Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Mini Tony Tint Review

I want to start by saying Happy Lunar New Year!! I tend to find this celebration more exciting than my own birthday or even Christmas LOL because it means a lot to me and my family - ah, the good old family tradition of a gathering and a feast, and who could forget about them red pockets/li xi :D Whether you celebrate it or not, I wish everybody good luck and good health (and wealth hehe).

For the Lunar New Year celebrations, the colour red is used for decorations, traditional costume and gifts as it is a symbol of good luck and is supposed to ward off the evil spirits. Funnily enough, the product that I'm reviewing on my blog today is just that colour - what better way to start the Lunar New Year than sharing something red! A red lip tint to be exact ^3^

This review was requested by Weng Chin (hello!)

Sample size: 3 g
Price: N/A

The product has a really long name and to make things easier I'm going to call it 'Tony Tint'. This was a sample product that was in my recent Beauty Net Korea haul (see my previous post) and it's a product that I've seen and heard about before. I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of lip tints, simply because I prefer to use something that feels moisturising on my lips. But I must say that I love the way lip tints look on the lips!

The full size of the Tony Tints look like this:

Apparently these were endorsed by K-pop trio JYJ, hence the three different shades

The one that I have is the sample of the first one, #01 Cherry Pink (체리핑크) and even by just looking at it through the plastic, it definitely reminds me of a cherry!

A sponge applicator, similar to the ones used for lipgloss tubes

 One swipe of the lip tint on the back of my hand

(Excuse the veins! They don't normally stick out so much)

The tint after rubbing it onto the back of my hand

A little goes a long way with this tint, but luckily not in a way that's overpowering or too pigmented on the skin. It's definitely much lighter than the initial swatch and it was really simple to blend. I love the way it looks and I can tell that it'd make a great product for gradient lips which is quite a trend right now. Also, I reckon it can also double as a cheek tint because there usually are cheek and lip tint combos, although this doesn't specifically state that it's for the cheeks too. However, I wouldn't be brave enough to apply tint over my cheeks as I prefer to have something way less pigmented so that I can build up the colour intensity if needed :)

For a gradient-lip look I decided to follow a tutorial to achieve the best results possible:

Credit: Beauty Net Korea

You may remember my Goo Hara (Damaged Lady - KARA MV) inspired look where I did a gradient lip but used red lip gloss and pink lipstick. With the lip gloss, the effect didn't stay put and I remember having to reapply my lip gloss because it kept mixing with my lipstick! With the lip tint however, the gradient effect was much more subtle and it made blending a whole lot easier. I would say that the best way to achieve a gradient lip would be to use lip tint and lipstick or gloss :)

I was curious to see how the Tony Tint would look if I used it all over my lips as a lip stain and here are the results:

The centre of my lips was already tinted from the gradient look

I must say that it makes a gorgeous cherry red as a full colour over the lips. It's not a colour that I tend to wear but it looks super pretty, especially on those who are fair-skinned (I wouldn't say that I am but I think it still looks good!) And the fact that it is a stain means that you won't need to reapply your red lippie or worry about it getting all over your teeth :D

Pros (+) and Cons (-):

+ Cute packaging (yay cats)

+ Long-lasting

+ A little goes a long way with pigmentation

+ Sponge applicator, easy to use

+ Liquid is easy to blend

+ Bearable scent, not too overpowering

+ Contains jojoba oil for supple lips

+ For full size: 10 mL (7.99 EUR) approximately 10.8 USD. Decent price

- Stains fingers when blending

- Not a pleasant 'taste'

- Difficult to remove with (lip) makeup remover

Overall, I would recommend this product if you want to achieve gradient lips and/or if you want your lip colour to stay on longer. If you're worried about this not being as moisturising as lip balm or lip stick, you can simply apply some clear gloss or balm and you're all good to go!

Mwah~!

Any requests for posts such as reviews, hauls and tutorials etc, please feel free to let me know :)

Disclaimer: Product was a free sample from an order purchased with my own money. This is not a sponsored post, nor am I affiliated with any of the companies mentioned. All opinions stated by me are 100% honest. 

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Asia trip and Cosmetics Haul - Etude House, Tony Moly, Innisfree

Hi everyone! It's been pretty quiet here since last year... and by that I mean, a month ago when I last blogged and when it was still 2013. A very very belated Happy New Year! Has 2014 treated you well so far?

As some of you may know, I spent most of my final month of 2013 out of Australia doing some touring in China (that totally makes me sound like a cool muso or something) and sightseeing, shopping in Hong Kong. I was thinking of doing a post about my trip but I figured that there would be just too much to share in words and pictures. In dot points, I will briefly summarise my trip:

• 2 weeks spent in China, 5 days spent in Hong Kong. Left Australia on December 1
• Went with my mum, cousin, aunties and uncles (11 of us)
• In China, visited two provinces in the south - Yunnan and Hunan and 6 cities/towns in total
• Became unwell near the end of my first week in Yunnan
• Got better in the middle of the week in Hunan but still not 100%
• Rained on the first two days of being in Hong Kong. Made shopping difficult
• Visited Macau for one day

In China we went on shopping tours (not shopping malls - visited stores that specialised in selling either pearls, silver, jade, silk and more) which were extremely tiring. I can actually imagine it being very similar to musos touring countries. We had a schedule each day and we'd have morning calls (letting us know that it's time to wake up) at around 6 or 6:30 am and a set time that we had to get on the bus and leave the hotel. Plus we weren't able to go to bed that early each night as we would be out until 9 pm sometimes. Getting into this 'sleep early, wake up early' pattern was difficult for me as I'm usually a late snoozer, and it takes time for me to get used to sleeping on a different bed and in a different place. It didn't really help that we changed hotels almost everyday while visiting different cities.

I had a lot more fun in Hong Kong as I didn't get sick, we got to explore on our own and I had no schedules. I was able to rest and relax. Generally I enjoyed being there more than being in China where there was lots of air pollution and no access to my favourite social media sites.

I could go on but I reckon I'll leave it there! I have also uploaded all of my pictures on my Facebook. I've made the album public so if anyone's interested in having a look, go for it! 630 images.

I attempted to vlog during my vacation but I only managed to do a proper speaking one on my final night in Hong Kong. Yet I still wouldn't call it 'proper' as it was so impromptu lol. I've made a playlist for the vlogs/videos which you can check out below:

While I was in China and Hong Kong, I was most keen on finding Asian cosmetics to purchase as they tend to be cheaper than online or instore over here. And who isn't drawn to the cute/pretty packaging that these cosmetics have?! While being overseas, all of the cosmetics that I bought were from Hong Kong, mostly in Mong Kok. As I was on a shopping tour in China, there really wasn't any time to do our own shopping in any shopping malls/districts.

Being in Hong Kong for just 5 days wasn't enough and I wish we could have stayed longer! I wasn't happy with how little my haul was so I made up for it by... shopping online after coming back! I had left over HKD which I exchanged, banked and used to spend online haha.

Items from Sasa and Etude House. Not a lot as you can see!

Most of the items above were gifts for friends so technically my haul was only this big:

Yes I know right, disappointing! And one of these 'items' is just a membership card (yay)

The SHINee packet of tissues... just a freebie lol

A beauty blogger like myself to come back from Asia with only that many Asian cosmetics... wowee. Definitely the smallest Asian cosmetics haul from Asia that I've ever seen online. This was one trip to Etude House and I was hoping to make a couple more trips but due to time constraints it wasn't possible. Also, going with a large group was hard and we'd have different interests of where to shop and what to do. Because of my situation, I am just glad that I was able to do a bit of shopping in a shop that I had wanted to visit in so long.

The Etude House shop in Mong Kok didn't seem very updated as it didn't have any of the new ranges and still had older limited edition ranges to sell and clear out. But of course this must be because Etude House is Korean and it probably takes longer for stores outside of Korea to get their hands on the new limited edition items.

Being the cheap, bargain-hunting Asian that I am, I purchased items from the 40% off sale as there really wasn't anything that I really wanted to buy. I think I already have enough cosmetics!

These were so cute (this is probably going to be the reason/description I'll be giving to every single product) and I fail at nail art designs so I thought, why not have some pre-made designs to simple stick-on. Also I could tell that these nail sizes would fit my petite nails really well!

This limited edition Shini Star lip balm endorsed by boy group SHINee is no where to be found online and there weren't many left in one of the Mong Kok Etude stores. Limited edition and limited stock indeed! This is Taemin's choice of fruit flavour (guava) and it smells so delicious! There's a flavour/colour for each SHINee member and I regret not grabbing more/all of these. It's very glossy and leaves a subtle tint of colour.

Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips #PKK003 is this gorgeous rose pink colour which is suitable for daily wear. I'm in love with the design - it surely makes me feel like a princess. The colour is more on the sheer side with some shimmer. The scent is pleasant and this lipstick is definitely one of my favourite lipsticks right now.

An egg-shaped lip balm! I have this slight obsession with lip balms these days, I have plenty of them yet I still keep buying more! To me it's an absolute necessity and I hate having dry, cracked lips.

Doesn't it remind you of another lip balm, one that is more well-known? Yep, it's just like the EOS lip balm which I haven't used before but when I saw this in the store I was thinking, "cool, it must be very similar!"

It is similar!

I can't do a comparison of which is better however I can say that this lip balm goes on smoothly and smells delightful - a light peach scent.

Now I'm going to share my cosmetics haul which I purchased online when I got back. A Korean cosmetics haul:

This was my first time ordering from them and I was really happy with neatly they packaged everything into the box. The little note was cute too

Must give a shout-out to Jen from NYNB who tweeted about her order from Beauty Net Korea, which I hadn't heard about until she mentioned it! I checked out their site and it sells products from pretty much every Korean beauty brand that exists - a huge range, limited edition items spotted and free shipping! Also, I must say that the prices are really decent. I will definitely consider purchasing from here again :)

And all orders get free samples. I love samples!

Skincare samples by Etude House

Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Tony Tint sample - good for a red lippie!

L-O-V-E these lashes, they look and feel very natural. The XOXO Minnie x Etude range is too adorable! I recently wore these to an event and the way they flick outwards on the ends is quite pretty. I'll share a pic here:

A better alternative to mascara I reckon!

Another cute pink lippie from Etude! Dear My Blooming Lips-talk in PK013 - a colour I'd wear for special occasions.

I've always wanted to get one of these highlighters. How shiny is the box and packaging of this Tony Moly Crystal Light Gold Beam, oh my goodness it's stunningly blinding! It reminds me of the popular Benefit High Beam however this is much more affordable. It leaves a subtle finish which is perfect for me because I'm still new to highlighting and contouring and I don't want to end up looking too sparkly/shiny!

What did I say before about being a lip balm freak :P Here I go again with purchasing yet another, but it's not as though I regret it or anything - this is the Innisfree 98% Natural Tint Balm and it's prettiest stick lip balm I've owned and it smells like candy *_* I tend to be more of a fan of tinted lip balms than regular lip balms because sometimes I want both moisture and colour and regular lip balms and lipsticks can't do both for me. It's like a 2-in-1!

I've never used any of these eyeshadow/shimmer sticks before so I thought I'd try them out. Also, I noticed that they're used by Korean singers and actresses and their eye makeup always looks gorgeous. I'm happy to have purchased these because they glide on really smoothly, making it incredibly easy to apply!

Just like an ice cream, ey? Adorable design for a nail polish and this red orange/grapefruit colour is amazing! One coat and I was able to achieve streak-free opaque nails. I was impressed with the consistency of the formula :)

Finally I've gotten to the end of my haul - another lengthy post from me! However this technically isn't all to my Asian cosmetics haul because I'm still waiting on my Sasa order (I know what you're thinking...why did I order online when I could've just BOUGHT them from the PHYSICAL Sasa stores in Hong Kong!!) and I kind of splurged again on Korean cosmetics...

I'm happy to share what's in the bag but not in this post as I've already shared plenty! If you'd like me to write another haul post (items in that bag and Sasa order once it arrives), please let me know :D

Disclaimer: All products were purchased with my own money. This is not a sponsored post nor am I affiliated with any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are 100% honest.

Follow @thequestjen

I won a Style Wardrobe Audit

A couple of months ago I was notified by Celeste of Becoming Beautiful that I had won her Clearasil Vitamins and Extract Giveaway competition where there were 6 Australian bloggers hosting the same giveaway of a Style Wardrobe Audit by The Style Agency worth up to $300. I thought I'd give it a crack with a response (6 most creative responses are winners) and what do you know, I ended up being selected!

To be honest, I wasn't too sure what to expect with my one-hour Style Wardrobe Audit prize up to the value of $300. Here's a brief summary of what happened with my wardrobe audit session:

• Stylist arrived at my house
• Assessed my style and  4 of my favourite outfits that I put together before she arrived
• Matched up the colours suitable for my complexion and overall appearance
• Assessed my body shape
• Looked at each piece of clothing in my wardrobe, to keep or dispose

Before I had my wardrobe audit, I submitted an Style Agency client form which was a profile of myself including my clothing and shoe sizes, style personality and any issues that I had with my body or wardrobe. Based on my information, The Style Agency was able to match me up with a local fashion stylist named Lizzy. She was wonderful and made the whole wardrobe audit experience so much fun! She had a really easy-going attitude and it made me feel very comfortable as this was my first time having a personal stylist. I could certainly tell that Lizzy was a true professional!

Most of my clothes in my wardrobe, already sorted into colours

Lizzy was impressed that I had kept all of my clothes in colour coordination - it makes things a lot easier to find and easier to know what colour could go with another.

My undertone was assessed and it turns out that I suit warm tones because of my dark hair and dark eyes. If you're not sure what your undertone is, you can always compare colours from warm and cool tones and see what you think looks better on you.

Although I like the colours more in the cool tones, I suit the warm-toned colours more. But it doesn't mean that I should avoid the cool colours - they just won't 'do' anything for me.

It turns out that I have a lot more cool-toned items in my wardrobe so now when I go shopping, I'll know to not purchase anymore cool-toned clothing and aim to find clothes in the warm tones.

 These are some examples of warm tones in my current wardrobe and colours that I should be looking out for when I go clothes shopping

In particular, I should look for clothes that are brown, navy blue and cream/off-white. These colours help to enhance my overall appearance of dark hair and dark eyes. Blacks, whites, greys and pastel colours may look good but won't look WOW fantastic on me. But of course, if the style/pattern is nice, it can still look great on :)

They say that everyone must have an LBD (little black dress) however for me, brown is my colour more than black! I really had no idea that brown would be the colour for me! Time to get myself more brown items, including shoes.

Teal = a colour that looks good on everyone!

We began to rummage through my wardrobe and find some pieces that were a bit dated and not the best for my figure, style and personality. We created a pile of clothes called the 'maybe' pile, where there was the option of throwing them out for good. For now, I have all of these 'maybe' clothes in a bag and I may or may not open up the bag again to have a look at the clothing. 

At the bottom I've got my home clothes and a messy pile of the 'maybe' clothes.

Based on my figure and style personality (which I will reveal soon), Lizzy recommended the following:

I suit monochromatic colours and this is an example

Dressing with monochromatic colours is when you wear one colour from head to toe that are just in slightly different shades e.g. light blue shirt, navy blue jeans. Although it may look good or suit me, wearing monochromatic colours is not really my style however I will keep this in mind if I happen to run out of ideas of what to wear!

 Lizzy recommended this as a cute and casual outfit

This type of fitted jacket works best with my body type and looks good with the warm colours. Although grey is one of those colours that don't do much for me, I can make it 'work' by pairing it with a colour that suits me.

And now to reveal my body shape and style personality... can you guess what they are??

Body shape = The I shape

 

Credit: Inside Out Style blog

• Width of shoulders and hips are similar with a fairly undefined waist
• Suitable clothing = adding volume to hips and bust
• Horizontal details, pockets, ruffles, frills
• Double-breasted jackets, belted jackets, trench coats
• Belts at the waist to add curves
• Jumpsuits can also be worn

What I was most surprised about was the fact that I don't have as many curves (or practically any) as I thought I did! I do have a heavier bottom than top (the thighs!) but according to my body shape being the 'I' shape, I need to highlight my hips and bottom and thighs when all this time I have been rather self-conscious about them. Identifying my body shape has allowed me to embrace my 'curves' more and to realise that they aren't so bad.

Having an 'I' shape body means that I should avoid loose, baggy clothing that I can't fill out.

Style personality = Feminine

Credit: Lourdes of Style

• Delicate, soft, pretty, womanly, caring, sensitive
• Warm and approachable person, not conventionally ambitious
• Nothing masculine or sharp
• Soft cardigans, dresses, skirts, knits, blouses
• Pastels, florals, bows, ribbons but not worn all at once
• Silk and satin textures, velvet, soft

Designers suited to the feminine style:
Collette Dinnigan, Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, Alex Perry, Alannah Hill, Lisa Ho, Fleur Wood, Review, Diana Ferrari and David Lawrence.

 Feminine style is so me!

This was easy for Lizzy and myself to identify because when I had my 4 favourite outfits for her to assess, she could immediately tell that I had a feminine style and also with my answers in the client form/questionnaire. I haven't purchased any clothing from the above brands listed but I will be sure to check them out now that I know that their designs will interest me. I do however have a pair of D&G sunglasses :)

We went through a lot in the one-hour session and I learnt so much from it! I have a new outlook on fashion and can now be more critical of what to wear and buy. It's awesome how fashion incorporates many factors such as warm or cool tone, body shape, height and style personality. I could have the same body shape as someone but a completely different sense of fashion and complexion, or the same sense of fashion but suits cool tones. Therefore we can't just assume that something will look good on you because it looks good on someone else or what may not look good on someone else won't necessarily mean that it's the same for you.

Fashion caters for people of all shapes, sizes etc. and although it sounds a little cliche, it's actually very true. Not all supermodels have the same body shape and girls, don't feel pressured to look like them or feel the need to change the way you are. Embrace what you've got and work it with confidence!

The Style Wardrobe Audit has definitely helped to improve my confidence and to look my best. Knowing what I can avoid will definitely make my shopping trips a whole lot easier and help me decide what to pick if I have trouble deciding between two or three!

Thank you so much to Lizzy for her amazing styling tips and tricks and also to Celeste for hosting the giveaway on behalf of Nuffnang and The Style Agency. I now feel more confident to write more fashion posts and take OOTD pictures for my blog.

I am currently in China (this is a scheduled post) and will also be in Hong Kong where I plan to shop like mad for new clothing pieces and accessories! I cannot wait to share with you my haul, although it's probably going to be mostly makeup products hehehe.

Questjen of the week:

Do you know your undertone, body shape and/or style personality?

Once again, warm tones, I shape and feminine!

Unfortunately I haven't found a quiz to help you find out what you are under each category but I am curious to know whether any of you have an idea of what you are or have had a personal styling session similar to my wardrobe audit! Also I am curious to know whether anyone suits warm tones, has an I shape body and a feminine sense of style like me :)

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I am not affiliated with the people and companies mentioned in this post, nor was writing this post an obligation.