Valentine's Day is only a couple of days away, so I've rushed the edit and upload of this Valentine's Day makeup tutorial - and this is one that is perfect for a night out with your girlfriends or with your special someone.

Here's the video. I hope you like it! x

Products mentioned:

Kiehl's Ultra Hydrating Cream

The latest offering in moisturiser from Kiehl's, this is an ultra-hydrating moisturiser that is ultra-lightweight in texture. It is the lightest moisturiser that I have ever tried, but it still does feel a tiny bit slick on the skin, so I would recommend it for dry skin types. I like to use it to prep my skin before I use a powder-based foundation, because I find that it helps make my skin a little bit tacky so that it helps the powder stick, and also gives it a more glowy finish.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Seas of Illumination Highlighter

I've been a fan of Rouge Bunny Rouge ever since I spotted the brand on some of my favourite blogs, and finally got a chance to try it without the hefty shipping price tag when I discovered that Luxola carries the brand on their website (free shipping with orders above RM40 in Malaysia). This highlighter is pink-toned with multi-coloured shimmer, and gives the skin a lovely glow. It is pigmented enough that you don't need to 'wet' your skin and ruin the rest of your makeup - only a little bit is more than enough to give your skin a soft, luminous glow.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express Kit in Brunette

This is my favourite brow product, not because of the texture or formulation of the powder, but because of the brush. Anastasia knows her brows, and this is one of the best brow brushes I have come across by far. It has just the right amount of stiffness to help me shape my brows properly, particularly at the bottom edges.

Sleek Contour Kit in Medium

One of my favourite contour products just because it is easy to use, doesn't have any shimmer in it at all, and is a great match for my skin tone. I don't like contour powders that are too orange, because they don't look natural at all, and this is one of the few drugstore products that gets it right.

Sigma Paris Palette

I am late to the party on this one, I admit, but only because it was so difficult to get my hands on Sigma before this! I know they ship worldwide, but unless you're doing a group order, their shipping increases with each product you add to your cart, and usually once I add a few products to my cart, I end up getting depressed by the shipping cost and close the whole window. This one was another shipment from Luxola, and my gosh it is beautiful! Some of the colours are absolutely amazing, particularly the purples, which is why I chose to use them in this tutorial.

Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Onyx

This is a great eyeliner to use when you're doing a smoky eye, because it is quite smudge proof once it sets. Don't use it if you have particularly oily lids or watery eyes, because it isn't 100% smudge proof, but if you're neither, it's a great smoky liner to have.

Lavie Lashes

Lavie is a brand of lashes released by a friend of mine, and I am immensely flattered that she chose to send me a selection of her lashes to trial and show you guys here on the blog and my channel. I am wearing the Lolas, and what I love about her line of lashes is that they are so wearable! They are just right for my eyes, and that is difficult to find because most lashes are too long or too large for my eyes. These fit just right, so I urge anyone of Asian descent to try these if you've been looking for a more natural but still striking look!

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Spicey

I honestly didn't even think to buy this colour - I just knew I wanted a new Watercolour Blush because I have the colour Cherub and absolutely adore it. I only bought this colour because it was so highly recommended online, and when it arrived I was slightly underwhelmed by the brick red colour. But once I applied it, I fell head over heels in love! The colour just lit my entire face up, and brought such a beautiful warmth to my cheeks. I highly recommend this for warm skin tones - you won't regret it!

Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick in Nude Beach

Fast becoming one of my favourite lipsticks because of its lovely mauve-y nude colour. It is really flattering against my skin and I love the creamy texture. I wish it was a tiny bit more pigmented, but still love it to death anyway.

Chinese New Year is almost upon us! All 15 days of Chinese New Year (plus an extra day if you count the Reunion Dinner) carry their own meaning and tradition, and I have compiled a list of products and tips to get you through these 15 days in style :)

Here's a little calendar that I put together myself, and listed below it are product descriptions and my reasons why I chose that particular product.

Reunion Dinner - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream - Intense Hydration

This facial cream is absolute magic. It is intensely hydrating, and yet it manages to be so lightweight that I can barely feel it on my fingers when I scoop it out of the jar. This is one of Kiehl's latest launches (though the Ultra Facial Cream has been around for some time now, the Intense Hydration version is new), and I can see this fast becoming a favourite amongst Malaysians with oily and dry skins. This fluffy cream is perfect for the Malaysian humid weather, because it hydrates without weighing down or greasing up the skin. This was love at first touch for me, and I highly recommend using it to prep your skin before makeup as well as to add hydration throughout the CNY period and beyond.

Day 2 - Senka Perfect Cleansing Oil

Senka is quite well known for their foaming facial cleansers, but it is this cleansing oil that I really like from their range of products. The CNY period will be chock-full of (pore-clogging) long days, smoke (from all those darned firecrackers), and greasy food. Make sure none of that stays on your skin before you hit the hay by maintaining a double-cleansing routine - using an oil cleanser to remove dirt and makeup before following with a cream cleanser to finish the job. This particular oil cleanser is very effective, and washes away makeup much more quickly than some other oil cleansers I've tried. What's more - it is actually possible to use this in the shower when you have wet hands (with most cleansing oils, it is imperative that your hands and skin are dry when you apply them, otherwise they won't work). It leaves the skin soft and clean after.

Day 3 - Aupres Aqua Active Sleeping Mask EX

Traditionally, Day 3 of Chinese New Year is a day for staying home. The Chinese believe that receiving visitors on Day 3 is bad luck, and so this is the best time for you to pamper yourself and catch up on some beauty sleep. Slap on some Aupres Sleeping Mask to increase cell turnover and replenish your skin's moisture levels, which you most likely lost through common Chinese New Year activities. This increases the radiance and luminosity in your skin. This mask is hydrating and has a lovely relaxing baby-powder scent (it is marketed as lavender but doesn't really smell like lavender to me) so it helps you sleep. Perfect for days like this.

Day 5 - Hydrate your body!

You should always remember to drink plenty of water no matter what it is that you're doing, particularly since most of what makes Chinese New Year what it is, is the cookie-alcohol-gambling combination. Drink enough water to care for both your body and your skin's health.

Day 6 - China Glaze Ruby Pumps

Happy Chinese birthday, everyone! A South East Asian Chinese tradition is to 'lou sang' - which basically is everyone gathered round a table, tossing a 'Chinese salad' of sorts with their chopsticks. Make your hands stand out with my favourite red nail polish - China Glaze's Ruby Pumps. This is a gorgeous true red with tonnes of red glitter. It looks so beautiful on the nails, and the colour is perfect for ringing in the lunar new year!

Day 8 - Benefit Porefessional: Agent Zero Shine
Day 8 is when most people offer prayers late into the night, so keep your makeup looking fresh and matte with the Benefit Porefessional Powder, which reduces the appearance of your pores and keeps oiliness and shine at bay. Unlike other powders, this one absorbs oil beautifully, so when you re-apply it throughout the day, it still feels as if you just applied your makeup. The best thing about it is that it has a brush built in and can be used over makeup, so it's the perfect thing to toss into your purse for touch-ups throughout the day.

Day 9 - Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream
Give your skin a little rest from heavy coverage foundations with this hydrating BB cream from Shiseido. Why I like it? It gives great coverage (I would classify this as a medium coverage foundation), and goes easy on the skin with its oil-free texture, antioxidant ingredients, and UV protection. This reduces the appearance of pores, helps cover acne scars, evens out the skin tone, and gives the skin a lovely luminosity. Any extra imperfections on the skin can be covered with a little concealer and powder.

Day 11 - Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Drama
These are the most fantabulous lipsticks in the world. Somewhere between a MAC cremesheen and the YSL Glossy Stain, this lipstick was inspired by Japanese laquerware, and provides a creamy, glossy, pigmented finish. Though creamy and glossy, this lipstick lasts forever on the lips, and barely needs touching up throughout the day. The colour 'Drama' is the perfect red for the Chinese New Year season, and the tiny wand applicator makes touching up on the go so easy and quick.

Day 13 - Simplicité Exfoliating Face Treatment
Day 13 is known as the day of cleanse, when the Chinese take a break from all the rich foods and drink herbal soup to cleanse their system. Take this opportunity to draw impurities from your face as well, using the Simplicité Exfoliating Face Treatment, which draws dirt and impurities towards the surface of your skin so that you can treat them. Follow with something like the Simplicité Waratah and Beetroot Plant Mask for a full-on treat for your skin.

Day 14 - Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
The combination of food and lack of sleep is bound to cause a couple of break outs (unless you are blessed with perfect skin, of course), so I highly recommend the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer to hide them until they go away. The peachy-toned colour is perfect for under-eye circles, and by mixing the two colours together, you can custom-create a colour that is perfect for your skin tone, depending on which area of the face you need to cover. The texture of this is also perfect, because it is thick and pigmented enough that it will cover almost anything and won't budge once you apply a bit of powder to set it, yet light enough that it is easy to blend and won't cake on your skin.

Day 15 - TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer
You all know I adore this highlighter, because it is so natural that it resembles a cream highlighter, but its powder form makes it so much easier and quicker to apply to your skin. The finish of this luminizer is one of the prettiest I have ever seen in a highlighting product, and even though I've gone through my fair share of highlighters, this has managed to stay at the top spot until now (this was one of my first ever highlighter purchases). Day 15 is a day of lanterns and fireworks, so use this highlighter to illuminate your best features - you will look gorgeous in that candlelight!

Thank you so much for watching!

These are an absolute must in the summer! Whether you just need to freshen your fragrance or you really need to mask certain smells (C'mon, walking around in that summer heat? You know what I'm talking about!), mini fragrance bottles are perfect. Some I'm really loving? The Lancôme Poême fragrance - very strong and long-lasting. All you need is a couple of dots on your décolletage and you're set.

The Balenciaga Paris fragrance is a little lighter and more breezy compared to the Poême, so if you want a slightly younger, more edgy-smelling scent, this is the one for you.

The House of Chloé also has the purse-sized perfume department locked down! A while back, they released the famous Love, Chloé fragrance in a rose-gold covered purse spray, pictured below. You can buy refills for this, so you won't have to repurchase the whole canister. So pretty :)

And as if that wasn't genius enough, Chloé also released a brand new Chloé Solid Perfume fragrance. It is a gorgeous locket filled with solid perfume, silver on one side, and a pretty magnolia yellow on the other. This would make such a fabulous Christmas gift, but move fast, because it is limited edition.

BB Cream

If you're looking for a lighter, less skin-clogging version of your foundation, look no farther than BB creams. They are so easy to apply - no need for brushes, just dab the product onto your face and smooth out with your clean fingers - and almost always come in handy squeezy tubes so that they are easy to transport. For a lightweight, quite watery version, I highly recommend the Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream. It is light and quite sheer, and gives you the most insanely dewy complexion.

If you want something more readily available (and super affordable - only AUD 12.95), look no further than the Rimmel BB Cream. Containing SPF25, this is a multi-tasker so you don't have to cake another product onto your probably already-melting face. This has fabulous coverage and has pretty decent oil control, so the finished result is a kind of silky matte, perfect skin. I should warn you that the colours run a little dark (I am a MAC NW20 and the 'Light' shade is a tad too dark for me) but if you're anywhere between a light-medium to dark coloured skin, this BB cream will match.

Hand Cream

I love repeating this - the backs of your hands and your neck are the first places to show signs of ageing. Always protect these areas by applying plenty of sunscreen as well as locking in moisture. These hand creams are both moisturising and non-greasy, and one reason why I love them so much is that they smell absolutely amazing!

The Urban Rituelle Hibiscus and Cranberry hand cream comes in a beautiful gift-packed trio that you can gift for Christmas, and the L'Occitane Cherry Princess hand cream comes from an entire range of Cherry Princess products, which undoubtedly will also be included in some beautiful gift packs for the holiday season.

Lip Balms

Lips are sensitive and need constant protection and hydration - they become dry and chapped in almost any kind of weather, and at the slightest sign of dehydration. Some of my favourites are:

Simplicité Angelica Lip Care Balm - by far the most effective of the three. It gets rid of chapped lips and helps plump the lips without that overly creamy feeling, so it almost feels like there's nothing on your lips.

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Lip Balm - Great if you want a non-greasy texture and a little tint to your lips. This tints your lips a light, rosy pink colour. Beware though, if you lean too warm in your skin tone then this colour might look a little unnatural on you.

Kiehl's Lip Balm - this is another star product that really gets rid of chapped lips and helps lock in the moisture, but has a little bit more of a creamy texture than the Simplicité lip balm. The great thing about this is that it comes in a number of different flavours and you can get one that contains SPF.

Spritz

When it comes to face spritzes, be careful which one you pick. If you get one that isn't formulated properly, it can actually lead to more moisture being sucked from your skin. The Uriage thermal water is formulated in such a way that it actually encourages the absorption of the moisture into your skin when spritzed on, which is absoultely perfect for the summer. In addition, it makes your makeup settle into your skin and helps it look more natural, as well as a little bit more comfortable to wear. PLUS, I mean, a little spritz or two is always so refreshing in that summer heat.

Compact Powder

Compact powders are great for a quick touch-up to keep your skin matte. For something with more coverage, try the Dior Diorskin Nude Compact. It comes with a dual-sided brush depending on what coverage you are going for, and the compact is lovely, luxe, and comes with a handy mirror.

Another great powder is the Luview Crystal Mineral Pact, which has a little sponge that is in a separate compartment. This also provides great coverage, but is quite light, so it will only suit more fair skins.

So that about sums up my handbag essentials for summer! Do you have any handbag must-haves for summer?

L'Eau de Chloé

Another great fragrance is 'Freak' by Illamasqua. This is the brand's first fragrance, and smells rich and spicy, which I think represents the brand perfectly. If you're looking for something for a younger recipient, this is perfect. 

If you want something that looks as beautiful as it smells, Urban Rituelle has got you covered. The brand always has the most intricate prints on its packaging, like the one shown in this Hibiscus & Cranberry Travel Trio Gift Set, containing a body lotion, bath & shower gel, and hand therapy. Available online and at David Jones stores.

There are also some more-affordable products that still make wonderful gifts, like this Bosisto's Lavender collection. They smell absolutely amazing, and I have fallen head over heels in love with these products. I use them in my oil burner (which would make a great accompanying gift!), and in the bath, and I even use the spray to disinfect my pillow at night, plus it makes for a wonderful room-scent. Available at selected pharmacies.

If you know exactly who you're buying for, then skincare can be a lovely gift to give as well.

Now if you have a hardcore beauty-lover, they are going to be absolutely floored to receive this baby! This is the PMD - a microdermabrasion device that clears away dead skin cells, reduces the appearance of pores, prevents the development of acne, and brightens and smooths the skin. It does absolute wonders at clearing out dead skin cells on the rest of your body, too, and can clear up dry skin on your feet as well as reduce ingrown hairs.

I also have some fantastic stocking fillers to show you!

Another affordable stocking stuffer is the Nuxe dry body oil, the Huile Prodigieuse OR, with gold shimmer. This will make skin glow and shimmer, which is perfect for the party season. Not to mention, this is the original, best-selling dry body oil from France, and does wonders for the skin.

That about sums up my Christmas gift recommendations! I have more on the way, so I might do a little video showing you some of the prettier collections. I hope you were inspired! x

There is only one way of avoiding the morning after - don't have the big night. But for those of us who can't help ourselves, or indulge in the occasional big night, here are a few important skincare basics, for both the big night and the morning after.

Always, ALWAYS remove your makeup

I know the last thing you want to do when you're stumbling home at 4AM is to hover above a sink and fuss over your face and teeth, but trust me, it will be worth it in the morning. Makeup left on overnight can clog up the skin and interrupt the skin's renewal, so it is absolutely essential to remove every little bit of makeup before you go to bed. 

Some brands have made it exceedingly simple and quick to remove your makeup, so you can do what you really want to do - just collapse onto your bed and close out the rest of the world!

Bioderma Créaline H20 (pink cap) and Sébium H20 (green cap)

These cleansers are an absolute godsend - they cleanse thoroughly and effectively, and yet, are gentle on the skin. What's better - you don't need to rinse them off with water! Just pour the product onto a cotton pad, and wipe it off. Pat dry, and you are done! Remember that the Sébium H20 is not meant to be used on the eyes, but it does a fabulous job and ridding the skin of grease and regulating the sebum production.

For more information, read my review on the Créaline H20 here (250mL, AUD 39.95) and the Sébium H20 here (200mL, AUD 29.95).

These makeup wipes remove even the most stubborn waterproof mascara, and leave your skin feeling tingly fresh after you're done. They are formulated with Tea Tree, which is great for preventing breakouts, and they smell divine! A no-fuss essential for getting rid of makeup after a big night out.

Moisturise your skin

Alcohol and/or lack of sleep can have a very detrimental effect on your skin, the most common of which is dehydration. This can cause dull skin and premature wrinkles, and affects the skin's overall health as well. It is crucial to try and replace the lost moisture in your skin with a good moisturiser or moisturising serum. Some fantastic ones to try are:

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (50mL, AUD 34)

This is an intensely hydrating, very rich cream (oilier skins may want respond better to the Ultra Facial Moisturiser) that offers round-the-clock hydration in addition to preventing further moisture loss. It is packaged in two sizes, a 50mL and a 125mL, and doesn't feel greasy on the skin, which can be a bother especially when you're probably going to do the face-plant onto your pillow 5 minutes later.

Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream (50mL, AUD 84)

Another amazing moisturiser by Kiehl's, this cream utilises the regenerative qualities of the Haberlea Rhodopensis (otherwise known as the Resurrection Flower) to prevent ageing and boost the skin's radiance. It is also highly moisturising and very rich. The best way to apply this is to warm it up between your fingers, then pat it onto your face.

Ella Baché Hydra-Revitalising Crème de la Crème (50mL, AUD 105)

This gorgeous moisturiser is lightweight, yet delivers amazing results. It keeps your skin moisturised and plump, without the greasiness and thickness often associated with deeply hydrating products. It is perfect for more oily skins, because it does the job without adding unnecessary oil to the skin.

Biotherm Aquasource Nuit High Density Hydrating Jelly (50mL, AUD 59)

This night serum is amazing at providing intense hydration to your skin. It absorbs instantly and works wonderfully overnight to give you plump, soft skin in the morning. It also smells so beautifully light and refreshing. Apply one pump and pat into your skin. It absorbs very quickly and feels velvety smooth on the skin. No greasy film! Face-plant WIN.

De-Puff, Brighten, and Hydrate!

Formulated with the healing qualities of the thermal springs in France, Uriage skincare both heals and moisturises the skin. Due to the make-up of the thermal water (I won't bore/confuse you with the science here), the skin more readily absorbs this eye cream. This eye cream brightens the eyes and provides continuous moisture, and is oil free, fragrance free, paraben free, and hypoallergenic. 

emerginC Scientific Organics Eyelight Cream (15ml, AUD 65)

This cream is rich and moisturising, and contains antioxidants designed to fight the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and under-eye circles, while hydrating and brightening. If you've got a bit of cash to spend, then this is a great night eye cream to splurge on, because it does wonders to hydrate and reduce fine lines and puffiness around the eyes.

After the big night, your skin is definitely going to need some TLC. It is most likely dehydrated, and will look ruddy and dull. The best you can do for it is to use gentle, hydrating skincare, and follow that up with a hydrating mask to replenish moisture and calm the skin.

Guinot Instant Radiance Moisturising Mask (50mL, AUD 69)

This mask is the perfect one-two-punch all rolled into one little tube. The essential oils in the mask provide excellent hydration, and stimulates the blood so that the skin looks more energised and radiant. It also smells beautiful, which can't be bad for that hangover :)

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque (75mL, AUD 61.50)

If it's instant, intense hydration you're after, you can't get much better than this mask. It only needs 10 minutes to work its magic, and your skin emerges smooth, plump, and moisturised after!

Caudalie Moisturising Cream Mask (50mL, AUD 32.90)

This is a multi-purpose, cheaper alternative that performs just as well as the more high-end products. Apply for 15 minutes and once you wash it off, your skin will look and feel soft and supple. You can even use this around the eyes and as an overnight mask - perfect for re-hydrating overnight!

Morning After Makeup

As it is with skincare, the morning-after makeup also needs to be nourishing and hydrating. Some great base products to apply before your makeup are:

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 (22mL, AUD 79)

You all know I love my multi-tasking products. How can you go past makeup that also functions as skincare?! It's genius! The Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer just launched this September 2012, and can - *inhales* - even out your skin tone, provide sun protection, enhance the skin's luminosity, fill in surface irregularites (i.e. pores and fine lines), absorb excess oil, stimulate collagen replenishment (anti-ageing YES!), moisturise the skin, stimulate cell renewal, and help your makeup stick to your skin. How's that for multi-tasking?!

This is the perfect product to both prep and protect your skin for the long day ahead. You can even wear it on its own.

Uriage Bariederm Reconstructive Barrier Lip Balm (15mL, AUD 19.95)

This lip balm is great for repairing chapped lips, and as a bonus, also provides a protective barrier to shield the lips from whatever lip product you want to apply. It lasts for up to four hours on the lips, providing continuous hydration.

L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Luminosity Hydrating Day Cream (AUD 29.95)

Infused with L'Oreal Paris' patented Lumi-Gen technology, this day cream offers both moisture and illumination. The cream contains pearly, illuminating particles, and instantly brightens and illuminates your skin upon application. It also works to even and correct your skin tone, and create more luminous-looking skin.

L'Oreal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream (AUD 26.95)

BB creams are perfect for the morning after, because they offer hydration and have beneficial effects on the skin. This BB cream also corrects dull and uneven skin, and contain pigments that adapt to your natural skin tone. Though moisturising, this BB cream doesn't feel at all heavy on the skin, and gives you a natural, healthy glow to your skin.

Most Importantly

Remember to HYDRATE! Drink lots of water whilst you are out and after you get home, before you go to bed. Keep a bottle of water beside you so that if you wake up at night for whatever reason, you can drink more. And once you wake up in the morning, drink some more!

I hope this post helps! It might seem like a lot of work, but your skin will thank you for this! x

I hope you enjoy the video!

Here are the products mentioned:

Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Youth Generating Cream (read a little more about it here)

Adore Beauty Serum Sampler (AUD 29) - this is a limited edition pack, so get your hands on it quick!

essie Winter Collection 2012 - AUD 24.95 at Adore Beauty

Kit Cosmetics Tool Kit (in stores now!)

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate collection - launching on 28 August 2012 (read a little about their hand cream in my Winter Skincare Essentials post here)

Toni & Guy Haircare range - AUD 15.99 each (launched in Woolworths, Coles, Priceline and Big W in May 2012)

Luview Triple Baked Eyeshadows (enter my giveaway here!)

Read my Subtle Energies reviews here:

http://www.emilyquak.com/2011/07/product-review-subtle-energies-ayurveda.html

http://www.emilyquak.com/2011/10/subtle-energies-update.html

Will you be getting any of these products? Are there any releases that you are particularly exciting about? :)