Pretty Much Makeup

At Home and In Search for an HG Self Tanner

2012-01-30T12:01:00.003+08:00

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

2012-01-21T10:10:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-20T20:05:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-17T08:50:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-16T15:35:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-13T22:55:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-08T11:12:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-07T11:15:00.000+08:00

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 Foundation 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

2012-01-06T16:50:00.000+08:00

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

2012-01-04T07:50:00.000+08:00

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!

2012-01-02T23:51:00.000+08:00

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

2011-12-26T20:20:00.002+08:00

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'

2011-12-25T08:10:00.004+08:00

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. :)

Lo and behold

2011-12-21T20:03:00.004+08:00

Me with red lippie. Perhaps I bear a passing resemblance to a certain popular fast-food chain mascot?

BASE
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC 35
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli
- Diorskin Forever Pressed Powder 002

CHEEKS
- NARS Blush in Dolce Vita

EYES
- MAC paint pot in Soft Ochre
- Too Faced Natural Eye eyeshadow palette
- Stila Smudge Pot in Black (top lashline)
- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (waterline)
- Revlon CustomEyes Waterproof Mascara
- Elise lashes

LIPS
- Pop Beauty beauty cabinet in Sara (the two middle colors mixed together)

No idea if Pop Beauty still carries this product but these creamy glosses are super pigmented. I think they can even be classified as cream/liquid lipsticks.

Some makeup my boyfriend sent me from Japan.
"Lash Knockout." How cute is that. :)

Pond's Clear Balance Range

2011-12-14T21:12:00.001+08:00

Here in Indonesia Pond's recently came out with a new range of facial foam called the Clear Balance range. It consists of four facial foams, each formulated for specific skin problems: acne, excess oil, blackheads, and enlarged pores. That sure sounds amazing, but choosing which variant is right for you might get tricky.

I received a complete package of this range about a month ago. I thanked Unilever's rep for their patience because it took me forever to generate this review.

I personally tested three out of the four facial foams and asked my sister to help me out with the rest. I hope this will help those of you who are still indecisive about which facial foam to pick up.

Pond's Smooth Pores Pore Tightening Facial Foam
I like this one best mainly because of its texture. It has no exfoliators/scrubs so I think this would be best for daily use if you have sensitive skin. It cleanses really well and doesn't leave my face feeling too dry. Honestly, though, I don't think it does much with my enlarged pores so don't get your hopes up. It's at best a good, reliable facial foam with cooling/tingling effect.

Pond's No Blackheads Deep Cleansing Facial Scrub
This one is very nice as well! It reminds me of my Clinique 7 Day Scrub but with smaller, less harsh exfoliating beads. I usually just apply this right to my nose (without wetting it first) then rinse it off. It works well that way and I notice that it helps with my blackheads a little. I only use it 2-3 times a week because my skin is usually pretty sensitive to exfoliators. The only downside I find about it is that it leaves my skin feeling tight, but then again you can tackle that problem with slathering moisturizer afterwards.

Pond's Clear Solutions Anti-Bacterial Facial Scrub
The exfoliating beads in this facial foam are bigger and rougher. If you need heavy-duty exfoliator this would be the perfect pick. It doesn't feel as drying as the No Blackheads one which is pleasantly surprising for me. I still use this as my weekly exfoliator and so far I've got no problem with it.

Pond's Oil Control Skin Mattifying Facial Foam
Actually, this is a scrub. The exfoliating beads are pretty much the same size as the Clear Solutions' one. However, this feels more drying and so I didn't continue to use it. I gave this one to my sister to try out. She didn't like it either because she thinks it really makes her skin feeling tight. So I think this one is a flop for us. I personally have never liked any skincare products with "mattifying" claim anyway, usually such products end up drying my skin even more.

All in all, I think this range is great for those looking for an affordable face cleanser. Just remember, if you have sensitive skin, try not to use facial foam with beads every single day because that could irritate your skin.

Has anyone tried any of these facial foams? What do you think about them?

First Impression: FOTD with NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli

2011-12-09T23:39:00.011+08:00

I'm all jolly right now. It hasn't been that long since my last foundation purchase (Diorskin Nude that I have reviewed here) but Sephora was having a 20% sale so I picked this up through a friend. I have been wanting to try this foundation for ages!

Let me just say straight away that the shade Stromboli (Medium 3) is my EXACT match. This is the first liquid foundation that matches my skintone perfectly. It's not too yellow like my MAC Studio Fix Fluid, or too neutral (almost pale) like my Revlon Colorstay, or too pink like my Diorskin Nude. It's somewhere in the middle between yellow and neutral. I have yet to swatch it so you're gonna have to wait (sorry!). I plan to use it for the next couple of weeks before I write a full review on it.

Eye makeup was done rather sloppily here but at least it was super vibrant! Haha.

BASE
- Monistat Chafing Gel as primer
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC 35
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli

CHEEKS
- MAC Frost blush in Margin

LIPS
- Revlon Colorburst l/s in Soft Nude
- Innisfree Moisture Shine l/g in Cream Rose

EYES
- MAC paint pot in Soft Ochre
- NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
- Kat Von D e/s palette in Beethoven (blue and purple shades)
- Stila Smudge Pot in Black (top lashline)
- Revlon CustomEyes Waterproof Mascara
- Elise lashes

I imagine this would be perfect for everyday wear IF ONLY I didn't have any acne scars or discoloration at the moment. :( As the name implies, this foundation is pretty sheer. The finish is matte (not at all dewy or glowy) but I prefer it that way since my skin is oily to begin with. On me the foundation lasts about 4 hours before I notice some blotches on my nose and other dry areas. It's definitely not as long wearing as Diorskin Nude, which is too bad because they both are at the same price range.

What else? I think that's about it for now. I wore this foundation today from 2 to 8 pm and I only touch up my face two times throughout the day. So far I'm liking it.

Anybody's tried this foundation before? What do you think about it?

Review: Diorskin Forever Wear Invisible Retouch Powder

2011-12-08T16:50:00.002+08:00

I got asked about my favorite powder on Formspring and it suddenly hit me: I haven't talked about my latest powder acquisition at all in my blog. It's Diorskin Forever Wear Invisible Retouch Powder that I purchased back in June. It's basically a translucent powder formulated specifically for touch-ups. I did like my previous MAC Blot Powder but at times it makes my skin looks/feels dry, and now that my skin is less oily, I needed something more hydrating.

Description (from Sephora's website):
DiorSkin Forever Wear-Extending Invisible Retouch Powder
What it is:
A touch-up powder with a nearly sheer application.
What it is formulated to do:
This product's ultra-fine texture remains invisible on the skin without any buildup, even after repeated touch-ups. Use throughout the day to regulate excess shine and extend the wear of foundation for up to four hours. Its antipollution ingredients offer the skin added protection.
Size: 0.49 oz/12 g
Price: $40

I paid almost $50 a pop for this (including international shipping because there's no Dior here in where I live) so it's definitely not the cheapest powder I've bought. However, I've been using it almost everyday since I got it so I don't mind the price very much.

The compact comes with a huge rectangle sponge and a black suede pouch. I rarely use the sponge, though, I prefer to buff this powder all over my face with a kabuki brush.

The powder itself is silky smooth; it blends like a dream. It gives off a slight matte finish (not totally dead matte, which most people hate I guess). It never feels heavy/cakey and it does kind of prolong the wear of my makeup. I find that I don't have to retouch as often (sometimes I don't even retouch at all) when I use this as my finishing powder. I do have to emphasize that this is strictly a powder to be used for finishing and/or retouching only; it has no coverage whatsoever.

I use the shade 002 Transparent Medium which suits my NC37 skin so well. It doesn't oxidize nor does it change my foundation color. I love it. I think this is the best investment I've made this year in the makeup department.

I've used this powder since June and as you can see, I've hit pan already! Woohoo! Somehow I have never done that with my MAC powders. I think I'd get a few more months out of this powder and that's good enough for me. I will definitely repurchase this powder once I run out because so far it's the best powder I've ever used. What's yours?

There ain't no motive for this crime

2011-12-04T12:39:00.001+08:00

Went out with my sister and treated myself with some amazing pancakes!

When I have a mood, I go for empty calories. Even then, I still ordered the ones with some fruit in it. Not that devious, am I?

I watched Parks & Recreation again last night and there's one line from Ron Swanson that got me laughing pretty hard: "fish meat is practically a vegetable." XD

Have a great weekend, everyone!

FOTD: Grey Smokes

2011-11-30T12:55:00.003+08:00

My friend came over a bit late last night (we were just going for a quick supper out) so I had more time to snap some pictures of my makeup. Naturally I didn't have the luxury of daylight when I took these, so please excuse my excessively yellow room lighting.

I bought this $3 hairband at the mall about a week ago. I've always loved floral accessories and I thought it was no big whoop since the trend has been around for quite some time but evidently I still got people staring at me like I'm some kind of a mutant with a huge flower growing on top of my head (not that I bother, though).

BASE
- Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Primer
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC 35
- MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC 37
- Diorskin Forever Pressed Powder 002

CHEEKS
- MAC Sheertone Shimmer blush in Flirt & Tease
- Bourjois highlighting powder

LIPS
- Urban Decay 24/7 lip pencil in Ozone
- LA Girl Creme lipstick in Fling

EYES
- MAC paint pot in Soft Ochre
- NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
- Coastal Scents 88 matte eyeshadow palette
- Stila Smudge Pot in Black (top lashline)
- LT Pro Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner in Black (lower lashline & waterline)
- Revlon CustomEyes Waterproof Mascara
- Elise lashes

This cropped jacket reminds me of the year 1999 when everyone was obsessed with all things silver! My sister taught me how to photoshop pictures into looking like the one above but my end results are never as cool as hers. :/

TV Shows!

2011-11-28T23:02:00.002+08:00

My plan for the weekend was actually to finish some books I've vowed myself to finish before this year ends, but I ended up having a TV marathon (too predictable). I couldn't help it, really. I haven't seen some of these shows for a while and I have been missing them.

The Walking Dead (Season 2)
Really jealous of you guys who live in the States and can see this show right away when it's out. I have to wait until now before I can see it. I was so curious about what's going to happen after the first season ended and well, so far I haven't been disappointed with season 2. I gotta say, though, all the female characters seem to be exceptionally whiny (or just plain nuts) in these latest episodes but nevertheless, I still enjoy this show very much. I definitely would recommend it to all of you thriller/drama fanatics.

The Office - US (Season 8)
Yep, I'm not bored yet with Dunder Mifflin's hullabaloo. Surely I was sad when I found out that Steve Carrell was leaving the show but I thought maybe with him leaving, we're gonna see more of Ryan Howard and Kelly Kapoor. Well, guess I was wrong. It's still Jim and Pam being the sweetest couple and all. I'm not really their biggest fan. Maybe I'm weird but out of all the people on The Office, my faves are actually the wacky ones; Ryan, Dwight, and old man Creed - he's the best.

Workaholics (First Season)
Fell in love right after I saw the pilot; this show is for all of you foul bachelors out there. It's hilarious and creepy and just... disgusting. Which is perfect, because sometimes I just need this exact kind of show to unwind. I think this is going to be my new favorite telly comedy. It has that potential but then again I have only watched two episodes. We'll see.

Parks and Recreation (First Season)
EDIT: I've come to really like this show especially because of the Ron Swanson character. Hilarious!

Anyone's watching the same shows? Do tell.

Makeup Tutorial: Pretty in Pink

2011-11-25T22:21:00.001+08:00

I need to stock up on the Innisfree glosses I talked about a few days ago. I love them! Here I wore Cream Rose over a clear lip pencil and the color still shows up really well despite my pigmented lips.

Usually I'm too much of a lazy bum to create a tutorial unless it's requested, but this look is super easy to do and it doesn't take too many steps so that's less picture-editing for me. I hope you guys like it!

1. Start with applying primer all over eyelid and lower lashline. I'm using Urban Decay Primer Potion.

2. Use a pencil brush to draw a V shape on your crease and outer V with matte pink eyeshadow. Keep the eyeshadow sheer (apply with very light hand!), you can intensify the color later if you wish to.

3. Using a shader brush, press shimmery pale pink eyeshadow onto your lid. Be careful not to go over the matte pink color on your crease.

4. Using a small shader brush, apply dark purple color on outer V and half your lower lashline.

5. Apply nude color eyeshadow all over your browbone area, then blend the color on your crease upward.

6. Brighten the inner corner of your eyes with shimmery pink eyeshadow or eye pencil. I'm using NYX jumbo eyeshadow pencil in Strawberry Milk.

7. Line your top lashline with black eyeliner, apply mascara and fake lashes. All done!

My eyes look a bit too drab because of the contact lenses, I think. I kind of wish I had a pair of violet or pink colored lenses to go with this look. It'd be so awesome.

base
- Monistat chafing gel
- MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC 37
- Diorskin Forever Pressed Powder 002

cheeks
- NARS powder blush in Angelika
- Bourjois highlighting powder

lips
- Urban Decay 24/7 lip pencil in Ozone
- Innisfree Moisture Shine Gloss in Cream Rose

eyes
- UDPP
- Sleek eyeshadow palette in Chaos
- LA Colors eyeshadow palette in Serenade
- Coastal Scents 88 matte eyeshadow palette
- Too Faced The Natural eyeshadow palette
- Stila Smudge Pot in Black
- NYX jumbo eyeshadow pencil in Strawberry Milk
- Revlon CustomEyes Waterproof Mascara
- Elise fake lashes #6285

My False Lashes of Choice

2011-11-24T18:29:00.004+08:00

Every time I get asked about the false lashes I wear I keep saying "I don't remember the number" which is so not helpful, right? So I thought I'd make a post that I can refer to next time someone asks me the same question. To be fair, though, Elise lashes have complicated serial numbers so I never really bothered to memorize them. I just pick them out at the store based on what they look like.

These three are my favorites as I wear them more often than other falsies I own. I usually get up to 7-8 times of use out of them which is not bad considering the price (they don't cost me more than $1.30 a pair).

Elise #4531
This is my favorite pair for everyday wear especially when I'm wearing dark smoky looks. It adds more volume and it blends well with my natural lashes. In this FOTD I was wearing this pair with added mascara.

Elise #4781
I'm wearing this pair on my last FOTD post. This is my favorite pair for when I'm wearing neutral-ish eye makeup.

Elise #6285
This is my go-to pair for partying. I usually layer this with #4531 to get even more dramatic effect like I did on this post.

With falsies I think you just have to be creative. Sometimes layering two pairs can really make a difference in the whole look.

Soooo that's that! I hope this helps. And yeah, I do wear falsies almost everyday. I feel like I'm naked without them. :p

Review: Innisfree Moisture Shine Gloss

2011-11-18T12:00:00.001+08:00

Lately I've been seeing so many new products from Korean brands such as Innisfree, The Skin Food and Etude House. These products are not only of high quality, but they are also relatively inexpensive (especially if you live in Asia). Don't be surprised if I'm going to feature more Asian products in the future!

Innisfree has not opened a store yet here in Indonesia so I purchased these glosses online through a local seller. I only paid about $21 for the three of them including shipping because they were on sale. On eBay I found a Korean store that sells them for $9.99 a piece so I think I got me a pretty good deal.

When I purchased them I didn't have any high expectations because I haven't seen them being reviewed anywhere. They are also half the price of my favorite MAC Lipglass yet they come in bigger tubes. I was sold when I saw the colors; they're my favorite kind of milky nudes! I got mine in #1 Sugar Beige, #4 Milky Pink and #5 Cream Rose.

Innisfree Moisture Shine Gloss

Price: around $7-$9/5g
Origin: South Korea
Available in 5 colors: #1 Sugar Beige, #2 Pale Pink, #3 Coral Nude, #4 Milky Pink and #5 Cream Rose

Size comparison (L-R): MAC Lipglass, Innisfree Moisture Shine Gloss, NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss.

Eh, I'm not too sure what it means by "For Eye Wing Makeup", hahah. Everything else on the tube is written in Korean.

As you can see, this gloss is a bit bigger than MAC Lipglass but not as big as NYX Mega Shine. The packaging is not in princess-y design or anything "kawaii"; just plain old clear tube with a brown-ish handle.

The doe foot applicator is rather tiny. It does an okay job in getting the product out and applying it onto the lips but I wish it was a little bit bigger like normal doe foot applicators you find on Western brand glosses.

However, the gloss itself is AMAZING! First of all, they're not kidding around by naming it "Moisture Shine"; the gloss really does feel moisturizing on the lips and give off beautiful shiny finish. I even wore this once when my lips were dry and flaky but the gloss didn't accentuate those fakes and actually left my lips nourished.

They are also decently pigmented (Sugar Beige is surprisingly the most pigmented one on the lips) and even though they all have shimmers, they don't feel gritty at all. The consistency reminds me of Revlon Superlustrous lipgloss; it's definitely on the gooey side but on the lips it's not as sticky as MAC Lipglass. I find the staying power pretty good for a gloss; I can wear this for two hours straight before I have to reapply.

This is how they look on my lips. I'm not wearing anything underneath the gloss and my lips are VERY pigmented.

Sugar Beige is, umm, not at all beige. It's more of a pale cream color with silver and gold micro-shimmers. The shimmers aren't captured very well on this photo and in real life they're hardly noticeable either. This color kind of reminds me of MAC C-Thru lipglass.

Milky Pink is a pale lilac color with multicolored shimmers. It very much resemblances Revlon Coloburst Lipgloss in Crystal Lilac. I guess Milky Pink is not as opaque as Crystal Lilac, though. Again, my photo doesn't do any justice to this gloss because in real life it's so much prettier!

Cream Rose is my favorite out of the bunch! OMG. It's just too pretty. The color is creamy, purplish rose which I think is universally flattering. On my lips it looks kind of too purplish than it actually is (maybe because of my lips' natural color) but on top of lip concealer or nude lipstick, this is bomb! It looks great with minimal eye makeup too because it's not too pale. For me it's like my MLBB gloss, really. ;)

I would definitely recommend Innisfree Moisture Shine Gloss if you're looking for an affordable yet long lasting gloss for everyday wear. But if you can't stand anything with a tacky/sticky feeling on your lips, might as well skip them. I personally love them, though. I don't mind the consistency at all and I know I'll be using these glosses a lot. I hope Innisfree will add more colors to this range!

Swatches: Candy Color Mood Nail Polishes from Born Pretty Store

2011-11-18T06:17:00.003+08:00

These cute nail polishes were sent to me by bornprettystore.com; a Hong Kong based retailer that carries various types of nail art supplies. They also carry super super cheap false lashes that I have reviewed here and here. If you haven't heard of them already, check them out! You might like what you see. Plus, their shipping is fast and they always offer promotion gifts.

I got the polishes in #07, #20, and #011. They are called "Candy Color Mood" nail polishes on the website but it says "Dearlee" here on the bottle. They come in "cream sheer" and "pearlized colors" finish. These ones I got are all in cream sheer finish. The thing is, they are sort of sheer and I need at least three coats for them to really appear opaque. I do like that they stay strong up to three days with my Seche Vite top coat but I find the application rather streaky. Well, judge yourself (this is without base/top coat):

Candy Color Mood Nail Polish #07

Candy Color Mood Nail Polish #20

Candy Color Mood Nail Polish #011

So there they are. Just want to make these swatches available online.

I like #20 most because it's the most pigmented one among them and it applies well. These polishes are priced at $3.91 per bottle but you can also choose to purchase them in sets.