Holy smokes, I certainly took my sweet time finishing this post -_-;;; But without further ado, this is a post that condenses some of the reviews I've already posted about here :) So blog readers, this video will be nothing new to you ^_^ But I do have Pros/Cons list for each item, which I didn't have in my blog reviews so if you like, do take a gander. Or just watch to hear me completely butcher the word "Laneige" -_____-
Purchased at: on Sasa ($25.60) and BonjourHK ($11.50) <-- I'm about to throw a cat fit because I paid $17.50 for mine (still a really good price) but $11.50!??! GAHHHHH SO CHEAP! I have NEVER seen VB12 for this price....if BonjourHK weren't a registered company that I've bought from before, I'd think it was a fake ><!
Either way, I obviously don't really recommend Sasa but BonjourHK tends to sell out really fast and with their (I kid you not) SHITTY web design (there's no request restock), it can get hard to get your paws on the more popular items.
Scent: A delicate baby powder scent. Very mild and pleasant.
Texture: Smooth, creamy, absorbs without residue. If you squeeze out too much at once, it takes a few minutes of massaging to get it all absorbed into your skin though.
Overall: As I said in the video, I like this product quite a bit. I've been using it for several months now and while I wouldn't say this is a miracle worker, it seems to have helped my skin's texture smooth out. I don't think it does that much for redness imho but it definitely helps in the texture department. It's very gentle, I've never broken out from it, smells nice, seems to work and the price isn't all that bad in my opinion :) I would recommend this for people who want to smooth out their skin texture and have a brighter complexion. This is a very popular item among bloggers and while everyone's skin is different, I would say I have yet to see a review that hates on this item~ I personally have used it every night for 5 months now and am on my second tube.
Fyi, you need to massage this into your face in little circle motions to "enhance the effects." I don't know how much enhancing massaging does but might as well right :)? Remember to always massage up and out.
Boscia Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment
Purchased at: N/A. From a sample bag Julie (PDXbeautiful) sent me :)!! But it retails at $38 at Sephora and Boscia.
Description:
A silky gel-cream that nourishes and firms while diminishing puffiness and dark circles around the eye area.
• Alanyl Glutamine, an amino acid that provide moisture-retaining benefits, help repair and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. • Coix Seed acts as an anti-inflammatory, and helps minimize puffiness. • Tocopherol-Vitamin E, derived from soybeans, promotes circulation to diminish under-eye dark circles. • Jujube Fruit helps accelerate cell renewal and smooth the appearance of fine lines. • Jojoba Leaf, a powerful antioxidant, combats free radical damage while it nourishes and protects skin to prevent premature aging, and Willowherb, a unique anti-irritant, helps to calm skin inflammation and reduce visible redness and irritation.
Scent: Essentially scentless.
Texture: Light, silky, and cool gel. Absorbs quickly without residue. Feels good as you massage it on your orbital bone, though I have doubts whether it feels goods because of the massaging or the product.
Overall: Not recommended. I don't have any significant complaints but I swear it doesn't do anything :\ I don't have wrinkles but as for dark circles and puffiness....no. Not so I have noticed anyway; they were definitely still present in the video xD
And that's all :D Btw I'm glad there was so much enthusiasm over the last post ^_^ Glad to know I am not alone in my constant chocolate cravings!
This was something PDXbeautiful (hi Julie ^^v) sent in the swap we did awhile back. My experience with drugstore lip products have been on the lukewarm at best so I was really surprised how good this product turned out :D
Purchased at: N/A but you can get it most drugstores. I've seen these at Walmart :) According to the NYC website, it's priced somewhere around $2.49.
Packaging: Pretty decent, though nothing to write home about. One thing I don't like very much is the applicator though:
It's basically....a flat stick. The shape makes it difficult to apply the color evenly on your lips. All it can be used for is getting the color out of the tube onto your lips - after that you need to find another way to even out the color :\ It's small complaint though, you can rub your lips together and use a Q-tip for the bits that go outside the edges of your lips.
Pigmentation: The pigmentation is insane. It's like lipstick rather than a gloss! It's great and I love the small purple microglitters in it.
Lastingpower: Really good! It lasts all day for me and through a meal. The glossiness fades after a few hours but the color stains your lips for rest of the day.
This is my hand after washing it with soap and water - not bad at all yeah?! And no worries about lingering staining, it comes off after a bit more washing and wiping with a tissue.
Scent: Like artificial vanilla. It's not bad though and pretty tolerable. It's definitely not as bad as other drugstore lip products. People who are strongly adverse to fragranced products may still not like it though.
Formula: The great formula really surprised me! It's totally non-sticky, smooth, richly pigmented and long-lasting. The fake vanilla scent isn't very strong so to me it's not a big deal. This is also remarkably hydrating - it doesn't dry out my lips and the color tends to fill in fine lines rather than emphasize them. Overall, this is a great formula and the best drugstore lip color that I've tried so far.
This is 2nd only to my all time favorite Etude House Dear Darling glosses. Honestly, it's a bit like comparing apples to oranges though because this one has such crazy pigmentation. Both are useful for different things - this one is best worn alone I think!
I love how it stains my lips pink all day. Fyi though - if you don't smooth out the color after you blob it on with the crappy applicator, the color will look goopy (like in the center pic).
Overall Highly recommended. I use this quite often as it's easy to apply and and long-lasting. It's one of my Top 5 favorite lip products and I like how it's easy to get and only $2.49! I would say that this product does everything it claims - great pigmentation and shine, hydration, creamy texture, and non-sticky. The fact that there are 10 colors available is nice too - a good range of wearable colors. This is my first NYC product and I am very impressed indeed.
I was feeling a little adventurous whilst Sasa hauling and picked up a Sasatinnie product - mostly because everything was priced so damn low xD As far as I can tell, Sasatinnie products are made in Malaysia and I believe owned by Sasa (hence the name Sasatinnie ;) ).
The Dolly Lip Smoothies caught my eye because 1.) They look like Nivea lip balms and 2.) it's SPF30 and it eases my new found paranoia about getting wrinkles around my mouth - perhaps sun protection can semi-prevent that *whew* what a run-on sentence xD Plus they're $3.80 and came in five different yummy sounding flavors (01 Grenadine, 02 Strawberry, 03 Vanilla, 04 Raspberry, 05 Green Apple).
Description SASATINNIE Dolly Lip Smoothies SPF 30 provides perfect moisture surge. Shea butter blends instantly smooth and moisturize your lips. Natural glossy finish makes your lips even more kissable. It is powered up with antioxidants and SPF 30 for your healthy lips.
Directions Apply a proper amount to lips before application of lipstick. Or apply when lips are dehydrated.
Purchased: $3.80 from Sasa
Packaging: I eagerly await the day Asian cosmetic companies start hiring FLUENT Asian Americans to edit packaging blurbs. And this isn't directed at just Sasatinnie but at ALL Asian companies - Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese...basically, I have yet to see a single Asian cosmetics brand that regularly utilizes grammatically correct English. It just drives me absolutely insane to see truly reputable and quality Asian brands severely limiting themselves with shoddy translations. Especially in lawsuit-happy America, Asian brands really need to start creating professional packaging if they ever want to open up the American demographic! *end rant*
Anyway, at least the English is on the packaging you just throw out ^^ Otherwise, the tube itself is very comparable (if not identical) to Nivea. The heft and feel of the plastic is exactly the same. A mild complaint is that the balm wiggles a bit in the tube...I feel like if you twist it up too high at once it'd just break off :P
Flavor: 04 Raspberry. I wouldn't say it tastes like raspberries (a naturally subtle taste), it honestly doesn't taste like anything. This is good in my book.
Scent: A fragrant raspberry yogurt (or shall we say smoothie ^_~) scent. It is quite nice and fruity without being too strong or fake smelling. It has an almost tangy bite to the scent, so it's not overly sweet.
Color: I thought this would be tinted red or pink but it's just a peach color that goes on clear. I noticed from the blurry sample pics on sasa that each flavor has it's own color though, so I don't know if those are tinted or none of them are. In any case, this one goes on clear.
Texture: Silky smooth and goes on very light. It doesn't "melt" on your lips like TBS Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick but it's similar in how both glide on very nicely.
Moisturization: A slight con to this product. It's not that moisturizing. It's not drying but it seems to wear away quickly and needs frequent reapplication. It goes well under lipstick though and never leaves a residue. It also leaves a nice smooth, sightly shiny finish :)
Overall I'm pretty surprised how thoroughly acceptable this product is. It has almost no negatives, can be used under lipstick or alone, and best of all, will provide your lips with A LOT of sun protection. FYI: Your lips CAN get sunburned and they do become darker with sun exposure. Hence if you have very pigmented lips (which can be a bother since it may interfere with lipstick color results), you may want to start paying a bit of attention to your lips. Also as you age, the edges of your lips wrinkle which cause lipstick to "bleed outside the lines" and in the long run, I am sure preventing excess sun damage will be beneficial :) As a side note though, is it just me or are there an awful lot of ingredients for a lip balm O_o (maybe it's just big font?)
I've definitely never seen a lip balm with this such high SPF protection that leaves absolutely no residue - and that deserves props in my book. It does wear away fast but this is definitely the kind of lip balm I can see myself using during vacations. It's light, provides a lot of protection, pleasant to use, and very low maintenance. And cheap. Nivea Kiss of Moisture SPF4 lip balms runs $5-6 for reference. Just remember not to get this if you like tinted balms. All in all, I think this would be a great little buy to add to your cart if you're just a dollar or so off the $75+ free shipping minimum order on Sasa. It's not the most necessary product ever but it's not a bad buy at all - I don't think anyone would regret it :}
If anyone has tried other Sasatinnie products or know anything more about them let me know :D
I mentioned these in my February favorites video and promised swatches....so here they are :D! I'm still perfecting how to take swatch photos since the macro on my crappy-ass camera only works if the lighting is (I kid you not) PERFECT >_> I have since discovered that using the bathroom counter under the skylight around 2pm results in the best pictures. While I'm super pleased how the pictures I take there turn out, this means I can only take pictures on the weekend -_- *sigh*
What it is: A limited-edition set of six Benefit lip glosses.
What it does: This glitzy gloss set includes three double-ended wands for a total of six shimmering shades. Glide them on with the soft cushion paddle for the ultimate luscious-lip look.
Purchased: $15.00+3.50S&H on Ebay, retailed for $28 @ Sephora
Packaging: Benefit is one of those brands that I feel like is limited by their odd (and mildly cheap) packaging. Like cardboard? The gloss tubes themselves look fine but Benefit's penchant for cardboard a la Bella Bamba, Dandelion Luminzer, and Hoola Powders visually cheapens the deal I think. I'm nor crazy about how they stamp big, flashy prints (like the huge lips on this one -_-) on some packaging either. I know Benefit is going for the whole retro vibe and on the whole they do a good job but on some of their stuff it comes off as so tacky :\
Anyway, the tubes themselves are well made with doe foot applicators. The only complaint I have is that I wish they stamped the gloss names onto the tube instead of using stickers (which are already falling off).
Scent: In the individual reviews because each tube has their own. Overall, scent is not a problem because either it's fruity or very light :)
Texture: NOT STICKY :D No complaints, all of them are very smooth and light. The darker, more glittery colors are actually hard to remove :P
Lasting Power: In individual reviews. Overall, Almost Famous and Back to the Fuchsia last the longest. 24k and I'm With the Band fades fast but leaves a nice shimmer behind. Who Are You Wearing and Life On the List both have essentially no lasting power. Definitely the most useless tube in the bunch.
Swatch on LT are three swipes, swatch on the RT is one swipe.
This is how the glosses are paired:
Almost Famous/I'm With the Band
Back to the Fuchsia/24k
Who Are You Wearing?/Life On the List
- 0.1 oz Almost Famous (copper penny)
Burnished bronze with gold sparkles.
A delicate, pleasant fruit candy scent.
This stuff lasts a long time, most long lasting in the set. It stains your lips almost. The downside is that it doesn't go very well with my lip color. I think it'd look better on someone warm-toned.
- 0.1 oz I'm with the Band (golden pink shimmer)
A peach with fuchsia undertones and gold shimmer.
A pleasant fruit candy scent that's identical to Almost Famous' scent.
Not long lasting at all :(
- 0.1 oz Back to the Fuchsia (sparkling fuchsia)
A gorgeous fuchsia with purple and silver sparkles.
Essentially scent-less. I can smell a hint of fruit (and plastic from the packaging) if I'm literally sniffing it but it doesn't smell like anything really.
Color fades but purple sparkles remain. Second most long lasting gloss in this set. It's my personal favorite ^^ it adds a nice tint of color to bare lips and is a nice topper.
- 0.1 oz 24k (sexy gold)
A yellow gold with golden sparkles. It's a really nice gold when you put it on but it fades fast :(
Essentially scentless.
Color fades but gold sparkles remain. Tbh I would've liked a more "chrome/opaque" look but I understand that this is much more wearable :} I wish the gold tint lasted longer tho. It fades to just a gold shimmer pretty quickly.
- 0.1 oz Who Are You Wearing (passion fruit pink)
I would describe this as a bubblegum pink. It's creamy girly pink gloss. Either someone in the naming department dropped the ball or the stickers were misplaced >_>
A fruit scent that is fainter than Almost Famous/I'm With the Band.
Not long lasting at all :P In fact this whole tube is useless because it fades fast leaving behind essentially nothing :\
- 0.1 oz Life on the A List (bubble gum pink)
A light, creamy peach with very faint gold shimmers.
A fruit scent that is fainter than Almost Famous/I'm With the Band.
Not long lasting at all - fades even faster than Who Are You Wearing?
Overall I really like Back to the Fuchsia and 24k, that one tube is a keeper. Almost Famous is nice but doesn't match with my skintone. I'm With the Band, Who Are You Wearing, and Life On the List are too sheer to be of any use. I could have done without the third tube entirely. Basically, this gloss set is straight up a 50-50 mixed bag. I don't regret getting it because .1 oz is a good size for me (I never finish full-sized tubes) and I got a nice mix of colors. It's very convenient too! I'd recommend this cause for pete's sake they're selling for SO LOW on Ebay -_____- I actually paid a lot more than I should have ($18.50) :P While I was looking for it that was the lowest price and now there are a bunch selling for as low as $7 -_-;;
I was super excited to get this review up since I already know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2011! I haven't been this surprised and pleased with a product in a long time. I have tried many lip balms: Carmex, Rosebud Perfume, Burt's Bees (both original and pomegranate), Nivea, ChapStick, Blistex...I think the only "popular" lip balm I haven't tried so far is EOS and I've heard across the board that it's not "that" moisturizing so I'm pretty sure it's mostly hype and interesting packaging at work there. In any case, after this lip balm, I'm not going to be switching any time soon.
A handy mini stick that offers extra-intensive melt-on moisture for the lips, thanks to its innovative concentrated format. Melts and glides over skin as you apply, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and supple.
Purchased for: $8 @ The Body Shop. Mad pricey online but I've heard you can get it cheaper off-line/in-stores. I'd actually still buy it for $8 since lip balms last forever for me and I don't mind spending $8 for something that'll last me at least a year.
Scent: Chocolate with a hint of coconut. I guess that's the scent of cocoa butter ^^?
Texture: Silky smooth, glides on beautifully. This is supposed to "melt" at body temperature so if you think this is applying "waxy," just roll it between your hands and warm it up a bit. It should literally feel like butter is gliding over your lips.
Moisturizing Power: If I put this one once, my lips are moisturized for a good 18-24 hours. It varies on days I eat a lot ^^ But normally I just need to apply this once a day right before I go to sleep and my lips are ready for lipstick the next morning. I've personally never needed to re-apply more than 2x a day though.
Ingredients:
Cocoa butter
Is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, leaving the skin feeling soft and silky smooth. Enables the development of community projects such as schools and village wells, in addition to providing small-scale farmers with income to support their families.
Organic beeswax
Moisturizes and helps to condition dry skin, especially on your lips and around the fingernail beds. Acts as a barrier that helps to seal in moisture. Helps to keep product texture consistent when used over time. Plays a part in protecting and preserving the forest as well as providing necessary income for the beekeepers, an increasing number of which are now women.
Sweet almond oil
Provides essential fatty acids that help to repair the skin's moisture barrier, thus helping to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.
Organic olive oil from Italy
Is a natural moisturizer for normal to dry skin. It also helps condition hair, and give it a silky shine. Our olive oil is organic, and comes from our Community Trade partners in southern Italy.
Coconut oil
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil helps to condition the skin and hair to make you smooth, soft and deliciously scented. It also supports small, organic coconut farmers in Samoa, where there are few opportunities to earn a decent wage.
Good: - Smells delicious. If only I could eat it. - True buttery texture, glides beautifully. - Lots of moisturizing ingredients. - Hygienic stick form. - Fair trade yo!
Bad: - Definitely leaves a residue. I find it a "protective" residue but I can see people not liking it. - Not cheap but for something that lasts up to or over a year, it's fine by me. - I don't look for SPF in lip balms but other people might want to have that.
This has great reviews on Makeup Alley (4.3/5.0 out of 137 votes + an 83% buy again) and the reason I bought this in the first place. There have been complaints that this feels "greasy" not "buttery," that it's not moisturizing enough, and that it just "sits" on your lips/doesn't absorb. I can see where the "greasy" & no absorption complaint comes from because this definitely leaves a residue on your lips, but to me it seems like a "protecting" residue and I like it - really odd since I usually hate products that leave a residue.
I also have to admit I don't have particularly dry lips, I get chappy on windy days and I lick my lips a lot, but it's not that severe or anything. Sooooo~ this chapstick may not be good enough for those who need more conditioning or cannot stand residues ever. I'm also going to say that this is not the cheapest chapstick and that there are probably cheaper yet equally effective balms out there. Ultimately, this works well for me and has all the characteristics I want in a chapstick: in stick form (I hate "jar" balms...fingers *ew*), smells good, applies silky smooth, moisturizes my lips, and doesn't need to be re-applied too often. So, yeah for me I like it a lot and I totally recommend this for peeps with moderately chapped lips.
Or officially, the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick, 070 Airy Fairy. Honestly, my lips (or rather, my skin tone) are so weird sometimes. Rimmel's Airy Fairy is one of the most raved about lipsticks - it's supposedly one of the most universally flattering lipcolors out there and with a lot of Asians standing behind it (I say this as in: since they're Asian and I'm Asian, I assume colors they like will probably be flattering on me too), I finally went out and bought it. Unfortunately, it's one of the most unflattering lipcolors I've had the misfortune to try. It ranks right up there with NYX Thalia and NYX Rea in terms of hideous-ness on me :\ I didn't swatch it on my lips (forgot) but as you can see on my hand, somehow the muted coral pink turns a bruised blue-purple on my skin -_-
Pigmentation: Pretty good. Buildable too. Long-lasting? Not really. Won't last a meal, lasts 3-4 hours alone. Finish: A slight creamy finish. Nice, modest shine. Texture: Creamy and smooth. Applies evenly. Scent: A mild artificial candy scent. Not bad as drugstore lipsticks go, quite tolerable. Taste: Yuck. Tastes like plastic. Packaging: I'm not crazy about the crown embedded in the cap, but overall it looks modest and practical. Sturdy enough. Cost: $5-6 @ Walmart. Overall: Doesn't sink into to fine lines and it's not drying (though it's not moisturizing either). Obviously, I'd never buy it again though b/c of the the color on me :\
I don't particularly blame the lipstick as much as myself ahah but it does tell me that my skintone must be somehow quite different from Xteeener, Frmheadtotoe, and Rainy Days & Lattes :( cuz on me it looks NOTHING like what it looks like on them (they get a pink-gold finish). It got a 4.0/5.0 on Makeup Alley too, so I'm clearly in the minority when it comes this lipstick *sigh* however, if you look at the low ratings, there are some that say that it turns grey/purple on them too. This seems to happen to both warm and cool-toned people so I can't really pinpoint why exactly... If you know, please enlighten me!
Anyway, I returned this puppy since I don't see it working out for me (ever) and if anybody else has had this purple-lips experience with this lipstick too - let me know! We may be skin undertone twins ^_^!
UPDATE...perhaps an answer to the mystery:
My lips are pretty damn dark (plum-red to bright pink, though I'm a NC25) so maybe that's why Airy Fairy is so purple-y on me whereas I love peachy orange-corals like NYX Pumpkin Pie?
I did a little hauling right after Christmas and picked up some Lioele products - I'm on a nail polish and lipstick kick right now since I'm pretty satisfied with my skin routine.
These are some of the newer products on Pretty & Cute and there haven't been any English reviews about them as far as I can see, so I was pretty eager to try these out. One thing I like about reviewing nail polishes and l/s is that I don't have to use them for several weeks to know whether they work well or not - a nice change from reviewing skincare stuff ^_^ All products in this review were purchased at Pretty & Cute during their New Years 15% off sale.
Lioele Lip Color Sticks
Starting with the worst of the batch....the Orange Lip Color Stick. It looked so pretty on the promotional picture I got swayed into buying it even though it was orange. I like orange-coral tinted l/s anyway so this was actually my most anticipated item...phail >_> And just let me say that am PISSED at how utterly misleading all the promo pics are....they look nothing like the promo pics in real life.
Lioele Lip Color Stick in Orange #2 Color: A very not-subtle, crayon orange. It would be nice to draw with. On paper. Maybe it's just my lips but I don't see this working on me. Ever. Finish: In the promo pics, obviously the intention was creamy. Well, it's more like a bold...crayon. It's a very flat orange with almost no shine. Lasting power? Poor. You can essentially wipe it away with a napkin. It won't last a meal. Moisturizing? ....maybe. It didn't last long enough on my lips for me to be able to tell. Fine lines? Sinks into every fine line it can find. Packaging: Cute, cap stays on well. Nothing to write home about though. Cost/worth: $9.99 but I got it for less during P&C's 15% off sale. Not worth it. I feel ripped off.
Overall: Do not buy. No redeeming factors.
I think I switched the labels between Flash and No Flash on the lip samples.
I KNEW I should only get 1 product at a time when it comes to trying things out but...I dunno, I just was so sucked in by the beautiful promo pics.
Lioele Lip Color Stick in Strawberry #3 Color: A milky pink color. It's not bad actually. Has a slight silvery shimmer. Finish: ...Creamy, I'd say. Lasting power? Not so good. Wears away fast. Moisturizing? Yes, actually, due to the creaminess. Fine lines? Does sink into fine lines, though not as badly as the orange. Packaging: Nothing great. Cost/worth: Color is nice, but that's it. Maybe I'd buy it for $1-2. It's not a bad color per se but it's so dupable and the formula is not very good :\ I wouldn't buy this again.
Overall: It's not as bad as the orange but that's not saying much. This lip color photographs well (seriously, it looks so much better in the picture), but it's really nothing special. I don't recommend this.
Overall, I don't recommend ANY the Lioele Lip Color Sticks to anybody. If 2 of the 4 colors were this bad, I have no wish to get near the other two. A huge disappointment and a waste. I can't fathom a single instance I would be able to use these, especially the atrocious orange one. The pink one....maybe as a base. The only good thing I have to say is that it's kind of fun coloring in your lips ^_^ The pencil shape actually allows you to control the color very well. I wish they made these with a better formula and more colors - now that'd be something worth trying.
Lioele Real Glam Moisture Lip in #2 Raspberry Pink
Another new lipstick P&C just brought in. One thing that really stands out to me is the fantastic packaging, but I'll get into that more later.
Color: A kind of dusty pink with purple undertones. No gray undertones thank goodness. I look hideous in purple/gray undertoned lipsticks but this had an odd sort of vibrant purple undertone that didn't make me look dead. Promo pic is pretty accurate, though it's more vibrant and glossier than it is in real life.
Finish: Right between creamy and matte. It looks bad with flash but it's actually not bad at all. The lip color in the promo pic is actually quite accurate, though in real life, the finish isn't as glossy. I'm sure the model has a touch of lip gloss on ^^ The perfectly balanced finish between creamy an matte is one of the best characteristics of this l/s.
Lasting power? Not great, but not terrible. Fades while eating, but leaves a stain on lips.
Moisturizing? Yes it is! Prolly due to the creamy texture.
Fine lines? Sinks into fine lines like a madwoman. This is my least favorite aspect of this lipstick. Over time it gets better though, since this is a moisturizing lipstick. But if you put this over dry lips, it will look...awful.
Packaging: AWESOME. I was shocked by the expensive heft of this product. If you hold it in your hand you'll know what I mean. It just feels expensive. The tube is brushed metal and the pink inner tube is a mirrored pink with a Lioele logo stamped on it. Hands down some of the best packaging I've seen on a non-luxury product. The "Real Glam Moisture Lipstick" stamped on the side isn't that bad either.
Cost/worth: Tis $11 right now though I got it for a bit less. It's not a bad product and with the excellent packaging I guess it's a fair price, but only if you need that particular color. Honestly, I could live without this l/s since I have many pink lipsticks and I think this is kind of a dupe-able shade. The best thing about this is the packaging and how the finish is the perfect balance between creamy and matte. I don't regret buying this, but I wouldn't buy another.
Overall: Try this if you really want a particular color but I wouldn't say that this is a must have. There is a tiny color selection (4) and I don't find the colors to be very unique, but the lovely packaging and decent quality doesn't make it a waste of money. The shades do seem to be very wearable though... Personally, I wouldn't purchase these again, but I encourage people to give this a try if you see a color you like. Since the promo pics are pretty accurate (thank god), you should at least end up with a decent color.
If you don't want to risk it, you might want to try your luck with the next two lemmings I have on my Lioele-Stuff-To-Buy List: the Lioele Dollish Lipstick or Lioele Real Vivid Matte Lipstick. I haven't tried them myself, but I've recently come across promising reviews (on Korean websites) and the color selection is much wider.
Lioele Ice Cream Nail Color in #5 Pretty Pink P&C has this polish labeled as "Princess Nail Color" but the actual promo pics say "2010 Design, Ice Cream Nail Color" so I will go with that. Both are pretty apt descriptions of the rich pastel colors anyway. I exercised a bit of wise caution (unlike when I picked up Lip Color Sticks) and only purchased 1 bottle in the most "safe" shade. I'm happy to report that the promo pics are accurate to real life.
Color: A pure, unadulterated, creamy baby pink with a cool blue undertone. My personal nail shot is a bit too yellow and dark. The actual color is pretty close to the promo pic :) Yah for accurate promo pics!
Application: Very prone to streaking. As you can see, I keep my nails pretty short (the better to type with eheh) and this is what one coat looks like. And it beats me why my fingers are so...dry... xD
I admit I was a bit terrified when I saw how streaky it looked at first, but with each coat it went away. It was bit of an adventure applying this because the brush is uniquely flat (see above). This is good in that it coats a lot of nail at once. But it's bad because the bristles on the end of mine fanned out a bit much and made control/precision work difficult. Formula is a little runnier (and much worse) than Zoya. But seriously, it's applying nail polish, not rocket science....it's not terrible, you just need a steadier hand.
Finished Look: Cute! Kawaii! This very much reminds me of the Dolly Wink brand and all things hime. A true pastel pink!
Formula: Like I said, much runnier than Zoya. It's prone to streaking and drying time is a little longer than Zoya. You MUST be patient applying this polish because if you try to apply another coat over a wet polish, the polish balls up irreparably and you need to start all over. It's a very unforgiving nail polish - if you mess up, it'll show through all the layers. I guess that's where "professional lacquers" and non-pro polishes are different, the pro quality lacquers tend to dry flat and smooth even when you mess up.
# of Coats: 3 to achieve a completely opaque look. Minimum 2 coats required.
Staying Power: Decent. I removed it after though to try out another color but by then, it'd only chipped a bit at the edges. Not bad really.
Packaging/Brush: Packaging is cute, love the curved cap. The brush is the most interesting, flat and fluffy. It takes some getting used to and it's not a very precise brush, but the flat wideness does cover a lot at once.
Overall: I am quite pleased. I think the color is just exquisitely and perfectly pastel pink. So feminine and girly (so unlike me haaha). I confess I would love to eventually pick up the whole range but seriously, what would I do with six pastel polishes -_-;;;? Next time I would love to get the green, blue and yellow. Can you tell I dig unusual colors ^_^?
I would recommend these to polish collectors since I found this color to be so pleasantly pink and fun. Those I do NOT recommend this to are those who want a easy-to-apply polish since this does take a bit of work to use. Also the formula leaves something to be desired (dries slowly and is streaky) so I don't think this would be a good "first polish" for first-time nail polish users. But for me, yes, I would buy a couple more if time and money allow it. These would be great for Easter and spring fashion (pastels will be all the rage in Spring 2011 ^_^)!
LT: Un-rubbed. RT: Residue.
Lioele Aroma Soft Peeling Gel ...the title of this product is a classic example of the Korean love of descriptors >_> Also, I only got to use this 2x so take this review with a grain of salt. Link: Lioele Aroma Soft Peeling Gel
Scent: Very pleasant, delicate floral-fruit scent.
This product is very much like the Skinfood Pineapple Peeling Gel or TonyMoly Appletox Massage Cream. All are gentle lotion-y exfoliators. The Lioele looks like the Skinfood Pineapple (duh, both are gels) but more liquid-y. This is an VERY gentle exfoliator so this would be good for those with sensitive skin. To me it was...too gentle. I could see only minimal improvement (skin brightened temporaily) and tbh it's expensive - $17.99 and my favorite TM Appletox in $12 on Sasa :\ I'd personally never buy the full size, but that said it left no irritations or adverse effects. It was quite simply not as effective as I would like. Since I only used it twice, I can't recommend whether one should buy this, but I personally won't be.
Lioele AC Control Trouble Patch VS The Face Shop Spot Intensive Patch review is here.
Ahh, I got so lazy after New Years (oh no!), so it took me few days to get up off my butt and finish editing this video. It's got a lot more text in it than usual O_o or maybe that's just me...
Boscia Luminizing Black Mask
Definitely by far my personal favorite and the most asked-about product I've mentioned so far :D
This jet black, mineral-rich peel-off mask delivers powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening results as it exfoliates skin and refines pores. Dead skin, impurities and excess oil are stripped away along with the dried mask for immediate and visible results.
Benefits include: • Dramatic improvement in skin's clarity and radiance. Skin is brighter and smoother. • Impurities, bacteria and excess oil are drawn out. • Powerful antioxidants to prevent free-radical damage, such as lines, wrinkles, dryness and dullness. • Reduced skin roughness and minimized lines and wrinkles, resulting in younger-looking skin.
I previously mentioned in my December Favorites video that I like how this removes white/blackheads while several reviewers have specifically said that this does not remove blackheads. So, I would like to clarify:
1.) This mask will NOT remove blackheads if you just use it after simply washing your face.
2.) To reduce blackheads with this mask takes 2-3 rounds AND you must steam your face beforehand each time. Aka it's a labor-intensive process but it has worked very well to reduce the blackheads not just on my nose, but also on my cheeks. Keep in mind you can't expect miracles - you need to do this 1-2x a week for a month to legitimately see blackhead reduction. For me, it was well worth it. Especially since this mask is quite expensive, I wanted to get the most benefit out of it as I could.
Good: - Really effective whether or not you steam your face. - Definitely luminizing and helps skin turnover. - Seems harsh yet had NO breakouts. - Saw definite immediate and long term improvements. Scar lightening (after 3-4 uses) and fantastic improvement in skin texture and tone right away. - Saw white/blackhead reduction after 2-3 uses.
Bad: - Pricey at $34. - Must use a lot of product at once. - Can't put this over inflamed acne and open lesions. - Quite drying without moisturizing.
Here is the process I follow each time I use this mask. The simpler version was in the video, this is a more in depth step-by-step.
How I Use the Boscia Luminzing Black Mask: 1.) Boil water. I use an automatic tea kettle ^_^ Have a bowl with a small, clean washcloth ready.
2.) When water is boiled, pour the boiling water into the bowl with the washcloth in it. Let the washcloth sit in the boiling water for 5-10 minutes. This will help sanitize the washcloth further, besides it'll be too hot for your face.
3.) During those 5-10 minutes you are waiting for the water to cool, put a damp towel (it'll hold the heat/steam in better) over your head and steam your face. It'll be bit hard to breathe and you should be sweating inside a minute.
4.) When the water is cool enough for you to hold the washcloth, it's time to massage your face. The water should still be steaming and kind of hurt (not BURN) your fingers when you are holding it. Pinching the hot washcloth in your fingers, gently place it on your face. I like to just lay the hot cloth on my face and press gently. I do this until the water is just lukewarm. Do not scrub, DAB the cloth on your face. Hot water helps kill bacteria and "opens" your pores.
FYI: Pores do not open/close like stoma on a plant :P It's a common misconception, but what steaming/using a hot cloth does is soften the dirt in the pore so that it comes out easier.
6.) Apply the Boscia Black Mask right away. Avoid your eyebrows and make sure your hair is pulled back. This thing will yank out any hairs you get it on so be careful :P You need to apply a thick layer so that you can peel it off all in one sheet ^_^
7.) Wait till mask dries completely, which takes 20-30 minutes. The edges will dry first and the cheek areas will dry last.
8.) When the mask is completely dry, pick at the edges and peelllllll~!
Look at all those white heads and skin flakes O_O!
9.) Your face is going to be pink afterwards. Use toner to take off the last bits of the black mask. Stubborn bits may have to be rinsed off. Then apply serum, essence etc. The only truly critical step is - you must apply moisturizer especially if it's winter. Just blob on the moisturizer to be on the safe side. Now you're done!
So, yeah. Like I said, it's a pretty intensive process. As they say...no pain, no beauty :\ After 2-3 rounds aka 2-3 weeks though, you should start seeing definite, long term improvements in the pore/blackhead department, maybe in even scar lightening. If you're someone who touches your face a lot though - that's a habit you're going to have to break before you want to see any long term improvement.
CO Bigelow Mentha Lipgloss
Purchased: $7.50 @ Bath & Body Works
Our mint-infused lip balm provides a glossy high shine with a refreshing cooling sensation. Lips stay moist and protected while peppermint oil gives breath a long-lasting freshness.
Good: - High shine. - Lovely minty scent and flavor. - Breath freshening. - Nice tingling sensation.
Bad: - Slightly sticky. - No staying power. - SLIPS OFF MY LIPS :P and makes it look like I'm drooling...
Apparently this is America's #1 selling lipgloss. But all I have to say is....not for me. It slips off my lips and makes it look like I'm drooling :P The shininess is nice but it looks even more "drool-like" when it's not on your lips. The extreme minty-ness is excellent (I love peppermint) and does disguise bad breath for like....five minutes, but overall, it ain't worth it because it doesn't stay on my lips at all. Plus it's definitely sticky, something I hate in lip products. I think it's kind of a hyped item honestly, surely there are other high-shine, minty glosses out there....
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation in Buff 150
Purchased: $10-12 @ Walmart/other drugstores
Specially formulated for combination or oily skin, this oil-free formula helps control shine all day and gives you flawless looking skin. Makeup looks fresh and feels great for up to 16 hours thanks to the lightweight, comfortable feel from the SoftFlex ColorStay™ formula. 20 colors available.
Good: - Decent price for a "photogenic" foundation. - Doesn't oxidize too badly. - Nice silky application. Blends well. - Dewey finish. - Smells alright. - Wide color selection (20 colors). - Medium-full coverage. - Buildable. - Lasts a respectable 7-9 hours.
Bad: - Prone to caking. - It starts off as a dewy finish but on some days I get an oil slick on my face :P Lack of oil-control is what it is I guess. - Weak product design, sometimes foundation just POURS out of the bottle.
Not much to say about this beyond what I said in the video. I don't use this very often because I use BBcream daily (all are SPF 30+), so I only use this when I want to take pictures since it only has SPF 6. In other words, this is my "camera-friendly" foundation. I mainly use this because it has a subtle dewy finish without making me look oily on camera, has good coverage, low SPF, and is decently priced. I don't recommend this for people why want a "daily-wear" foundation since it has no SPF. But for for those looking for a camera-ready foundation, this would be a good option since there are a ton of colors to pick from and won't oxidize while you're taking pics :)
