me? And to add to the heartbreak, no long handle... I asked the sales assistant about the available stock. She explained that they were experiencing a shortage of Le Pliage stock due to the high summer holiday demand. OMG! I just crossed the English Channel for nothing. So, to mend a broken heart, my husband bought me the available Le Pliage; orange (small) and light green (medium) short handle. The price? Incredibly cheap! That was made me super frustrated and little bit furious because I can't buy Le Pliage at the cheap price. I can't remember the price as I lost the receipt. From estimation, the price (before 10% VIP discount) for the small Le Pliage was €28 and Medium Le Pliage was €36. If you're looking for the leather Longchamp bag or any other collections, you might be lucky but not Le Pliage. Recommended but just count your blessing when you go there.

La Vallee Village Directory

Printemps Paris Advert

When I went back to Paris, I rushed to Printemps (equivalent to London's Harrod's). Because of that day was Saturday, I have to go there before closing time because Printemps is close on Sunday. Printemps is really big shopping complex; even has 2 or 3 seperate buildings. They have 2 Longchamp sections; on the ground floor and lower ground floor. The lower ground section has more collections than the ground floor- so, you should head to lower ground level. My experience? Horrible! Both on the customers and also the sales assistant- especially the cashier. I went there during weekend, obviously the complex was swarmed by tourists. Rude tourist. I would not named their nationality; I don't want to be racist but their attitude just like monkey tried to grab a banana. One of them even tried to take a bag that I was holding. Even when a sales assistant told them that they have to wait to be served, they just barged in and still demanded for the bag. Idiots!

The 'useless' discount voucher (front)

The price at Printemps is RRP. In Printemps, they have a system. You will choose the item that you want and they will write it on a piece of ticket. The ticket has 2 parts; you will hold the first part and the second part will be pass on to the store room. Then, you bring it to the cashier and pay. Simple isn't? But not, when you were cramped with hundreds of customers like a sardines in a can. Communication can be tricky and could lead to heated arguments. I do understand after hours of working, and tried to explain to non-English/French speaking tourists, you tend to break at some point, but don't take it to another customer... Well, never ever again going to shop at this place. Better to go to a smaller Longchamp boutique. Printemps gives this 10% discount voucher to foreign visitors but it cannot be use with Longchamp merchandises.

The 'useless' discount voucher (back)

Hurm. I bought Le Pliage in Lilac ♥ at Printemps...

In conclusion...

From my point of view, there is no difference between buying Le Pliage at UK and Paris although Paris has the outlet at La Vallee Village, but again count your blessing if you're looking for Le Pliage collections. With a weak GBP to Euro conversion, just spend your money at home... As I discovered, buying Le Pliage at Heathrow Airport is cheaper.

p/s- you need to spend at least €175 for 12% tax return. Only eligible for non-EU tourist(s).

Me and MICHAEL Michael Kors Jet Set Logo Top Zip Tote - Love in Paris

Image from Michael Kors website

I'm a fan of Michael Kors Jet Set tote and Hamilton but a little bit sceptical about the non-zip / open tote design - safety reasons. The tote was made from PVC; in my opinion, MK is an over price bag. But never the less, I couldn't help on getting one.... Naughty!

I bought MK Jet Set Logo Top Zip Tote at La Vallee Village Designer Outlet, Paris last summer. I can't remember the outlet price but I paid around €100 (after 10% VIP member). Retail price €200++. I couldn't be more happier. Then, I swapped my Le Pliage to this new bag and paraded it around Paris.

My review...
This tote has an excellent design with additional two winged pockets and the famous MK gold medallion - appropriately put. I'm comfortable with the size; not too big yet not small either. It quite light; maybe because of the materials used (not a real leather). Inside the bag; It has four inside open pockets and one zipped pocket - again intelligently designed. The lining made from thick quality satin with MK monogram.

Note: I bought the outlet version; some of the bag features have been 'downgraded' to meet the 'outlet price'. The most notable difference are the handle / shoulder strap and the satin lining.

I once used it during rain, and I was soaked wet. When I got home, I wiped it with a dry cloth and the bag is still in a good shape. Hooray for PVC???

Looking at the design, it is a well designed bag but looking at the price, hurm I'm not sure... But again, heart wants what the heart wants...

The best (cheapest) place to buy Longchamp Le Pliage

Why do people are so crazy about Longchamp Le Pliage? Is it because of the design? The brand? The practicality? The prestige? Your choice... But we're not going to talk about that. We would like to go one step further, where to buy it. And another step further, where can you buy it with approximately cheaper. 

Some people might think that if you buy a product from its originating place, you might get it cheaper. Not Paris but UK Airports. Oh yeah!!!! Not to condemn Paris, but because of weak pound sterling now, we might loose some money value due to the currency conversion (£1 = €1.17). You can compare the prices at Longchamp website. The UK airport price is even cheaper than US, Singapore and HK outlets. I had a conversation with the SA and she told me that lot of customers commented the same. And again, it is a tax free price although it's only have 16% instead of 20% VAT - I guess we paid the VAT handling fee.

For example, Travel Bag L (RRP £63) for £53; 15.9% off.

For those travelling via Heathrow Airport, hope these info help;

Heathrow Airport Terminal 1 - There is a Longchamp Flagship Store (the only Longchamp airport flagship store in the UK) situated in the second passenger lounge after the security (turn left). Opening time is 10.00 - 18.30 everyday. The store has full collections and various of La Pliage colours and sizes (90% complete stock). And on top of that, your purchase(s) is wrapped with a special embossed Longchamp white wrapping paper (just like in the boutique) with Longchamp green paper carried bag.

Longchamp Terminal 1

Longchamp Terminal 1 (departure hall)

Heathrow Airport Terminal 3, 4 and 5 - You still can purchase Le Pliage here but at independent store called Rolling Luggage (after the security check). They offer limited stock; 3-4 sizes and 4-5 colours. You don't get the Longchamp green carry bag but just the plastic Rolling Luggage plastic carrier bag. But the price is still the same. You can always ask the SA if they have the size or colour that you fancy in their storeroom.

Also available from Harrods. Packed in Harrods green plastic carrier bag.

* So far, Gatwick, Edinburgh and Manchester Airports are also the same.

Disclaimer: this post is from an old blog in 2012/13. The price might be currently different. Please check with official Longchamp website and deduct 16% from RRP.

Don't throw your coins away, save them...

I didn't knw before... I don't even care and annoyed with this small coins of 1, 2, 5 pence that laying around my house. Too heavy to carry around, too little value to spend it... Boy! I was wrong. I found a solution... COINSTAR.

COINSTAR is a 'service' that change your coin to money that you can spend or donate. The machine is like a vending machine situated in most supermarket like Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrison and Tesco. You just pour your coins  in the machine and it will calculate the amount of it. Then, you can choose weather you would like to have a cash voucher or donate it to charity. Don't worry about euros or other foreign currency, the machine will automatically 'reject' those coins. If you choose cash, a voucher will be printed and you must redeem the cash at the supermarket's Customer Service on the same day. Easy right? Such a no brainier... 

Cath Kidston Laptop Sleeve

I bought this sleeve to protect my new MBP as I usually bring the laptop with my school bag(s) instead of the laptop bag. Although there are a few brands and designs out there, I couldn't forget this one. As an avid CK fan, definitely I was kept on comparing other sleeves with this one - especially the thickness of the padding. CK has the thickest and the outside material is water resistance...

I chose the Spot 13'' in Navy (£30). The first thing I noticed was it has matte finishing- new design. The padding quite thick. But even with my Speck MBP Case, it still perfectly fit. The zip is also very good in quality with double leather zip holders. So far, it has two designs (Dot and Garden Birds) with two sizes (11'' and 13''). But I'm sure, they will be more designs coming up soon as the change of season. 

I bought this sleeves online by using my UniDays discount - 10%. UniDays is a discount for university students. If you're buying the CK products in store, just show your valid student ID card at the till before payment. If you're buying through website, you have to register with UniDays to verify your eligibility. And then, you can use the verification for other website that offer student discount. As simple as that. To save on delivery charges, I chose to pick it up at the store option. They will send you a notification email. Easy breezy. A great option if you are busy and don't want to make unfruitful trip to the city but still don't want to miss your home delivery. 

Last but not least...

Edinburgh - Shilla Korean Restaurant Part 2

Just uploaded pictures of our recent visit. You can read about this restaurant on my previous review here.