Pretty Much Makeup

Review: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

2012-02-29T08:16:00.000+07:00

You know, I actually got people stumbled upon my blog researching for this foundation so I figured it's probably time for an in-depth review. My "first impression" post is here along with photos of me wearing the foundation. It has been three months since then and my opinion has changed dramatically.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Product description: A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage. This Sheer Glow Foundation enhances, without masking, your overall natural complexion. The weightless formula hydrates the skin while complexion brightening properties improve skin brightness, radiance, and texture, leaving skin with a luminous, sensual glow.Suitable for normal, normal-to-dry, dry, and very dry skin types.

Price: $42/30 ml at Sephora

Shade
There are 15 shades available to choose from at Sephora and I have to say I like their shade selection a lot better than MUFE's. I think NARS did a great job with the colors as I find them quite realistic. I got mine in Stromboli which is accurately described as "medium with olive undertones." Compared to MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC37, it definitely is a greener shade of yellow which happens to mimic my actual skin's undertone. I was so happy that Stromboli matches my skin color perfectly. Unfortunately, my love for this foundation stops right there.

Application & Consistency
It's thin and it resembles MAC Studio Fix Fluid in terms of consistency. It spreads out easily but it dries and becomes creamy way too quickly so you're gonna have to be fast when blending it. It also doesn't necessarily set or sink into skin. Rather, it just sits on top of the skin like a layer of mask; a light touch with a finger can easily smudge and ruin it.

Application will be streaky and troublesome if you insist on using your fingers. I find the stippling method using a flat top or a skunk brush to be the best way to apply this foundation.

For the price, I kind of expect something better than this. I personally think that a good foundation should "melt" into the skin and be easier to apply. I guess this consistency is only good when you're a model and has to look perfect in front of camera doing photo shoots (because the mask-like finish does make your skin look flawless on pictures), but for everyday-wear, I think it's just too much.

Ingredients are printed at the back of the carton box

Coverage
This might not be for you if you have discoloration on your skin because yes, it's sheer. I can see right through this foundation my redness and acne scars. In the end I find myself having to apply more product to get a better coverage but it results in tacky, unnatural finish. Perhaps this foundation is more suitable for people with flawless skin to begin with.

Finish
The finish isn't glowy or dewy whatsover. It's matte and it comes with a slight greasy feel. I really don't enjoy the greasiness so I always use finishing powder on top of it. My skin type is oily but since I've been using topical acne treatment, some parts of my skin became quite dry. This foundation definitely emphasizes dry and patchy skin. However, it doesn't seem to accentuate fine lines.

Oil Control & Staying Power
I'm not impressed at all with the staying power. My skin is oily and I live in a tropical country so you should count those into your consideration but really, I thought it would hold up a bit longer. It fades at the tip of my nose and on my chin within a couple of hours and that is with the aid of primer. Without primer, I'm sure it would slide off of my skin even faster. It doesn't offer much oil control either. I'm not sure which type of skin would benefit from this foundation; too greasy for oily skinned people yet it emphasizes dry skin? If you have normal, balanced type of skin, you might be one of the lucky people that can actually pull off this foundation.

Packaging
It doesn't come with a pump which is a big minus considering its price. It definitely can get messy if you're not careful with how much you pour the product out. The cap is also made out of the same rubber material that other NARS products have which make it so easy to get dirty. I wish NARS would reconsider the packaging because it sure can use some improvement.

Pros:
- wide range of shades,
- no offensive smell,
- easy to spread out on the skin,
- smooths out pores and fine lines,
- looks great in pictures if applied right.

Cons:
- doesn't contain SPF,
- application can be tricky,
- feels heavy and greasy,
- sheer coverage,
- tends to look unnatural/cakey when more product is applied,
- weak staying power,
- packaging gets dirty easily,
- doesn't come with a pump.

wearing NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli

Overall
This foundation really reminds me of Make Up For Ever HD Foundation which I'm not a big fan of either. Both foundations offer the same type of coverage and finish (though NARS might be a little less matte than MUFE HD) but both are probably only good for photo-ops. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for daily wear as it feels heavy on the skin and might eventually cause breakout. In my case, it did cost me little bumps on my chin (go ahead, scrutinize the picture above and I bet you'll see them, haha) so now I only wear it when I go out for short periods of time.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation can be purchased at Sephora or NARS' website. I purchased mine through a seller at Female Daily Market Plaza.

Have you tried it yourself? What do you think about it?

That was then. This is now.

2012-02-26T22:03:00.001+07:00

Is there a specific scent that you used to love but eventually grow out of? For me, it's The Body Shop Oceanus edt. It has been discontinued for a while now but I still have more than half a bottle left.

Top note is water lily; middle notes are violet, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose and geranium; base notes are sandalwood and musk.
When I first got it I thought the scent was so fresh and uplifting. It always sets me up to a good, industrious mood and makes me want to play volleyball at the beach or something. Haha. It was definitely my favorite summer holiday fragrance but sadly, now it just smells offensive to me. I rarely ever wear this anymore and guess what, the last time I wore it, my friend actually said the same thing: too sharp and annoying! So, back to eternal oblivion it went (I mean the shelf).

How about you? Any fresh-scented fragrance you'd like to recommend maybe? I'm listening. ;)

Cutey Charm Bracelets

2012-02-25T23:10:00.000+07:00

Cutey, a UK based jewelry store, kindly sent me a couple of charm bracelets to review. I really love charm bracelets because they usually go with any outfit. Whenever I go to the mall I like to stroll through the small jewelry shops and stare at their cute charm bracelets, haha. Inexpensive jewelries are such treats!

All Cutey charm bracelets are uniquely named after the gods in Greek mythology. The two charm bracelets they sent me are called Aether and Oneiroi.

Aether

Oneiroi

Both are such beautiful and well made pieces. The chain looks like real silver and is closed with a secure clasp. You can choose the chain length too to suit your preference (18 or 20 cm).

My favorite is obviously Aether. The pink glass beads are gorgeous especially when the light hits them. I like to wear it next to my silver watch just to spice things up.

Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee on the lips ;)

These charm bracelets are only $20 a piece and can be purchased through their website (they ship worldwide). I think they would make adorable gifts as well. :)

Review: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Creme Brulee

2012-02-23T16:17:00.003+07:00

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter gets so much hype lately and here I am being the party pooper. I was going to get Tutti Frutti (based on online swatches) but the soon I saw it in real life, I chickened out. The color's much too bright for me. In the end, I decided to play it safe by picking up a nude shade called Creme Brulee.

I don't have swatches of the other two nude shades (they didn't allow cameras, sadly) but Creamsickle is more of a whitish nude shade with peach undertone while Brown Sugar leans more towards brown with a hint of bronze. Creme Brulee, the one I picked up, is somewhere in the middle. It has more of a frosty finish than cream, I think, but not as frosty as Brown Sugar.

In my opinion, this isn't a cross between lipbalm and lipstick at all like most people seem to think. This is a full on lipstick with shiny finish and moisturizing feel. It reminds me of MAC Slimshine or Maybelline Watershine Pure (Asia exclusive) lipsticks. In other words, this kind of product isn't something new at all. They just came up with a better, more attractive name to catch our fancy.

Though so, I can understand why this line managed to be such a big hit among women. Many of the colors are bright and bold but they are definitely easier to pull off than most conventional lipsticks. They are less opaque in terms of coverage but at the same time are quite buildable. This makes them suitable for women who normally don't wear much makeup but are curious to try out challenging lip colors.

The lip butters also give that moisturizing feel most conventional lipsticks don't. But really, they don't actually moisturize your lips the way lipbalms do; you just feel that way because of its lipbalm-like texture. They might feel nice on the lips for a good couple of hours but then your lips will feel quite the same, if not dryer. In my experience, my lips become dry and a bit chappy after having this lip butter on for 2-3 hours. I have to wear lipbalm underneath it to prevent that from happening.

So, do these lip butters are highly moisturizing like some people say? I would say no. They are just lipsticks with fancy features. You know, like the iPhone 4S is a bit fancier than iPhone 4. Haha. These lip butters are just like any other shiny-finish lipsticks but with better formulated texture (thank you, makeup scientists!) and apparently, more playful colors.

All in all, I think the Colorburst Lip Butter is an okay product for the price. Because of its texture and barely there pigmentation, I bet I will finish this up quite fast. I have to apply a significant amount of layers to get the color to show up (probably not the case had I picked a darker color, though). And since it doesn't last very long on the lips, I have to reapply a lot throughout the day.

my Colorburst lippies :)

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters are now available in stores and priced reasonably at Rp 75,000. Have a go at it if you're curious because they sure are fun. But beware if you have pigmented lips, you might find the ligther shades to look almost the same once applied. I personally prefer more opaque lipsticks than them so I don't think I'll go back to grab more. I'm glad I restrained myself and bought one first to try out.

Oh and by the way, sorry for the nonexistence of lip swatches in this post. I'll wear it some time tomorrow and take some FOTD pics for you to see how this looks on me. :)

Piccasso Makeup Brushes!

2012-02-21T11:50:00.001+07:00

The best way to improve our makeup skill is of course by practicing. That's kind of a no brainer, right? But I also think the right tools can really help us achieve the look we want to go for.

If you're currently looking for makeup brushes to complete your kit, I suggest you look into Piccasso brushes. Piccasso is a company from Korea which specializes in making professional makeup brushes and premium quality fake lashes. Their products are heavily endorsed by professional makeup artists in Korea, Japan and other Asian countries. If you live in Korea, you've probably seen them being featured in magazines before.

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to try them myself. Kim from Piccasso sent me this set consisting of four pieces of brushes and a sleek brush case. He also sent me three pairs of false lashes which I'll be reviewing soon in a separate post. Thank you, Kim!

Before I used these brushes, I washed each of them first with brush cleanser mixed with a bit of dish washing liquid. To my surprise, none of them shed more than 1-2 strands of hair and none of them bleed. They dried quickly except the face brush which did take more time to dry. They didn't lose their original texture and shape after that first wash either.

Piccasso 106 Cheek Blusher Brush ($44)

Made of mohair

This brush is incredibly soft! You can see yourself how fluffy it is, can't you? The bristles are 4.5 cm long and a bit tapered. Even though this is not the densest blush brush I've ever owned, surprisingly it's not flimsy at all. With repetitive patting motion, it can definitely pick up powder really well. It's hard to overdo blush application using this brush because somehow the bristles prevent the color to be deposited altogether. This is the perfect tool to invest in if you often work with pigmented blushes. Since the size is rather small, it can also deliver precise color placement on the cheeks. That way you can even use it to apply highlighter or to contour.

Piccasso 208 Eye Smudger Brush ($28.60)

Made of grey squirrel hair

This one is also very very soft, I almost can't believe how soft it is! The bristles are 1 cm long and dome-shaped. I like to use this to smudge my pencil eyeliner on my upper and lower lashes for a fuss-free smoky effect. It blends color effortlessly as well, so if your eyelids are small, you can even use it as a blending brush.

Piccasso 206A Eyeshadow Brush ($28.60)

Made of grey squirrel hair

This shader brush is slightly bigger than the smudger brush above but is more flat and has a round tip. It's quite dense so it can pick up pigments/powder and apply them evenly with only a few swipes. The bristles are, again, very soft so they won't scratch or tug your eyelids at all. I also like to use this to blend highlighter on my brow bone. This is a good brush to invest in if you wear eyeshadow daily as it's very versatile.

Piccasso 401 Eyeliner Brush ($24.20)

Made of Japanese synthetic hair

This brush is very thin and firm! It's able to apply eyeliner with sharp precision. I highly recommend this especially if you often use gel eyeliner. I've tried using it with my Stila smudge pot and it was a breeze, fool-proof application.

All these brushes have sleek black handle that feels sturdy and comfortable in my hands. Honestly, I really am impressed with these brushes. I was once skeptical of expensive brushes but now I can finally understand why professional makeup artists insist on spending so much cash on them. I think I'll be checking out other face brushes by Piccasso!

***

Piccasso makeup brushes and Eyeme Premium Faux lashes can be purchased through Piccasso's website (they ship worldwide). If you live in Indonesia, you can contact Kim yourself through his facebook account or his cellphone (081586618330).

Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer Review

2012-02-18T10:15:00.000+07:00

This is the review I've been meaning to write since two weeks ago but didn't get the chance to until now. I bought this concealer through Female Daily Forum's Market Plaza (an Indonesian lifestyle web forum) some time at the end of last year. I get puffy eyes but not really dark circles so I don't have the urge to always wear concealer. But! I still have a few post-breakout scars on my jawlines that could use some extra cover.

Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer in Medium

Product description: "Real Deal Concealer is the ideal antidote to those flaws that you have always plagued you--childhood scars, dark under-eye circles, birthmarks, uneven lip lines, even that no-longer-relevant tattoo. It's the perfect counterpart to Laura Geller's sheer Phenomenal Foundation, in a shade that's matched to your skin. This silicone-based, smooth-gliding formula is long-lasting, water-resistant, oil free, and chock full of healthy vitamins."
Price: US$20/20g
Shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Deep, Deep
Ingredients: Active Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.0%), Oxybenzone (3.0%), Titanium Dioxide (5.0%)
Other Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Cetyl Dimethicone, Beeswax, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Polyethylene, Nylon-12, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

This concealer comes in a small and practical packaging. It's pretty sturdy so I won't worry about the product leaking or anything like that. As comparison, MAC Select Cover-Up costs US$17 for 0.33 oz of product, while Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer costs US$20 for 0.70 oz. It might be on the expensive side but I can assure you, this concealer will last you a long time. It's highly concentrated and pigmented that you would only need the tiniest amount to cover any imperfection.

The shade medium is suitable for people of NC30-35 skin. The undertone is quite yellow which I'm happy about. Other than MAC concealers, all concealers I've tried had beige or pink undertone.

As you can see, the consistency of this concealer is paste-like thick. I usually put a few tiny dots under my eye and blend them with a fluffy brush. For blemishes, I mostly just use my fingers to apply and blend.

I can safely say that this is so far the best concealer I've tried in terms of coverage. Compared to my MAC Studio Finish, I think it looks less cakey and is more buildable. It's also waterproof so it stays on even when you sweat.

My single complain about this concealer is that it takes quite some time to really 'set.' I have to pat and pat before I can be happy with how the concealer looks. Otherwise it'll just look like I'm putting a yellow gunk on my skin. I also notice that this concealer tends to sink into fine lines a bit.

Overall, this is a good concealer if you expect medium to full coverage. I will continue to use it both as under-eye and blemish cover-up. I'm glad I picked it up.

Have you tried this concealer or any other Laura Geller products?

FOTD: Olive Green

2012-02-17T17:50:00.001+07:00

My brother just bought a really really awesome camera but I'm too frightened to borrow it from him (I'm so clumsy most times). My point and shoot still works fine anyway. Believe it or not I bought it almost 3 years ago! I was originally saving up to get a better one but now I'm swayed to the dark side... I want the new Kindle touch! Does anyone know how to get it in Indonesia? I went to Amazon.com and they don't ship it here. :( My boyfriend says it's going to be released in Japan in a couple of months but I'm an imbecile so I can't wait that long. :p

My makeup was quite nice yesterday so I decided to post it. Green has always been my favorite color when it comes to eyeshadows (aside of blue and purple). I think it really goes well with brown eyes. Oh and, I actually wore circle lenses in these pics. They're almost impossible to notice, huh? They're the GEO BC-102 if anyone's wondering. I bought them because I wanted something natural for daily wear. Ironically, they aren't as comfy as my other lenses so I most likely wouldn't be wearing them as often as I intended to.

The same boring type of color placement; darker olive green on the lids and lighter green shade to blend. Then I rimmed my eyes with black eyeliner.

FACE:
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli
- MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark
CHEEKS:
- NARS Powder Blush in Dolce Vita
EYES:
- Etude House Proof 10 Eyeshadow Primer
- NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Black Bean
- Milani e/s in Garden Mist (crease)
- L'Oreal HIP e/s in Lively (lid)
- Urban Decay Deluxe e/s in Graffiti (lower lashline)
- Too Faced e/s in Heaven from Too Faced The Natural Eye palette (browbone)
- Jealousness Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black
- LT Pro Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner in Black (waterline)
- Etude House Henna Fix Mascara
- Jelousness False Lashes in Shibuya Style
LIPS:
- Urban Decay 24/7 Lipliner in Zero
- Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Buff/Chamois

Raisa Andriana: Brand Ambassador Baru Sunsilk!

2012-02-16T12:52:00.000+07:00

Surprise surprise! Posting kali ini aku bakal pake Bahasa Indonesia karena emang beritanya khusus buat cewek-cewek Indonesia aja. Sebenarnya rada canggung juga sih karena sudah terbiasa ngeblog dalam Bahasa Inggris, tapi ya aku anggap aja ini bagian dari proses memperluas audiens, hehe. Silahkan lho kalau ada yang mau kasih feedback. :)

photo courtesy of Andra Alodita

Baru-baru ini aku sering banget denger lagu “Serba Salah” di radio. Ternyata penyanyinya adalah Raisa Andriana yang tahun kemaren baru ngerilis album petamanya. Video musik “Serba Salah” juga sempat viral di Youtube, jadi kalau kalian sering main-main ke Youtube, mungkin sudah nggak asing lagi dengan wajah Raisa.

Setelah kudengerin beberapa lagu dari album perdana Raisa, aku jadi kagum sama talentanya. Suaranya memang bagus, pas banget sama genre pop R&B, dan ternyata 90% lagu di albumnya itu ditulis sendiri. Menurutku itu patut diapresiasi karena seorang musisi memang harus bisa mengekspresikan kreativitasnya secara mandiri.

Kalau kalian lihat rambutnya Raisa, mungkin pada penasaran kali ya dia pake shampoo apa? Selain panjang, rambutnya juga kelihatan lebat dan terawat. Ternyata rangkaian produk shampoo dan conditioner dari Sunsilk Soft & Smooth ini yang dipakai Raisa untuk merawat rambutnya. Tertarik nyoba? Atau malah udah pernah nyoba? Aku sendiri excited banget pengen nyobain terutama karena rangkaian Sunsilk Soft & Smooth ini bisa bikin rambut lebih halus dan lembut. Rambut panjangku ini kadang susah banget diatur, jadilah hampir tiap hari ku-curl asal-asalan yang penting kelihatan cakep, hehe. Tapi mulai tahun ini aku serius mau ngerawat rambut supaya lebih gampang diatur. Lagian siapa sih yang nggak pengen punya rambut sehat ala Raisa?

Jealousness Lipgloss in J06 Honey Barbie

2012-02-15T13:56:00.000+07:00

So many things to review but let me start with this lipgloss for a warm up! It was kindly sent to me by Mari Mari Indonesia, a local online retailer who carries various Jealousness products. Their prices are very reasonable and you don't have to wait a couple of weeks to receive your goodies unlike if you order them from overseas. As for international readers, you can find Jealousness products at Sasa.com though the last time I checked I didn't see this lipgloss being sold there.

Jealousness is actually a Taiwanese brand but it looks to me like they are heavily inspired by Japanese lines. The pretty pink packaging really gets me! I also love the fact that they list the ingredients in English (you can click on the second picture to read the ingredients listed). I wasn't surprised when I saw Avocado Oil in it because this gloss sure feels moisturizing on the lips. It doesn't leave my lips feeling dry or uncomfortable at all.

I thought the color Honey Barbie would lean towards brown or coppery red but it turns out to be a bright watermelon red. It applies sheer though, so it's very suitable for everyday gloss. I like to pair it with minimal eye makeup because the color of the gloss itself already seems to brighten my face. :)

The shimmers aren't gritty at all even though they look quite intimidating in the tube. I usually prefer cream finish glosses to shimmery ones but this gloss is an exception. I quite enjoy the texture even though it's rather thick and sticky. Honestly, stickiness I can handle but not gritty texture.

The only thing I could complain about this product is the small doe foot applicator. It makes it harder for me to apply the lipgloss evenly.

Jealousness J Type American Style Lipgloss costs IDR 105k (approximately $11) for 7g of product. Not bad at all. You can go to Mari Mari Indonesia FB store to check out the rest available colors. :)

I Can Relate

2012-02-13T14:53:00.000+07:00

To be honest, I'm a little too tired to come up with a proper update at the moment (just got off of my flight a few hours ago) so I snatched something from the internet instead...

Boyfriend never complains, though. :D

Skincare Lemmings

2012-02-01T15:20:00.000+07:00

You know you've got too much time on your hands when you start scouring for beauty products online for no apparent reason. I don't have much to complain about my skin condition lately but it's still fun to make a wishlist once in a while.

I browsed Strawberrynet.com and came up with a few products I'd like to try in the near future. They surely aren't cheap but I don't plan on buying them altogether anyway.

I often get asked by Indonesian readers if I would recommend Strawberrynet.com and my answer has always been yes. They have fresh product policy and so far I've never had any bad experience with them. The last time I made a purchase they shipped out my package very quickly and the products I bought were all in top notch condition.

Onto my lemmings...

1. Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil
I've always wanted to go back to using cleansing oil again so that I won't have to use a separate product to remove my eye makeup. This one comes in sort of a gel-like texture and is capable of removing waterproof mascara. I really think it's worth the shot especially since I've had nothing but pleasant experience with Dior makeup. It's quite pricey (I mean, it's Dior, right?) but since the bottle is pretty big I think the price is still reasonable.

2. Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen High Protection SPF 40
My skin is pretty sensitive towards sun protection but this product gives me major hope. It is made of 100% mineral screen and can be used under makeup. Sounds perfect, right? I've read many good reviews about it already but I haven't taken the plunge yet as it's such a steep at $38/30 ml.

3. Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizer Serum
I've got huge pores on the sides of my nose that I've pretty much given up on. I then came across a really convincing review about this serum and started contemplating if I should give it a try. Perhaps I'll get a sample of it first before committing to a full-size bottle.

4. Dior Hydra Life Youth Essential Hydrating Essence-In-Gel
I haven't encountered many reviews on this one but it sure sounds like the ideal product to add into my night regimen. My skin is oily but dehydrated so I'm thinking maybe this essence would be able to provide long-lasting moisture to my skin and improve suppleness. Again, this would make my purse weep but oh man I wish to try it at least once!

5. Laneige Multiberry Yoghurt Peeling Gel
Last but not least, a very famous peeling gel by Laneige. It's used to be the strawberry peeling gel if I'm not mistaken but they recently upgraded it into "multiberry". A lot of people have been raving about it already including one friend of mine. Sounds like a really yummy product if you ask me.

In the mood to try out new skincare products as well? What's in your current wishlist?

At Home and In Search for an HG Self Tanner

2012-01-30T11:01:00.003+07:00

Just noticed that my blog has hit 840 followers! Thank you for following/reading/commenting even while I'm not hemorrhaging posts. I promise I will blog regularly again the soon I got back to Yogyakarta. I miss reading/commenting on other people's blogs, too.

I've only been spending a few minutes in front of the computer this past week because I'm currently staying at my parents'. I've planned this visit since December and I'm glad I can finally spend some time with my family again. I don't have many recent pics since I've mostly just been in front of the TV with my mom watching Dog Whisperer. Man I love cable TV.

On a beauty related note, I'm still looking for a good self tanner to use on my body. My arms got extremely dark after traveling and I want to even out my skintone a bit. The picture above was taken last August when I was pretty dark all-over. Most people here are after lighter skin so self tanners aren't anywhere to be found in where I live. I'm going to have to order one online.

I'm thinking to go with a drugstore one first:

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion
US$9.49 at drugstore.com
(This one has a few compelling reviews but I'm not sure about the shimmers.)

...then maybe try out a pricier one if I feel like it:

Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe
US$39 at drugstore.com

I don't have anything against my natural skin color, which is not that pale to begin with. It might sound pretty lame (or weird -- if you're an Indonesian) but I just love being tanned. It's just like how some people in Indonesia love having fair skin. Oh, also, it's pretty much summer all year long in Indonesia so it's safe to get tanned whenever you feel like it because we don't have winters over here.

What do you think? Any self tanner recommendation would be greatly appreciated. ;)

NARS Blush in Madly

2012-01-21T09:10:00.000+07:00

My search for a nude blush (is there such thing as a nude blush, really?) brought me to NARS Madly. Even though it is described as seashell pink by NARS, in the pan it doesn't look like it has any pink tone to it at all. I would rather describe it as a tawny color with warm brown undertone. It's very unique; sort of like a blend between a blush and a bronzer but I can see how this might not be everyone's cup of tea.

A lot of people complained about Madly beeing too muddy but I have no similar problem whatsoever. It does have the tendency to look orange on my skin but I am still very much fond of the color. It's perfect paired with dramatic eye makeup and nude lips.

The shimmers in madly are very fine so they won't be that noticeable on the cheeks. They just give that slight sheen effect; much like the finish of MAC Sheertone Shimmer blushes.

However, I find Madly slightly disappointing in pigmentation. It's definitely not as pigmented as the other NARS blushes I own. I need at least four swipes in order for the color to show up on my cheeks. Perhaps this blush is meant to be subtle, though.

Here I wore Madly on the temple of my cheek and Milani bronzer to contour.

Have you tried Madly? What do you think about it?

Shimmers & Glitters

2012-01-20T19:05:00.000+07:00

I really had fun swatching these even though my hands both ended up a glittery mess. These loose eyeshadows/glitters were sent to me by BornPrettyStore.com. The whole set consists of 12 loose eyeshadows and is only $7.59. I think they're great if you're new to makeup and just want to practice wearing colors.

The jar is pretty small (3cm in diameter) but you get a lot of product. The colors aren't as rich as MAC pigments, of course, but they're actually not bad. If you've tried NYX Chrome Eyeshadows before, these are pretty similar to those in pigmentation and texture.

I really, REALLY like the last teal color. It's so pretty!

These eyeshadows are very shimmery and they'll create that shiny metallic effect when applied with a damp brush. Staying power is pretty lousy though, so a good eyeshadow primer is a must.

Do you like loose eyeshadows or prefer pressed ones?

Review: Etude House Aloha Henna Fix Proof 10 Mascara

2012-01-17T07:50:00.000+07:00

It's not very often that I would spend more than $10 for a mascara but I made an exception with this one. My friend swore by it and I was drawn to the pretty packaging so I purchased it. I looked it up online and it costs around $17-18 at different online stores but I got mine for about $14. I'm sure it's even cheaper in South Korea where it's originally from!

My opinion? It's okay. I won't be repurchasing but I won't tell you to shy away from it either especially if you're a mascara girl. It's a good product if you can justify the price. Perhaps I have too high of expectation (and too short of lashes) to be impressed. In my case fancier mascaras never really delivered better results than the regular drugstore ones. For 1/3 the price, my old Maybelline Volum' Express satisfies me enough as my daily mascara.

There are actually two different Henna Fix Proof 10 mascaras from Etude House. Super Fix 1 (which is the one I have) is designed to achieve more volume while Super Fix 2 is for extra length. I'm guessing this line of mascara is Etude House's version of the hyped up Japanese Dolly Wink mascaras. I mainly picked Super Fix 1 as I like the curvy design of the wand. It makes it easier to coat the lashes on the inner part of my eyes.

Etude House Aloha Henna Fix Proof 10 Mascara - Super Fix #1
Pros:

Provides intense jet black color hence the word "henna" in the name.
Waterproof formula that doesn't budge or smear at all throughout the day.
Does a great job in volumizing my lashes with slight lengthening effect, too.
Holds curl really well.
The wand is easy to work with.

Cons:

Super hard to remove at the end of the day! You definitely need a heavy duty eye makeup remover with this one.
Tends to clump so I need to separate my lashes with mascara comb after each application.
Texture is not too watery but it does take quite some time to dry.

left: my natural lashes without mascara, right: with several coats of Etude House mascara + curled

From the picture you can see how this mascara works. It definitely gives my lashes noticeable volumized effect. I do have to stress once again that it took me a lot of work to get this result. I had to comb my lashes a few times to separate my lashes and to remove the clumps or else it would look like I have that sort of "spider legs" lashes.

So what do you guys think? Have you tried any of Etude House mascaras? Would you give this one a try?

My Current Skincare Routine

2012-01-16T14:35:00.000+07:00

Here's a quick update on my skincare routine as I received a couple of requests on it. My skin type is oily and acne prone so I try to keep my routine simple. Keep in mind that even if your skin is prone to breakout, maintaining healthy skin is possible. In fact, my skin was fairly pimple-free last year until I started breaking out in May due to hormone imbalance. When that happens I usually stop using all these products except for my cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.

These are the products that I'm currently using and so far I'm happy with them:

Cleanser: Skin Food Tea Tree Bubble Cleansing Foam.
Toner: Viodi Jasmine Face Toner (Indonesian product).
Blemish control: Desert Essence 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil.
Moisturizer: Skin Food Tea Tree Emulsion.
Serum: Clinique Turnaround Concentrate.
Face mask: Zamian Gold Cacao Pack.
Exfoliator: Hada Labo Tamagohada AHA+BHA Face Wash.
Eye/neck care: Vitacreme B12.

My routine:
Morning

Cleanse my face with Skin Food Tea Tree Bubble Cleansing Foam.
Apply Viodi Jasmine Face Toner with cotton pad.
Apply Vitacreme B12 on my neck and around my eyes.
Apply Skin Food Tea Tree Emulsion all over my face, pat gently.
Apply sunscreen after the emulsion is fully absorbed.

Night

If I was wearing makeup, I would start by cleansing my eye and face makeup with remover and gentle milk cleanser.
Cleanse my face with Skin Food Tea Tree Bubble Cleansing Foam.
Apply Viodi Jasmine Face Toner with cotton pad.
If I had blemishes, I would put one drop of tea tree oil into a soaked cotton ball and apply it on my blemishes.
Apply Vitacreme B12 on my neck and around the eyes.
Apply Clinique Turnaround Concentrate (avoiding the eye area), wait a few seconds.
Apply Skin Food Tea Tree Emulsion and pat gently.

Weekly

I use Zamian Gold Cocoa Mask once a week. I think it helps reducing breakouts and I like how soft my face feels after using the mask.
I use Hada Labo Tamagohada AHA+BHA Face Wash 1-2 times a week. I don't use it daily because my Clinique serum is also a gentle exfoliator.

That's it! I hope this helps and check out my post on how to take care of acne prone skin if you haven't already. ;)

FOTD: Rad Purple

2012-01-13T21:55:00.000+07:00

Not yet done with my Kat Von D palette rave! Apparently.
I'm thrilled that these four colors go so well together:

I put sinner on my lid, leather on the crease and outer V, rad purple on lower lashline, and galeano on the inner corner of my eyes. I didn't use the highlight color in this palette because it's too shimmery for the look. I stuck with my everyday highlight color instead; Heaven by Too Faced.

On cheeks: MAC Margin & NARS Albatross

FACE

- Nature Republic Ice Jelly Primer

- Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer

- Diorskin Nude Foundation

- Diorskin Forever Compact Powder

CHEEKS

- MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Margin

- NARS Highlighting Powder in Albatross

LIPS

- B&C Lab Nudy Lip Concealer #1

- Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up

BROWS

- B&C Lab Waterstrong W Eyebrow

- NYX eyeshadow in Dark Brown

EYES

- Etude House Proof 10 Eyeshadow Primer

- NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk

- Kat Von D True Romance Palette

- Too Faced Eyeshadow in Heaven

- Stila Smudge Pot in Black

- Revlon CustomEyes Mascara

- Falsies

I plan to do another look with the other four colors in the palette. It's going to be a glam smoky blue look; my favorite!

Jealousness Japanese Shibuya Style False Eyelashes

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000+07:00

I'll be traveling in just a couple of weeks so I wanted a set of falsies that I can bring along with me. I hate having to cram several boxes of falsies into my cosmetic bag (they take too much space!) so I purchased this set from Sasa.com. It actually costs only $12.50 on the website but since I bought it through an online shopping spree, I had to pay a bit more (approximately $17). I think it's still a pretty good deal though since the set comes in eight pairs of falsies and they're reusable.

Isn't it pretty? Honorary mention to Dahye since she was at my place when these falsies arrived, lol. We couldn't help but admiring the cute, princess-y packaging. :D


A closer look to the lashes; they have clear bands which I prefer. :)

The length and volume are just perfect for my taste. I think they're suitable for daily use as they are not too dramatic but they give that noticeable fuller-lashes effect. They're also very easy to put on as the band is not at all stiff. I definitely would recommend these to those looking for good, affordable false eyelashes. I mean, come on, compared to those Dolly Wink lashes, these are such a steal!

Review: Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Beethoven

2012-01-08T10:12:00.000+07:00

Do I need another eyeshadow palette in my life? Yes. But only this one. This is it. I've reached my pinnacle of personal accomplishment when it comes to collecting eyeshadows. I'm like Proffesor Farnsworth in Futurama who thinks he has solved all life's greatest mysteries. But then he's weeping in the corner because he's just realized that his happiness comes from his pursuit of the answer, not the answer itself.

I watch too much TV, I know.

But really, I thought I would have been content with the palette of my dreams but instead now I'm lusting over almost every Kat Von D True Romance Palette. I seriously am considering getting at least two more of them, particularly the newer releases.

These shadows won all of my brownie points; smooth texture, pigmented, low-lasting, and come in lively colors that allow me to get creative. Honestly, I like these shadows a tad better than Urban Decay's. Gasp. Really? Yes, really. I mean, Urban Decay produces some of the best eyeshadows, no question about that, but sometimes I find their shimmery/metallic ones too crumbly. And their taupe/brown colors are always either too shimmery or looking too muddy on my skin. These Kat Von D shadows, on the other hand, all look fantastic when I blend them on my eyelids.

Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette - Beethoven

"A smoky eye adds an instant air of mystery—create your own with the True Romance Eyeshadow Palette. Designed by reality television star Kat Von D especially for Sephora, this artistic spectrum of shades brings an edgy-glam creativity to your makeup. The sleek black eyeshadow palette is stenciled with silver roses and arrives packaged in a silk-screened black and silver box that is itself a work of art—and inspired by Kat's favorite tattoo."

This set contains eight eyeshadows in: - Lucifer (matte charcoal black) - Speed Blue (dark metalic blue) - Razor Gray (warm gun steel shimmer) - Tequila (metallic cornsilk shimmer) - Galeano (metallic medium plum shimmer) - Sinner (metallic purple black shimmer) - Rad Purple (matte purple black with purple glitter) - Leather (matte dark brown) - Two doubled-ended applicator brushes

price: $34 at Sephora

The packaging has that velvety feel to it, much like the material of NARS products. I can't help but admiring the roses stenciled on the case; it's just gorgeous and it matches my personal taste. The name of the colors are listed in the back and so are the ingredients.

I first decided that I needed this palette after I got myself a NYX palette in Jazz Night over a year ago. The colors in both palettes bear an uncanny resemblance except that Jazz Night has two additional colors. Even though the colors are essentially the same, the quality isn't. I lost faith in my NYX palette after a few times of use. The shadows always crease or become muddy on my lids, even when they're applied on top of eyeshadow primer. That's why I purchased Beethoven despite of already owning Jazz Night in my stash. I don't mind paying more if that means my eyeshadows will stay vibrant much longer and don't disappear when I try to blend them. I'm not saying that all NYX palettes suck though, some of them are worth the dough but I myself prefer high-end shadows when it comes to wacky metallic colors. ;)

The following swatches are applied on bare skin. I didn't use any eyeshadow primer/base to enhance the colors. I usually do that with my previous eyeshadow swatches, but this time I want you to see for yourself how amazing these shadows are on their own. With primer underneath, they're practically storm proof. Okay, maybe not, but they certainly will stay vibrant a whole lot longer if you pair them with a good eyeshadow primer. I highly recommend using Urban Decay Primer Potion or Etude House Proof 10 Eyeshadow Primer to use with these shadows.

So there you have it. My ultimate favorite eyeshadow palette. I've been using this palette a lot as of late, especially the purple shades. I might come up with a tutorial using it some time soon.

Has anyone tried any of the True Romance palettes by Kat Von D? What do you think about them?

FOTD: Chocolate Brown

2012-01-07T10:15:00.001+07:00

I really like the makeup I did yesterday so I'm posting it no matter how many brown looks I've posted in this blog already. I couldn't decide which brown eyeshadow I wanted to wear: Milani's Java Bean or MAC Chocolate Brown pigment so I just paired them. I swiped Java Bean all over the lid and then blended Chocolate Brown on the crease lightly.

FACE:

- Nature Republic Ice Jelly Primer

- Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer in Medium

- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli

- MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark

CHEEKS:

- NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Boho Chic

- NARS Powder Blush in Dolce Vita

EYES:

- Etude House Proof 10 Eyeshadow Primer

- NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Black Bean as base

- Milani e/s in Java Bean (lid and lower lashline)

- MAC pigment in Chocolate Brown (crease and outer V)

- Too Faced e/s in Heaven from Too Faced The Natural Eye palette (browbone)

- Too Faced e/s in Silk Teddy from Too Faced The Natural Eye palette (inner corner)

- Stila Smudge Pot in Black to line upper lashes

- LT Pro Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner in Black to fill in waterline

- Etude House Henna Fix Mascara

- Jelousness False Lashes in Shibuya Style

LIPS:

- B&C Labs Nudy Lip Concealer #1

- NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Tanned

For some reason when naming this FOTD I remember this portrait of Lou Reed holding a Hershey's bar. Chocolate and ice cream are my two absolute favorite comfort foods. What's yours? :D

2011 Favorites

2012-01-06T15:50:00.000+07:00

I actually finished typing this post since the end of last month but I accidentally deleted it from my draft the other day. Can't help but feeling slightly incompetent after that. I guess the unfriendly weather has gotten into me lately.

I'm not motivated enough to type the whole thing all over again so I'll just make it as concise as possible this time. Without further ado, here's my favorite beauty products of 2011.

Diorskin Nude Fresh Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10

By far the most efficient and flawless-looking foundation I have ever tried. I guess I have raved about it enough.

MAC Frost Lipstick in Angel

At first I thought it was too cool-toned but it eventually grew on me. It's perfect to be worn with sultry smoky eyes and pink cheeks. It might look dark in the tube but on the lips it comes out a pretty nude pink color.

Innisfree Moisture Shine Gloss in Cream Rose

I specifically love the purplish rose color and the moisturizing feel it leaves on my lips.

MAC Sheertone Shimmer Powder Blush in Flirt and Tease

It's my current go-to blush. I feel like I can't go wrong with it since it goes with almost any look. The plummy pink color compliments my medium-dark skintone but I can see it looking great on lighter skinned ladies as well. It has a bit of shimmer that creates that glow-from-within effect.

Milani Single Eyeshadow in Java Bean

Java Bean is a rich, warm dark brown shade with a satin finish; perfect for creating quick brown smoky looks. I usually apply it with a damp brush to make the color even more vibrant. I have other colors from the same range but they're not as pigmented and long-lasting as this particular one.

B&C Lab Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow

It's a fairly new discovery but I'm madly in love with it already. It has a brow pencil on one end and a pen on the other. Both pencil and liquid tint look very natural and they're also very easy to work with. I got the "grey-brown" shade which matches my hair color perfectly.

Revlon CustomEyes Waterproof Mascara

I use this mostly on my bottom lashes. It works great at lengthening and separating them.

Stila Smudge Pot in Black

It provides intense black color and it doesn't budge. It's the best gel eyeliner I've tried so far.

MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre

It cancels out my skintone so that my eyeshadows can be more true to color.

Skinfood Tea Tree Emulsion & Tea Tree Bubble Cleansing Foam

I have a lot of skincare stuff I have yet to review. :( These two have been working well with my skin and they're also fairly inexpensive. The cleansing foam feels very gentle and is fun to use. The emulsion (it's some sort of a moisturizer) is light in texture but still moisturizing enough to keep my oily skin hydrated. Good stuff.

Hada Labo Tamagohada AHA+BHA Face Wash

It's an exfoliator that I use 1-2 times a week. It's very very gentle so I would recommend this for people with sensitive skin. I notice a slight improvement on my skin's texture after using this for a couple of months.

So that's pretty much it! 2011 was actually a great year for me makeup-wise but most of the things I purchased last year haven't gotten enough use from me. I didn't want to add stuff that I'm not really sure I like into the list. These are exclusively the stuff that I really, really like and would recommend to people. I also have a few favorites in the hair care department but I'll make a separate post on that.

"Son, you should know that my recommendation is essentially a guarantee." - Ron Swanson (Parks & Recreation).

Revlon Scented Nail Polish in 300 Cotton Candy

2012-01-04T06:50:00.000+07:00

Thanks to Revlon I found another great way to annoy/harass people: I tell them to smell my nails. "Smell my nails. Go on. Smell them."
Original, eh?

In all seriousness, though, the scent of this nail polish is so yummy just like cotton candy. I always feel like chewing my fingers off after I paint my nails with it. I haven't come across anything like it before; I find it unique. I think I'm gonna go back to Revlon some time soon to see if they have other colors/scents available (I looked it up and yes, different color has its own smell!).

I'd describe the color as a shimmery pale pink. It's nothing special, I guess, but I myself prefer this kind of non threatening colors when it comes to nail polishes. Application is quite alright for a $3 polish but since it's very sheer, I usually need to apply at least two coats. It's also a pain in the butt waiting for the polish to dry so a fast-drying top coat would be necessary. I used my Seche Vite top coat with it and it didn't chip for like three days.

3 coats here

All in all, awesome polish for the price. I will most likely try other colors from this range.

Has anybody tried Revlon's scented nail polishes before? What do you think about them?

HEY-OH!

2012-01-02T22:51:00.000+07:00

Forgive my tardiness but I woke up January 1st feeling pretty sick so I had to take some time before posting a New Years greeting. I wish everyone a happy, successful year ahead!

On NYE I wore the last pair of shoes I bought in 2011. They're from Amante and I got them for like $24!! It suddenly rained pretty heavily that night so the shoes came home in a filthy condition. Just my luck.

They're not as tall as they might appear to be here. And though they're not too comfy I still consider them my one of my favorite pairs for now. :D

Taking pics for the sake of taking pics

2011-12-26T19:20:00.002+07:00

My sister left her camera in my room so I put it to good use... sort of.

I'm waiting for my friend to pick me up for dinner now, that's why I don't bother watermarking these pics. I'm like a Simpson character with my yellow complexion (thanks to my lighting). My tunic is long enough to cover my butt so I paired it with jeggings and heels. I promise I'd make a better effort next time when taking outfit pictures.

One particular song I've been listening to a lot lately:

Ocean by The Velvet Underground. I love this alternate version of the song. It's so soothing.

Haulin'

2011-12-25T07:10:00.004+07:00

Merry Christmas for those celebrating and I wish you all happy holidays!

I did a bit of shopping recently because many stores are having fabulous sales. I didn't go overboard because I realized I've spent so much on makeup already the past few months. Most of my friends spend almost zero on makeup and A LOT on clothes; I'm the other way around. Next year I'm thinking to reverse my spending trend since I think I've drank enough amount of lipgloss already.

Fashion Street - $6

Post Mode - $15

I admit I have a bit of excess fondness towards tacky animal print tops. I have enough of them to put disturbing thoughts on my future parents-in-law's minds.

Jewelries are from Eustacia&Co, a store that sells mostly Korean jewelries. They're about 3-8 bucks each.

Belts are from Fashion Street. The one with huge flower was on sale for $7 and the brown faux-leather one was $2.

These two shirts were on sale for almost half their original prices. The green polkadotted one has ruffles on the shoulders and chest; it's more attractive when worn, really.

Ngongo' Boutique - $8

Hardware - $15

I'm not one who wears loose clothes often but this oversized shirt looked fantastic when I tried it on at the store. With tights and towering heels, this would be bomb. I like most of the stuff at Luna Maya for Hardware; I think they're good quality and well-priced.

It's raining in Jogja this Christmas morning. I'm going to go have my breakfast now. Till next time. :)