Makeup, Skincare, etc.

Review: Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging concealer

2015-09-26T20:23:00.003-07:00

Top left: bare face w sunscreen

Top bottom: 1 application of concealer

Right: 2 layers of concealer

Pros

Buildable coverage

Natural looking

Long lasting

Sanitary tube

Doesn't oxidize on skin

Cons

Might be hard to tell your color without a tester

Price

~$7-9 for 0.4 oz / 12 ml

Verdict

As you can tell I have A LOT of acne scars. I used to use a BB cream/foundation then apply concealer, but recently I've been kind of lazy and just using concealer and a powder foundation. I find that this actually works well with my skincare routine right now.

If you're looking for a good drugstore concealer, this would definitely be one of the better ones I've tried, the Almay one is good too but has only 3 shades (review here). I personally prefer liquid concealer for acne and scarring because it looks more natural than cream/stick concealers I've tried. The texture of this one is thick enough to provide coverage but not so thick it looks dry/flaky on your skin (granted you exfoliate your skin, of course). It's also not too drying for your undereye, although I don't use undereye concealer as much, out of personal preference.

Repurchase?

Yes, but there's new concealers coming out all the time

Review: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

2015-09-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

As you can tell it has purple glitter with a black/grey base. It doesn't look super dark but dark enough

Top: daylight

Bottom: With flash

Pros

Long lasting

Good control with brush

Subtle glitter (wearable for daytime)

Cons

Not super dark

Price

$19 for 0.05 oz / 1.7 ml

Verdict

I got this on clearance for ~$7 at Nordstrom Rack. I'm usually not great at drawing winged liners but this brush was stiff enough to give me control. This looks more purple to me in person, maybe the human retina catches the color of the glitter more.

If you see this on sale I'd definitely give it a try, but I wouldn't spend $19 on it.

Repurchase?

No.

Swatches: NARS Satin/Velvet Matte Lip Pencils (Sephora Birthday Gift 2015)

2015-09-24T19:02:00.002-07:00

Here's what the container it comes in looks like

Velvet Matte - Cruella (scarlet red)

Satin Lip Pencil - Rikugien (rose pink)

Pros

Lightweight

Pigmented

Creamy

Easy to control application

Cons

Not twist up

Expensive

Price

$26 for 0.086 oz (full size)

These deluxe samples are 0.05 oz / 1.7 g

Verdict

I probably wouldn't buy these if it wasn't free, but I do like the colors they give you.

Cruella is kind of a snow white red on my complexion, not a dark red as a swatch seems to show. Rikugien is surprisingly a natural pink color, I thought it was going to be frosty when I swatched it.

Purchase?

Mayyybe the peach color.

Review: Urban Decay Perversion mascara (Ulta Birthday Gift 2015)

2015-09-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry the order is flipped this time, the bottom is bare lashes

Middle: 1 coat

Top: 2 coats

Pros

Holds a curl

Lengthening

Not stiff like a lot of mascaras

Very dark

Cons

Not cheap

Not a lot of volume until 2nd coat

Price

$22 for 0.4 oz (full size)

$10 for 0.13 oz (travel size at Sephora)

Verdict

This is the Ulta birthday gift deluxe sample this year, I have to say Maybelline's Lash Sensational (review here) is better for my lashes. The first coat of this did nearly nothing, although it does look very clean. I wonder if my lashes have gotten thinner from wearing mascara too much. But the 2nd coat looks a lot better. I don't really like to put on 2nd coats of mascara because it usually smudges more on me, but maybe people who don't have that problem will enjoy this more. For a high end mascara this didn't wow me so I will be sticking to my $6 CoverGirl and Maybelline mascaras I can get at Target.

Purchase?

No.

Review: L'egere Aqua Soothing Essence CC Cream SPF 20

2015-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Pros

Lightweight

Moisturizing

Cons

Minimal coverage

Doesn't really help with pores

Price

~$23 for 1.18 oz / 35ml on Ebay

Verdict

For how lightweight this feels, the coverage is pretty decent if you just have redness and faded acne scars. This CC cream comes out slightly darker than my skin but blends in once you apply it. It has a really watery consistency, when I blend it out it's almost like it's not going to cover anything. If I set it with a power it lasts, but otherwise my skin gets shiny pretty quickly.

Obviously I need concealer for all my blemishes, but I would consider using this more when my acne scars starts fading.

I got this in Taiwan since I loved the old L'egere White Multi BB cream (review here) that had better coverage and minimized pores, unfortunately it was discontinued. I hope they bring it back the next time I visit Taiwan.

Repurchase?

No.

NYX Pure Nude 518A

2015-09-17T15:32:00.002-07:00

Lip Smacking Fun Colors

Extra Creamy Lipstick

Made in Taiwan

Very nice peachy-pink nude

Pros

Creamy

Pigmented

Inexpensive

Cons

Not long wearing

Settles in lip lines

Price

$3-5 for 0.14 oz / 4 g

Verdict

I got this for free in a Target kit that a cosmetic specialist gave me one day a couple weeks ago, I never saw a salesperson in the specifically for the cosmetic aisle again, I could only assume it wasn't as effective as Target had hoped. I've owned NYX lipsticks before and they've always been consistently creamy and pigmented, the only flaw is the wear of the lipsticks. Although I've learned that the reality of lip products is if it's drier, it stays. If it's creamy and moisturizing, then it'll wipe away easily.

Pure Nude would've been great back in... 2008 or 2009? When nude lips were all the rave. Most people are into bright lips or dark colors now from what I've seen.

This is a cute color if you're into nudes, I think it washes me out too much unless I'm wearing a smokey eye.

Repurchase?

Probably not. Lipstick takes too long to use up

Revlon Ultra HD lipstick in Hibiscus

2015-09-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

Pros

Moisturizing

Lightweight

Light fragrance

Cons

Medium coverage

Not long lasting

Price

$8-9 for 0.1 oz / 3 g

Verdict

I notice a lot of moisturizing lipsticks may not be the most pigmented, but it feels great on the lips and the color is buildable. I really enjoy this lipstick due to the light sweet fragrance and also because Hibiscus is a bright-ish color but wearable when it's in a sheerer formula. Even though it's not long lasting, I noticed that I'm probably never going through an entire bullet of lipstick, so reapplications throughout the day won't use up the lipstick that much more quickly.

I've been loving corals lately as you can probably see from my previous lip product posts, can't wait to try more :)

Repurchase?

Yes.

Review: Shu Uemura POREraser UV SPF 35 PA+++ underbase mousse

2015-09-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

Pros

Reduces oil on my face more than anything else I've tried

Reduces appearance of pores

Matte base for foundation

Cons

Need to apply quickly, or else it dries too fast

Slight white cast

Price

~$20 for 20g on Ebay

~$40 for 50g

This isn't sold on the American Shu Uemura website, I got it at the airport in Hong Kong

Verdict

I really liked this during the summer for the SPF 35 and oil-reducing qualities. I could wear this all day and my face would be barely dewy at night. However, if you don't use a moisturizer underneath this could feel very dry. And if you don't work quickly, the mousse dries on your face before you can blend the tint out. The pump is also a bit hard to control, I often get too much or not enough.

As far as a primer, I don't think it's amazing for foundation to go on, but it is my go-to if I'm going to be out all day and don't want to worry about blotting my face.

Repurchase?

Probably not

Milani Fruit Punch

2015-09-01T15:48:00.003-07:00

Pros

Creamy

Vibrant color

Inexpensive

Cons

Limited color selection

Price

$5-7 for 0.14 oz / 3.97 g

Verdict

I saw xteeener talk about this and looked it up online. It's much more of a medium hot pink than a "creamy coral pink" that I wanted, but it's a nice change since I have sooo many coral lipcolors.

Some Youtubers say it's moisturizing, I think it's not especially moisturizing but it's not drying. If you like a color from this range I definitely recommend it. I noticed at all the Walgreens I went to they're always out of stock of the bottom row of bright colors, must be really popular.

Repurchase?

No.

Review: CoverGirl The Super Sizer waterproof mascara

2015-08-31T17:52:00.002-07:00

Pros

Volumnizing

Lengthening

Natural looking

Perfectly sized wand

Cons

Could get a bit clumpy (like 3-4 lashes into one, as seen in the photo kind of)

Price

$6-8 for 0.4 oz / 12 ml

Verdict

I've given up on mascaras long ago because they always smudge due to my naturally moist/oily undereye (yes I've tried washable and waterproof), but every now and then when Youtubers hype products up I get tempted to try it.

I noticed this one smudges less on me, the wand is great because the wand of the Maybelline Lash Sensational (review here) is a bit too large to coat every single lash.

The tube is also one of my favorite colors, it's pretty much perfect. The only problem was tracking it down at a good price, Target's and Ulta's near me were out of stock of the black waterproof one, but I finally found it.

Update: I noticed it could be a teensy clumpy since the short brush bristle isn't as defining, keep that in mind.

Repurchase?

Definitely

Review: GlamGlow Clearing Treatment - helps with acne and pores?

2015-08-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

You can't really see it here

But when you wash the mask off, there are little beads I assume are supposed to be exfoliating

As you can tell, it goes from black to gray like most clay masks

If you look closer, there are darker black dots around where my pores are larger or where my skin produces more oil, and where my active raised pimples are.

More literature, I didn't really read through this, but if you are going to invest so much money into a product it's good to do the research

Pros

Helps somewhat with acne

Cleans out pores

Tingly minty sensation

Exfoliating

Cons

Expensive

No drastic change in cystic pimples

Price

$37 at Costco IF your local Costco carries it

$69 at Sephora for 1.2 oz / 34 g

Verdict

The packaging says as a full face mask it will contains 17 uses, but if you only spots in certain places it should last a lot longer. I wouldn't have purchased this if I didn't find it at Costco.

As with many clay masks, it is drying and absorbs a lot of oil and impurities. My pores definitely look clearer after I wash it off. My cousin actually recommended that if I use The Clearing Treatment in conjunction with the Hydrating Treatment, it will make the pimples flat overnight but your skin is still moisturized. I tried that a few times but pimples only go away overnight if they're smaller. Cystic pimples still take a while to go away.

I tried taking photos for the results but I don't think the photos really do justice for what I see in real life.

I think this really helps if you have occasional breakouts like me, I can see why people rave about this product along with the rest of the GlamGlow line.

Repurchase?

If I use it up and see it at Costco again, yes.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB Water Base SPF50 PA+++

2015-06-21T13:40:00.001-07:00

Pros

Easy to blend

Matte finish

High SPF

Cons

No coverage

Might feel a bit drying without a moisturizer

White cast (or maybe my face is a bit too pale)

Price

~$12-15 on Ebay for 33 g (~1.1 oz)

Verdict

In Asia, Biore offers a wide range of sunscreens to choose from. I purchased four types while I was there, three of which I will review hopefully before July.

This particular one has a thicker texture than the regular Aqua one (blue tube) and has a bit of a whitening tint effect that probably isn't suitable for darker skin tones, the idea is it's supposed to help hide pores and imperfections. Because this makes my face a little too pale, I've been using it for my neck and decollate.

When I first began using products, I always thought... 1 ounce is so little, it'll run out in no time. When in reality, this tube will probably take me a few months to use up even if I apply liberally, so the price really isn't that bad.

As you may or may not be familiar, Asians take sun protection very seriously because the ideal beauty there is to have flawless pale skin. So I trust Asian sunscreens a little bit more.

Repurchase?

Maybe.

Tony Moly Aqua Petit Jelly CC Tintbar in 02

2015-06-09T16:08:00.001-07:00

Pros

Moisturizing

Fruity scent

Twist up

Cons

Very light tint

Not true to "color"

Price

$10 at Urban Outfitters

Verdict

I had hoped this would be similar to the Dior Addict Lip Glow in Coral, but maybe a lot of the color changing lip balms are like this. It's nice as a lip balm, but nothing special as a color changing one, it looks more pink than coral on my lips as you can see, but it looks nice as a natural lip color for everyday that doesn't look like lipstick.

I originally want to try the Face Shop one some time, but maybe they all look the same.

Repurchase?

No.

Review: Biore UV Tint Milk SPF30

2015-05-31T20:16:00.002-07:00

Left: Bare skin | Right: 1 layer

Pros

Matte finish

Oil controlling

Kind of evens out skin tone

Cons

Very minimal coverage

Limited color selection

Price

~$13 or more depending on where you buy it, I recommend Ebay

Verdict

I enjoy using this when I don't really have any breakouts. If I have a pimple, this dries the area where the pimple or acne scar is (because of my acne treatment) and makes it a bit flaky. This sunscreen feels a bit silicone-y when applied, so moisturizing foundations/BB creams wear really well over it, but not so much for the thinner, drier ones. I noticed that this makes my skin look a bit dry if I don't apply moisturizer beforehand, and if I do apply moisturizer beforehand the tint is basically gone. But it does control oil pretty well, which I find all these shake beforehand, liquidy sunscreens tend to do. Similar sunscreens I've tried is the Shiseido one (blue bottle) and a bunch of sunscreens that brands carry these days.

I've been on the search for tinted SPF lately, this would be great for people who have perfect skin, not so much for people like me, but I will use it up since it contains SPF on days I don't really need to look my skin is good.

Repurchase?

No.

Review: Too Faced Better than False Lashes

2015-05-29T10:00:00.002-07:00

Fibers

Bare Lashes | 1st coat of mascara | With fibers | 2nd coat of mascara

Pros

Lengthening

Holds my curl

Cons

Not really volumnizing

Makes lashes feel brittle

Gets stuck with my bottom lashes when I blink

Price

$15 at Costco

$30 something elsewhere? The new Lash Extreme version is $35

Verdict

The mascara itself has a thin, wet formula so it doesn't really do much if you only use the mascara. The fibers are ok. I took this off after like 15 minutes of wearing it, it's very uncomfortable.

For the work you have to do it's better to use a regular mascara, like the Maybelline Lash Sensational waterproof (review here), which is my new favorite.

I saw a review by Beauty Broadcast that after several uses the fibers kind of get stuck in the mascara so it doesn't work as well. All in all a flawed product, maybe I'll try a regular mascara that claims to have fibers in it instead.

Unless you have naturally perfect lashes, false lashes probably still look better.

Repurchase?

No. I wish I could return this

Review: Simple Micellar Water

2015-05-28T13:46:00.001-07:00

After removing some foundation and concealer on a cotton pad

Pros

Gentle on skin

Not drying

Removes non-water resistant eye makeup

Cons

Doesn't remove waterproof makeup

Doesn't remove ALL traces of makeup

Price

$6 for 6.7 oz / 198 ml at Target

Verdict

I enjoy using this as a makeup remover when I don't want to wash my face yet. It doesn't remove every trace of face makeup unless you go over your face at least twice. I usually soak the cotton pad in the micellar water, use one side of the cotton pad, then go over it again with the other side.

I've seen Ingrid and other Youtubers say you can use this instead of a cleanser in the morning, but for oily skinned girls like me, my face still feels a bit icky and I'd rather have the comfort of cleaning my face with water and a cleanser. I think I'd like this a lot as a toner, but I have too many toners right now so I'll just use it on occasion to remove makeup.

Repurchase?

Yes.

Review: Chanel Perfection Lumiere Long Wear Flawless fluid foundation SPF 10

2015-05-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

As you can see I have A LOT of acne scars (the ones on my cheeks takes forever to go away, and I break out a lot more often now compared to when I was in high school)

Pros

Light to medium coverage

Perfume-like fragrance

Semi-matte finish

Cons

Foundation could clog the pump a little (as you can kind of tell in the photo)

Price

$57 for 1 oz

Verdict

I highly recommend sampling this foundation before buying an actual bottle of it.

I purchased it when I had an employee discount at Macy's and regret spending THIS much on foundation when I should've spent it on skincare instead. As the most expensive foundation I own, this isn't anything to rave about... The coverage is natural but not enough to cover anything for me. I don't think it's particularly long lasting but it does dry nicely on the skin.

The heavy glass bottle isn't travel friendly per se, but it does give a high end feel to the product.

If you're looking to purchase a new high end foundation, I think there are better foundations out there for less. I think this would work well if you have minor flaws in your skin, not so much acne or acne scars.

Repurchase?

No.

Review: Lancome Teint Miracle SPF 15 foundation

2015-05-01T11:44:00.003-07:00

Description from Sephora:

What it is:
A complexion-enhancing foundation with SPF 15.

What it does:
This oil-free, fragrance-free formula with SPF 15 protection is formulated with Lancôme's Aura-Inside™ technology, which imparts the look of radiant skin. Its lightweight texture is enriched with soothing rose extract, providing 18 hours of hydration and sheer-to-moderate coverage for a natural-looking finish without a cakey effect. This foundation creates a beautifully bare and lit-from-within makeup look.

What else you need to know:
This foundation is dermatologist tested, noncomedogenic, a non-irritant, and it does not cause break-outs. It is suitable for sensitive skin and contains 37 percent pure water.

Description on packaging (excuse the weird angle, the packaging is reflective so I can't take a photo straight ahead without seeing the outline of my phone)

Color: Buff 2 (W)
Left: bare skin | Right: one layer of foundation

Pros

Natural coverage

Lightweight

Good color selection
Not drying

Cons

Doesn't cover freckles

Price

$44 for 1 oz / 30 ml

Verdict

I purchased this foundation at a Macy's that was going to close, so I got it for 40% off. I am pleasantly surprised by the coverage of this foundation. I had always wanted to try it after seeing Michelle Phan feature it on her channel a few years ago, but it's really hard to tell if foundation is good when someone has nearly flawless skin already.
I like the coverage of this foundation, and it doesn't make my skin too oily or dry. I would recommend people to give it a try if you like natural medium-coverage foundations.

Repurchase?
Maybe.

Review: Benefit Bigger Than BB Big Easy SPF35

2015-04-18T10:31:00.001-07:00

Thick ish texture, I dot it all over my face to get an even application

Left: Before | Right: After

Pros

Natural looking

Semi-matte finish

Smoothes over pores

SPF 35

Not drying

Cons

Kind of pricey

Price

$38 for 1.18 oz / 35 ml

Verdict

For a product with high SPF, I actually enjoyed this, but the color match is a bit off for me. 01 is too white and 02 (the one shown) is a little too yellow. The finish is nice and lasts pretty well throughout the day, I think it will look a lot better when my scars fade, because right now everything still shows through. I noticed that since my skin has been breaking out it doesn't look that great on spots (looks flakey) compared to ACTUAL BB creams that are moisturizing.

Repurchase?

No, too many things to try these days.

New Holy Grail? Review: Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara (waterproof)

2015-04-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Does this brush remind anyone of the Benefit Rollerball or something mascara?

Pros

Lengthening

Volumnizing

Holds a curl

Natural looking

Doesn't clump

Doesn't flake

Cons

Lashes feel a little brittle

Price

$6-8 for 0.3 oz / 9 ml

Verdict

I purchased this mascara after seeing xteeener talk about it. I don't like to wear mascara because it is a pain to remove, but I may be willing to wear this mascara on days I want that extra oomph to my eye makeup. This came out a few weeks ago I want to say, and the Targets near me are always out of the black waterproof one. I found this at Ulta yesterday (last black waterproof one) and it was 40% off! Great deal.

Repurchase?

Yes

Update: It does still smudge on my lower lash line during the day, I seem to be the only one with this problem, not many ppl always have mascara smudging on them o_O

Review: Shiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector SPF43

2015-04-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

Pros

High SPF

Not drying

Water resistant (40 mins)

Sheer coverage

Cons

Kind of thick

Limited color selection (3)

Doesn't help with oil control like the liquid sunscreens you have to shake

Price

$32 for 1 oz / 30 ml

Verdict

I purchased this when I still had a discount on Shiseido. I think this works well if your skin is well moisturized from the night before, but as you can see from the photos it doesn't cover that well, it's more of a sheer cover that you can use as a base for concealer. I personally really like the high SPF especially for summer; when I purchased it the lady told me to just use a powder foundation on top and call it a day. It doesn't feel particularly light or heavy on a hot day, and I don't think it's AMAZING as a product, but it's worth checking out if you're looking for a decent tinted sunscreen.

FYI: The color #1 is a bit darker than my actual facial skin, but it's still natural

Repurchase?

Maybe. With the rate that brands are pumping out new products these days there are so many things to try by the time I run out of this.

Sample Review: Smashbox BB cream SPF 35

2015-03-18T12:16:00.001-07:00

Pros

Decent coverage

Nice glow to the skin

SPF 35

Cons

Rubs off on clothes

Not long lasting

Price

$39 for 1 oz / 30 ml

Verdict

I've been on a tinted moisturizer kick lately because I wanted glowing natural skin and just spot conceal the really dark spots. I basically tried all the tinted moisturizers with SPF 20+ at Sephora. The salesperson who helped me strongly suggested this one, but good thing I sampled it first. Unfortunately it makes my skin oily throughout the day and rubs off on clothing, even if I set it with powder.

Do you like American BB creams and tinted moisturizers? Let me know.

I always thought tinted moisturizers didn't give much coverage but I really like the natural glowy look it gives.

Purchase?

No.

Review: Too Faced Lip Injection plumping lip gloss

2015-02-28T16:29:00.001-08:00

Sephora's description

What it is:

A lip treatment designed to help plump your lips.

What it is formulated to do:

Lip Injection is a clear cosmetic that enhances your pucker for lasting fullness. Its patented formula is based on medically-proven blood vessel dilating technology touted to create the sexiest pout this side of a plastic surgeons office. This wonder wand is a celebrity secret weapon against puny, lifeless lips.

5 minutes later

10 minute later

Pros

Sweet scent

Noticeably plumping

Not sticky

Glossy

Cons

Kind of prickly if you're not used to lip plumpers

No color (pro for some)

Price

$22 for 0.14 oz / 4 g

Verdict

This is the first lip plumper I've ever tried, it was a gift so I thought I'd try it out.

It says the tingling sensation only lasts 5 minutes, but you can still keep feeling it after about 10 minutes, but it eventually dulls down. I've never had much interest in lip plumpers because I never thought my lips were super thin, but I do like how my lips look if they're fuller.

However, since I am out of my phase of wearing lip glosses, so this will probably not be used often unless I want full lips one day.

Repurchase?

No.

Review: Milani Liquid Eye Pencil

2015-02-20T21:50:00.001-08:00

Before

After ~12 hrs

I actually wiped with my fingers twice during the day bc it looked really smudged

Pros

Very dark

Creamy (glides on easily)

Paraben free

Cons

Smudges on oily lids

Price

$6-8 for 0.04 oz / 1.2 g

Verdict

I was really looking forward to trying this eyeliner, but unfortunately it was smudge city for me. I heard it's supposed to be a gel liner in a pencil but it doesn't seem to set for me. I personally found that pencil eyeliner doesn't last on oily eyelids, I usually use liquid (the Milani Infinite eyeliner is literally waterproof and smudgeproof, review here)

This glides on really well on the waterline/tightline, so I guess I'll use it for that purpose.

Repurchase?

No.

Proactiv: Shady Company

2015-02-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

During January, my skin was kind of acting up so I wanted to try out some new acne products. Having heard about Proactiv all these years ever since I was 13 made me want to try it once and for all. I went to one of the mall kiosks but saw the prices being a lot higher than I thought, so I went home and placed an order online for $30 for their Proactiv+ line.

Fast forward 3 weeks later, I see a charge on my credit card charge for $41 in addition to the initial $30, so I go on Proactiv to find that apparently I am not enrolled in their subscription service? I emailed customer service requesting a cancellation in their "membership" that I did not sign up for and to cancel the order I DID NOT place. Apparently they put you on a subscription service as soon as you sign up? SO SHADY.

The next day, Proactiv emails me back saying that they have canceled my membership and there is a $107 balance on my account.

WHAT? $107?

If you pay attention to their website, it says their skincare products are 60% off when you have a membership, so by my canceling the membership that I didn't sign up for, I now have to pay $107. Yeah. Right.

There is a valuable lesson to be learned by this, if and when you decide to try Proactiv (which I highly discourage) do NOT use a debit card and tread carefully and read in between the lines.

In conclusion, it is a hassle to get your money back, I would avoid dealing with this company at all costs.