cosmeddicted

Review: MAC Fix+ - a spray for your face

2012-02-21T07:00:00.000+09:00

This is a review of the MAC Fix+. This is a very popular product, so you may be very familiar with it already!

What it does: (from MACcosmetics.com)
An aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup. Spray it on. Skin drinks it up!

Price: $20/100ml

Uses: Contrary to popular belief, this product is not intended to help makeup last longer. It can be sprayed onto skin after makeup to make it look less powdery. I also spray it onto my foundation brush so that it absorbs less foundation.

Pros:

The cap can be locked so that it does not accidentally spray.
This product sprays out in a very fine mist.

Cons:

I think $20 is very expensive for a product which just settles makeup.
I loved the spray bottle, but it cannot be refilled! *EDIT: it CAN be refilled!

Notes: remember that you can Back to MAC this container!

Would I repurchase?: No. I can easily substitute distilled water for this product. I do really like the container!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

xoxo, K

Testing

2012-02-19T11:24:00.001+09:00

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Weekly Reads #49: February 17, 2012

2012-02-17T19:00:00.000+09:00

2011 Beauty Product Fails, via emilynoel83. Several other blogs/youtubers have posted the products that they most disliked last year, but I like Emily because she can give negative reviews in a professional way.
Allie's experience with Jewelmint and Stylemint, via Wardrobe Oxygen. Please have a look if you are interested in these two subscription programs - this is the first blog post that I've seen that are critical of these two sites.
Cheesy Jalapeno Pull Bread, via Simply Recipes. This looks like a great snack to share with friends.
Ice cream for cheats like me, via Worship at the House of Blues. My mother used to do this when we lived in the US. Unsweetened matcha works better since vanilla ice cream is very sweet.
Red wine syrup, via Macheesmo. Oh dear, this looks like a great appetizer.

xoxo, K

Weight loss: Winter Blues

2012-02-15T21:07:00.000+09:00

Yep, I'm still running. I usually can only run on the weekends. C2K suggests that you run 3 times a week, so I'm still on Week 5 Day 3 although I restarted running from Week 4 Day 1. Still, I'll keep on running, even though it's tough to wake up early on weekends!

My major issue right now is eating. It's hard to get fresh produce in the winter here. The quality of produce that I find in the supermarkets is dismal. Spring is coming soon, so hopefully that will change soon.

My other major focus is getting enough sleep. I don't fall asleep easily, and lately things have been worrying me so that I can't sleep at all. Yes, I know I should forget about these things when I'm at home, but it's not easy.

Hopefully, it will get warm here within a month. I haven't seen sunshine in 2 weeks and it's really, really tough on me!

xoxo, K

Review: Lush Smitten Hand Cream - a cult favorite

2012-02-13T17:12:00.000+09:00

This is a review of the Lush Smitten hand cream. This was a gift to me from Mona.
Smitten is a limited edition hand cream that Lush has released every winter.

The current packaging looks very different. (Picture from the Lush USA website)

What it does: (from Lush UK website)
Protective, almond scented hand cream. Lush customers asked persistently for Smitten to be put into Retro and we delivered. It's a lighter hand cream with the same delicious fragrance as our Snowcake soap. Smitten is made with natural oils, calming chamomile and beeswax to protect the hands from extreme weather or nourish them when they need it most. Use it regularly for soft mitts

Price: $18.95/3.5oz, or 7 GBP/100g (around $11). This product is more than 50% more expensive in the US!

Scent: like almonds. The Lush Snow cake soap smells similar.

Pros:

Very moisturizing hand cream, but does not leave my hands greasy
The scent does not linger on my hands. I don't like my hands to smell strongly because it bothers me when I do makeup or eat.

Cons:

I don't like the packaging. The pump on the bottle dispenses only a very small amount at one time.
I also think creams in pots are unhygienic.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. This was really a great moisturizing cream. I would repurchase it if it came in a tube!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #48: February 9, 2012

2012-02-09T12:26:00.000+09:00

A review on DUO boots, via Wardrobe Oxygen. If you have wide calves and have problems fitting into boots, this is a great brand!
10 tips for aspiring beauty bloggers, via Clumps of Mascara. I agree with tip 1: take good pictures!
5 warnings about containers, via Future Derm. I personally really don't like products in pots.
DIY mini magnetic palette, via Mai-Kat Oshaberi. I love Altoids, and I always buy a few tins when I go to the US. The tins are very useful! Just remember to wash the tins first!

Hope you are having a great week!

xoxo, K

Weight Loss: Getting back into running

2012-02-08T07:00:00.000+09:00

Guess how long it's been since I did a weight loss post? It's been about 4 months.

Some of you may know that I've really been in bad health this winter. On the weekends, I wake up with a huge headache that doesn't get better even if I sleep longer. I had a breakout of itchy skin, leading to bloody red bumps all over my arms and legs. I used this as an excuse not to run, which of course leads to worse health.

After I finished Couch to 5k, I started on Bridge to 10k. I immediately realized that it was too tough for me. The first day of B210k is 40 minutes worth of running, which was infinitely harder for me than the last day of C25k. What's worse, I would get super tired after running and would nap for 1-2 hours, throwing off my weekend schedule.

I've decided to go back to C25k. I'll get back to running 30 minutes, and then I'll find a more challenging way to run. It will take me longer, but hopefully I can keep at it.

After I went back to Japan during Chinese New Year, several people commented that I gained weight. I really want to lose it, but my priority is getting back to being healthy.

The cold, dark days here are really affecting me. I had no idea it would be this tough, but it is. Last year was easier since I went to Hawaii in December, and had that trip to pull me through the 4-5 months of SUPER cold here.

I'm not going to weigh myself until I get back into eating and exercising again. Wish me luck!

xoxo, K

Up and Down $20: February, 2012

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000+09:00

Wow, the first month of 2012 is already gone! I can't wait until it gets warmer here. The high temperature is still below freezing here, and I miss sunshine!

On to my ups and downs!

Ups:

Wet 'n Wild Mega Eyes Cream Eyeliner

This was a gift from Diana a year and a half ago, but it is still very creamy. A review of this is coming up soon!

Maybelline Volum' Express One by One mascara

I bought this when I was in Japan, but it is a product imported from the US. A review of this is coming up as well!

Downs:

Cold weather

I can't stand being in hot, humid weather all the time, but cold weather makes me miserable. I can't go anywhere because it's too cold here!!! I realized that if I continue to live somewhere that it soooo cold in the winter, I need to take a winter vacation to a some place warm and sunny!

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #47: February 2, 2012

2012-02-02T19:54:00.000+09:00

Weight Watchers advice, via Wardrobe Oxygen. After several months of being too ill to run, I've decided to get back on track.
How do I make websites less social?, via Ask Metafilter. In case you want to blog Facebook/Twitter/G+/etc from websites (including this one!)
How to avoid content theft, via Phyrra. The image she has put in place of stolen ones are hilarious!
A must-have tool for someone who always gets tangles in their hair, via Nouveau Cheap. Bonus: it's cheap!

Hope you are having a great week!

xoxo, K

Comparison review: Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil vs Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000+09:00

This is a comparison review of the Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil, and the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. Many reviews have mentioned that the Milani eyeliner is a great inexpensive dupe, so I compared the two side by side.

I have the UD pencil in Zero, and the Milani pencil in black.

UD eyeliner on the left, Milani eyeliner on the right

Price: Urban Decay - $18, Milani - $5.50

Swatches: As you can see from the swatches, the Milani eyeliner is a darker eyeliner

Urban Decay on the left, Milani on the right

Pros of the Milani

Much cheaper to Urban Decay
More pigmented (although apparently UD has a more pigmented black eyeliner called Perversion)

Pros of the UD eyeliner:

The Milani eyeliner smudged slightly on my lower line, while the UD did not smudge at all
Creamier and easier to apply than the Milani, although the Milani is also very creamy

Notes:

Both eyeliners lasted on my top line the same.
The Milani eyeliner gets an A+ rating on Temptalia, while the UD eyeliner gets an A rating.
Milani products are not sold at all drugstores and may be harder to find

Conclusion: I'm still on a journey to find a cheap eyeliner that doesn't smudge on me!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #46: January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T20:34:00.000+09:00

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone that celebrates it! I hope that the year of the dragon will bring you lots of happiness!

Strange things that beauty bloggers do, via Beautyholics Anonymous. I'm guilty of several on this list!
How to curl your hair using a hairband, via Mayaari. VERY interesting technique! I love to wear my hair curly but I hate using a hair iron!
What to wear for a hospital vigil, via Wardrobe Oxygen. Although I hope you never have to face a situation like this, these are really good tips to know. BEST wishes to Allie's sister, who just had major surgery!
You too can look perfect, via Youtube. "My skin feels like plastic!" Hilarious!!
Bread soup, via Simply Recipes. This looks soooo good to try on freezing cold days!

xoxo, K

Review: Nanoce BB Sorbet - a sherbet-like BB cream

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000+09:00

This is a review of the Nanoce BB Sorbet. This was a gift from Yuming from Beauty Box when we met up in November. The shade I received was #2 Natural Ochre, the darker of the two shades.

What it does: (From ishizawa-lab.co.jp, the makers of this product. Translated by me)
Like a sherbet! This cooling BB foundation will tighten your pores, and prevent makeup from melting in the summer.

Yuming has a detailed post on how to use this product. It comes with a sponge, which you spray the product onto and use to apply to your face.

Price: 1890 JPY, about $25. This may sound expensive to you, but this is a pretty normal price range for a drugstore foundation in Japan. For reference, Revlon Color Stay liquid foundation is 2100 JPY (=$27) in Japan, compared to $8-10 in the US.

Pros:

The coolness of the product was very interesting
Good for those who want sheer to medium coverage

Cons:

I still needed a concealer with this product
This product stayed "wet" forever and never set on my face. Hence, it transferred a lot (Interestingly, Yasumi felt it was too dry for her).

Note: To avoid the sponge from absorbing too much of the product, I would dampen it with water first.

Would I repurchase: Unfortunately, this did not work for me. It was just too moist and made me overly conscious about transfer. I will continue to try to make it work, since the "sherbet" was a very interesting concept!

I'm really curious why this product did not set on my face, while it was too dry for Yasumi. This goes to show you that the same product may work differently on different people!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #45: January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T17:29:00.000+09:00

2011 Cheapie Awards, via Nouveau Cheap. I love how everything is under $10, and I'll be sure to pick up some of these when I go to New York in the spring!
Beauty tips for job interviews, via Pink Sith. Totally useful!
Allie's Kitchen, via Wardrobe Oxygen. I love seeing what other people's homes are like!
Chocolate chip monkey bread, via Macheesmo. I am seriously considering buying a Kitchen Aid mixer for this purpose!

Hope you enjoy the links!

xoxo, K

Review: MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator - one of the most hyped MAC products

2012-01-18T17:45:00.000+09:00

This is a review for the MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. This was released as part of the Style Black collection in the summer of 2009. I have reviewed it here in case it is rereleased in the future.

What it does: (from Nordstrom.com)
A highly effective, dual-purpose foaming, cleansing and exfoliating scrub blending natural volcanic ash with fine sugar crystals. Refines and unclogs the skin, adds instant moisture, leaves skin feeling soft and comfortably clean. Mineral-rich. May be used effectively on any part of face or body. Rinses off with warm water.
Pink Sith has a very detailed breakdown of the ingredients and what they do.

Price: $19.50/3.4 oz. This product was originally released in 2008, but the 2009 version has a different formula and the container/size/cost is different.

Scent: smells like charcoal. I really appreciate that MAC didn't give this product a "fake" scent.

Pros:

Exfoliates well using sugar and silica
Absorbs facial oils without making my skin feel stripped

Cons:

This product is MESSY
This is one of the most hyped products that MAC releases, and can be difficult to find even if it is rereleased. Is it really worth the craze?
This feels exactly the same as a product with charcoal in it, such as the Lush Coal Face Cleanser or the Lush Dark Angels

Would I repurchase? Maybe. If I found it at a CCO, I would definitely pick it up, but I wouldn't want to face the craze to get it. There are other products that use volcanic ash or charcoal.

Note: Remember that you can Back to MAC this and many other skin care containers!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

xoxo, K

Review: Canmake Color Stick Concealer - cheap and very popular!

2012-01-16T21:11:00.000+09:00

This is a review for the Canmake Color Stick Concealer. This concealer is pretty popular in Japan, and is consistently in the top favorites lists in several magazines. This concealer comes in several different colors, including white for highlighting.

I have this in 02 Natural Beige.

What it does: (from canmake.com)
This is not only a concealer that will cover flaws in your complexion; it is a multi-purpose cosmetic stick in a range of colors that can be used to cheeks and as highlighters to provide luster, translucence and definition. Moderately hard, it clings tightly to your skin and can be spread thinly over your face for a natural-looking complexion that looks even more beautiful than bare skin.
Apply directly with the stick or apply to your fingers and spread thinly over areas that have flaws or that you want to look more attractive. This product is considerably more effective if applied thinly and then reapplied with a patting motion.

Price: 609 JPY, about $8 USD.
The Canmake website lists these as 580 JPY, but the price does not include the country-wide tax of 5%. This price may seem very high if you are used to American drugstore products, but it is in fact extremely cheap compared to most Japanese drugstore products.

Pros:

very affordable
creamy and easy to blend
light to medium coverage

Cons:

this concealer does not have enough coverage for me
this concealer must be set with a powder or it will transfer easily
I would not recommend this for concealing blemishes since it is quite oily.

Would I repurchase? No. This concealer just doesn't have enough coverage for me. I can make it work by setting it with a powder foundation, but that is just too much work for me.

After trying this concealer, I'm surprised that it is so popular in Japan. I think there are several drugstore brand concealers that are better than this one!

Hope you enjoyed this review!
xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #44: January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T18:23:00.000+09:00

Thanks to everyone who voted in my poll last week about which mug I should buy. When I went to go buy one last weekend, they were all sold out, even though I went to 2 different Starbucks!

Oh well, on to my Weekly Reads!

5 myths about skincare products busted, via Beautiful with Brains. Great post on what products are "safer".
Have you ever had such a bad experience with a brand that you stopped using it?, via Temptalia. Please read the comments, three brands come up as having super horrid customer service (NYX, elf, and OPI)
Products to protect your hair from sun, sea, and chlorine, via Makeup for Professional Asian Women. See which products Jamilla loves!
How to save dried out nail polish strips, via Of Faces and Fingers. An interesting way to save those half used nail polish strips.
Caramelized Onion Tart, via Simply Recipes. This looks like a great recipe to whip up when friends drop by.

xoxo, K

Review: Steamcream - the packaging!!!

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000+09:00

This is a review of the much-hyped Streamcream. This was a gift from Yuming from Beauty Box when we met up in November.

What it does: (from steamcream.co.uk)
We handmake STEAMCREAM in the UK and Japan with fresh natural ingredients, fused together with a shot of steam. Our unique method means that STEAMCREAM gives your face instant refreshment the moment you use it. It’s super-moisturising, sinks deep down and revives your skin straight away. Use it to soften your body, hands and feet too.

Price: 10.50 GBP or 1500 JPY. At this price, the British version is about $3 cheaper.

Pros:

Lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly into the skin.
Skin feels moisturized after use, but not sticky or greasy
The scent disappears soon after applying.
Because of the above three points, I liked using this on my hands. I hate it when my hands are greasy or when they smell too strongly of my hand lotion!
Steamcream often comes out with different designs which are super cute!

Cons:

Steamcream suggests to use this everywhere, including on your face and body. It was too heavy for me to use on my face, but too light for me to use on my body during the winter.
Dipping your hands repeatedly into a tin is not very sanitary.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. I think the price point of this hand lotion is not really worth it, but the packaging is amazing. I might repurchase this if I find a cute design. This is a great item to give as a gift, since it's something that most people wouldn't splurge on! Thanks again to Yuming for this!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

xoxo, K

Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara - a volumizing mascara without the clumps

2012-01-09T09:45:00.000+09:00

This is a review for the L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara. I bought this when I went to Hawaii last year. I have this in the color Blackest Black.

This mascara has a rubber wand with thin spikes.

What it does: (from L'Oreal's website)
For lashes that look a million times multiplied and perfectly defined, there’s only one mascara – NEW Voluminous Million Lashes. The built-in Clean-Sweep Wiping System wipes the brush free of clumps leaving the perfect amount of mascara for an ultra-volumized clean lash look. The Millionizing Brush evenly thickens lashes from root to tip. The result? Lashes look so multiplied, so clean, it’s like seeing millions.

Price: Will vary, just like all other US drugstore products. L'Oreal's website lists the price as around $9, but I see it online for $7-8.

Pros:

This product defined my lashes without making them clumpy!!!
The formula is smooth and the brush is great for applying mascara evenly
I did not get smudges under my eyes, even though this is not the waterproof formula.
The tube clicks shut. When I twist the wand to close the product, it clicks when it is shut. I really like this because then I know when it's closed properly.

Cons:

Obviously, I did not get a million lashes

Would I repurchase? Yes! This product is great if you want mascara that will give your lashes volume without making them thick and clumpy. My lashes look like they have natural volume with this product. However, don't count on getting a million lashes! Only falsies will help you do that. I also really liked that this product didn't smudge, since most mascaras smudge LIKE CRAZY on me!!!

Hope this review helped! What is your favorite mascara?

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #43: January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000+09:00

I'm thinking of buying one of these two Starbucks mugs for Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the dragon! Please vote on which one you think is better! (not my pics)

1. Flying Dragon

2. Dragon Face

Worst of Beauty 2011, via Beautiful with Brains. Many bloggers have done a favorites list (including myself!), but I also love to read about products that bloggers didn't like!
Zoya Fleck Effects Reviews, via Temptalia. I am excited to see flakies since Sally Hansen reformulated their much loved Hidden Treasures!
How to fill a bachelor pad, via Ask Metafilter. What do you buy when you are living by yourself for the first time?
Steamed squash salad, via Macheesmo. This is a refreshing recipe to help you recover from holiday eating.
Chicken Liver pate, via Simply Recipes. LOOOVE pate, but canned pate is extremely expensive in Japan!

By the way, you might want to take a look at Beautiful with Brain's Best Posts of 2011. A lot of these have been featured on my Weekly Reads. This is such an amazing blog!

xoxo, K

Yet another Project 20 Pan

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000+09:00

I seem to be doing a Project 10 Pan every 6 months. The reason is that I no longer buy cosmetics. It sounds horrible to be saying that as a beauty blogger!

Many of you may know the reason why I do not buy many cosmetics anymore. I live in a part of the world where mail is very unreliable, so I no longer buy things on the internet. I could buy local cosmetics, but all of the good brands are either from Japan, Taiwan or Korea, and are heavily marked up.

I do buy a few things every time I am back in Japan, and some of my very kind friends send me a few things when I am on vacation. It's a little sad not to be able to try out all of the new products on the market, but it also gives me a chance to really think about what products I really want. For example, right now I'm really coveting the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. But since I can't get it, I'll wait until my next trip to the US. By then, I may have forgotten all about it!

I have a separate blog post where I shared some tips on how to complete Project 10 Pan. Please take a look if you are interested in Project 10 Pan but don't know how to make it work!!

On to the products! (If I have reviewed the product before, you can click on the product name to go to the review)

MAC Naked Honey Body Wash

As I mentioned in my review, I loved the scent of this product but I thought it was severely overpriced.

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Twilight Woods

I have several bottles of this product, and so I'm still getting through my collection!

Yet another bottle of Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Twilight Woods.

This is the travel sized bottle, while the bottle above was full sized. It still takes me over a month to go through the travel bottles!

Lush Snow Globe Soap

As I mentioned in my review, I loved the lemongrass scent of this product. It is still strange to me that Lush considers lemongrass to be a winter scent.

This product was a limited edition product for the holidays. It is currently being rereleased!

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Enchanted Orchid
I did not enjoy this scent as it was too floral for me.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

One of my favorite youtubers, emilynoel83, highly recommends this product. It is not highly pigmented, plus it is very cheap, so I recommend it if you are new to bronzers.

Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel

As I mentioned in my review, this is a great dupe for a silicone-based face primer such as Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, at 1/9 the price.

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer

I have also reviewed this product before. This is my favorite non-silicone face primer. I heard that Rimmel has a new Fix & Perfect primer, so I'm looking forward to trying that out!

Lush Lip Scrub in Bon Bon

I loved the product, I loved the scent, but I did not love the price for something I could easily make at home!

Lush Angel's Delight Soap

I had an interesting time trying to use both sides of the soap evenly!

H2O+ Marine Daily Hydrator

This was an oil-free moisturizer that I received as a gift. It was a great light moisturizer, but I did not feel it was anything special.

VOV Castledew Watershot Foundation

This is currently my favorite foundation and was on my 2010 favorites list. This foundation is light on the skin, but has pretty good coverage.

Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel

This shower gel was very popular when it came out, since it supposedly smells similar to the Lush Honey I Washed The Kids soap. It was originally limited edition, but has now been made permanent.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Lotion in Twilight Woods

I reviewed this product quite recently. It is a great hand lotion, but I prefer not to scent my hands so strongly.

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel

I received the largest size bottle (17 fluid ounces) as a gift, and it took nearly a year to use up! Of course, I didn't use it continuously. Still, it reminded me of why I always buy the smallest bottle.

Lush Godiva Solid Shampoo

I also reviewed this product recently. If you have not used one of Lush's solid shampoos before, I suggest you try this one.

Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser

As I mentioned in my review, I felt this product was really overpriced for what it did. It also smelled cheap.

Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser

Another cleanser I reviewed recently. Hint: Cetaphil is very similar and less than 1/4 of the price!

The Face Shop Wrinkle Stop Eye Cream

This was a great hydrating eye cream, but I really did not see any difference in my eye area.

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Butterfly Flower

I remember not liking this scent so much, but it wasn't so bad this time. It is a little too much like perfume, though.

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel in Butterfly Flower

Yes, I'm slowly getting through my stash of Bath & Body Works products!

What products have you used up recently?

xoxo, K

Favorite Products 2011

2012-01-01T23:09:00.000+09:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2012 is a fantastic year for you!

Here are my favorite products of 2011. As many of you know, I bought almost nothing last year. It has helped me make a dent in my huge stash. I brought 3 full boxes of beauty products with me when I moved in October of 2010, but now I'm down to about 1 box.

Please also check out my favorites of 2010 and 2009. I still love a lot of those items!

Best Skin care item

St Ives Green Tea cleanser

Review here

This is the only new skin care item that I loved. It is a great daily cleanser that exfoliates gently. I love the scent as well!

Best makeup items

Mezaik

In 2011, I started to use Mezaik to change the shape of my double eyelids. Now, it is a must have product for me!

Maybelline the Colossal Volum Express Mascara

Review here

Drugstore companies come out with so many new mascaras that it s difficult to tell which one is which. This was a great volumizing mascara.

Gosh Lipstick in Darling

I picked this up in London only because it was so hyped on the internet. It is too flesh-toned for me and makes me look dead. However, I love it to tone down lipsticks that are too bright for me. A lot of Japanese girls use concealers for this purpose, which dry out my lips and make them flake. This is a very creamy lipstick, and I wish I had picked up some different colors. It is also super affordable!

Best tools

Sonia Kashuk blush brush

This is a great brush - it is soft and affordable. Unfortunately, I ruined mine, so I really really need to buy a new one!

Clarisonic

I love my Clarisonic, but I only use it during the warmer months!

Favorite new tips/tricks

How to get through Project 10 Pan

I've done quite a few rounds of Project 10 Pan in the past. In this post, I shared with you my tips and tricks to be able to stick to it.

How to pack skin care and makeup for traveling

I used to travel a lot for work, so I've picked up a few tips on how to pack beauty products so that you don't either over- or under-pack.

How to get the most out of your bath bombs and bubble bars

Who doesn't want to squeeze out more uses from their bath bombs? By using this technique, you can get more from your bath bombs without feeling like you've sacrificed anything.

Most reviewed brand on Cosmeddicted in 2011

Lush (14 times)

You may not be surprised, but I am! I had no idea I reviewed 14 different Lush products this year, since I bought only 1 new item. This is an increase from 2010, when I reviewed 8 Lush products!

Favorite Lush item

Brazen Honey Fresh Face Mask

review here

This has been one of my favorite products for a very long time. It is also super expensive in Japan, so I take every opportunity to buy it in the US or in the UK!

(stock photo)

Favorite blog post of 2011

How to make a lotion face mask with cotton

This is my favorite post because it took so long before I got around to doing it. Originally, I planned to post this as my very first blog post, back in March of 2009! I had a lot of fun making the picture above as well!

Most viewed blog post

Canmake Melty Nude Lip swatches

Amazing - I posted this in the August 2010, and it continues to be the top viewed post on this blog!

Please leave a comment letting me know what you would like to see more of this year!

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #42: December 30, 2011

2011-12-30T22:44:00.000+09:00

6 tips on how to build self-esteem, via Beautiful With Brains. Self-esteem is probably the best beauty product ever.
Suave $3 Dry Shampoo, via Makeup and Beauty Blog. A $3 dry shampoo that gets an A+ mark? You bet I'm trying it!
Sally Hansen "rereleases" their popular Hidden Treasures nail polish, via Polarbelle. This is a must read because the name is so misleading!
Peppermint Ice Cream, via Pioneer Woman. LOOKS DELICIOUS.

Hope you all have a safe and happy New Year's!

xoxo, K

Review: Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser - do you need a cleanser for the Clarisonic?

2011-12-28T20:00:00.000+09:00

This is a review of the Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser. Just like for the Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser, I received a trial size of this as part of a special set when I bought my Clarisonic.

What it does: (from clarisonic.com)
Gentle Hydro Cleanser Naturally scented with cucumber, this pH-balanced, gentle, non-foaming skin cleanser is a full-body hydrogel that removes impurities while soothing and comforting. Contains natural ingredients and is paraben-free. Natural Active Ingredients Sucrose Cocoate (a patented mixture of sucrose and coconut derivatives)—gently cleanses sensitive skin Algae & Aloe Vera Gel—hydrate and soften skin Vitamin E & Japanese Green Tea—soothe and protect skin

Price: $25 for 6 oz

Pros:

Cleans well
Gentle, and not drying

Cons:

This cleanser is extremely similar to the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It has the same creamy gel texture, and it cleans in the same way. The Cetaphil cleanser is around $6 for the 8 oz bottle (according to Target.com).

Would I repurchase? No. I did like this cleanser, but as I mentioned, it is too similar to the Cetaphil cleanser. Considering the Cetaphil cleanser is less than 1/4 of the price, I don't think this product is worth the price. On the plus side, this product reminded me on why I enjoyed the Cetaphil cleanser so much!

Notes: You can really use any cleanser you want with the Clarisonic! I've used both liquid cleansers and bar soaps. I would avoid using anything with exfoliating particles in it, though, since it might be too abrasive!

Hope this helped!

xoxo, K

Review: Philosophy Gingerbread Man / Gingerbread Girl Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

2011-12-26T21:46:00.000+09:00

This is a review for the Philosophy Gingerbread Man and Gingerbread Girl Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath (or 3-in-1). I bought this product in Hawaii last year and had forgotten to post the review!

Gingerbread Man

Gingerbread Girl

What it does: (from Sephora.com)

A multitasking Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath infused with the refreshing scent of ginger spice. This luscious, lathering gel sweetens any day with its extra rich and creamy formula that gently cleanses and conditions, leaving skin and hair feeling ultra soft.

Price: A full sized bottle of Philosophy's 3-in-1 is $16 for 16 oz (480ml). In this set, each bottle was 8 oz (240 ml), and the set was $20 for the 2 bottles. A full sized bottle is a good value for money, but I personally think that 480 ml is much too big to use without getting bored!

Scent: Both products smell like ginger. Gingerbread Man smells like Ginger with Lemon added, and reminds me strongly of lemon iced tea. Gingerbread Girl smells sweeter.

Pros:

Foams well, and cleans well without stripping my body of moisture
I really enjoyed both scents
Gingerbread Girl does not leave obvious glitter on my body

Cons:

This was my first Philosophy 3-in-1, and I found the product to be very runny, unlike Bath & Body Works' shower gels. Be careful when you pour out the product.

Notes: Although this can be used as a shower gel, bubble bath, or shampoo, I use it solely as a shower gel.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. I really liked the Philosophy 3-in-1s, and I hope I can try out some other scents next holiday season!

Have you tried Philosophy products before? Please let me know of your favorites!

xoxo, K

Weekly Reads #41: December 23, 2011

2011-12-23T21:05:00.000+09:00

3 homemade beauty fixes that really work, via Beautiful With Brains. This reminds me - I need to do an aspirin mask!
A review on Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo, via Product Girl. I doubt this product will come to Japan (dry shampoos are unheard of here), but I'm really looking forward to picking it up in the US!
I like window shopping for fake MAC, via Musings of a Muse. I know several girls in China who have bought MAC "sets" online which are obviously fake!
Mulled Apple Cider, via Pioneer Woman. What is the difference between American apple cider and unfiltered apple juice? Either way, this looks delicious!
How to host a (healthy) party, via Summer Tomato. Read these tips to ensure that you stay stress-free!

Hope you are getting ready for the holidays! Unfortunately, I'll have no presents this year!!

xoxo, K

**cosmeddicted **

Review: MAC Fix+ - a spray for your face

Testing

Weekly Reads #49: February 17, 2012

Weight loss: Winter Blues

Review: Lush Smitten Hand Cream - a cult favorite

Weekly Reads #48: February 9, 2012

Weight Loss: Getting back into running

Up and Down $20: February, 2012

Weekly Reads #47: February 2, 2012

Comparison review: Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil vs Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

Weekly Reads #46: January 26, 2012

Review: Nanoce BB Sorbet - a sherbet-like BB cream

Weekly Reads #45: January 20, 2012

Review: MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator - one of the most hyped MAC products

Review: Canmake Color Stick Concealer - cheap and very popular!

Weekly Reads #44: January 13, 2012

Review: Steamcream - the packaging!!!

Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara - a volumizing mascara without the clumps

Weekly Reads #43: January 6, 2012

Yet another Project 20 Pan

Favorite Products 2011

Weekly Reads #42: December 30, 2011

Review: Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser - do you need a cleanser for the Clarisonic?

Review: Philosophy Gingerbread Man / Gingerbread Girl Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

Weekly Reads #41: December 23, 2011

cosmeddicted