MAYBELLINE LASTING DRAMA GEL EYELINER REVIEW

Due to my crazy, busy schedule these days, I seldom put on makeup. And I kinda miss it. So right after my Pilates session one Saturday, I gave in and bought something I was lusting for months to end! Here's Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. 

I don't claim to be a professional makeup artist, let alone being an expert in eyeliner application. Oh boy! That's way too hard and it indeed needs a lot of practice! That's exactly what I did when I got in my flat.

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:

It's wallet-friendly. Boots (a beauty store in London) retails it for £7.99 but gives a £2.00 discount making it roughly £6.00. Not too bad, isn't it? It also has a creamy application. I've heard it said that applying gel eyeliners can be tricky but you know what? After trying all the types {pencil, liquid and gel liners} - I find this the easiest among them! Added bonus is a 2-way brush. One end is flat for application, another is rounded for smudging. It's definitely a steal!

PS: Apologies for all the reddish thingies on my face. I just had a brow wax literally hours before I took this pic. ;)

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHT:

Unfortunately, it smudges. After 3 hours, it starts to flake and smudge on my lids. Maybe because I do have oily lids but even applying a primer (I used THIS) it slows down the wearing off but it still does. However, can I just say that it's not as bad as my experience on K-Pallete? I know that there's a massive cult following this brand but for some odd reasons, it gives me PANDA eyes 100% of the time! O.O Not happy about that :(

CMK THINKS:

As much as I'm happy about the price and all, I cannot repurchase because it doesn't do its job {at least on my lids}. Such a shame because if not for that, the product would have been perfect. As for gel eyeliners, I think this one holds true for me:  
*

CMK LONDON DIARY : WINTER 2015

February, as Londoners say, is the coldest month of the year. And that proved to be true when I was greeted  by this view one Tuesday morning! Our backyard looks different! To check how it looked like last Autumn, click HERE. I set an alarm at 6:00 am the night before, I snoozed {as always} and when I looked at my phone again... 7:40 am! What?! I struggled to get up but even with my winter socks on - it felt extremely cold. I peeked through our kitchen window and I saw a snow capped backyard for the first time.

Now I understand a portion of Psalm 51 that King David wrote:

"...wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

I know there's only one shade of white, but I can't find a way to describe it but: whiter than white! It's so delicate and it's finer than the ice shavings of Razon's halo-halo!

3 FAST FACTS FROM MY FIRST-TIME WINTER EXPERIENCE:

1. WEAR SHOES WITH GRIP

... because the ground is extra-slippery! I almost fell flat on my bum when crossing the street! o.0 I panicked a bit but thank God that was an "almost" incident. Boots or chucks cannot do the trick since the slush and water will make you lose your balance. Hence, you need to exert additional effort when walking.

2. BRING PACKED LUNCH WITH YOU

... because you'll be too lazy battling the cold.

3. MORE SNOW DOES NOT MEAN EXTREMELY COLDER DAYS

... because Prague was -7 when I visited last 2011 and it's colder there even without snow. London was -1 with snow but it's warmer. 
*

CMK TRAVELS : 10 PRACTICAL TIPS WHEN TRAVELING TO JAPAN (PART 2)

Firstly, here's PART 1. I guess there's no excuse for posting the other half after 4 months! As you may have already know, I've always been an advocate of living in the moment and taking a healthy break from anything online. But, I'm here now and ready to give you the other installment of practical things to bear in mind while traversing the Land of the Rising Sun!

TIP 6: OBSERVE PROPER DECORUM

When in Japan, you should do what the Japanese do. We've visited Osaka and there's a plethora of shrines in there. One of which is Osaka Tenmangu. They have different belief systems and as such, one word is always necessary: RESPECT. Make it a point to keep quiet or minimise your noise specially when somebody's praying or offering a 'sacrifice'. Be cautious not to take pictures of people as much as possible. 

TIP 7: WEAR FLATS (AND BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER)

Whether it's summer or winter - it's best to trail with your comfortable foot wear. Walking is a necessity on this side of the world so you need to be BFF with whatever you're wearing. It may seem obvious and no-brainer but believe me - when your soles are aching like hell because you forgot this essential tip, you need to fake a smile on every picture.

Additional tip: Usually, hostels give a complimentary water bottle. Take that with you as stores charge higher prices in tourist destinations like these.

TIP 8: INTERACT WITH THE LOCALS

After years of reading travel blogs and doing my share of travel as well, I noticed one stark difference: seasoned travellers don't like to appear touristy! They want to blend in with the locals and  immerse themselves with the culture as much as they could. Over time, I've learned to appreciate this bit. Before, I used to love wearing shirts with I ♥ (insert country here) logo but I've grown passed it.

Tip: Japanese are generally silent but they are extremely helpful. If they don't know how to speak English - just show them a picture of your question (i.e. place, thing, etc). They'd be happy to help, trust me.
*

TIP 9: PLAN YOUR TRAIN TRIPS

I write this not to scare you but to warn you. Thing is, Japanese tubes are complicated {at least for me}. I guess it's a mixture of so many interchanges topped with station names that are foreign to us. Case in point: They have 3 osaka stations. I can only recall one. Shin-Osaka. Heheh! Since the transport fees are sky high, plan ahead and make sure you got the most efficient route as possible.

Additional tip: Some tubes don't accept credit cards (especially bullet trains) so you have to have Yens with you (see Tip 5).

TIP 10: DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: KNOW WHEN TO TURN OFF YOUR PHONE AND ENJOY THE MOMENT 

It's easy to get high with the number of likes and comments that you get on social media but you know what? It's best to experience things as they happen. Don't you think it's plain ridic when  you're on an extremely beautiful place but your eyes are glued on the phone? I am guilty! Here's the key: Be concious that we're being robbed of pure joy when we clamor for things that are less important (yes, like the superficial likes, etc.)

*