Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Revlon CustomEyes in Rich Temptations Review and Swatches



Hi, I hope you all have a great Memorial weekend.  Today, I am going to do a quick review on this Revlon CustomEyes palette in Rich Temptations. I bought it because I am a sucker for green eyeshadow and it is indeed a nice dark green color. The green and two plum/brown colors are pretty pigmented and average in term of texture and smoothness. However, the two lighter colors, champagne and warm pink are big disappointment. They are sheer and chalky, an unflattering combination. Overall, get this if you want to try the darker color and not too picky about texture.

Price: $8.99

Rating: 3/5


Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Sigma Synthetic Kabuki Brushes Collection Review



I have used three kabuki brushes (Ecotool retractable and two other from EDM) before trying these and I have to say that these are my new favorite.

F84 Angle Synthetic Kabuki Brush – Both of these brushes are very dense and feel very soft and luxurious against my skin. On the website, it said that this F84 brush is design for cream blush application and it is indeed a good brush for that purpose. However, I actually prefer this brush for liquid foundation. I find that the angle plus the round edges allow it to be very effective at smoothing out the hard to reach areas around the nose.




F82 Round Synthetic Kabuki Brush – This F82 brush is also very good for liquid or cream foundation. How I apply foundation using these brushes is very simple, I just put a few dots of foundation on my face and swipe and lightly buff it in with these brushes. They are wonderful, I don’t get any streaks and they cut my application time down to half. I also actually like this for cream blush better than the Angle Kabuki Brush. The reason being, I have a small face/cheeks and since the F82 have a smaller head than the F84, I feel like I have more control with this brush. What I don’t like the F82 for is powder or mineral foundation. I think it is too small. Also, since the bristles are short and stiff, it does not spread and make buffing a bit difficult.



Overall, I think both are great and find it hard to recommend one over another. I would get both. Does that make me a junkie? :)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Too Faced Friends & Family Sale


Too Faced is having a Freinds & Family sale starting now till Thursday 5/26/11, use code FF2011S at check out. 

Happy Shopping!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

My Foundation Shades and Swatches

The one product that is most difficult to shop for online would be foundation.  The little square box most websites have as swatches are horrible.  I always try to Google for swatches first.  If nothing is available then I mostly rely on the description and plain guessing.  Even with swatches, keep in mind that they are not perfect due to lighting and how your computer is calibrated.  It still helps, something is better than nothing, in my opinion.

Below are the foundations and shades that I am matched with:

For reference, I am generally MAC NC20; I can get to NC25 at the end of summer.

- Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Cream Compact in Warm Ivory
- Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Cream Compact in Warm Sand (Maybe it’s just me but these two shades are so similar that I match both of them)
- Shu Uemura Architect in 974 Light Honey (more yellow undertone)
- Shu Uemura Architect in 764 
- Amore Pacific Time Response Skin Renewal Foundation SPF 18 in shade 102
- DHC Q10 Cream Foundation in Natural 01
- DHC Q10 Cream Foundation in Yellow Ochre 01
- Victoria’s Secret Soft Focus SPF 20 in Light 40 (This is for when I am darker, NC 25 or so)
- Flirt Natural Light & Sheer SPF 15 in Nude Envy
- Korres Mineral Foundation (I think it’s a bit dark for NC20, better match with NC25)
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude
- Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 – in comes in only one shade which I think would most match NW/C 20-25 if you plan on wearing it alone.





The pictures above were taken with natural, indirect lighting.  If you are interested in reading reviews for these base makeup, click here.  This post was time consuming so I hope you guys find it helpful :)

Saturday, May 21, 2011

GWP from Perricone MD


Happy Saturday everyone.  I made a purchase from Perricone MD a few days ago and for $95 purchase, you can use code GOGLOW and get the above Cold Plasma Set for free, retail at $75.  The shipping was really fast and the set came with a nice pouch as well.  I don't know when the expiration date is so if you are interested, hurry.

Happy Shopping!

Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with Perricome MD.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase


If you have been wondering about Kinerase but it was out of your price range, I got good news. Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase is a full skincare line that bring you the same Kinetin ingredient as Kinerase at a much more affordable price, ranging from $11 - $34. Kinetin is backed by 50 years of research and clinical testing. You can find their skincare exclusively at Walgreens and Walmart.

Hydra Balance Foaming Cleanser

Wrinkle Repair Daily Cream SPF 30

Lift and Resculpt Serum

Skin Tone Perfecting Serum



Lift & Resculpt Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream

These are just some of the product the line carries, for a complete list, visit Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase

Thursday, May 19, 2011

What is New at DHC? Q10 Moisture Care Makeup!


I notice that DHC is coming out with a lot of new products lately.  A few months ago, they came out with 2 new hair treatment products.   Recently they just came out with the new line of Q10 Moisture Care Makeup to replace their discontinued Q10 Foundation.  Since I love their old foundation, I am looking forward to try this new line.  The only downside is that I notice a $10 price difference, the Q10 Base Makeup is retail for $28 whereas it used to be around $17. However, for what you would consider a department store brand, their price is not too bad.

There is also the new Moisture Care Liquid Lipcolor.  It comes in four shades and contains Q10 and oat kernel extract to nourish your lips.

Have you try these?

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF 35


I think about a month, I read a few reviews about this new MAC beauty balm. I was interested but unfortunately it was only available oversea. Good news, it is now available in the U.S., it is an online only exclusive.

First off, do you notice that they call it beauty balm instead of blemish balm?  MAC said it's a lightly tinted beige tone that complement an array of complexions, hydrating, and excel as a face primer.  That is it, there is no additional skincare benefits like the traditional Asian BB cream.  It's retail at $30 for 1 oz.  Right now, you can get free shipping using code "BALM".




If you have tried this, I would like to hear what you think.

Beauty Regrets

Most of the time when I write reviews, I tend to write about products that excite me in some way. However, I figure it would also be beneficial to share with you my regrets. Afterall, it could potentially save you some money.



Earth Therapeutics Bamboo Body Sponge : I was looking forward to the soft texture but all this does is turn into a ball of cloth when wet, worse bath accessories ever! You are much much better off with just a wash cloth.





Dior Eyeshadow in Petal Shine: Totally was looking forward to Dior makeup. For some reason, even after trying this with different primer, within 2 hours, it creases like there is no tomorrow. I really want to like it but unfortunately the obvious creasing was unattractive.

Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum: It has good ingredients, affordable but unfortunately, it didn’t do much for my skin. (Review)

Cover Girl Lash Extract Waterproof: Hard to remove and it smudges. Smudging mascara is my biggest pet peeves.



Vitacreme B12: I bought this last year because it got so much publicity and rave from other blogger. It’s the most hype product for me because it does nothing for my skin. It is not even moisturizing enough to use as a basic moisturizer.

Alba Hawaiin Hibiscus Toner: It stings and burns my skin immediately. Ouch!

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Adult Acne? Dermalogica Clean Start Bedtime for Breakouts to the Rescue


Unfortunately, lately I developed adult acne. Thankfully, it is pretty mild, a few red bumps here and there on my T-zone. Unlike teenager, adult acne sufferers tend to have dry and sensitive skin. Actually, my skin is more acne-prone when it is not properly hydrated. I wanted something gentle and this little gem is a 2% salicylic acid treatment with cucumber and Licorice extract to sooth redness.

Price: $22 for 2oz or trial size $6 for .5oz, available at Ulta

Pros: It is better for those with sensitive skin to use salicylic acid as an acne treatment than benzyl peroxide. In my experience, benzyl peroxide tends to dry out my skin and sometime even sting up application. This never ever sting or dry out my skin, it actually helps with redness. I use it as a spot treatment before bed. The next morning, my acne spots are less red, shrink, and sometime gone all together. Another plus is that I actually love the smell; it has a faint herbal scent.

Cons: I really really adore this gel but I absolutely hate hate the packaging. It is a very liquidly gel yet it comes in a squeeze tube. Almost every time, way too much product oozes out. They should really package this in a pump or at least a tube with a much smaller opening.

Overall: Even though I don’t use this daily, it is gentle enough to do so if your acne is more severe. The price is pretty reasonable; I love everything about it except for the stupid packaging. Actually, it is going to be a staple in my skincare regime from now on.  

Rating: 4.5/5

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Dr Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF25 Review and Swatches


Before I begin with the review, let me share a little history of my experience of BB Cream. Believe it or not, this is only the second BB Cream I tried. The first one I tried was Shill Cherry Blossom BB Cream, a few years ago. Oh my gosh, as soon as I put this on, within an hour, my skin is severely dehydrated, flakey and worst of all, break out in “patches”. It literally took me almost 2 weeks to fully recover. I didn’t want to believe it so I tried it again and again; I broke out like the first time. Ever since, I swore off BB Cream despite all the hype. The only reason I bought this BB Cream is because it is available in Sephora and they have great return policy. Well, not just that, but I was pleasantly surprised that a Western distributor is “finally” carrying BB cream so I just have to try it. Will I have better experience with BB Cream the second time around?

Price: $32 for 1.7oz, available at Sephora.com

Pros: This is a thick cream that has an ashy brown color to it. Once blended out, it gives my NC20 skin a healthy, translucent glow. I would say it is a good color match for me. I love it because it is an all in one product for me. It is moisturizing, has high enough SPF level, tinted, provide light coverage that reduce redness and even out my skin. I do wear a light moisturizer underneath but I do that every day regardless of what sunscreen or foundation I use. I like how comfortable this feel throughout the day, it never dries out or give me any flakes. Another great thing is how well it covers my large pores; they are not invisible but much smaller and smoother.



I have a lot of freckles, it didn't cover them much as you can see (personally I don't mind).  I do like how dewy and natural my skin looks though.

This is after a 10 hours day, no blotting or touch up.  Still dewy and comfortable, not oily and no caking at all.
 
I was really excited about this and I wanted to write a review after the first day but I held off because I wanted to make sure I can wear it for a while without getting breakouts. On the third consecutive days, I got some breakout on my chins and side of my nose but mind you, nothing as bad as what happened with Shill BB Cream. I am not sure if this cause of the breakout or my skin is just acting up. For the past 6 months or so, my skin has just been acne prone, either due to clogged pore or dry skin. Yes, I break out when I don’t hydrate my skin enough, which is kind of weird. Also, my skin is very sensitive and reactive, if it doesn’t like something, within hours, I’ll know, not after 3 days. Therefore, after a few days of rest, I was comfortable enough to give this another go. I have been wearing for a few consecutive days now and no breakout or irritation. I think the first breakout incident was just a fluke and this is safe for me to use.

Cons: None from me personally, but I wonder if people who are darker will have problem using this as a substitute for your regular foundation because it only comes in one shade.

Overall: I mainly love this for the convenience of a sunscreen, skincare and makeup in one. Also a plus that it hydrates and keep my skin comfortable all day. Most foundation, even if it contains high SPF, I can only wear a thin layer otherwise it would look too heavy. But we all know a thin layer is not sufficient for sun protection. This BB Cream allow me to layer without feeling heavy and it actually fill my pores in very nicely. Do keep in mind if you need medium-full coverage, you will need concealer or something else on top. Rating: 5/5.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil Review


Price: $11/230ml or 7.6oz. Available at imomoko.com

Pros: It is light, remove all my makeup, non greasy. Once I rinse off, there is no left over residue and it does has never irritate or dry out my skin.

Cons: Unfortunately it contains mineral oil.

Overall: I quite like this a lot. It is light, cleanse and rinse off well, no left over residue. The price is also very affordable. I would have probably given it a perfect score if it didn’t contain mineral oil, but for that, I knock off 1 point. Rating: 4/5.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Korres Warehouse Sale

Korres is revamping their line with new packaging and more so they are currently holding a warehouse sale with 30% off on select items.  You can also get 10% off their best sellers by entering code GOING10.

Sale ends May 29th.  Happy Shopping!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Boscia Restorative Amino-3P Firming Treatment Serum Review


If you are not familiar, Boscia is a Japanese natural skincare line.  Their products are without paraben, frangrances, and other chemicals.  The Restorative Amino-3P Firming Treatment Serum is design to help accelarate collagen production for a firmer, more resiliant skin.

Price: $48 for 1oz., available at Sephora

Pros: I love it when skincare are packaged properly; this come in an opaque airtight pump which will allow it to retain all the antioxidant goodness.  It contains a blend of antioxidants like olive oil, jojoba and rosemary extract, vitamin A, B5, amino acid and peptide.

This feels so good going on, it makes my skin feel so soft and smooth and remain that way till the morning. I think it also sooth and calm my skin down. Sometime, my skin can be irritated after cleansing, I apply this and the next morning, my skin is calm and clear.

Cons: Nothing really.

Overall: I didn’t notice any firming improvement from using this. However, I love how smooth it makes my skin feels and never cause interference when use under makeup. I also approve of the packaging and the anti-aging ingredients in contains. Rating: 4.5/5


Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

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