Weekly Favourites #17

This was supposed to go up on the weekend but I've been so busy! So... what I've used most and have been loving last week were -

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation in 143 - One of the sheerest foundations I own, but if you like your skin to look like skin or if you have perfect skin (jealous!), then you will love this on its own. This doesn't quite justify the price tag of $80 bucks for me, but when mixed with other thicker foundations (I favour the Shu Uemura Lightbulb Foundation to mix or MUFE HD Foundation), the results are darn natural yet still with an oomph of coverage.

Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Concealer in 04 Glow - Refer to glowing review here. I've been getting so carried away in the morning just spot concealing but it's been worth it.

Hada Labo Air Aqua UV SPF50/PA+++ (fresh) - This sunscreen is HG material, babeh. Goes on like a serum, sinks in instantly, so lightweight that I can't feel it, leaves no white cast and keeps me matte all day long. This is a sunscreen like no other, beats the Biore ones hands down.

Selsun 2.5% suspension - This is a very strange item to be in favourites, but here's the backstory. I was stalking reddit/r/skincare as per my recent nighttime reading addiction, and came across some posts that talk about acne being caused by fungus rather than bacteria. The signs of the fungal acne include many small bumps around the hairline and jaw area that don't go away despite using all the traditional acne medications. The anecdotes refer to using anti-dandruff shampoo as a wash or a mask (diluted and spread as a thin layer), specifically Selsun or Head & Shoulders which have the active ingredient of Selenium Disulfide and Zinc Pyrithione respectively. I decided to hunt the Selsun down (no silicones) and give it a shot and whaddayaknow, my little bumps pretty much decreased by 50% after the first use. It also seemed to do wonders for cleaning out my sebaceous filaments (these are not blackheads as most people think!) on my nose and cheeks. I won't say the bumps have completely cleared, but they don't make me want to squeeze them out anymore! So if you are at your wits end like I was, maybe using an anti-dandruff shampoo will work for you. Also, this does tend to be drying so use with caution.

Have a good start of week everyone, and as always, let me know your favourites too!

May 2014 Favourites

May has been a really difficult month for me in terms of skin, and that has continued into June but with some luck, it's starting to look better. Since my skin was being unusually sensitive and reacting to anything and everything, I went back to a brand that I trusted and knew my skin liked and tolerated - Hada Labo. Only their face washes don't work for me and leaves my skin feeling overly cleansed and dry but that shall be a story for another time. 

The Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion has been a staple of mine for years. It is a hyaluronic acid rich liquid that sinks right into the skin. My skin sslluurrppps it up the way a kid drinks coke (or at least the way I drank coke as a kid, massive addiction right there) and there's no sticky feeling after. I think no matter what your skin type is, the boost of hyaluronic acid hydration can't be beat. I also much prefer the Arbutin version over the normal version because it really does brighten up the complexion after extended use. This is probably like my 4th or 5th bottle, not inclusive of the bottles of normal formula Hada Labo Lotion I've used. 

I've used one of the older versions of the Hada Labo Moisturizers a long way back and it wasn't a favourite because it did leave a tacky feeling to my face. Fast forward to the very impressive sounding Hada Labo Ultra Hydrating 3-in-1 Perfect Gel which is supposed to be an essence, cream and mask all in one little tub. While I do still find the formula tacky, this performs really nicely globbed on as an overnight mask and I wake up with soothed and softer skin the next morning. It also works well in very thin layers for day time use.

The Air Aqua UV Day Emulsion SPF50 PA+++ (fresh) is such a gem of a sunscreen. It comes out as a white super liquidy formula that is almost like a serum and basically weightless once on the skin. It contains vitamin C to brighten, sebonotmine that keep the face matte and hyaluronic acid that still keeps the face hydrated (and also some anti-ageing ingredients). In my opinion it almost performs as a primer! This didn't aggravate my skin and the texture is just so beautiful. I currently have dry skin and at the end of the day I can see that my makeup has turned powdery (but still there!), so I do believe this would work well on oily skinned ladies!

I've finally pulled out my Sleek Blush by 3 Palette in Lace, a palette that looks so beautiful but was previously so hard to use because it was so incredibly pigmented. I've finally gotten my hands on a much looser blush brush and that has made an incredible difference in the way these blushes look on the cheek. A looser brush helps to diffuse the pigment and leaves such a sheer wash of colour on the cheeks which is incredibly beautiful. I use the matte colours all over the cheek and pop the centre shimmery nars orgasm-esque shade just on the apples.

Finally, my last favourite is the Tony Moly Gel Eyeliner in 02 Brown. I've been favouring an all or nothing look, so I either go with purely mascara, or a very thick cat eye. With the very intense cat eye look, a black eyeliner look is quite fierce so the brown eyeliner does a great job at softening the look. This gel eyeliner is very creamy and pigmented with all day lasting superpowers and can do no wrong. The bonus is that the built in brush is in the unretarded category and actually usable for touch ups so you can bring this little baby around!

What were your favourites this month? Here's to a better month with skin issues folks! 

Sponge & Dash

So here I bring you my latest base addiction. In between all the sun and storms we've been getting (all in the span of 24hrs), the humidity is just too damn high. A dewy base in high humidity is tough to maintain, and I try to steer clear of matte bases because I have a flat face, so here's the slap & dash routine that I've been favouring that falls somewhere in between. Oh yes, tool addiction - beautyblender (which I didn't photograph).

Both the Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream and the Topshop BB Cream offerings have spf and pretty darn good coverage that evens out most things. The Hada Labo BB Cream has a dewier finish, while the Topshop BB cream has more of a matte satin, but mixed together, the finish is both lightweight and incredibly skin-like as they offset each other in terms of finish. I find that the trick to getting the skin-like finish is to apply with fingers, quick and easy, no brushes involved. There's none of that sweaty looking dewiness, just a soft... if I might say... glow. 

Smear on some of the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer on your undereye darkness and press it in with the dry beauty blender and you'll find that it does indeed live up to its creaseless claims. Again, I find this concealer works best with the dry sponge because the sponge presses the concealer into the fine lines to create an even coating over any dark circles. Please, no wet sponges near this concealer because water is repelled from it and you'll just end up wiping off your base. Tried and tested. The shade I have is Light-medium which is a very good peachy shade, similar to the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach.

L-R: Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks 04, Topshop BB Cream 3.0, Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream 02, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer Light-Medium

For some beauty and cuteness in your life (and as a welcome to spring in other parts of the world?), you need the Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks. A brilliant palette that unlike most of the blush range of Canmake which are incredibly glittery has the softest sheen ever that brings the right amount of flush to the cheeks. I have the shade 04 which is a good balance of peach and pink that would suit most skin tones. The brush that comes with it isn't retarded and useless either. Bonus!

Top everything off with a little slice of heaven which is the Guerlain Meteorites to diffuse any shine and pores for simply perfect looking skin. For some reason though, the effect of the Guerlain Meteorites is hardly discernible to me, but when the SA in sephora tried it on me I was amazed. Any tips on how application?

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So there you have it, I can complete my face in just about 5 mins now and be out the door. Great for me because I'm always late. Just call me whirlwind val. 

Acne Scarring Helpers

When my face freaked out and left me with a disgusting amount of scarring 3 months ago, I hauled my ass to the derm and was prescribed maximum strength products, both topical and oral. My scars faded some and the acne cleared up on most of my face except for my forehead. I'm freaking 24 and i should not have acne! Damn you, hormones! The oral medication was obviously not working (and to rub salt in the wound, made me gain weight) so I sought out a more holistic cure in liver supplements. I chose liver supplements over more typical acne supplements because all the signs of my health as well as where the acne appeared pointed to my liver not functioning too well. I am happy to say that 2 weeks into those supplements, I can see my forehead acne receding!!! Now I can get to work proper on the scarring.

First things first, I believe strongly that skin needs to be healthy in order for it to heal. That means that dehydrated skin or dry skin heals much slower and my skin was definitely dehydrated due to the derm's products. Though I followed her instructions on using the blemish cream less often, I still had dehydrated skin and she would not give me more advice. So again, I had to take matters into my own hands and added these products into my skincare regime.

1. L'oreal Youth Code Pre-Essence
After cleansing and toning, this should be the first product to be applied. Read my review here. This was a repurchase - I really love the way this feels on the skin, and how quickly it absorbs. The pre-essence really does boost the effects of the products used after and I will use this for as long as my skin reacts well to this.

2. Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion
I then put on this lotion for added hydration. I'm a long time user of the Hada Labo lotions (whether normal or whitening) and when I cut it out of my routine to use the derm's products, my skin really missed it. I'm using the arbutin lotion now for a scar-fading and hydration boost.

3. Morningstar Minerals Derma Boost Rejuvenating Spray Mist
After the lotion, which contains hyaluronic acid that absorbs water, I like to spray anything that has water content on my face. I mean, that is the point of the lotion right? I like the Renew Rosehip Toner, but I've since finished that and using the Derma Boost. It's very refreshing and I'm hoping to see better skin using this product.

4. Kitoko Kalani Super Aqua Gel
You're probably getting very sick of all the hydrating products, but I promise you, all these are extremely light on the skin. The Aqua Gel melts into a water on the skin, some patting and all of the product is just absorbed straight into the skin and you should be looking at extremely plumped up skin right now. I consider this the 'primed' skin for absorption of all other 'aiding' products and this is where I start to apply the brightening products given to me by my derm.

5. Hiruscar Post Acne
I have run out of the products (from my derm) that specifically targets the scars. They were also getting rather expensive for me to repurchase (~$100 a month!!!) so... I'm rather glad to say that Hiruscar is working for me, albeit quite slowly. The great thing is that Hiruscar absorbs into the skin and leaves no residue, even under makeup. It's also quite moisturizing! With this, I see the scars slowly evening out - while I say slowly, I find that the difference is evident each morning. Or maybe my eyes are just trying to trick me into being happier.

6. Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
To seal it all off, I finish with the Clinique Moisture Surge to seal all the products in. I usually only use this at night, and only on dehydrated areas which for me are my forehead and cheeks. This is extremely hydrating, but also has a rather silicony finish which I'm not that big a fan of. It works though, which is what matters! This step is really not necessary unless you have really dehydrated skin or sleep in an extremely dry room.

So there you have it! My insanely long routine to keep my skin hydrated and in turn help my scars fade faster. If you're like me and much prefer water-based products over oil-based products, then layering is really the way to go! You have my word that all these products will feel like practically nothing on your skin. The only thing your skin will feel is super refreshed!

Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream SPF32 PA+++

I'm not really a BB cream fanatic what with the very pink/grey and usually limited shade range that comes with BB creams. I also find it rather hard to believe the many claims that come with the BB creams, though that doesn't mean that I've never been suckered into the purchase (quite silly, really). I definitely prefer a foundation or even a concealer over a BB cream but my silly skin, being very sensitive really doesn't like basically anything on my face. Hada Labo is a brand that I really like in terms of skincare, so when I saw that they had came up with a BB cream, I had to have it!

I found my tube in Taiwan - I don't believe Singapore has brought in the BB cream yet. My tube is really beat up, having been used for 9 months and thrown into just about everywhere, so be distracted by the fancy schmancy I did to the picture! The bottle itself is a squeeze tube of 45g of product. I really do wonder why asian products tend to use weight as a measure as compared to western products which use volume. Hmm. 

Though I do like squeezy tubes because it's easy to control the amount of product that comes out, I'm definitely not a fan of how messy it gets. The part in the cover where the nozzle fits constantly gets coated in product and that in turn gets all over the nozzle. Also, this is just about the most clinical and ugly packaging I have ever seen! Fugly!

L-R: MAC Studio Fix NC30, Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream in Shade 02

The product within though, is really lovely. I believe there are 2 shades, and this is the darker of the 2. It's just dark enough for my NC30 skin. It's also yellow toned, but not as yellow toned as the MAC foundations which allows it to match a variety of skin tones. 

It's more liquid than creamy in consistency, though not so liquid that it runs when put on the hand. I like that I can get a nice finish with just my fingers, but I prefer to stipple it in with the ELF powder brush because I get more coverage. Also, stippling helps me avoid the problem of having the BB cream cling to dry patches which can happen when applied with hands. As you can see in the 1st picture of this post, this product is a medium-high medium coverage and evens out skin tone beautifully. I've only used the BB cream on the picture on the right. No concealer I promise! I only have to use very minimal concealer after this BB cream which is just awesome in my book. It also manages to somehow blur my pores but yknow, might not happen for everyone. 

It applies so lightweight to the skin it's almost like applying a moisturizer! The finish is not matte, but more of a very slightly dewy finish which is really nice! Because it's so light, it also doesn't collect in any fine lines. 

Finished face, with just a little concealer

Use this for 5 or 10min routine days because it has SPF32! Definitely able to skip the sunscreen step. Hada Labo being a brand famed for hydration, I would not say that this BB cream gives oil control as I usually have to blot after about 3-4 hours, but it can last a full work day without completely disappearing off my skin, even with my oily skin. Of course, don't get your expectations too high because flaws will definitely show through by the end of the work day. This probably looks good only for 6 hours - so please bust out your concealer after that! Dry skinned girls would really like this as it's definitely one of the more hydrating bases out there. Lastly, the whitening claims....MEH. This is definitely a base product, not skin care.


Summary:

Pros:

• Has high enough SPF to skip sunscreen
• Medium - high medium coverage
• Blurs out imperfections
• Hydrating and doesn't get stuck in fine lines
• Extremely lightweight on the skin
• Has shade dark enough for NC30 skin!
• Shade is yellow based, not pink or grey
• Has never broken me out

Cons:

• No oil control
• Clings to dry patches when applied with hands
• Not very long wearing

Conclusion: The Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream is ideal for rush days, such as a school day make up routine. At least that's what I use it mostly for since my school days don't last too long. I also used it frequently when I worked a proper work day (9-6) but that was because I did touch up with concealer before I headed home. This gets an A from me because it's fuss free, very high coverage (for a BB cream) and does not feel like makeup!

Sweet Lips - NYC 16H Smoochproof Lip Stain & GOSH Long Lasting Lip Marker

These are the mainstay products I have for a daily makeup routine. Let me go through it step by step.

Face base: The Hada Labo BB Cream has rather decent coverage on its on and with SPF30 is great for a base that protects, hydrates and evens out skintone. Remember concealer face? I've managed to whittle it down to just the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and I'm really excited about it because that means that my acne scarring is toning down! 

Cheeks: I did a really stupid thing the other night. I tried to epilate my face myself. (hides away in a dungeon of shame). Confession - I have a rather hairy face which I am not proud of but I haven't been to to get my face threaded for a rather long while. My hairs are not that visible but they bug me anyway ): Anyway, long story short, I am considerably less hairy but I managed to irritate the tops of my cheekbones and they've turned red, like a sunburn. Now I have to try to blend it in with my blush, that's why my blush seems so high. I used the Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud on the cheeks under my eyes to draw the blush down. I really like this blush as it's matte and the colour is so subtle it looks like natural skin.

Eyebrows: I stick to pencils when I'm rushing for time as it's just that much easier to control. This Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Pencil is the perfect grey-brown for soft brows. 

Eyes: Raved about the Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner before here. It's such an intense black and works really well whether drawing a fine small line or an obvious cateye like I've done. The Diorshow Extase Mascara is my choice of mascara for really long, defined separated eyelashes that still look natural. Did I mention long? These make lashes so long.

Lips: Mentioned the NYC 16H Smoochproof Lip Stain and the GOSH Long Lasting Lip Marker in this week's favourites and thought I should showcase them. I used them in this look for a subtle ombre look and I quite like how they work together. 

Both are felt tip markers and leave a stain on the lips. The NYC is in Persistent Pink, looks really neon but comes out much more subtle on the lips. It probably would not show on more pigmented lips but on mine, it ups the pink factor of the lips. The GOSH stain I have is in Berry which is a berry red (excellent description eh!) that looks exactly like a cherry stain. 

NYC has a faint scent that smells like cherries and apples (and chemicals) mixed together and GOSH has a very strong cherry smell which I love. Both taste sweet on the lips which is so amazing! I know I should not be ingesting my chemical lip products but I cannot help it. Wearing these feels like I rubbed cherries on my lips and left the juice all over. Yummy!

Bigass picture of my crackly lips to show the ombre. I used the NYC Persistent Pink all over with GOSH's Berry in the centre. As you can see, Persistent Pink does not really show up on the browner edges of my top lip. Since I'm not a fan of lipsticks, my favourite part about the lip markers are that they don't change the natural texture/finish of the lips. Though they might be drying, I'd much rather top up with a balm than use a lipstick.

Obviously, these last a very short time on me because I lick my lips like crazy when I have this on (I might just have an addiction) but even so, I don't think the lasting power is that great. They could probably last you through a drink but not a full blown meal.



Summary:

Pros:

• Tastes like sugar heaven!
• Smells like fruit heaven!
• Doesn't change lip finish - only stains lips to a nicer colour
• Marker like and very easy to use

Cons:

• Ingesting the chemicals due to excessive lip-licking probably isn't too good
• Stain does not last too long
• Can be drying

These get an A from me as a lipstick noob. What do you guys think? Are stains the way to go or do you still prefer lipsticks? Have an awesome weekend lovelies! 

Weekly Favourites #3

Halo happy thursday! I apologize I missed last week's favourites because I had just seen the dermatologist and could not use any of my own products on my face. I'm seeing encouraging results (NO MORE COMEDONES or actually maybe like 5 left but it's something!~~~) and I will blog about it if I'm happy with the experience.

Since I was not allowed to use any of my own skincare products, and also I haven't been out of my house (and pjs) much, I was really cracking my head as to what to write about. What you shall see here are not just just weekly favourites, but products that I tend to swing back to every once in a while.

On a side note, how cute is this case! It's got whales and polka dots! I can't even bear to use it, so I leave it around looking pretty.

This Collection 2000 Concealer of mine has been thrown around so much that the brand has completely rubbed off. I have shade 3 which doesn't nearly have enough yellow tones for me to use, but I love to use it under my eyes and in lighter areas of my face. It conceals, conceals, and conceals! I use it on top of the Bobbi Brown Peach corrector and it doesn't crease and doesn't look cakey and is just so easy to use. Just dab dab dab and blend it with a powder brush. This concealer has my favourite consistency of all time - it's not too watery (like the MAC Pro Longwear) and doesn't dry up too fast (MUFE Full Cover I'm looking at cha'), it's just creamy and easy like that. I wish I had a perfect shade to use all over my face.

The second BB cream that I've found that matches a nc30-35 skintone would be the Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream with SPF32. For some reason, until today I've always assumed this had SPF50. Yikes. Anyway, the colour of this BB cream is great. It is definitely yellow toned, not beige or pink or grey. It is of a rather thin consistency, making it really easy to blend all over the face. It's coverage properties are not ace like the KATE BB Cream, more of a light to medium coverage. For a brand famed for moisture properties, this didn't cut it for me in that department, but works well in conjunction with a moisturizer. I always go back to this when I don't want to use foundation because this is extremely lightweight on the skin and fast to use, oilier skinned people can even skip moisturizer with this!

I have an extreme love-hate relationship with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer. I love it because it's so extremely pigmented, but I also hate it because the shade I have is only perfect for my forehead, but just a smidgen too dark for the rest of my face such that it makes me look muddy!!! However, that's also a good thing because wearing this all over the face does feel rather heavy, and I don't find it to ever totally set (gets into my laugh lines). I have an intense load of scars on my forehead from the comedones, and this concealer/pigment/whatever you call it, is so creamy and pigmented it covers the scars so nicely. It is my only concealer that can cover those scars and I love it for that. It does not look as great on dry skin as it does catch onto flakes, but it is definitely a moisturizing concealer. This is probably the most pigmented concealer on the market.

This last item is a new favourite. I got the Etude House Juicy Pop Tube at a sale near the MRT one day. I think it must've been all of 3bucks. I thought that with the price and the looks of the tube that this would be one of those 90% transparent kind of glosses. Boy I was SO wrong. This goes on with quite an oomph! It is barely sticky and really does have a nice shine that makes lips look fuller. Cheapo in me is like SCORREEEEE!

So there you have it, the products that I usually use on my outdoor face. Let me know if you like the products too!

Empties 2012

Hello lovelies! Hope everyone had a good new year's celebration! Mine was nice and peaceful! I've been MIA for quite some time, but I'm here now! 

This is a post I want to do first because I've been accumulating all these things and I'm quick running out of space and I need to do a spring clean pretty soon. So here are my empties of 2012 or actually, since I decided that I wanted to do an empties post, so it's actually only a few months of 2012

First off, perfumes. I... have varied tastes in perfume. From L-R: Charme by La Perla, Chance by Chanel and Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton. Please don't judge me for using Paris Hilton.

Charme: This was love at first smell. I had to get it. Didn't help that it wasn't too expensive as well. Can't seem to find it anywhere now though! Will repurchase if I chance upon it again.

Chance: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS. I've been hinting to everyone in my family to get it for me at the airport (this perfume was first passed to me by Mom) and everyone has been steadfastly ignoring me. Too pricey for me to afford at this moment in time T_T But I will definitely get it when I can finally afford it.

Paris Hilton: Was somewhere in the US of A in a perfume shop and asked if they had anything similar to DKNY apple. This was recommended and cheap to boot so I got it. Grew on me after a while and it's really quite fresh and not too sweet smelling (I'm no smell connoisseur). Not sure if I will repurchase. If the price is right I guess.

The trend here seems to be that I'm a cheapo....

 

Makeup items that I've finished. I find it extremely extremely hard to finish anything. So here's the item that I use the most, that is, eyeliners! I have also finished a Shu Uemura foundation but I happily threw that bottle away. That foundation holds the record for the first make up anything that I've finished. Anyway, L-R: H&M Liquid Eyeliner, L'oreal Super Liner, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner 24hr and Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eyeliner.

H&M Liquid Eyeliner: Decent liner for the price but there are better ones out there. I've also realised that the ink turns grey(?) when it's running out.

L'oreal Super Liner: This was a free gift with purchase. Pretty decent, does flake but minimally. I used this till the felt tip went soft and it felt icky to apply. I've recently purchased a similar product - L'oreal Superliner Black Laquer and the brush was soft so I'm not sure if the brush was supposed to be hard or soft in the first place :S

K-Palette: Read my rave review linked above. Tends to be hard to apply when the ink is running out though. Will repurchase but only after I've tried similar products.

Rimmel: This has been by go to pencil liner for quite a few years and I actually bought a backup. It was great all through the first pencil, very minimal smudging and transfer, I loved it. Now I'm on my 2nd pencil and it smudges everywhere so I really don't know what to think ): Will not repurchase anymore. 

Makeup removers L-R: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Make-up Remover and Mandom Bright Up Cleansing Lotion. I have also finished the Bifesta Cleansing Express but lost the bottle. 

Hada Labo/Bifesta Cleansing Express: Water-based remover, though it was quite heavy, almost like an oil. Stung my eyes but removed make up well without drying out the skin. 

Bifesta Cleansing Lotion: I really do like this cleansing lotion range because I can remove my make up in my room. For the cleansers that require me to wash my face I tend to be lazy and remove my make up prior to showering. The only bad thing about this lotion is that I finish it so fast and I use up my cotton pads really fast too which I don't find sustainable. I will definitely keep a bottle of this concurrent with an oil/oil-feel-but-water-based type of cleanser for lazy days.

The only thing about these cleansers that annoy me is their price point. At nearly $15 or >$15 each, they are extremely expensive and more than twice the price of the Kracie one I'm trying out now. I do really like them though. Such a dilemma *twiddle thumbs*. 

Acne saving products from L-R: Mario Badescu Silver Powder, Benzac AC 10, Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner. Please don't judge me from the sad sad sad state of my products.

Mario Badescu Silver Powder: What I like about this powder is that it is entirely natural with only 3 ingredients so it doesn't irritate the face other than drying it out. It really does work wonders when used after a hot bath and before a pore pack (it really pulls all the shit to the surface of the face!). Used over time, my face did feel less clogged and smoother. The ONE big nuisance about this powder is that when it dries, it flies off my face and before I know it my entire table top/pjs is covered in fine white powder. Other than that, A+ for this product and I'm on my back up now. 

Benzac AC: This worked for me for quite a while, then my skin became quite sensitive so I only used it on huge pimples. It works best on large pimples and can get them flat overnight. I have switched to the 5% one now but my skin is still too sensitive so again, only large pimples but even then, my skin does get red in areas that I've applied it. The only exception to that is my forehead where I'm currently using it in a thin layer. Will not repurchase after I finish the tube.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner: Blogged about this before, it's ace. It refines pores, cleanses the face spotless, and even removes make up. I have repurchased this and will continue doing so.

Cute little tubs of skincare from L-R: Laneige Sleeping Pack, Hada Labo Moisturing Cream, My Beauty Diary Rose and White Peony Sleep Concentrate.

Laneige Sleeping Pack: I have 4 of these simply because they are sample packs and came in 4s to match the retail size. Bought from gmarket. I quite like these and my face feels nice and refreshed and plump when I use it. My face isn't too oily in the morning either. Does take a while to sink into the skin though. I also like it as a thin layer as morning moisturizer. I will repurchase this when I run out. 

Hado Labo Moisturizer: This product is quite blah. Though it is moisturizing, it's also sticky and I don't like that on my face. For people who don't mind night products that are sticky, it does work quite well, especially for a water based product, in keeping the face hydrated. I won't repurchase this because I really don't like sticky things that sit on my face.

My Beauty Diary: This product claims to deeply hydrate and brighten. I really really like the texture of this sleeping pack. It soaks into the skin so fast, no matter how thick a layer I put. My skin loved it. It also smells heavenly. For people who don't like fragrance, too bad! I did find that my skin did look brighter when I used this mask, but moisture-wise, this wasn't that great. It also can't be used in the morning under make-up because it flakes off/rolls off in tiny pieces. I found that this mask is great to rejuvenate the skin in the day, then wiped off with toner. I would repurchase it if it wasn't like $20... just because I go through it so fast. Buy it in Hong Kong (I assume) or Taiwan where it's really cheap, like under $10 cheap.

Miscellaneous skincare clockwise L-R: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, Aqualabel Brightening White EX, Hada Labo Retinol Essence

Estee Lauder Eye Cream: I love this, it is all I could ask for in an eye cream (apart from helping with dark circles mine can't be saved) I would buy it if I can afford it but I can only afford it during extreme sales. 'Nuff said. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair: I like the texture of this but could not really tell from such a small bottle. Very moisturizing so it was good for dry/oily combo skin like mine. It's something that I would buy when I'm tired of layering skincare and want to whittle my routine down to like, 2 or 3 products. Not yet though...not yet. 

Aqualable Brightening White EX: I finished 2 bottles of this. It's so refreshing on the face it's addictive. Need to use for an extended period of time before brightening results/fading of scars can be seen though. I've decided it's not effective enough to buy a 3rd bottle. 

Hada Labo Retinol Essence: Bought this because I feared wrinkles and I have an *ahem* matured face and was hoping to slow that down so I can look young for longer. I don't have wrinkles so I cannot tell whether this product worked -.- . Texture is nice but sticky. Will not repurchase... yet. I hope I don't get wrinkles for at least 3 decades more (cross fingers). 

So that rounds off the empties reviews I hope it helps some people in striking off some items in their WANT list and hopefully not add too many to that list. Feel free to ask me to elaborate as I've tried to keep each "review" short (though I tend to ramble, I know), or let me know what you think of the products too, maybe? 

Have a good start of year everybutty! <3

Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion and Moist Eye Cream

My skin has been on the fritz lately. My doctor has told me to go off my medication since I have been on it for quite some time already and it's just not good for me, and god I miss my medication. Who knew. Well anyway, since I no longer have the oil control from the medication, my face is a friggin' oil slick, but still annoyingly dry for god knows what reason. 

Someone must've heard my prayers because these 2 products were sent to me recently. This is going to be the longest review I have written so far so read only if you have time and I also have to add that that being sponsored has no impact on my review. 

The first product is the Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion, and it's something that I've actually used for a while. As mentioned in my previous post, I used to use it on a daily basis. It impressed me so much that when my Mom went to japan I had her bring me back a few bottles! To date, I've gone through 2 bottles of the whitening lotion, and 2 bottles of the normal lotion and I also have the moisturizer. I think that's a pretty good indication of how much I like this product as well as the brand. 

The bottle sent to me boasts a new nano formula. The old version only has Super Hyaluronic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid whereas the new one has a new Nano Hyaluronic Acid on top of the old 2. While the old formula supposedly only sits on the skin, the new formula supposedly penetrates the skin easily to keep the skin more moisturized (according to the very cute bulbasaur lookalike diagram).

 Honestly imo, it is then time to get rid of plain ol' hyaluronic acid because I don't understand its use anymore.

It's a big bottle with 170ml of product inside. I believe it retails for around $22 at Watsons, substantially more expensive that the usual toner. The packaging is extremely basic plastic packaging, in tune with it's perfectxsimple philosophy. The cap clicks shut satisfyingly, and the hole is small enough so that the viscous product doesn't simply pour out. 

Product inside is a clear, slightly viscous liquid. The best way to use this is to pour a few drops onto your palms and then slap your face vigourously. I kid. Gently pat it in. I don't find this like a toner at all. A toner is something that you pour onto a cotton pad, which you then use to clean the face of remnant grime. Try putting this on a cotton pad and you'll have a very hard time with it. 

The liquid takes a while to be absorbed into the skin, though faster than the old formula. I tested this by putting both formulas on at the same time on different halves of the face. While the new formula  leaves the face nice and plump and ready to receive moisturizer, I don't find that it does much more than the old formula except that it absorbs faster. I also do not find this moisturizing enough to use on its own, so do not expect this product to replace moisturizer. 

What I find is that it enhances how products put on after the lotion works, and how my skin does instantly feel fresher and in taiwanese terms, QQ, after putting it on. When the skin is well moisturized, oil production decreases, so that is a win for me. In short, this product actually does what it says it does, though only in combination with moisturizer.

Also, despite how awesome this product sounds with it's perfect x simple philosophy, I feel the need to remind the ultra conscious people that there are parabens in this product. Although parabens are certified safe to be put in such products, I know that there are people who prefer to avoid it. 

I also did a comparison on the new and old ingredient lists. The new one has an extra Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid as the 2nd last ingredient. My intelligent guess is that this is what the Nano Hyaluronic Acid is. I leave you to make your own conclusions. 

Summary:

Pros:

• Instantly moisturizes and plumps skin
• Enhances absorption of products used after

Cons:

• Does not replace moisturizer nor act like a toner; is more an extra product to be used
• Has parabens.
• Not different enough from the old formula to warrant a purchase if still in possession of the old one

SUPER HYALURONIC ACID MOIST EYE CREAM

The Super Hyaluronic Acid Moist Eye Cream that came along with the SHA lotion really excited me!!! A girl can never have too many eye creams. My favourite eye cream of all time is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye which I got at a really good price. But it is a small tub and is running out so I tend to use it sparingly. So I was really excited to try the eye cream.

The claims: 

- 3 Hyaluronic Acids to moisturize

- something called (ACTIFLOW) to lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness

- natural jojoba oil and extracts to smoothen fine lines and aging skin

As some would know, I am highly suspicious of claims. They excite me and tempt me that's for sure, but I only believe the moist(truly an honest typo haha) most basic of claims. In this case, what the brand is known for - moisture, everything else is a bonus.

Firstly, lets talk about packaging. Again, in line with philosophy, not very exciting packaging, but it looks almost like it comes from Muji, which I like. It's got a nice controllable pump and 15g of product. I believe this is also around $22 at Watsons. I also like that the packaging is opaque because though I can't see how much product I have left, it means that sunlight will have less effect on the ingredients inside, should they react to it. 

Product is white, light, creamy, goodness. I liked the consistency so much I felt it deserved a picture of its own. That by the way is enough product to use on both eyes.

This eye cream really impressed me in terms of moisture and what it did for my fine lines in the short term. I cannot vouch for this product long term as I've only tried it for a few days. Pop this eye cream in the fridge and when put on the eye, the cream will feel super shiok! (awesome).

I have a very deep line on my left eye. The only cream that filled it out was of course, the Estee Lauder one. I now have another product that can do it and that has made me incredibly happy! It is only obvious that it has filled out when I inflate my eyebags, though hopefully in the long term it will help more. It is super light on the area and feels like nothing when absorbed, also hasn't given me any milia seeds.

Looking at the ingredient list however, Cylopentasiloxane/Dimethiconol is listed as the 3rd ingredient, so I suspect that it is these silicones that are plumping out my skin. The jojoba oil is 5th so hopefully that will help in the long term.

This eyecream definitely fufills its claims on moisture; my eyes thank me when this cream is applied twice a day. It also helps my concealer go on quite a bit better and improves the lasting power! Surprise for me there.

I have No Idea what (ACTIFLOW) is, but the week that I've used it has definitely not shown me improvement in dark circles. Then again, I have chronic dark circles nothing I do helps. Also, my sleep cycle tells me it's normal to sleep at 2am when it's definitely not normal. Hence the dark circles.

My only problem with this product is that though it works, it's probably not as in line with the perfect x simple tune it's singing. There are silicones, alcohol and parabens in this eye cream. I would normally try to steer away from face care products that contain silicones and alcohol at the very least, but his has been working so I will definitely stick with it at least till the end of the bottle!


Summary:

Pros:

• Good packaging
• Fantastic consistency; super light, creamy and easily absorbed
• Moisturises very well
• Gets rid of fine lines

Cons:

• Has silicones, alcohol and parabens
• May be a product that is more for short term effect than long term help

If you're convinced by me, or not convinced by me and want to try some for yourself, then head to the Hada Labo Facebook Page to get a sample to try for yourself! 

Base Routine

FOTD? I was experimenting with a new way to achieve a lighter base routine but still achieve the maximum coverage. Today I stumbled upon this application which though quite time consuming, I like the way it looks and feels.

I will be posting up images from the web as I'm too lazy to take my own.

Prep:

Hada Labo Lotion

Works as a toner, also quite moisturizing and light. For me it's not moisturizing enough, that's why I top it off with another moisturizer.

Garnier Whiten & Even Moisturizing Cream spf 17/pa++

Gives an instant brightening effect, especially for paler girls. For me it makes my face quite white. However I think that this moisturizer does work quite well for scars and pigmentation, that's why I use it.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Mousse Water Base spf 50+/pa+++ (need so many + a not...)

Sunblock. My mom always told me to use sunblock. I never listened. Now I have pigmentation and am very sad. Love this sunblock. Absolutely love the texture. Super light!

Olivia by CCS eco Eye Cream with Organic Olive Oil (bought in Sweden)

Bought this in Sweden because I had no eye cream and I was developing wrinkles under my eyes. This was the cheapest at their drug store because they have 25% (yeah you read that right) tax on all skincare. Quite a light and nice eye cream, doesn't do much for the wrinkles but decent for day time use. Use a light eye cream and not a heavy one because eye creams are what causes your concealer to move and mascara/eyeliner to smudge.

Base:

Skin79 Super+ Beblesh Balm

1. Use Skin79 BB Cream as a base/primer. I use this to cover up my pores to give a smoother surface to work on. It also provides decent coverage for areas that are red.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

2. This is a product that can be used as a foundation, however, I haven't had it long enough to find out how to work with it as it is AMAZINGLY pigmented. It is also slightly darker than my skin tone (matches my neck but my natural face is alot lighter than my neck so I cannot stand it being so dark), and since it's so pigmented it looks unnatural. In any case, this has no silicones or fillers so when on the skin it looks like skin. I use this to conceal any blemishes or pigmentation. If you do not own this, use a concealer that is slightly darker than your skin tone to conceal, then blend the edges out very well.

Kate Covering Concealer for Under Eyes

3. Use a peach concealer for under eye rings. Kate Covering Concealer is not bad, doesn't really crease for me. Squeeze some onto hand and slowly use a finger to dab it under the eyes. Work in thin layers so that it won't crease rather than putting on a lot at once and blending out. Can also be used to brighten up the area under eye/eyebags for a Kim Kardashian look.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream

4. Face should look slightly odd now, with patches of dark concealer and peach concealer. No fear, use Ginvera Green Tea BB Cream and dab over the dark spots, blending it into the rest of the face. Also put some on top of (if necessary) or around the peach areas and blend. 

Rest of face:

e.l.f All Over Colour Stick in Spotlight

I use this as a highlighter for my nose. Cream products generally work well with a cream base. Do not ever use this on powder base, will cause powder to ball up/shift.

NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural

Mentioned in review below.

L'oreal Super Liner 

Got this as a free gift and it works quite well. I use this to line my eyelid. Using another lighter pencil in black, lightly line the waterline. Not too intense. Then using an angled brush/flat brush, get a brown eyeshadow (or just use eyebrow pencil haha) to fill in the little corner space under the outer corner of the eye. This will really elongate the eye. Will do a proper tutorial soon.

Finish off with a lipbalm/lip colour if you like. I use the EOS lipbalm, very minty. I practically eat it. 

This base procedure does take quite long if you have many spots/scars like me because it's based on concealing mostly the spots and keeping the rest of the face relatively free of products. I really like it because I don't get the unnatural look that comes with using heavy coverage foundations. I also prefer this over powders because for some reason, I always picture powder particles army crawling their way into my big pores and refusing to get out. If you haven't already realized, the above routine is ALL cream/liquidy products. I hope this helps someone who needs as much coverage as I do and still wants to look normal, but if not, hope it helps anyway!

Oh, DO NOT take any pictures with this routine on. YOU WILL HAVE A WHITE FACE. There are 4 products in this routine that have spf. One of them being spf 50 with many + signs. Yes I am that paranoid. Okay no I'm not, it just so happens. 

If I am not clear enough, here are the tutorials that I have adapted my own routine from. I really like the 2nd girl!

Enjoy!