The Balm Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer SPF 18 Review and Swatches

The Balm claims that their Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer SPF 18 is weightless and silky smooth and I totally agree.  During colder months when my skin was drier, it did not cling to dry patches and accentuate them.  Instead it goes on smoothly and give me a bit of a glow.  In warmer month, it feels light and comfortable, does not melt off.

I love that it is so smooth and easy to blend, I can use my fingers and quickly apply this, it is also fool proof.  I tried it with both stippling and kabuki brush and it works find.  With a stippling brush, you have to buff it in rather then stipple because it is too thin for that. 

Shade:  Light

 Before and After

From the picture above, you can see that the coverage is definitely sheer to light coverage, you can build it up, but not much.  It "blurs" out imperfection, but you can still see my mold and some freckles.  Overall, it gives me my skin but better look, very natural.  Any blemish or serious redness will need a concealer.  However, I did not love this tinted moisturizer for it coverage but rather because it is "no fuss" base makeup, if I have a bad skin day, I don't need to worry about it making me look worse or covered up.

Price: $25 for 2.15 oz or 64ml  (tip: sometime Hautelook carries this for half off)

Overall Rating:  4.5 out of 5


Disclosure: The products being review was purchased by me. 

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30 Review and Swatches

 

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream contains antioxidants for prevention and SPF 30 for sun protection.  This BB cream contains both chemical and physical (both zinc and titanium dioxide) sunscreen ingredients.  There is no specific on what kind of antioxidants is in this but this is not a big deal for me because I don't rely on makeup as a source for skin nourishment.  It comes in 4 shades, 01 through 04, with 04 being a new release for golden or deeper complexion.   

Bare Skin (R) Clinique BB Cream in 02 (L)

I am NC 20 and I am using shade 02, which is describe as Very Fair to Moderately Fair with Golden Undertones.  As you can see from above, it gives me a nice dewy, natural finish.  Cover up pretty much all of my redness and you can only see a little bit of freckles.  I would say this BB cream is light to medium coverage that can be build-able.  It is also very easy to apply, I can quickly apply this with my fingers and there is no cakiness.  Overall, I like this base makeup very much. 

Price:  $37 for 1.4oz

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5


Disclosure: The products being review was purchased by me.

Beach Essentials

Can you believe it, we are almost half way through summer already.  Have you been to the beach this year yet? We are going in 2 weeks, I am excited as this will be my daughter first time to the beach.  She LOVES water, I think she'll have a blast.  Anyway, it got me thinking, what are your beauty essential for a beach trip?

1.  Obviously, Sunscreen!
I'll pack Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream SPF 38 and Clarins Sunscreen for Eyes Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30 for my face (full review on both products here).  As for the little one, I'll pack Lavanila Healthy Baby Block Spf40.  I have not find my HG body sunscreen yet...do you have one you'd recommend?

2.  Antioxidant. 
Research have shown that topical antioxidants can help skin from sun damage.  If you have sensitive skin, Origins Dr. Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom Skin Relief is design to help sooth irritation and minimize redness.  It has proven to be quite effective for me.  I also favor DHC Acerola 100 Serum in keeping my skin balance and even tone.

3.  Light Makeup
The last thing I want is wearing heavy makeup in the heat.  Lately, I am really loving The Balm Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Light.  It matches my skin tone perfectly and diffuse redness and even things out nicely for me.  I'll even say it is my best tinted moisturizer so far.  Review and swatches coming up.

4.  Tame that Frizz
Salt water and the humidity make my hair both dry and frizzy.  I am currently using DHC After Bath Hair Treatment Oil Type.  It is oil base but it is really light.  It makes my hair a bit shinier, softer, and less frizz yet so light, it does not feel like I am wearing any hair product.

That is all folks, I am trying to pack light.  Well, of course, there will be a few makeup items.  Also will be bringing my ipad so I can play Tiny Sheep.  I am quite addicted to Tiny Sheep, it is a farming game, where you take care of these cute tiny sheep.

Well, I would love to hear what are some of your essentials.


Disclaimer:  I purchased all the items mentioned except for Origins serum.

research showing that topically applied antioxidants can help protect from sun damage - See more at: http://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/learn/uvauvb-sun-protection-antioxidants/#sthash.rxjkUILR.dpufRes

research showing that topically applied antioxidants can help protect from sun damage - See more at: http://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/learn/uvauvb-sun-protection-antioxidants/#sthash.rxjkUILR.dpuf

When to Toss Out Your Makeup?

It has probably been almost a year since I goes through and clean out my beauty stashes.  I ended up with a bag full of stuff to toss out, either due to the color not working with my skin tone, allergic reaction, and last but not least, expiration.  It makes me feel bad, like I am being wasteful.  On the other hand, what do you do with color that is not suited for you (well, I should have try to return what I can)?  More importantly, you should not be using old cosmetic, it could cause break out and other skin irritation. It makes me wonder, how long do you keep your cosmetic before you throw them out?

I am not very strict but here is a rough guide line how long you should keep things.

-Mascara – no more than 3 months (this is the one I am careful about because I do not want eyes infection and I never share my mascara with anyone, period!)

-Liquid Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer/Primer - 12 months.  I follow the same guideline for anything that is liquid or cream base.  I also smell and check the consistency if I have not use it in awhile.  If it changes color, smell funny, or separate even after shaking, I'd toss it out.

-Powder Foundation/Blush/Eyeshadow - up to 24 months.  With powder, I think you have more room to decide how long you should keep a product.  It does not go bad as fast as liquid base and easier to sanitize.  Sometime I use a cotton pad wet with alcohol and wipe both the container and lightly top layer of the product.  Wait for it to dry, if the top harden, just scrape it off lightly, a thin layer with a butter knife.

Off topic, I was looking forward to trying Alba products because they are natural.  Unfortunately, the toner burned my skin the second I applied it.  Both sunscreen gave me horrible rashes that lasted almost two weeks.  At first, I did not know what caused my rash until my husband and friend got the same allergic reaction from using these sunscreen.

Eyeing On At the Moment

Hi there! Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate it. Lets start off the new year with a few new items that caught my eyes :)

Boots No.7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream (This has been launched in the UK, hopefully it will come to Target in a few months)

Physician Formula Season-to-Season Bronzer

Stila Spring 2012 Blush

Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss for Spring 2012

Too Faced Beauty Balm

Jason Wu for Target Trench Coat

Michael Kors Small Madison Rose Gold Watch

2011 Most Loved Makeup

Sephora Waterproof Cream Eyeliner
This eyeliner is really smooth and pigmented, no dragging. It also last a long time, I have it for over 8 months now and it has not dry up. Therefore, for $10, I think it is worth trying out.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling
I have MAC Sheen Supreme in three different shades, Full Speed, Gotta Dash, and Ultra Darling. I find that the consistency and texture is different among the different shades. Some are drier and Gotta Dash applies unevenly. My favorite is Ultra Darling, not only is it a flattering, easy to wear cool berry tone for Fall or Spring, it also has the best formula, moisturizing and glide on easily and evenly.

NYX Cream Blushes
One of the best drugstore (or drugstore price) blushes I have ever used.  It's pigmented and long lasting.  I love shade "natural" on me, it does look natural, add warmth and brighten my face.  You can check out my past review for swatches.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hours Blush
In general, I prefer cream blush over powder, I think they blend better and longer lasting.  However, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush have longer lasting power that most powder blush and it applies evenly as well.

Kevin Beautymaker Mineral BB Cream Concealer
Very pigmented, you only need very little.  It is creamy, easy to blend, long lasting, and does not cake.

Kevin Beautymaker Aqua Eye Concealer
Technically I reviewed this in 2010 but I wanted to add it with the other KB concealer because it is one of the best undereye concealer I have tried, HG for me.  I also use this on the side of my nose where the skin is dry and flaky to hide redness because this concealer is really smooth and easy to blend, it never cakes.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
Since I have dry skin, it is generally easier to work with when using a tinted moisturizer.  What I love about LMTM is that it provides enough hydration without being greasy.  In addition, it also have enough coverage to even out my red spots.  Expensive?  Yes, but you don't have to use a lot so I think it's not too bad.

Sunplay Moisture BB SPF 27 PA++ Review and Swatches

Sunplay BB cream comes in two versions. The “silky” version is made for oily skin and the version that I am reviewing, “moisture” is for normal to dry skin type. It is a foundation, concealer, moisturizer, sun protection, whitening, and anti-aging in one.

Price: $18 for 40g. Purchased from sasa.com

Pros: A common complaint about BB cream is the grey cast that is often presented. Sunplay Moisture BB SPF 27 PA++ has little to no grey cast and the neutral undertone also makes it more wearable. It provides medium to full coverage but it is pigmented, only a little is needed, which makes it looks sheer and natural.

Cons: If you have dry skin, it is best to moisturize before applying this BB cream otherwise it can get flaky midday.

As you can see from comparison, it does a good job at even out my skin yet look natural.

Overall: This BB cream has neutral undertone, making it versatile and would probably match people in the light to light medium skin tone category. It is also pigmented, allowing it to provides good coverage while still looking natural.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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

Dr. Jart Water Fuse vs. Premium Beauty Balm

If you are eyeing the new Dr. Jart Beauty Balm at Sephora and wondering which one to get, the comparison below may shed some lights.

I personally prefer the Water Fuse because of the beige color and dewy finish. However, each of these has their own strong points, depending on skin types and what you are seeking. You can also read full reviews for the Water Fuse and Premium Beauty Balm.

(L) Premium     (R) Water Fuse

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++ Review and Swatches

Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm is a triple function beauty balm that brightens skin, has anti-aging properties, and provides natural coverage.

Price: $39 for 40ml/1.4oz. Available at Sephora.com

Pros: Good packaging is always a plus and I appreciate the easy to use pump.  It also contains high SPF level and PA+++. A little fact about sunscreen rating, PA is normally seen in Asian brands. PA is a rating system for sun protection from UVA that is based on Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) and SPF measure protection of from UVB rays. There are three levels of PA:

-PA+ some level of UVA protection

-PA++ moderate level of UVA protection

-PA+++ good level of UVA protection

As mentioned above, it contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as sunscreen. It also contains Arbutin which brightens akin and evens out skintone. Coverage is light to medium therefore no foundation is needed.

Cons: It has a pinkish gray undertone that does not match with my yellow undertone. I can see two different tones between my face and neck. This is better suited for someone with pink undertone. In addition, the advertise antioxidant bio-peptides are at the very end of the ingredients list, which is probably not enough to make a difference in your skin.

Overall: It is made for normal, combination, and sensitive skin types. Color wise, this best suit someone with light to medium, pink undertone skin. I think most people will appreciate the lightweight mineral sunscreen, decent coverage, natural finish, and the inclusion of Arbutin for brightening.

Rating: 4/5

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions and experiences.

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 :)

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.

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.

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 Review and Swatches

Price:  $32 for 1.7oz

Pros: This provide absolutely no to very, very little coverage. It saving grace is that it is illuminating and adds such a lovely glow. I use this more as a highlighter. I use this under mineral foundation and it acts both as a primer and adds a glowy finish. I also tried mixing this with liquid foundation.

Cons: Like I said before, it provides no coverage and people with oily skin will probably find this greasy.

Shade 1

Blended (you can see it didn't provide any coverage for my scar)

Overall: I feel like this is one of those not as advertise product. As a tinted moisturizer, I would have to give it a low rating. However, since I find other use for it, it is not a total waste. It is actually a nice illuminating base, just be careful if you have oily Tzone. Rating: 3/5.

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

Current Top 5 Foundation

I love base makeup, it is such a nice pick me up. Unless you are 12 or have been Photoshop, most of us can use a helping hand. Below are some of my top favorite at the moment.

Shu Uemera Face Architect: My first high end makeup base and I took a gamble ordering it online. It has proven to worth both the money and risk. It is a creamy light liquid that blend effortlessly, semi matte finish, buildable coverage, and great undertone for Asian. (Full Review and Swatches)

Victoria’s Secret Soft Focus SPF 20: I like it for the relatively high SPF and dewy finish which lends a nice healthy glow. This foundation provides light to medium coverage.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20: This one give good coverage for a tinted moisturizer yet still very natural and comfortable to wear, like your skin only better. It also gives a lovely subtle glow, nothing too obvious. When my skin misbehaves and I don’t want to deal with flakiness, etc, I turn to this. (Full Review and Swatches)

Cover Girl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15: This is so moisturizing and good coverage, ideal for people with normal to dry skin. People with oily skin should stay away, it might be too much. If you can’t afford the Laura Mercier TM, this would be a great alternative.

Korres Mineral Foundation: I was never a fan of mineral makeup until now. It stay put pretty well throughout the day and isn’t patch or powdery. On bad skin days, I actually turn to this as it won’t accentuate flakes as much as liquid foundation. (Full Review)

This isn’t official on the list because it is discontinued last year but DHC Q10 Cream Foundation is also one of my favorite. It looks quite natural for a high coverage foundation with a soft matte finish. I like applying with my fingers because I can blend and sheer it out. I can also double it as a concealer. You may still be able to find it on ebay?

That is all for now, I will update if anything changes.  What are your favorites?

KIMIKO

I recently came across a new brand that I want to share with you, it's call Kimiko.  The line is created by Danielle Vincent who before worked as a makeup artist and product developer.  A cool fact, "Kimiko is the founder's middle name, and embodies the spirit of its Japanese characters - KI (Energy), MI (Beauty) and KO (Youth) - by giving women beauty beyond today".


The focus of this line is makeup with skincare solutions built into cosmetics. Though limited in selection, they do have a full line of makeup.  I am most interested in their Hydrating Tint SPF 20.

Lifting Puff Blush

 Sheer Tint and Lip Plumper

 Their only skincare product - Jensai Serum

These are just a few of their products, you can check out their website for full details.