BLAIR ~♥

Recent Gets: Skincare & Makeup

2012-01-25T22:48:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone, sorry for the unannounced hiatus the past couple of weeks. Personal issues sometimes get in the way of blogging but I'm back now and have lots planned.

I'm starting off with an overview of my recent gets. I didn't realize I accumulated this much within a short period until I gathered them for a family portrait. Guess I got a little carried away fueling my beauty addiction haha.

As you well know, I am a huge fan of Sonia Rykiel. Walked away with two items in order to qualify for the GWP, I am so easily sucked in by promotions (> ω <)

Candy Doll Lipstick Ramune Pink and a limited edition Dolly Wink mascara and eyeliner set. They were too cute to pass up!

Purchased Flower Perfection Foundation when I saw Bourjois on sale. And if So Laque 28 Rose Lounge (blended with Essie Allure) is good for Kate Middleton on her big day, it sure is good enough for me.

Star products from Kiehl's. Ridiculously pricey but hopefully they'll prove their worth.

Basic Muji skincare. The Light Toning Water has been receiving raves from Japanese consumers.

Kose Hadabisei products were incredibly inexpensive after a hefty 40% discount, so off they went into my cart.

Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser to replace my current cleanser: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser (extremely drying), was enabled by 牛爾老師 into getting Bliss Steep Clean Pore Purifying Mask and La Roche-Posay Effaclar K after reading how Nic Nic adores it so much.

No haul is complete without the obligatory sheet masks. Got rid of the boxes because they were taking up too much space.

Not sure when I will be able to finish seven tubes of hand creams but at least I won't run out anytime soon.. thanks to kind friends, dear Ms. MN, Ms. MT, Plue and Ms. MG for gifting me with some of the hand creams below! *mwah*

A trio of hand and body products from Marks & Spencer's Royal Jelly range and Soap & Glory Flake Away courtesy of one of the sweetest person ever, Cathy (the incident after our movie was very memorable haha!).

My all time favourite perfume - Versace Woman. I never fail to return to it.

I'll show you guys what I bought on the clothes and accessories front in future posts... this entry will be too long otherwise (^ ω ^)

To all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, may the year of the dragon bring you luck!

2011 Beauty Roundup

2011-12-29T23:13:00.029+08:00

Hello everybody, how will you celebrate the New Year? Well, you can certainly count the clubs out for me, I'm still sick from partying too hard the week leading to Christmas haha.

My last post in 2011 is about the beauty products that I love:

Cleanser
O'slee Hydra-White Cleansing Powder

Serum
Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum*

Sheet mask
My Scheming Beauty Mint Collagen

(Source: myschemingbeauty.com/)

Sunscreen
The Skĭn Shop Iris Power Whitening Sun Cream SPF45 PA+++

Lip care
ettusais lip essence (stick)

(Source: ettusais.co.jp/)

Must have skincare product
CUskin Dr. Repair Skin*

Eyeshadow
Lunasol Scent Form Eyes 05a Chocolate Cosmos

Blush
Jelly Pong Pong Flower Cream

Must have cosmetic product
The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Mineral Pact

Circle lenses
Vassen Candy Crystal 3 Tones Grey*

On a serious note, I wasn't sure about counting in the items sent to me for consideration because some people might think that I have an ulterior motive for including them. The brands mentioned have no idea that I'm posting this list, so regardless of how I procured these items, they are products that I truly love and deserve to be in this post.

Do scroll through my archive if you'd like more details on the items mentioned in this roundup as I've reviewed most of them.

Thanks for reading everyone, I hope that 2012 will treat you well!

Disclosure: Items marked with * were received as press samples.

B For Born (Pretty Store), Bracelet And Brush

2011-12-18T12:27:00.025+08:00

Hello everyone, how is your weekend going? I'm off to do some shopping and for those of you relaxing at home, here's a review on the items that I recently received from bornprettystore.com. Please use the code in my sidebar if you decide to purchase anything, you'll get 10% off your order!

Alloy Silver Bracelet

Name: Alloy Silver Bracelet
Price: US$ 6.49

This bracelet's even suitable for those with smaller wrists, it doesn't slide off. I can slip it in with ease without stretching the bracelet at all.

It's a weighty piece and it's strung together by an elastic string made from plastic. The plastic bit threw me off a little, I would have liked it to come with something more durable.

Now on to my other concerns, I felt that it could be made a little better: the edges for one of the links are slightly sharp and the black ink that is used on the lines that run vertically through the shell are often found on the silvery part as well. It might be me being too picky, but I thought that it'd be nice for you guys to be prepared in case you ever decide to purchase this piece.

That being said, I still love it a lot and will wear it out as often as possible.

Retractable Brush Black

Name: Retractable Brush Black
Price: US$ 6.53

The bristles are so soft and fluffy and it doesn't shed nor bleed dye after going through numerous washes.

I use this for touch ups on the go - powder sunscreen, powder pact - and it works perfectly. The packaging is very pretty but it got banged up after a stint in my make up bag. I would have liked it to come with a velvet pouch to keep it looking spiffy but I mustn't grumble too much for something so inexpensive.

For those who might wonder, the dimensions are: full length 103 mm, hair length 38 mm, ferrule width 24 mm.

Mood Changing Nail Polish Pink

Name: Mood Changing Nail Polish Pink
Price: US$ 7.84

The finish is semi-matte and some are bound to love it or hate it. Personally, I don't mind either way, I can always apply a top coat for optimum shininess. It needs a good three coats and has an average wear of two hours before the tips start to chip. Yes you read that right, hours as opposed to days.

From left: one to three coats

On me, the polish turns into a sweet candy pink colour, very much unlike the colour shown on the nail wheel. The colour is adorable and I enjoy the consistency and how quickly it dries but detest everything else about it.

Thanks for reading!

Disclosure: Press samples.

LUS Foot Exfoliation Peeling Sheets

2011-12-13T22:56:00.045+08:00

If you think that the Wine Foot Pack isn't sufficient for your needs or your feet suffer from more severe callouses/cracks/roughness/dryness, you might want to give the Foot Exfoliation Peeling Sheets a try.

Name: LUS Foot Exfoliation Peeling Sheets
Price: RM 48 for 1 box (2 pairs/ 2 foil sachets)
Made in: Korea

Description: LUS Exfoliating Peeling Sheets can certainly help if you have problems such as cracked callus heels and chapped feet. LUS Exfoliating Peeling Sheets is an easy two hours treatment that completely removes the dead skin cells on your feet and you can see the result in just a week after using it. It also contains natural plant extracts which have high moisturising effect so your feet will still be smooth and supple even though the skin are peeling off. The other good thing about it is you only need to use it once in every two to three months to maintain a childlike feet. (Source: supermodels-secrets.com.my/)

A foil sachet contains a pair cloth socks saturated with the exfoliating gel. The plastic socks (not pictured) are packed separately. I secured the plastic socks with scrunchies and they stayed in place without giving me any trouble. You can walk around or do any light chores with them on.

How to use.

Before.

During.

Scary picture ahead. The brave hearted may go ahead and click the link to view the during process. Don't say I didn't warn you!

After.

The peeling process doesn't start immediately. In my case, my feet started peeling two days after I did this treatment and it was a huge mess. I wore socks 24 hours a day as I couldn't stand seeing slabs of dead skin everywhere I went.

The skin on my feet peeled completely in five days and during the whole process there was no pain whatsoever. I believe that I could have finished the whole thing in a shorter time frame had I helped along by peeling the dead skin off myself instead of leaving it be.

It revealed softer, smoother and more supple skin, however, the skin on my heels and big toes remain tough. Although it didn't leave those areas as smooth as a baby's foot, I will purchase it after I'm done with my second foil sachet. It was fun to see all those dead skin coming off plus it helped in exfoliating my poor abused and often neglected soles!

Foot Exfoliation Peeling Sheets are sold in Sasa outlets nationwide and at supermodels-secrets.com.my. They ship worldwide!

The full ingredient list for Foot Exfoliation Peeling Sheets.

Disclosure: Press samples.

Anna Sui Nail Color N

2011-12-08T22:51:00.271+08:00

I know it's odd to review items from the fall collection after the holiday collection but I couldn't help myself. I wanted to stir things up and get you into the holiday spirit by unveiling the holiday collection first. Furthermore, a lot has already been said about the fall collection, Palace Sparkle, so I can afford to be a little late to the party (^ ω ~)

For the fall season, Anna Sui revamped her existing nail polish lineup. The people behind this clearly put a lot of thought into the bottle as well as the formulation. The polishes are said to be long-lasting, quick drying and are free from toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formalin making them great for both your nails and the environment.

This review will focus on one of the series - Nail Color N. The photo below is of the colours that I have. Clockwise from bottom left: 005 Splash Gold, 013 Silk White, 405 Vivid Red, 500 Antique Gold.

Name: Anna Sui アナスイ Nail Color N ネイルカラー N
Price: RM 54 for 8 ml
@cosme rating: 4.7 ★
Release date: 1.10.2011

The polishes are dressed in a vintage gown.

The brush was a pleasure to use, it is wide and four strokes are sufficient to be rid of drag marks.

005 Splash Gold has a clear base colour with tiny yellow gold flecks and large silvery circular particles. The circular particles reflects light beautifully and this results in rainbow hues. The consistency is in between thick and thin which makes it easy to layer. Three coats gives you a respectable amount of glitters over bare nails. As you would expect, removal wasn't a walk in the park.

From left: one to three coats

013 Silk White is a sheer ivory polish that flashes pink at almost every angle. It contains subtle and delicate pink flecks. No matter how many layers you apply, it'll still appear slightly translucent. I wish the pictures turned out better (I couldn't capture the pink at all) because it’s a stunner!

To further enhance the effect that 005 Splash Gold / 013 Silk White gives, you can slap on a coat over darker shades, the results will amaze you! From left: SkinFood Nail Vita BW 701 as the base colour, layered with 005 Splash Gold, layered with 013 Silk White.

Aren't they gorgeous?

405 Vivid Red is a vixen red creme polish with amazing consistency. It has a great single coat opacity and a high gloss finish. Most people will opt for two coats to achieve full opacity but you can get away with a single coat.

500 Antique Gold is a glitter polish packed with small bronze glitter particles suspended in a clear base. A minimum of three coats is needed to achieve the opacity shown below. I can see myself working through it quickly as the bottle is only 8 ml.

I didn’t have any wear issues, just minor tip wear after two days for all four polishes, so the claim that it is long lasting isn't quite true. They also dried very quickly without the help of a top coat. That being said, all of them except for 405 Vivid Red can benefit from a top coat to remove the grittiness.

These polishes provide a beautiful tea rose scent when dry. I couldn't stop sniffing my fingers! The scent does not linger though and will fade within a day.

The press release also included some nail art styles and I decided to include them in this entry to serve as inspiration for all you talented nail artists out there~

Colours used: 506 Feather Gold, 323 Deep Rose, 802 Sparkle Gold

Colours used: 904 Tuxedo Green, 705 Silk Beige, 608 Brilliant Orange

There are 32 colors in the range and I believe the finish varies from colour to colour. You can purchase any of the Anna Sui nail polish shades at Anna Sui counters nationwide, where you'll also find a base coat and a top coat for the ultimate manicure / pedicure experience.

(Source: Promotional images are taken from Anna Sui's press release and the last picture is from annasui-cosmetics.com/)

Disclosure: Press samples.

LUS Wine Hand And Foot Packs

2011-12-03T07:18:00.035+08:00

If you read my previous review on LUS, you would know that I'm pretty lax about taking care of my body and sadly that includes my hands and feet.

The official blurb for the Wine Hand And Foot Packs says that making sure your hands and feet look nice does not necessarily require a lot of effort. There are actually quite a few good products you can find out there to pamper your hard working hands and feet, and LUS is among one of them.

These products are designed to be home care treatment so it is really easy to use and I couldn't agree more! and can save you the time and money going to salons. I do not concur to this bit though...

Description: The Wine Packs are vinyl gloves and socks soaked in essence of grape wine. The polyphenol extracts in wine are good anti-aging agent that prevents wrinkles and restores skin elasticity. It also contains Green Tea Caffeine, and Fruit Extracts that are effective in removing keratin particle of the skin. You will also find it comes with a sweet scent of red wine and cooling sensation that is quite relaxing to the skin and mind. Frequent usage can certainly help smoothen and moisturize the skin of your hands and feet. (Source: supermodels-secrets.com.my/)

Hand Pack

I was using my SteamCream as a hand cream for a while (because I was slathering it all over my elbows and legs) but I polished off every last bit and have yet to repurchase so I'm without a hand cream at the moment.

Name: LUS Wine Hand Pack
Price: RM 12 for 1 pair
Made in: Korea

How to use.

It's nice to have around, it works well as an occasional treatment but it's not a necessity. In my opinion, regular usage of any old hand cream will give a similar result - baby smooth and moisturized hands for a couple of hours.

The full ingredient list for Wine Hand Pack.

Foot Pack

Foot packs are a novel idea to me, I have seen foot creams around but it never got into my mind to purchase them. If you're like me, the Wine Foot Pack may just be your salvation.

Name: LUS Wine Foot Pack
Price: RM 12 for 1 pair
Made in: Korea

How to use.

My feet felt really soft, moisturized and they were a shade lighter than the rest of my leg but mind you, the brightening effect didn't last long.

The effects aren't as long lasting as I would like. My feet went back to their normal dry and rough state two days after, thus I wouldn't necessarily classify it in the same category as a treatment at a beauty salon. However, it does work wonders in a short amount of time and it is fairly inexpensive, which makes the Foot Pack a worthwhile weekly treat.

The full ingredient list for Wine Foot Pack.

You can pop into Sasa outlets nationwide or supermodels-secrets.com.my if you would like to purchase LUS products. They ship internationally!

Disclosure: Press samples.

Anna Sui Holiday 2011

2011-11-28T23:01:00.000+08:00

This holiday season, Anna Sui brings you all the delicate details needed to complete your party look. Anna Sui's Christmas collection, Magic of Mystical Masquerade, is made up from eight items: Eye Color Palette & Lip Gloss Set, False Eye Lashes, Beauty Mirror 1, Beauty Mirror L, Metallic Color, Beautiful Hair Kit, Bath Set and Fragrance Miniature Set.

All of the products mentioned except for Metallic Color are limited edition, so snag them quickly before they sell out!

My journey began with alluring glossy colours to spice up the eyes - Metallic Color. According to the press release, they are used to accentuate eye looks and you can also apply them straight to your lids for a vibrant look. The sparkly glitters show up very well thanks to the clear base formula.

Name: Anna Sui アナスイ Metallic Color メタリックカラー
Price: RM 102 for 8 g
@cosme rating: 3 ★
Release date: 3.11.2011

300 Metallic Pink is a cerise.

The brush applicator is very easy to use. It’s flexible and the bristles won't splay much. However, it isn't thin and won't be suitable for precision lining.

500 Metallic Gold is exactly as its name suggests, a pure gold shade.

900 Metallic Green is a forest green.

With Christmas around the corner, I think that these glittery colours would be the perfect addition to any holiday look. I would apply it to the tips of my lashes, as a lower lid liner or to highlight the middle of my lids.

The sticky consistency allows the glitter to adhere without any fall outs. They last long on their own without needing a sealant to lock them in place (as always, I prep my lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion beforehand). The glitter is very sparse when applied to the bare lid. Nevertheless, you can get more opacity with careful layering. For Metallic Color to show their full potential, you should apply them over any regular eyeliner or eyeshadow.

They dry quickly, don't transfer and are easy to remove. If you love glitter, Metallic Color is definitely for you!

Metallic Color comes in six shades, 100 Metallic Blue, 200 Metallic Purple, 300 Metallic Pink, 500 Metallic Gold, 800 Metallic Yellow and 900 Metallic Green, and can be found at Anna Sui counters nationwide for RM 102.

(Source: Promotional images are from annasui-cosmetics.com/)

Disclosure: Press samples.

[Apple Of Your Eyes] Dueba Candy Daisy Grey

2011-11-24T23:22:00.026+08:00

After twelve reviews on circle lenses alone, I can safely say that I've tried my fair share of lenses. It's not extensive by any means, but I think it's a pretty commendable amount for someone who ventured into the circle lenses world in March haha.

Its inevitable that circle lenses manufacturers copy from each other and some make them more obvious than the others. This is the case with Candy Daisy and Bella Special; both have dark spikes surrounded by a thick outer limbal ring.

Name: Dueba Candy Daisy Grey
Price: US$ 18 for 1 pair
Base curve: 8.6 mm
Diameter: 16 mm
Water content: 38%
Prescription: 0.00 to -6.00
Life span: 1 year disposal

Candy Daisy isn't the brightest out of the bunch, nor does it have the most unique design (as mentioned above). The grey is very muted and in person, you barely notice that I have these lenses on. I'm not too pleased with Candy Daisy, the design doesn't sit well with me but if it's your cup of tea, it comes in variety of colours besides grey - pink, blue, brown, green and violet.

Candy Daisy is sold at Apple Of Your Eyes for US$ 18/pair. At the referral section, enter the code Blair Tan to get 5% off your order.

Overall rating:
Design and colour ★★☆☆☆☆☆
Enlargement ★★★★★★☆
Comfort ★★★★★★☆

PRODUCTS USED

FACE
♥ Sonia Rykiel L'Atout Eclat Sublime S
♥ Stage Cosmetics Photo Pro Foundation 02 Take 1
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Mineral Pact 21 Light Beige

EYES
♥ LUVIEW Real Shiny Eyes
♥ Kate Super Sharp Liner BK-1
♥ ES A856 lashes
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Volume & Curling Mascara

Disclosure: Press samples.

The Skĭn Shop Whitening Sun Cream

2011-11-20T07:33:00.046+08:00

I was ready to wax poetic about the Iris Power Whitening Sun Cream after a single usage! It is that good ♥

Name: The Skĭn Shop Iris Power 아이리스 파워 Whitening Sun Cream 화이트닝 썬크림 SPF45 PA+++
Price: ₩ 25,000 for 65 g
Made in: Korea

I can skip the primer step when I use this sunscreen. It doesn’t conceal moon crater pores, fine lines or even correct my skin tone, however, it will leave a nice smooth canvas for my foundation.

The formula is a cream consistency typical of many sunscreens. The difference is it sinks quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave a white cast behind (not sure how it'll fare with flash photography though). It’s virtually weightless once absorbed and has a dewy finish that will flatter any skin type.

It has the sunscreen scent that we are all familiar with, except that it also is infused with a flowery powdery fragrance, so it is more bearable. I'm not particularly offended by the scent as it fades shortly after application.

If you have oily skin, you will love this sunscreen. It is so good at minimizing sebum production without drying out my skin - I don't even reach for my blotting films throughout the day. It might exacerbate dry spots for those with dry skin, so you would want to go for an alternate sunscreen.

Lastly, it promises to whiten your skin with niacinamide, an important ingredient for those struggling with uneven skin tone and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. I have been using whitening skincare products that I purchased with it and this combination helped me in achieving a brighter, more radiant skin after a month and a half's usage.

That being said, I doubt that it will whiten on its own, you need to use whitening skincare products in conjunction with it to see results.

I know its November, thus the fall season in many countries and many may forgo applying sunscreen. I hope that each and everyone of you will change this habit - UV rays are present every day, all year round.

The Skĭn Shop isn't as widely available as some other Korean beauty brands.. if you'd like to purchase their products, please get in touch with Danny at cooljunmo75@naver.com!

(Source: Promotional images are from the-skinshop.com/)

Disclosure: Gift.

O'slee Slim Face Medi Deep Clean Mask

2011-11-16T03:26:00.000+08:00

Most of you are probably familiar with deep cleansing masks but do you know that O'slee has one that also slims your face?

Name: O'slee Slim Face Medi Deep Clean Mask 深層清潔瘦面泥
Price: RM 79.88 for 70 ml
Made in: Hong Kong

How to use:

It feels good upon application, really cool and tingly. It's very creamy and dries down fairly quickly without cracking (and making a big mess) unless you move your facial muscles.

I will address the two functions separately:
1) Deep cleansing
It controls the oilies very well. My T-zone only showed a slight hint of dewiness after 5 hours without using any sebum regulating products which is a marvel in itself.

Prolonged use will do deep cleanse your pores, draw out impurities, bring a spot to a head and then you can use whatever weapons in your arsenal to remove them eg pore strips and pimple stickers.

After the pore strip step or in my case, pore pack, I will slap on a moisturizing sheet mask. It doesn't dry out my skin nor make it feel tight but I would prefer to replenish my skin after all that deep cleansing.

2) Face slimming
I did not see any difference in the size of my face nor the firmness of my skin. I am using skincare products that do a fantastic job in keeping my face nice and firm so I can't vouch for this mask's effect. Perhaps it does help a little... after all, every bit counts.

It's very thoughtful of O'slee to include a sponge in the box. The sponge feels very soft and I would like to say it makes removing the mask a breeze but that would be a lie haha. It takes a lot of patience to rinse the mask off completely, but that's the norm with deep cleansing masks.

My face feels really soft and smooth to the touch and it looks brighter too after a session with this mask. I use it every three days but I only go the whole way (pore pack + moisturizing mask) once a week. After using it continuously for a month, I noticed that I draw lesser gunk with my pore pack and my nose doesn't look as congested as it did previously which is a huge improvement.

Be a little more cautious if you have dry skin, it might be too strong and you may want to use moisturizing masks after every session. Products that do not cause me any problems can be too drying for you.

O'slee products can be purchased from the O'slee online store or at selected Guardian Pharmacies nationwide.

The full ingredient list for Slim Face Medi Deep Clean Mask.

Disclosure: Press samples.

[Apple Of Your Eyes] Kimchi Flora Violet

2011-11-12T23:36:00.003+08:00

This is the third time you're seeing me with violet lenses, I'm still on my quest for the perfect pair haha~ The first two, reviewed here and here, didn't meet my requirements even though they are loved by others.

Name: Kimchi Flora Violet
Price: US$ 25 for 1 pair
Base curve: 8.6 mm
Diameter: 16 mm
Water content: 55%
Prescription: 0.00 to -8.50
Life span: 1 year disposal

Flora series give my eyes a dolly and lively feel. The tiny hints of purple peeking through manages to shine and they don't get overpowered by the dominant black colour in the design. I'm really thrilled that they don't stay true to colour once on my dark irides as I doubt that I can pull off a fuchsia.

If you plan to buy anything from Apple Of Your Eyes, please use my referral code below to get 5% off your order!
Code: Blair Tan

Overall rating:
Design and colour ★★★★☆☆☆
Enlargement ★★★★★★★
Comfort ★★★★★★★

PRODUCTS USED

FACE
♥ Sonia Rykiel L'Atout Eclat Sublime S
♥ LUVIEW Whitening Capsule BB Cream

EYES
♥ Lavshuca Melting Eyes BR-1
♥ Sonia Rykiel Mono Eyeshadow 37
♥ Beauty Rush Wet/Dry Shadow Smokin’
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Gel Eyeliner
♥ Princess Lee cross 6 black lashes (公主李假睫毛交叉6黑)
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Volume & Curling Mascara

How's your weekend going?

PS: Can anyone (especially those located in the EU) please help me CP essence's Winter Edition Little Bakery hand creams? E-mail me at bijinblair @ gmail.com, thanks!

Disclosure: Press samples.

Eyelash ♥

2011-11-08T00:17:00.000+08:00

I love DUP Eyelashes Fixer EX552 to bits and I have gone through two tubes at the time of writing. It only contain a measly 5 ml, not nearly enough for a lashes fan(atic). Furthermore, it is not sold here and whilst I can get it via e-tailers, the ridiculous markups always puts me off.

Name: Zixianna Eye Putti White
Price: US$ 5.49 for 12 ml
Made in: Japan

Eye Putti is so much more affordable and has double the amount but sadly it isn't anywhere near as good as the DUP adhesive. It doesn't dry completely clear and it doesn't hold the lashes well as both ends of the lashband will fly up after 4-5 hours.

This means that I will be searching for an alternative. Anyone liking Shu Uemura's Eyelash Adhesive?

My sponsor kkcenterhk.com also sent me a box of false lashes. The ~~boxes~~ amount of Princess Lee (公主李) lashes in my drawer are slowly dwindling so I was really thrilled with a replacement of sorts.

Name: ES A856 upper lashes
Price: US$ 16 for 10 pairs
Made in: Korea

I chose the A856 style from the ES brand because it bore some serious resemblance to the famous Princess Lee lashes. On the left I have ES A856 whereas the right is Princess Lee cross 6 black.

They are very much longer and the curvature isn't as pronounced as the original but those are the only differences. They retain their original shape very well which means that they can be reused as many times as you wish (remember to remove any glue residue and to sanitize afterwards) and they don't shed.

Needless to say I highly recommend ES A856 lashes. Did I mention that it is cheaper than Princess Lee lashes? No? Well, there you have it (^ ω ~)

You can find the products mentioned in this review at kkcenterhk.com. Use the code BLGA210BI10 if you do purchase something, you'll get 10% off your order.

Have a great Tuesday all! I am off to catch up on zzz...

Disclosure: Press samples.

Daiso Delights

2011-11-04T00:36:00.002+08:00

I think regular readers know that I adore luxurious Japanese products, but I find that some cheaper products work just as well or even outperform the expensive ones! And when I think of Japanese product that are sold for peanuts, Daiso automatically comes to mind. I realized that I never really reviewed any of the items that I've purchased from them, so here is a quick compilation of my likes.

Nose Pack or Natural Pack Masque

Great at getting gunk out from comedone infested areas. You can choose either the white or black paste, up to your preference. Personally I prefer the Nose Pack (white paste) as it packs more punch.

Facial Mask Sheets

The fabric feels pretty soft; it's not as rough and nonabsorbent as some other brands (random drugstore) that I've tried. I prefer another pack also from Daiso which is made in Japan compared the one pictured (made in Taiwan) but I only had this left. Kanebo Kracie also has these masks, but I'm not going to pay ¥ 500 for something that I can get for ¥ 100 (or in this case ¥ 210).

Eyebrow Coat

Fantastic stuff, keeps my unruly brows in place all day long.

Detergent For Puff And Sponge

I have a couple of the detergent in their old school labels as I went on a hoarding craze a while back *shifty eyes* They don't get much love from me these days, I use brushes more but it is really good at getting makeup out from sponges.

Dryness Spray For Nail

It doesn't dry my polish in seconds but it does make them shinier, last longer before chipping and also half the drying time. It basically acts like a top coat.

Enamel Remover

It removes nail polish very quickly and cleanly without drying my nails out overmuch. However, it has this offensive, overwhelming scent.. I overlook it since it works so well~ It is even better than removers that are five times its price, so it definitely merits a repurchase and a spot in this list.

If you have any recommendations, please share them in the comment section! And have you tried any of the items mentioned?

PS: Please excuse the weird names, I wasn't the one who came out with them haha!

[Apple Of Your Eyes] Kimchi Mio Brown

2011-10-30T07:27:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone, hope you are having a wonderful day! I'm on a roll with lenses reviews. Nah, actually the rate where I churn reviews out is slower than a moving snail... I think I received this particular pair early September, so a huge thank you to my sponsor Apple Of Your Eyes for being so patient!

Name: Kimchi Mio Brown
Price: US$ 25 for 1 pair
Base curve: 8.6 mm
Diameter: 16 mm
Water content: 55%
Prescription: 0.00 to -8.50
Life span: 1 year disposal

Mio's design is heavily influenced by Mimi Cafe Macchiato. The swirls and the dots a part of Macchiato's charm and I am glad to see them in Mio. My only concern is the reddish brown swirls, they stand out too much and not in a good way.

They are by far, the hardest pair of lenses that I have ever had the chance of inserting into my eyes. The lenses are very soft and they have a high water content of 55% which ups the comfort level but decreases the convenience factor. That being said, I managed to insert them without any trouble, just that I take longer to pop them in compared to other lenses.

Overall rating:
Design and colour ★★★☆☆☆☆
Enlargement ★★★★★★★
Comfort ★★★★★★★

PRODUCTS USED

FACE
♥ Sonia Rykiel L'Atout Eclat Sublime S
♥ FACE atelier Ultra Foundation #1 Porcelain

EYES
♥ Paul & Joe Beauté Color Palette 001 58th & 5th
♥ Beauty Rush Wet/Dry Shadow Smokin’
♥ Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner (Deep Black)
♥ Princess Lee cross 6 black lashes (公主李假睫毛交叉6黑)
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Volume & Curling Mascara

PS: If you make a purchase, fill in the referral section with the code Blair Tan to get 5% off shop prices. Do note that this code can't be used during promotion periods.

Disclosure: Press samples.

The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Review: Mineral Pact, Gel Eyeliner, Volume & Curling Mascara

2011-10-25T03:02:00.006+08:00

Annyeong everybody, I have a new Korean beauty brand to introduce to you today: The Skĭn Shop! They are relatively new, being established in December 2007. The range on their site is rather extensive but I'd say they specialize in BB creams.

Albeit new to the scene, The Skĭn Shop was chosen to be one of the sponsors for the 48th Daejong Film Festival (held on October 17th), the oldest film award ceremony in Korea. As the most prestigious industry award program in Korea, it is attended by celebrities that we all know and love ranging from renowned actor Won Bin to the idol group Girls' Generation.

The Skĭn Shop frequently holds events and giveaways on their Facebook page, and I was lucky enough to win one. Shortly after the winners were announced, a parcel with newly launched products from the Magic Science range reached my doorstep.

Mineral Pact

Name: The Skĭn Shop Magic Science 매직사이언스 Mineral Pact 미네랄 팩트 SPF25 PA++ 21 Light Beige 라이트 베이지
Price: ₩ 23,000 for 16 g
Made in: Korea
Release: August 2011

I'm starting off with my favourite product ♥

We all know what retouching can do to a photo. This compact powder does the same as the smudge tool on Photoshop (feel free to correct me, I'm not an expert in Photoshop). It softens and smoothens the appearance of pores, lines and any other imperfections.

These powder pacts are not powder foundations as they do not offer as much coverage. They're more for setting or touching up purposes and in this case, they also protect the skin from UV rays.

Mineral Pact comes in a snazzy neon pink packaging. The cover has a print of The Skĭn Shop logo and motto. Inside is a flip-top compartment for a flecked sponge that opens to reveal the actual product nestled at the bottom. There isn't a heft to the compact, it very light although it is certainly solid enough.

The powder is silky smooth, light and sits comfortably on my skin. The coverage is pretty sheer - it helps my skin to look more even-toned but it isn't enough to conceal hyperpigmentation. I wouldn't suggest layering it, the finish is matte and you will probably end up looking flatter than a pancake.

They have two shades available: 21 Light Beige 라이트 베이지 and 23 Natural Beige 내추럴 베이지.

I don't know about 23 Natural Beige, but 21 Light Beige is light beige in colour as the name suggests. I noticed that it leans towards the pink ochre spectrum once on, and that makes it look a tad unnatural - the undertones on my face and neck don't match. But other than that, I have no complaints about this powder pact.

Gel Eyeliner

Name: The Skĭn Shop Magic Science 매직사이언스 Gel Eyeliner 젤아이라이너
Price: ₩ 12,000 for 5 g
Made in: Korea
Release: August 2011

Gel Eyeliner comes in a plastic pot with a screw-on lid that houses a small, dome shaped flat bristled brush.

It is wonderfully creamy and pigmented, dipping my brush once into the pot is sufficient for a perfect line. There wasn't any need for me to go back and darken, the colour intensity is the best I’ve ever seen. Mind you, I've not used many gel eyeliners, but even I can tell apart a rotten apple for e.g. the horrible Visee Cream Eyeliner WP and Esprique Precious Matte Lasting Cream Eyeliner (coincidentally both brands are under the Kose umbrella).

It is currently available in a single shade: black.

It doesn't dry instantly since it's so creamy and all. I would suggest waiting for a few minutes before sticking on false lashes or sweeping mascara to avoid any transfer.

Even though it is long wearing, it still smudged a little on me especially on the outer corners. Not many eyeliners stay put on my lids especially in this weather, and when I find something that doesn't budge, you can be sure that I'd repurchase it over and over again. Sadly, this gel liner doesn't quite cut it.

Volume & Curling Mascara

Name: The Skĭn Shop Magic Science 매직사이언스 Volume & Curling Mascara 볼륨&컬링 마스카라
Price: ₩ 15,000 for 7 ml
Made in: Korea
Release: August 2011

Like all Magic Science products, it comes in a neon pink attire. Although the wand isn't unique, it gets the job done - it is so easy to reach every lash without getting mascara all over my eyelids.

The formula seemed to be up to par for the first application, albeit a little disappointing, because my curled lashes began to droop after the mascara had been applied. There wasn't much lengthening, and it only gave my lashes a little volume and thickness.

The second coat was when everything went downhill. I had to deal with scary sticky massive clumps. And to stick another nail into the coffin, it began to smudge before I was out of the door. While it works for weepy films, it won't stand a chance against oil.

The good news is, one coat should be just fine but it's just too natural for me. Natural just doesn't cut it for me anymore now that I've discovered the wonders of wearing false lashes haha~

In order to defeat panda eyes, I won't be using Volume & Curling Mascara on its own, I'll sweep my regular mascaras on top of it. Those mascaras can act as a sealant, provide me with bolder lashes and this way, this mascara won't go to waste.

One thing to keep in mind is beauty products won't be completely alike on everyone due to differing skin types and other variables (e.g. humidity of the region you're at) and while Magic Science Gel Eyeliner and Magic Science Volume & Curling Mascara do not work for me, you on the other hand might just love them. Let me know what you think if you do give them a try!

I hope you enjoyed reading my review and please do check out The Skĭn Shop's Facebook page for more information on this brand.

(Source: Promotional images are from the-skinshop.com/)

Disclosure: Gift.

Sonia Rykiel Beauté: Sensual Captivating Enchantress

2011-10-20T03:10:00.000+08:00

Sonia Rykiel Beauté released an attractive fall 2011 collection, named Sensual, but I couldn't justify a purchase after rummaging my stash - I realized that I have similar colours *hoarder* Since I had to skip the collection, I decided to feature the bits and bobs that I could bear to use from past collections. I can't believe that I did not blog about them earlier!

(Source: openers.jp/)

Collection Été 2010: Captivating

(Source: soniarykiel-cosmetics.com/)

Ombre D’Été

Name: Sonia Rykiel ソニアリキエル Ombre D’Été オンブルデテ 01
Price: ¥ 2625 for 2.5 g
@cosme rating: 4.8 ★
Release date: 1.5.2010

I chose 01 after scrutinizing the visual and stalking Japanese blogs with details on this collection for days. Since it's my first eyeshadow single, I wanted a colour that I can actually use for any occasion, anytime of the day. The pop of ivory is actually an overspray, and was gone after a swipe to reveal the peach gold colour all over *hears my heart breaking*

Gloss D’Été

Name: Sonia Rykiel ソニアリキエル Gloss D’Été グロスデテ 03
Price: ¥ 2625 for 7.0 g
@cosme rating: 5.0 ★
Release date: 1.5.2010

03 is a medium pink with a ton of blue sparkles. It isn't totally sheer and shows up a little on my pigmented lips. I really enjoy using the gloss - it has a pleasant rosy scent, the blue sparkles are very pretty plus the gloss feels moisturizing on.

Collection Automne 2010: Enchantress

(Source: soniarykiel-cosmetics.com/)

Mono Eyeshadow

Name: Sonia Rykiel ソニアリキエル Mono Eyeshadow モノアイシャドウ 37
Price: ¥ 2625 for 2.2 g
@cosme rating: 4.7 ★
Release date: 1.8.2010

37, a part of the permanent line, is a lilac purple with blue sparkles. Sonia Rykiel's shadows are buttery smooth and they pack a punch colour payoff wise. I do feel the sting when it comes to paying (US$ 34 for an eyeshadow single!) but the good quality lightens the blow to my wallet a tad.

Ombre Légère

Name: Sonia Rykiel ソニアリキエル Ombre Légère ムースアイシャドウ 04
Price: ¥ 2625 for 4.0 g
@cosme rating: 5.2 ★
Release date: 1.8.2010

04 is a deep amethyst - the swatch is the most accurate representation. For some reason I couldn't capture how the colour really looks like in the first picture. It is so pigmented that only a little is needed. It doesn't crease or fade and this is without an eyelid primer underneath. I've never encountered another cream shadow that performs so wonderfully!

These are the items that I have yet to use...

It will take me a long while to dig in! The eyeshadows look so perfect and pristine with all the hetchmarks intact.

How quickly do you use new products? Do you keep them aside and occasionally take them out to admire them in their mint condition (like I do) or do you put them to use right away?

Sparkle City

2011-10-15T15:06:00.006+08:00

Lately I am obsessed with nail polishes.. I have been changing the colours on my nails pretty frequently and that is when I noticed that I lacked many colours - my collection is too tiny haha. And what do you know? I happened to be on a no buy so I couldn't add to my stash *grrr* Luckily I have bornprettystore.com to the rescue.. they sent me a whole bunch of colours to try out!

5 Colors Elegant Nail Polish

Name: 5 Colors Elegant Nail Polish
Price: US$ 13.82 for 5 colours (16 ml each)

Two coats are sufficient but I would go for three for some colours, they are a little bit thinner. The consistency is pretty good, neither too thick nor too thin but they don't last that long - they start chipping on the third day.

The formula varies for each colour and this is how they rank:
#1 Champagne taupe - Metallic finish. No streaking and is my favourite colour out of the bunch.

From left: one to three coats

#2 Medium pink - Jelly finish. A minimum of four coats is needed for full opacity.

#3 Silvery purple - Metallic finish. Streaky but not as noticeable as the red toned purple polish.

#4 Red toned purple - Creme finish. Sheer with obvious brushstrokes.

#5 Golden green - Metallic finish. Is placed at the bottom rung because it has a tendency to appear gritty.

The colours are nice, but I wouldn't necessarily classify them as elegant. I would recommend this set only if you are a fan of the colours or metallic finishes.

2028 Xilion Rose SS9 001 Crystal

Name: 2028 Xilion Rose SS9 001 Crystal
Price: US$ 7.27 for 144 pieces

There are 144 Swarovski Elements in a pack, which isn't that much if you plan to use a lot in a single manicure or if you utilize them often. I'm down to around 100 pieces now (at the time of writing). The 2028 Xilion Rose cut features 14 facets, 2 more than the 2012 classic style, creating increased brilliance.

SS9 (2.60 mm – 2.70 mm) is good size for the nails, any smaller and I'd go blind trying to find it. It is much too small to decorate your mobile, camera etc though and you'd probably need a million pieces to cover the entire surface.

Luxury Leaf Style Headband

Name: Luxury Leaf Style Headband
Price: US$ 4.50

The headband is very nicely made and the beads sparkle in the sun and every other lighting beautifully. I will wear this out often!!

And now that my no buy is over (I lasted a grand total of 33 days), I am going back to my old ways --> c’mon Korean beauty brand outlets, I’m ready for you!

PS: Save 10% off your total with my discount code BLAIRK31!

Disclosure: Press samples.

[mukuCHU] Geo Medical Bella Special Violet

2011-10-10T23:12:00.003+08:00

Hello girls, thank you for being so receptive to my previous circle reviews and I hope you enjoy this review too!

This post is brought to you by mukuCHU.com who kindly chose a pair of lenses for me try...

Name: Geo Medical BS-201 Violet
Price: US$ 22 for 1 pair
Base curve: 8.6 mm
Diameter: 14 mm
Water content: 38%
Prescription: 0.00
Life span: 1 year disposal

I was pleasantly surprised to see that it did make my irides a tad larger, as these are only 14 mm in diameter. I think I shall revise my opinion on 14 mm and 14.2 mm lenses even though the enlargement effect is no where near the 14.5 mm or 15 mm sizes.

I like the fact that the outer rim is a dark purple which corresponds well to the inner lighter shade; it blends in better and looks more natural. The purple does not show up well on my dark brown eyes as shown in the pictures, but I assure you that it is a pretty deep purple that's even visible in indoor lighting in real life.

Overall rating:
Design and colour ★★☆☆☆☆☆
Enlargement ★☆☆☆☆☆☆
Comfort ★★★★★★☆

mukuCHU.com has a promotion until November 1st, where you get a fluffy fox tail for free when you purchase at least three pairs of Geo Medical lenses!

PRODUCTS USED

FACE
♥ Stage Cosmetics Photo Pro Foundation 02 Take 1
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Mineral Pact

EYES
♥ The Body Shop Eye Shimmer 04
♥ Sonia Rykiel Ombre D’Été 01
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Gel Eyeliner
♥ Eye's Chic 830 lashes
♥ The Skĭn Shop Magic Science Volume & Curling Mascara

Disclosure: Press samples.

F For Food And Fruits

2011-10-04T03:54:00.003+08:00

Had a fantastic weekend stuffing my face! How was yours?

I bet I gained weight... it's time for me to get off my butt and start working out haha.

September 2011 Hits & Misses

2011-09-29T22:47:00.008+08:00

I wanted to post up an August Hits & Misses entry but before I knew it, September is already ending! Time flies by so fast...

Rosette Hello Kitty Apple Gommage

Name: Rosette ロゼット Hello Kitty Apple Gommage ハローキティアップルゴマージュ
Price: ¥ 498 for 120 g
@cosme rating: 4.1 ★
Release date: 16.3.2009

Ick, the 4.1 ★ rating on @cosme is totally undeserved! The peeling effect is terrible compared to the other peeling gels that I have used and the scent is so chemical-like.

The amount of comedones on my nose remains the same, so I guess the amount of AHA in it is very minute? It just doesn't rub me the right way (pun intended
(^ ω ~)).

Rohto Arctic Eye Drops

Name: Rohto Arctic Eye Drops
Price: RM 48 for 13 ml

To me, the main selling point in these minty eyedrops is its cooling intensity. The stronger the better haha! I have tried my fair share of Arctic's Japanese counterparts and Artic is in between levels 5 and 6. I have stopped purchasing Rohto eyedrops below level 5, sadly they have no effect on me anymore.

The intense icy cool sensation is fantastic at waking me up. I can't live without it in the mornings. My eyes are red rimmed no matter how refreshed I'm feeling, so I am not the best judge to decide whether it relives redness. It also lubricate my eyes very well, which is an added bonus.

The packaging is very cute - an oval shaped bottle. I love it, it’s so much nicer looking than the eyedrops sold at drugstores over here.

Hadabisei Lotion Mask (Moist)

Name: Hadabisei 肌美精 Lotion Mask (Moist)
Price: RM 49.90 for 200ml (28 pieces)
@cosme rating: 2.4 ★
Release date: 25.8.2008

This mask is designed to be used daily for a month. It contains hyaluronic acid and GABA, and it's meant as a quick fix for dry, flaky skin.

The masks aren't heavily saturated - they are soaked with enough essence that they stay moist yet they don't drip all over. The fabric is not the highest quality, but the essence more than makes up for it. My face feels really moisturized the morning after.

I have even bought a second box after using it for a week - that's how much I like it.

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick 070 Soft Nude

Name: Revlon レブロン ColorBurst Lipstick カラーバーストリップスティック 070 Soft Nude
Price: RM 39 for 3.7 g
@cosme rating: 4.9 ★
Release date: 16.4.2010

Soft Nude is an orangey tan shade, and it’ll transform into a nude once on your lips. This formula is pigmented although it lacks moisture as it feels very drying on. It also draws attention to every groove, line, crack that I didn’t even realize existed on my lips. It is the saddest RM 32.90 (sale price) that I ever spent.

Yanqina Natural Black Stiletto Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Name: Yanqina Natural Black Stiletto Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Price: US$ 8.25

The stiff tip makes this liner easy to use, the colour is a nice black and it washes off very easily with warm water. I usually go for a liner with a fine, slim tip, and upon seeing the chunkiness of the pen nib I instantly foresaw thick, inaccurate application. Regrettably this is the case with this liner and many western liners.

At the end of the day, the eyeliner is still present but it is very much duller and requires a touch up. Sometimes it even smudges, I'm still unsure why this happens but I shall experiment more to determine the cause.

If your interest is piqued by my review, you can get
Rosette Hello Kitty Apple Gommage on sasa.com
Rohto Arctic Eye Drops on supermodels-secrets.com
Hadabisei Lotion Mask (Moist) on sasa.com
Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick 070 Soft Nude on drugstore.com
Yanqina Natural Black Stiletto Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner on kkcenterhk.com

I'm ending this post with a recent EOTD.

It is supposed to be a romantic look with ruby shades but my camera couldn't capture the colours, my eye makeup looks neutral *grrr*

Disclosure: Entry contains press sample(s).

Curlformers

2011-09-25T22:55:00.023+08:00

Curlformers are somewhat like modern hair rollers. They are available in a variety of lengths and widths. The kit that Shoppingholics.com offers comes with 20 curling tubes and 1 styling hook.

Name: Curlformers
Price: US$ 35.90 for a pack

It gives you pretty S shaped curls. I prefer these curls compared than the standard spriral curls from my curling iron, and most importantly it is very simple to do. In case you're wondering, there's absolutely no way I would ever sleep in them - they are stiff and hard, and I think that having them hanging about would be simply unbearable.

For my first trial, I took around 20 minutes to finish my whole head, which is quite long when you compare it to tonging, where I take 5 minutes or so. The whole process (which includes drawing my hair through the tubes, removing them, arranging my curls etc) only took 30 minutes.

The curls loosen pretty quickly (or they don't even form if you have stubborn hair like me) unless you spritz a healthy dose of hairspray beforehand.

The video below is very informative and it shows you the easiest and fastest method to achieve perfect curls with Curlformers:

I doubt that Curlformers will replace my styling iron, even though it is less damaging to my hair. I care more about getting out of my door quickly rather than damage to my hair haha~ However, it's a good alternative for those who desire a kinder, heat-free hair curling option.

Disclosure: Press samples.

LUVIEW Review: Whitening Capsule BB Cream, One-Touch Brush Sun Powder, Real Shiny Eyes

2011-09-20T22:53:00.005+08:00

LUVIEW is an up and coming Korean brand. It was established in 2010 and its core target are ladies in their 20s and 30s. All LUVIEW products are manufactured using a unique combination of carefully selected natural ingredients (minerals and botanical tea extract) and the most advanced dermatology - the perfect formula for a skin friendly makeup brand.

(Source: LUVIEW's press release)

The Sales & Marketing Director gave me the opportunity to preview some items a few weeks back. Let's go through them piece by piece...

Whitening Capsule BB Cream

Name: LUVIEW Whitening Capsule BB Cream 화이트닝 캡슐 비비크림
Price: ₩ 19,000 (US$ 22.80) for 34 g

Formulated for oilier skin types, this BB cream diffuses light and enhances the skin's natural luminosity for a radiant, hydrated complexion and contains non-irritating natural ingredients.

There was hyperventilating when I squirted the BB cream on my hand, it is white and not flesh toned like a million other BB creams!! Upon application, it transforms into a shade that matches my skintone very well and gives it a glowy, bright, yet natural, semi-matte finish.

The texture is a light cream, similar to a tinted moisturizer. One thing that threw me off is the existence of soft shimmer particles. These sparkles instantly brighten the skin but there's a big chance that it will intensify facial shine and magnify pores.

The coverage is pretty sheer - it does help my skin to look more even-toned, fill in my pores but it can't conceal hyperpigmentation. Wearing this alone won't give you sufficient coverage (unless you have flawless skin to begin with) so I would suggest dusting a powder foundation over it.

I found the oil control to be pretty mediocre with my T-zone showing some shine after three hours. It does everything it claims to do, however, I do think it would be a better fit to those with dry to normal skin.

The full ingredient list for Whitening Capsule BB Cream:
Water, Cyclomethicone, Cyclomethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Arbutin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Mica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Iron Oxides (CI77492), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Chloride
Hexyl Laurate, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, Ceresin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyester-1, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Bentonite, Silica Demethyl Siliylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Iron Oxides (CI77491), Iron Oxides (CI77499), PEG-200, Boron Nitride, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Triethyl Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus (Daffodil) Flower Extract, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Magnolia Biondii Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Fragrance.

One-Touch Brush Sun Powder

Name: LUVIEW One-Touch Brush Sun Powder 원-터치 브러쉬 선파우더 SPF50 PA+++
Price: ₩ 20,500 (US$ 24.60) for 9 g

The sun powder comes in a chunky plastic contraption, with the powder sitting in a sifter jar. The top screws off to reveal a built in brush. I was really surprised that it isn't messy at all - the powder goes directly to the brush and doesn't fly all over the place or pool around the space on top of the sifter.

The brush feels very soft and dense. It did shed a bit, but fortunately it stopped after a couple of uses.

The pale peach powder is finely milled and smooth to the touch. It's so light that it doesn’t feel like I'm wearing anything. I'm rather impressed that it even provides some coverage. To my consternation, sometimes it can look a tad powdery, but that is caused by the dense brush applicator. You can either dust a light layer (I'm very heavy handed when it comes to sunscreen) or use your own fluffy brush to deposit and buff the powder.

It has a faint almost undetectable flowery scent. It's so different and pleasing compared to the average liquid sunscreens. After adding this sunscreen to my routine, I noticed that my face stays shine free and I can go without blotting for longer periods.

It's a great item to tote around. I would recommend it to everyone, especially sun conscious makeup wearers. It won't mess your makeup plus you can use it as a setting powder!

The full ingredient list for One-Touch Brush Sun Powder:
Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Nylon-12, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, EthylhexylMethoxycinnamate, Acrylates/Tridecyl Acrylate/Triethoxysilylpropyl Methacrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Stearate, Triethoxycaprylysilane, Hexyl Laurate, Diisostearyl Malate, Talc, Squalane, Methicone, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Methylparaben, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pearl Powder, Coral Powder, Amethyst Powder, Iron Oxides (CI77492), Iron Oxides (CI77491), Iron Oxides (CI77499), Fragrance.

Real Shiny Eyes

Name: LUVIEW Real Shiny Eyes 리얼 샤이니 아이즈
Price: ₩ 21,000 (US$ 25.20) for 6.8 g

These eyeshadows are housed in a sleek, clean and hard to miss red compact. It is really slim, perfect for chucking into your makeup bag and comes with a good sized mirror and a functional double ended sponge tip applicator.

Initially I was a little unsure due to the pinks - they can be difficult to pull off, but my perception changed after the first usage. It bearing some resemblance to Lunasol's Pink Gradation quad makes me even fonder of it haha~

The shades included are a carnation pink, pale pink, tan and coffee brown (from the left). They all have a certain level of sheen, and only the pale pink shade has a tiny bit of shimmer particles. These colours are safe but very wearable and they work well with each other.

The texture is soft and easy to blend. They have medium colour payoff and they last very well with very minimal creasing at the inner corners when applied over a lid primer.

The full ingredient list for Real Shiny Eyes:
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides (CI77491), Phenyl Trimethicone, Mineral Oil, Magnesium Myristate, Silica, Talc, Magnesium Stearate, Iron Oxides (CI77492), Iron Oxides (CI77499), Diisostearyl Malate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Microcrystalline Wax, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Acrylates/Tridecyl Acrylate/Triethoxysilylpropyl Methacrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Tin Oxide, Pearl Powder, Coral Powder, Amethyst Powder.

LUVIEW is planning to expand their line with new releases. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but from what I've seen in their e-mail to me, it's going to be pretty exciting~

LUVIEW is sold on their official site, Samsung Card and BC Card. International customers are also spoilt for choices where you can purchase their products from their shopping mall or on Gmarket.

And to commemorate the grand opening of their shopping mall, LUVIEW is having a 50% sale on every product til October 12th, so head on over before the sale ends!

Disclosure: Press samples.

[Shoppingholics] Geo Medical Mimi Cafe Waffle Grey

2011-09-15T23:49:00.037+08:00

Geo Medical Mimi Cafe Waffle Grey review! Lenses provided my ever generous sponsor, Shoppingholics.com. They sell a wide variety of cosmetics and accessories besides circle lenses.

Name: Geo Medical Mimi Cafe Waffle Grey
Price: US$ 21.90 for 1 pair
Base curve: 8.6 mm
Diameter: 15 mm
Water content: 38%
Prescription: 0.00
Life span: 1 year disposal

The burst of yellow in the center makes this design really interesting. I didn't expect it to resemble a flower more than waffles that you eat at a cafe haha. They do look nice on, however, my dark irides don't showcase their full potential - it's not as bright or as eye catching as some other designs. I found them to be as comfortable as Princess Mimi Apple Green, so props to Geo Medical for maintaining their high standards!

Overall rating:
Design and colour ★★★★☆☆☆
Enlargement ★★★★★★★
Comfort ★★★★★★☆

PRODUCTS USED

FACE
♥ Castledew Watershot Base #3
♥ Sunplay Skin Aqua Silky BB Cream

EYES
♥ Canmake Shimmer Jelly Eyes 02 Sugar Milk Tea
♥ Visee Glam Hunt Eyes G-7 Mauve
♥ Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner (Deep Black)
♥ Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Zero
♥ Princess Lee cross 6 black lashes (公主李假睫毛交叉6黑)
♥ Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara

Disclosure: Press samples.

Black Tea

2011-09-11T23:38:00.018+08:00

Hello everyone, I've been trying really hard to not shop as much but I crumbled when I chanced upon a blog sale. Here the goods that I managed to score..

Lunasol Scent Form Eyes 03 Black Tea

Name: Lunasol ルナソル Scent Form Eyes セントフォルムアイズ 03 Black Tea ブラックティー
Price: ¥ 5250 for 6.3 g
@cosme rating: 5.3 ★
Release date: 18.8.2006

I'm a fan of the Scent Form Eyes series plus you know I can never say no to Lunasol (- ω -) There are five quads altogether in the Scent Form Eyes range - Casablanca, Leak, Black Tea, Marigold and Chocolate Cosmos.

I think I need to make it a complete collection now that I own three out of the five haha!

Visee Glam Hunt Eyes G-7 Mauve

Name: Visee ヴィセ Glam Hunt Eyes グラムハントアイズ G-7 Mauve モーヴ系
Price: ¥ 1890 for 3.8 g
@cosme rating: 4.7 ★
Release date: 16.10.2009

Visee teamed up with fashion label Duras Ambient to release this limited edition quint. I wasn't too keen on Brilliance Forming Eyes also released in 2009, so I was really happy that Glam Hunt Eyes didn't disappoint.

I came out relatively unscarred (does an emptier Paypal account count?) from the blog sale, but oh boy... I might not brave it a second time hahaha~ It was overwhelming to say the least.

Ever made a purchase from a blog sale? How did it go?

Lunasol Review: Lighting For Eyes 04 Neutral, Scent Form Eyes 05a Chocolate Cosmos, Skin Modeling Eyes 01 Beige Beige

2011-09-06T23:53:00.098+08:00

Lunasol’s palettes are very popular, but the three reviewed in this entry are a head above the rest. They are the must-haves for any Lunasol fan or if you plan to start off a Lunasol collecting frenzy.

Lighting For Eyes 04 Neutral

Neutral has a deep blackish brown shadow color, a pale gold highlight color, a taupe brown medium color and a silvery jewelry powder (clockwise from bottom left).

Name: Lunasol ルナソル Lighting For Eyes ライティングフォーアイズ 04 Neutral
Price: ¥ 5250 for 6.2 g
@cosme rating: 5.1 ★
Release date: 19.8.2005

The shades in 04 Neutral are universally flattering, it is one of the most wearable quads that Lunasol has ever released.

Natural light

Muted flash

Swatches.

Natural light

Muted flash

Pigmentation: ★★★★★★☆ superb colour payoff
Shimmer: ★★★★★☆☆ subtle (not including the glittery jewelry powder)
Texture: ★★★★★☆☆ soft, creamy and velvety. You may experience some fall out when using the blackish brown shade.
Recommend: Yes. For those of you who are interested in this particular quad but balk at the price, you might want to take a look at Integrate Accent Eyes BR730 or Lavshuca Light Mix Eyes BR-2.

Scent Form Eyes 05a Chocolate Cosmos

Chocolate Cosmos has a pale yellow creamy highlight, a taupe nuance color, a warm orangish brown medium color and a rich chocolate brown shadow color (clockwise from bottom left).

Name: Lunasol ルナソル Scent Form Eyes セントフォルムアイズ 05a Chocolate Cosmos
Price: ¥ 5250 for 6.3 g
@cosme rating: 5.3 ★
Release date: 18.8.2006

Scent Form Eyes is the only series with a scent - a faint flowery fragrance. I do not mind fragrance in makeup items at all especially when they are as pleasing as this!

Natural light

Muted flash

Swatches.

Natural light

Muted flash

Pigmentation: ★★★★★★☆ excellent pigmentation with just one swipe
Shimmer: ★★★★★★☆ dazzling
Texture: ★★★★★☆☆ very finely milled although it feels a tad hard to the touch
Recommend: Yes. It is the perfect coffee brown palette for people who aren’t afraid of warmer shades.

Skin Modeling Eyes 01 Beige Beige

Beige Beige has a beige nuance color, a pearly beige modeling highlight, a nude beige medium color and a brown beige shade color (clockwise from bottom left).

Name: Lunasol ルナソル Skin Modeling Eyes スキンモデリングアイズ 01 Beige Beige
Price: ¥ 5250 for 6.7 g
@cosme rating: 5.3 ★
Release date: 19.1.2007

Beige Beige is Lunasol’s top selling eyeshadow palette and it can be hard to obtain unless you are willing to pay a premium price for it.

Natural light

Muted flash

Swatches.

Natural light

Muted flash

Pigmentation: ★★★★★★☆ the shades are very light but they pack a punch
Shimmer: ★★★★★★☆ fine micro shimmers, very elegant
Texture: ★★★★★★☆ best texture amongst the three palettes in this review
Recommend: No. It might be too nude or won’t even show up on some complexions.

I hope my review helped Lunasol lovers out there!

Tried these quads or any other palettes from Lunasol? Which is your favourite?