Hey there cutie,

Lush is one of those stores that I go to when I want to treat myself and last year, I bought myself a lip scrub for my birthday!

I've heard wonderful things about Lush like how they use natural ingredients and most, if not all of their products, are vegan.  Their bath bombs are really great but I haven't really ventured off to any of their other products.


A little background information; I have extremely dry, flaky and chapped lips.  I use medicated lip balms throughout the day and even the skin around the outside of my lips flake!  I would usually scrub my lips in the shower under running water when it has had time to soak in warm water.  Not anymore!


So this lip scrub is made up of sugar, sea salt, and a bunch of organic oils that help moisturized your lips.  The best part is that you can totally eat it!  Licking it off my lips and fingers is my favourite part.  I just take a pea sized amount on my finger and scrub my lips all over, even outside of my lips to get all the dead skin.  This stuff lasts for a while!



This was their Valentines Day special lip scrub that has a "sweet mandarin flavor".  I don't taste mandarin but I really can't point out what I'm actually tasting expect sweet, sweet and more sweet.  There's sprinkles in there, isn't that so fun?

The scrub totally changed my life.  Never has my lips been so smooth that actually lasts throughout the day!  Of course my lips require a light scrub every day but for normal people, I'd say a scrub twice a week would be fine.  This is perfect for prepping your lips before applying lipstick.

After using it for about a mouth, I noticed that my lips have healed a lot more than it ever has in the past.  My lip balms have been absorbing a lot better so the medication is really healing them well and I'm experiencing less and less flaking lately.  I'm hoping they will heal completely so I will no longer suffer from extreme chapped lips.

Rating: ★★★★★  5/5

I absolutely love this product!  I will be repurchasing this after I'm done this jar even if this particular flavour is not available anymore.  I really urge you to go try this lip scrub if you're like me and have super chapped lips.

Labels: cosmetics, lipscrub, lush, review, skincare

Hey cutie!

So I'm back a year later with another cushion review.  This time, I'll be talking about Etude House's Precious Mineral Any Cushion.  I had two refills of this, and I'm just finishing my last one so I think I have a good idea of what I want to say in this review.







First, I want to say that the packaging is much bulkier in comparison to my Innisfree Water Glow Cushion.  If I can remember correctly, I've been told that Etude House cushions fit into other brands under Amore Pacfic such as IOPE, Hera, and so on.  Innisfree however, does not, and their sizes are different than other cushions.  If I had to choose, I do prefer the Innisfree compact better because it's a little slimmer and it's flat top allows you to stack it with other products with ease.  Etude House has a curved top which makes it impractical to store sometimes.

Second, let's compare the sponge.  I think the key to a good cushion is not only the formula but also the sponge.  Etude House's sponge is very airy and has a bit of a thickness to it which is ideal for cushions.  Innisfree's sponge is slightly less thick, but both sponge's texture are similar.  For this reason, I'll say Etude House wins this portion. 




I got this cushion in the shade W24 Honey Beige which is their darkest shade but I find it is super warm against my skin.  You can clearly see the difference in colour from the picture.  The texture of this cushion is a little thicker than the Innisfree Water Glow.  If you're tried the Precious Mineral BB Cream, it's the same product, just in a cushion form.  For both the BB cream and cushion version, I found it is heavier and a little cakey on my dry skin.  It has never been my favourite formula.




The coverage of the cushion is about a light-medium to buildable medium in my opinion.  It evened out my skin tone and reduced the redness of my cheeks and also brightened my face despite the yellowness of it. There is a slight perfume scent to it but it does not last on the face. I'd say this lasts about 4 hours into the day but anything after that will soon start to fade. The issue I have with this cushion is how cakey it tends to make my face look up close and it sometimes creases in my worry lines (I don't set my cushions with powder).  For this reason, I try to apply a thin layer upon application.



Overall, this is not my favourite cushion although I know a lot of people do enjoy it.  I much prefer my Innisfree Water Glow but this is a "slightly" (not by much) cheaper alternative.  If you have oily to combination skin, maybe this will work out much better for you.

Rating: ★★★☆☆  3/5


 

Labels: cosmetics, cushion, etude house, foundation, korean, makeup, review

Hello cutieeeeee,

I'm gonna do a two-part concealer review on the Maybelline Dream Lumi and Fit Me concealers! First I'll be reviewing the Dream Lumi, then the Fit Me, and do a comparison at the end :)

*By the way, this has been in my drafts for a while so excuse my still-blonde pictures!






So this concealer is supposed to highlight and brighten your face so it's really great under your eyes and bridge of your nose; anywhere you want to highlight.  The tip has a brush applicator which makes it easy to apply on your face and even blend out if you don't dispense too much product at once.  I usually just use my fingers or my foundation brush though.



I got the lightest colour Ivory because I wanted the maximum highlight I could possible get.  My skin is relatively light so it actually matched well.  It blends out okay and you really only need a little bit.

Rating: ★★★★☆  4/5

Overall I like this product for the brightening aspect of it.  The only thing I don't like is how pricey it can be for such little product and how it can get a little cakey if you add too much.  Other than that, it's a pretty decent highlighting concealer but don't expect to cover blemishes with this!

Labels: concealer, cosmetics, makeup, maybelline, review

Hello again, cuties!

This is the second part to my concealer review.  I'll be talking about the Fit Me concealer by Maybelline, and then do a comparison at the end!

*By the way, this has been in my drafts for a while so excuse my still-blonde pictures! 



This concealer didn't come with lots of packaging which I liked because that's just less junk for me to throw out.  There's tape around the seal to insure it hasn't been opened yet.  I got the shade 10 Light which is more yellow toned. (I should have picked Fair which is more pink!)




Despite me getting the pinker toned shade, this concealer still managed to look yellow on me!  It blended into my skin okay but I was hoping for something more cool toned.

I got the colours mixed up and should've gotten Fair, which is why this was so yellow on me. My bad!

Comparison

Labels: concealer, cosmetics, makeup, maybelline, review

Hello cuties,

So I went ahead and got another Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick because I adored my 111 so much.  I was debating about this colour and another more paler version but my brother picked this one so I went with it.  I also picked the same matte finish.





So this is the colour.  It's a bright coral-pink which looked very lovely when I swatched it on my hand, but as soon as I put it on my lips, I instantly knew it was the wrong shade for me and I regret not getting the paler shade.  The colour just did not match my skin tone.  I think this colour would work very will with someone who had a pink undertone but it was definitely clashing with my yellower undertone.  Sometimes when I dab a little bit of the colour on the inside of my lips, I can make it work, but I definitely can't just wear it full on my lips.

Although the finish is the same as the 111 that I love so much, this one was horrible to apply on my lips!  It just accentuated the cracks of my lips and made my lips look so terribly chapped.  Even when I've fully exfoliated my lips to be baby butt smooth, this lipstick has some kind of super power to make my lips still look chapped and gross!  Maybe it's just this colour that does it because I have no problems with my red 111.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆  2/5

Anyway, this was a very big disappointment.  The colour choice isn't their fault, but the formula is!  I just don't understand why 111 and 102 have such different outcomes when they're both from the same matte lipstick line. 

Labels: cosmetics, lipstick, makeup, review, rimmel

I can't seem to sleep right now, so you guys are gonna get a mini review right now.  I've been really vocal about my recent purchase of the Beauty Blender and that's because I'm totally in love with this thing.  That's the review in a nutshell, but let me go through the pros and cons.

So I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical about this when it first got really popular amongst the beauty community.  It seemed like just an egg shaped sponge, big whoop.  It wasn't until I tried my Innisfree cusion foundation that I started to realize that maybe this thing wasn't such BS after all.  The sponge on the cushion foundation felt different from regular makeup sponges and it made makeup application really easy and smooth.  That's when my curiosity started to get to me.

When I got the opportunity to purchase something at Sephora, I ran straight to the Beauty Blender because I was so ready to see what the hype was all about... and let me tell you, the hype is so real it hurts.


This little guy literally does wonders to my face.  The first time I used it, I saw the hype.  It literally made my foundation look flawless like it never has before.  Also, it did wonders to my dry skin and kept it from looking cakey even hours after application.  It wasn't until my friend asked what I used on my face because my makeup was looking incredible that day (I was only using concealer and highlighter with the Beauty Blender) and said my face was extra dewy, that I knew this thing really was doing a lot for me.  I've never heard a single compliment on my face makeup until I used this thing so I think it speaks for itself.

You have to use this wet to get the full affects of what it can really do.  I like that it adds extra dewiness and hydration to my face.  Because it's a sponge, it does sheer out your foundation a tiny bit, but I still managed a medium coverage with one layer, so don't think it'll make your foundation totally useless in terms of coverage.

I mentioned that the cushion foundation was what got me curious about the Beauty Blender and that's because I had a feeling that they were made of the same sponge material.  When I felt it for the first time, I'd say they are similar in texture but the Beauty Blender really is unique with it's own sponge formulation.  It's latex free so it's perfect for people who have latex allergies.  I don't know what this sponge is made out of but it's really worth the price.

Speaking of price, it's pretty expensive for just a makeup sponge.  But like I said, totally worth it.  They recommend you use it up to 3 months before you throw it away and get a new one but I'm going to see how long I can make it stretch.  It's really all about hygienic reasons.  Sponges are going to collect bacteria after a while.  I wash mine every single time I use it so maybe it won't be too bad.

So I've raved about how good this thing is, but let me point out some negatives just to even out the playing field.  Other than the price, I have two main critiques about this product:

Stains: This thing stains like none other.  You really have to scrub it if you want to get all the stains out, and even then it might not all come out.  I'm scared of ripping it if I scrub too hard so I eventually gave up trying to get it looking all nice and clean.  If you're one of those people who are super OCD about getting your sponges looking 100% clean, you're going to have to suck it up with this one because it's not worth all the effort to get a clean looking sponge.  If the water and soap runs clean, just go with it.

Dye:  As you can see, I got the red limited edition that was for Sephora.  I wanted the black one but they didn't carry any at the store I was at.  When I washed it the first time before I used it, tons and tons of dye came out.  It just kept coming out and out to the point where now my sponge is a washed out red-pink colour.  I mean it still works perfectly fine but it's definitely not the colour I wanted it to be.  Not a big deal, but I thought I should mention it just in case any other person was expecting to keep theirs super bright red.  I'm not sure about the other colours, or maybe this was just the one I got.

Anyway, overall I really do like the Beauty Blender and I think it's so worth the hype.

Rating: ★★★★★  5/5

Labels: beauty blender, cosmetics, makeup, review

Hi cuties,

So I've had this top coat for a while now and I wanted to do a review for you guys in case any of you were planning on getting it.  It's the Sally Hansen Big Matte top coat.

There are plenty of brands that have come out with matte top coats over the years.  I wanted to get one for myself but I didn't want to shed the money for an expensive one if I was only going to use it occasionally.  Sally Hansen came out with a "Big" line which includes this matte one and a shiny one, I believe. 


The instructions tell you to shake gentle and apply 1 coat over your dry nail colour.  They top coat goes on pretty clear but you can start to see it turn matte just seconds after applying.  It's pretty cool to watch.  It also dries fairly quickly, which was nice to find out.


(Sorry for the gross chipping nail polish)  I tested it on my thumb so you can compare the difference between the regular shiny nail and the matte thumb nail.  The finish is indeed matte both to the touch and visually.  However, I found that after a day or two of wear, it starts to fade off and become less matte the longer you keep it on your nails.  It starts to wear off into a sort of satin-finish, and then finally you can start to see it completely gone in patches on your nails.  So I would not say this is a long-wearing top coat at all.

Rating: ★★★☆☆  3/5

Overall, I'd say this isn't the best matte top coat you can find.  It's a cheaper alternative to say an OPI or Essie matte top coat, but it's also lesser in quality and doesn't stay on the nail as well, I'd assume.  However, if you don't mind painting on a fresh coat every 2-3 days or so, then I'd say go for it.

Labels: cosmetics, matte, nail polish, review, sally hansen

I am so excited to do this review!  I recently received MAC's Cyber for my birthday which has been on my wishlist for so long and let me tell you, I plan on wearing the heck out of this.

So Cyber is one of those super dark vampy lip colours that will probably scare off a bunch of people, but those are the colours I absolutely adore.  It's dark dark purple with cool undertones... so yeah, it makes me look like a pale vampire; perfection.  It's a satin finish so there's a bit of a glossy sheen to it and it can emphasize dry flaky lips so always remember to prep and exfoliate your lips before applying! I would also advise you to use a lip liner with this just to avoid bleeding.


 Here it is swatched in natural lighting.  I'd say this is truer to it's colour than it is in it's bullet and in direct sunlight.  I find that the colour may change slighting in different lighting, looking more saturated in bright light and more towards a black-purple in low lighting.  The bullet looks more of a blue-purple.


Here's a close up lip swatch in direct bright natural lighting.  I was facing a window on a very sunny day when I took this and I'd say this colour looks more like the bullet colour.

I also took a picture with it on in natural lighting again, but on a less sunny day.  Depending on the number of layers you put on, I think you can sheer this colour out to make it less dark and more wearable.



Rating: ★★★★★  5/5
 
Overall, I loveeee this lipstick and I actually like how the colour differs in different lighting.  This is my first ever MAC product and I'm so tempted to buy other lipsticks!

Labels: cosmetics, lipstick, mac, makeup, review

Heya cuties,

So I'm finally writing a review on the Kat Von D Spellbinding Eyeshadow Book!  Spoiler alert, let me just say this now, I am in love with this.

I adore Kat Von D a lot.  As an artist and just a rad girl all around, she's one of the people that I idolize and sometimes I look at her and I think to myself, 'damn I wish I was her'.  My cousin went to her shop to get a tattoo and met Kat and said that Kat is one of the nicest and most humble people she has ever met.  I really appreciate that about her.  Her being an art-based person really gives me a deeper connection because I'm also an art-based person so I know whatever she comes out with is really artsy. 



So let's talk about packaging because you can't mention Kat Von D and not talk about packaging.  One thing that I love about this pallet is that the illustrations and designs for her products are all personally drawn by her.  The drawing on the front of the pallet alone is just so beautiful, isn't it?  Her style is definitely right up my ally.  This is the front of the box it comes in, but the pallet is the exact same thing but with a black boarder.  The back (on the box), features all the colours in a grid.


What's different about the pack on the actual pallet is that this has a "chart" that shows colour combinations you could do.  I think one of the main points of these shadows are that you could mix two shadows together and it'll form a completely different shade. 

How to use: Each set of shades are paired together to create perfect layered looks.  Apply "Geek" on lids, then blend "Fallen" on top for a bronzed peach shadow.  For a completely different look, apply "Fallen" on the lids, then blend "Geek" on top for a perfect golden shadow.

This is what it looks like when you first open it up.  There are three diagrams of three different looks you can try out.  There's also a clear film over the top of the shadows with their names printed on top.  I find that this is a little bit annoying to hold back when you're trying to use the shadows, but I guess it is helpful for not getting shadow all over the top of the lid.


Here's an overview of all the names.  The ones with a star next to the names are "never before seen" shades.  As you can see, there are quite a few of this some it makes getting this pallet really worth it since there wouldn't be too many repeats of other shadows you might already have. 

At first glance, my favourite shades were Oddfellow (black with teal glitter), Queen (a redish brown-green duo chrome), Wonderland (dark plum with pink glitter), and WTF (bright red with purple-ish undertone).  After using this pallet for a while, the colour that I grew to love was Smile Now because it looks like an orange-peach colour but when applied on the lids, it actually has a pink duo-chrome action going on.  I really like this as an inner corner highlight because when the light hits it in an angle, it's pink.


This is definitely a pretty colourful pallet, but I think it's very good for someone who is just starting to use brighter colours, like I am.  I'm not all for the full-on-bright-colours-all-over-the-eyes but I like a hint of colour here and there or different tones of neutral-ish colours.  For example, sometimes I use a red-ish shade like Stupid Audocorrect in my crease as a transition shade instead of a standard taupe or brown.  Or sometimes I use a combination of the greener shades like Gunner and Hexagram with a golden shade to highlight like Sunset Blvd or Precious.  Hexagram is an olive-green type shade that is a little more neutral than a straight up green so it's easy to work with without making your eyes look like a rainbow of colours, while Gunner is a very saturated green to give it that pop of colour.  The one shade I haven't really used is Bukowski, which is that one bright blue on the bottom, only because I really don't rock blue very well without looking like a hooker.  I have one other bright blue shadow in my collection and I don't even use that one either so I don't know how I'm going to use this one.

The texture of these shadows are super buttery smooth.  Just swatching them with my fingertips felt like a dream because they were just so soft.  The pigmentation is excellent, but I would use an eyeshadow primer under them just so the colours are as pigmented as they can be and to ensure they last all day and don't crease.  In terms of fallout, the darker colours, especially the ones with glitter, tend to have a bit of fallout.  It's not a crazy amount, but I'm assuming you tap off the extra on your brush before applying like you should be doing.  Speaking of tapping off the excess, when you do so, you'll see that a ton of it comes off of the brush.  I think due to how soft and finely milled these shadows seem to be, this translates to a lot of potential fallout.  Having said that, I would imagine that this means you will use up these shadows pretty quickly if half of it is fall out that you can't press back into the shadow.  That's just loose powder being blown everywhere!  That's something you should keep in mind.

Another thing I want to mention is that the golden shades, Precious and Sunset Blvd (especially Precious), seem a bit powdery.  It's almost hard to get them on the lid without packing them on a ton.

The thing that I love most like I've mention before is that a lot of these shadows seem to be duo-chrome (which I've always love love LOVED) and what makes them so special is that you can layer them to get a different shade!  Now, I'm not talking about like mixing a blue and a green will give you an orange (that's not even possible to begin with), but something like Birdcage and Gunner layered on top of each other makes a grassy-lime green.  This also means that blending these colours into each other is a breeze because the overlap will be an automatic transition colour!  Honestly, I think this is really what makes this pallet so unique. 

I got this eyeshadow book as a birthday present this year but I know Sephora sold it for around $55 or so.  I'm not sure if they still sell it now because I don't see it on the Sephora website anymore but if you really want to pick this up, try walking into the store to see if it's there and if not, maybe eBay will be your next best bet.

Rating: ★★★★☆  4/5

I really want to give this a perfect score but as reviewed, there are some cons to this pallet so I cannot give it 5/5.  Although I has quickly became one of my favourites, next to the Naked 2 pallet.  This is my first ever Kat Von D cosmetic item and it has definitely given me an excellent impression on the quality of her products.  I'm curious and excited to try out a few of her items in the future!

Labels: cosmetics, eyeshadow, kat von d, makeup, review

Hey cuties,

I'm super excited to be doing this review right now! A little back story: my friend introduced me to her IOPE/Amore Pacific (I can't remember which one she has) cushion and raved about how cushion foundations are really great and handy.  I've heard about them from Youtube and Korean beauty blogs but never really paid too much attention to them until now.  This is my first cushion foundation and I wasn't too sure how I'd like it so I went with a cheaper alternative to the higher end Hera/IOPE/Amore Pacific route and got Innisfree! 

This is also my first Innisfree product and spoiler alert: I'm impressed!
I believe Innisfree's most famous cushion is their Long Wear Cushion (matte), however I went with the Water Glow (dewy) version because I have dry skin!

I haven't seen many reviews for this product so I hope you enjoy :)


 The compact itself it very sleek and simple.  It fits nicely in the palm of my hand and isn't too thick or heavy to travel with.  This will be perfect on the days I'm over at my boyfriend's house and do not want to bring a whole bottle of foundation + brushes.

The back has all the specifications: name, colour, manufacture date, and product amount.  You get 15g of product per cushion and they are also refillable so you don't have to keep buying new compacts.  It has a 12 month expiry life but I'm pretty sure you'll need to buy a new refill after 2-3 months if you use it daily. 

The Water Glow cushion has SPF 50+ and PA+++ which I've found pretty standard for Korean BB/CC/foundation.


 When you first open the compact, there's a film that seals the product which you remove before using.  I guess this is to show that it hasn't been tampered with.


To get the product, you have to press down into the cushion.  As you can see, the product itself is much lighter than the cushion itself which is very misleading when people are trying to choose shades!  Always keep in mind that Korean girls have super pale skin so all their foundations are in the lighter side of the spectrum.

When swatched on my hand, you can see the difference between my cool skin tone versus the warmer tone of the foundation.  It also has a light texture.  It's not quite watery but it's not too thick like say Skin79's purple BB cream which has a gel-like texture.

After I tapped/blended it out with the sponge, it blended into my skin quite nicely.  I was surprised to find that it was a good colour match for my face.  Although it is slightly warm toned, it neutralized my skin tone well and gave a brightening affect.

The coverage for this foundation is light to medium.  It's definitely build-able and gets better the more layers you apply.  I usually do an overall application and go back with a second layer on areas that need higher covers like around the nose and on my dark circles.

Overall I am very impressed by this product and I've been using it every day since I got it.  I got mine on eBay for around $26 CAD while the cheapest refill I've seen goes for $17-18.  This has been a very pleasant introduction of cushion foundations and I'm eagered to try other brands!

Rating: ★★★★★  5/5

xoxo.

Labels: cosmetics, cushion, foundation, innisfree, korean, makeup, review

Hey there cutie,

Lush is one of those stores that I go to when I want to treat myself and last year, I bought myself a lip scrub for my birthday!

I've heard wonderful things about Lush like how they use natural ingredients and most, if not all of their products, are vegan.  Their bath bombs are really great but I haven't really ventured off to any of their other products.


A little background information; I have extremely dry, flaky and chapped lips.  I use medicated lip balms throughout the day and even the skin around the outside of my lips flake!  I would usually scrub my lips in the shower under running water when it has had time to soak in warm water.  Not anymore!


So this lip scrub is made up of sugar, sea salt, and a bunch of organic oils that help moisturized your lips.  The best part is that you can totally eat it!  Licking it off my lips and fingers is my favourite part.  I just take a pea sized amount on my finger and scrub my lips all over, even outside of my lips to get all the dead skin.  This stuff lasts for a while!



This was their Valentines Day special lip scrub that has a "sweet mandarin flavor".  I don't taste mandarin but I really can't point out what I'm actually tasting expect sweet, sweet and more sweet.  There's sprinkles in there, isn't that so fun?

The scrub totally changed my life.  Never has my lips been so smooth that actually lasts throughout the day!  Of course my lips require a light scrub every day but for normal people, I'd say a scrub twice a week would be fine.  This is perfect for prepping your lips before applying lipstick.

After using it for about a mouth, I noticed that my lips have healed a lot more than it ever has in the past.  My lip balms have been absorbing a lot better so the medication is really healing them well and I'm experiencing less and less flaking lately.  I'm hoping they will heal completely so I will no longer suffer from extreme chapped lips.

Rating: ★★★★★  5/5

I absolutely love this product!  I will be repurchasing this after I'm done this jar even if this particular flavour is not available anymore.  I really urge you to go try this lip scrub if you're like me and have super chapped lips.

Labels: cosmetics, lipscrub, lush, review, skincare

Hey cutie!

So I'm back a year later with another cushion review.  This time, I'll be talking about Etude House's Precious Mineral Any Cushion.  I had two refills of this, and I'm just finishing my last one so I think I have a good idea of what I want to say in this review.







First, I want to say that the packaging is much bulkier in comparison to my Innisfree Water Glow Cushion.  If I can remember correctly, I've been told that Etude House cushions fit into other brands under Amore Pacfic such as IOPE, Hera, and so on.  Innisfree however, does not, and their sizes are different than other cushions.  If I had to choose, I do prefer the Innisfree compact better because it's a little slimmer and it's flat top allows you to stack it with other products with ease.  Etude House has a curved top which makes it impractical to store sometimes.

Second, let's compare the sponge.  I think the key to a good cushion is not only the formula but also the sponge.  Etude House's sponge is very airy and has a bit of a thickness to it which is ideal for cushions.  Innisfree's sponge is slightly less thick, but both sponge's texture are similar.  For this reason, I'll say Etude House wins this portion. 




I got this cushion in the shade W24 Honey Beige which is their darkest shade but I find it is super warm against my skin.  You can clearly see the difference in colour from the picture.  The texture of this cushion is a little thicker than the Innisfree Water Glow.  If you're tried the Precious Mineral BB Cream, it's the same product, just in a cushion form.  For both the BB cream and cushion version, I found it is heavier and a little cakey on my dry skin.  It has never been my favourite formula.




The coverage of the cushion is about a light-medium to buildable medium in my opinion.  It evened out my skin tone and reduced the redness of my cheeks and also brightened my face despite the yellowness of it. There is a slight perfume scent to it but it does not last on the face. I'd say this lasts about 4 hours into the day but anything after that will soon start to fade. The issue I have with this cushion is how cakey it tends to make my face look up close and it sometimes creases in my worry lines (I don't set my cushions with powder).  For this reason, I try to apply a thin layer upon application.



Overall, this is not my favourite cushion although I know a lot of people do enjoy it.  I much prefer my Innisfree Water Glow but this is a "slightly" (not by much) cheaper alternative.  If you have oily to combination skin, maybe this will work out much better for you.

Rating: ★★★☆☆  3/5


 

Labels: cosmetics, cushion, etude house, foundation, korean, makeup, review

Hello cutieeeeee,

I'm gonna do a two-part concealer review on the Maybelline Dream Lumi and Fit Me concealers! First I'll be reviewing the Dream Lumi, then the Fit Me, and do a comparison at the end :)

*By the way, this has been in my drafts for a while so excuse my still-blonde pictures!






So this concealer is supposed to highlight and brighten your face so it's really great under your eyes and bridge of your nose; anywhere you want to highlight.  The tip has a brush applicator which makes it easy to apply on your face and even blend out if you don't dispense too much product at once.  I usually just use my fingers or my foundation brush though.



I got the lightest colour Ivory because I wanted the maximum highlight I could possible get.  My skin is relatively light so it actually matched well.  It blends out okay and you really only need a little bit.

Rating: ★★★★☆  4/5

Overall I like this product for the brightening aspect of it.  The only thing I don't like is how pricey it can be for such little product and how it can get a little cakey if you add too much.  Other than that, it's a pretty decent highlighting concealer but don't expect to cover blemishes with this!

Labels: concealer, cosmetics, makeup, maybelline, review

Hello again, cuties!

This is the second part to my concealer review.  I'll be talking about the Fit Me concealer by Maybelline, and then do a comparison at the end!

*By the way, this has been in my drafts for a while so excuse my still-blonde pictures! 



This concealer didn't come with lots of packaging which I liked because that's just less junk for me to throw out.  There's tape around the seal to insure it hasn't been opened yet.  I got the shade 10 Light which is more yellow toned. (I should have picked Fair which is more pink!)




Despite me getting the pinker toned shade, this concealer still managed to look yellow on me!  It blended into my skin okay but I was hoping for something more cool toned.

I got the colours mixed up and should've gotten Fair, which is why this was so yellow on me. My bad!

Comparison

Labels: concealer, cosmetics, makeup, maybelline, review

Hello cuties,

So I went ahead and got another Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick because I adored my 111 so much.  I was debating about this colour and another more paler version but my brother picked this one so I went with it.  I also picked the same matte finish.





So this is the colour.  It's a bright coral-pink which looked very lovely when I swatched it on my hand, but as soon as I put it on my lips, I instantly knew it was the wrong shade for me and I regret not getting the paler shade.  The colour just did not match my skin tone.  I think this colour would work very will with someone who had a pink undertone but it was definitely clashing with my yellower undertone.  Sometimes when I dab a little bit of the colour on the inside of my lips, I can make it work, but I definitely can't just wear it full on my lips.

Although the finish is the same as the 111 that I love so much, this one was horrible to apply on my lips!  It just accentuated the cracks of my lips and made my lips look so terribly chapped.  Even when I've fully exfoliated my lips to be baby butt smooth, this lipstick has some kind of super power to make my lips still look chapped and gross!  Maybe it's just this colour that does it because I have no problems with my red 111.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆  2/5

Anyway, this was a very big disappointment.  The colour choice isn't their fault, but the formula is!  I just don't understand why 111 and 102 have such different outcomes when they're both from the same matte lipstick line. 

Labels: cosmetics, lipstick, makeup, review, rimmel

I can't seem to sleep right now, so you guys are gonna get a mini review right now.  I've been really vocal about my recent purchase of the Beauty Blender and that's because I'm totally in love with this thing.  That's the review in a nutshell, but let me go through the pros and cons.

So I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical about this when it first got really popular amongst the beauty community.  It seemed like just an egg shaped sponge, big whoop.  It wasn't until I tried my Innisfree cusion foundation that I started to realize that maybe this thing wasn't such BS after all.  The sponge on the cushion foundation felt different from regular makeup sponges and it made makeup application really easy and smooth.  That's when my curiosity started to get to me.

When I got the opportunity to purchase something at Sephora, I ran straight to the Beauty Blender because I was so ready to see what the hype was all about... and let me tell you, the hype is so real it hurts.


This little guy literally does wonders to my face.  The first time I used it, I saw the hype.  It literally made my foundation look flawless like it never has before.  Also, it did wonders to my dry skin and kept it from looking cakey even hours after application.  It wasn't until my friend asked what I used on my face because my makeup was looking incredible that day (I was only using concealer and highlighter with the Beauty Blender) and said my face was extra dewy, that I knew this thing really was doing a lot for me.  I've never heard a single compliment on my face makeup until I used this thing so I think it speaks for itself.

You have to use this wet to get the full affects of what it can really do.  I like that it adds extra dewiness and hydration to my face.  Because it's a sponge, it does sheer out your foundation a tiny bit, but I still managed a medium coverage with one layer, so don't think it'll make your foundation totally useless in terms of coverage.

I mentioned that the cushion foundation was what got me curious about the Beauty Blender and that's because I had a feeling that they were made of the same sponge material.  When I felt it for the first time, I'd say they are similar in texture but the Beauty Blender really is unique with it's own sponge formulation.  It's latex free so it's perfect for people who have latex allergies.  I don't know what this sponge is made out of but it's really worth the price.

Speaking of price, it's pretty expensive for just a makeup sponge.  But like I said, totally worth it.  They recommend you use it up to 3 months before you throw it away and get a new one but I'm going to see how long I can make it stretch.  It's really all about hygienic reasons.  Sponges are going to collect bacteria after a while.  I wash mine every single time I use it so maybe it won't be too bad.

So I've raved about how good this thing is, but let me point out some negatives just to even out the playing field.  Other than the price, I have two main critiques about this product:

Stains: This thing stains like none other.  You really have to scrub it if you want to get all the stains out, and even then it might not all come out.  I'm scared of ripping it if I scrub too hard so I eventually gave up trying to get it looking all nice and clean.  If you're one of those people who are super OCD about getting your sponges looking 100% clean, you're going to have to suck it up with this one because it's not worth all the effort to get a clean looking sponge.  If the water and soap runs clean, just go with it.

Dye:  As you can see, I got the red limited edition that was for Sephora.  I wanted the black one but they didn't carry any at the store I was at.  When I washed it the first time before I used it, tons and tons of dye came out.  It just kept coming out and out to the point where now my sponge is a washed out red-pink colour.  I mean it still works perfectly fine but it's definitely not the colour I wanted it to be.  Not a big deal, but I thought I should mention it just in case any other person was expecting to keep theirs super bright red.  I'm not sure about the other colours, or maybe this was just the one I got.

Anyway, overall I really do like the Beauty Blender and I think it's so worth the hype.

Rating: ★★★★★  5/5

Labels: beauty blender, cosmetics, makeup, review

Hi cuties,

So I've had this top coat for a while now and I wanted to do a review for you guys in case any of you were planning on getting it.  It's the Sally Hansen Big Matte top coat.

There are plenty of brands that have come out with matte top coats over the years.  I wanted to get one for myself but I didn't want to shed the money for an expensive one if I was only going to use it occasionally.  Sally Hansen came out with a "Big" line which includes this matte one and a shiny one, I believe. 


The instructions tell you to shake gentle and apply 1 coat over your dry nail colour.  They top coat goes on pretty clear but you can start to see it turn matte just seconds after applying.  It's pretty cool to watch.  It also dries fairly quickly, which was nice to find out.


(Sorry for the gross chipping nail polish)  I tested it on my thumb so you can compare the difference between the regular shiny nail and the matte thumb nail.  The finish is indeed matte both to the touch and visually.  However, I found that after a day or two of wear, it starts to fade off and become less matte the longer you keep it on your nails.  It starts to wear off into a sort of satin-finish, and then finally you can start to see it completely gone in patches on your nails.  So I would not say this is a long-wearing top coat at all.

Rating: ★★★☆☆  3/5

Overall, I'd say this isn't the best matte top coat you can find.  It's a cheaper alternative to say an OPI or Essie matte top coat, but it's also lesser in quality and doesn't stay on the nail as well, I'd assume.  However, if you don't mind painting on a fresh coat every 2-3 days or so, then I'd say go for it.

Labels: cosmetics, matte, nail polish, review, sally hansen

I am so excited to do this review!  I recently received MAC's Cyber for my birthday which has been on my wishlist for so long and let me tell you, I plan on wearing the heck out of this.

So Cyber is one of those super dark vampy lip colours that will probably scare off a bunch of people, but those are the colours I absolutely adore.  It's dark dark purple with cool undertones... so yeah, it makes me look like a pale vampire; perfection.  It's a satin finish so there's a bit of a glossy sheen to it and it can emphasize dry flaky lips so always remember to prep and exfoliate your lips before applying! I would also advise you to use a lip liner with this just to avoid bleeding.


 Here it is swatched in natural lighting.  I'd say this is truer to it's colour than it is in it's bullet and in direct sunlight.  I find that the colour may change slighting in different lighting, looking more saturated in bright light and more towards a black-purple in low lighting.  The bullet looks more of a blue-purple.


Here's a close up lip swatch in direct bright natural lighting.  I was facing a window on a very sunny day when I took this and I'd say this colour looks more like the bullet colour.

I also took a picture with it on in natural lighting again, but on a less sunny day.  Depending on the number of layers you put on, I think you can sheer this colour out to make it less dark and more wearable.



Rating: ★★★★★  5/5
 
Overall, I loveeee this lipstick and I actually like how the colour differs in different lighting.  This is my first ever MAC product and I'm so tempted to buy other lipsticks!

Labels: cosmetics, lipstick, mac, makeup, review

Heya cuties,

So I'm finally writing a review on the Kat Von D Spellbinding Eyeshadow Book!  Spoiler alert, let me just say this now, I am in love with this.

I adore Kat Von D a lot.  As an artist and just a rad girl all around, she's one of the people that I idolize and sometimes I look at her and I think to myself, 'damn I wish I was her'.  My cousin went to her shop to get a tattoo and met Kat and said that Kat is one of the nicest and most humble people she has ever met.  I really appreciate that about her.  Her being an art-based person really gives me a deeper connection because I'm also an art-based person so I know whatever she comes out with is really artsy. 



So let's talk about packaging because you can't mention Kat Von D and not talk about packaging.  One thing that I love about this pallet is that the illustrations and designs for her products are all personally drawn by her.  The drawing on the front of the pallet alone is just so beautiful, isn't it?  Her style is definitely right up my ally.  This is the front of the box it comes in, but the pallet is the exact same thing but with a black boarder.  The back (on the box), features all the colours in a grid.


What's different about the pack on the actual pallet is that this has a "chart" that shows colour combinations you could do.  I think one of the main points of these shadows are that you could mix two shadows together and it'll form a completely different shade. 

How to use: Each set of shades are paired together to create perfect layered looks.  Apply "Geek" on lids, then blend "Fallen" on top for a bronzed peach shadow.  For a completely different look, apply "Fallen" on the lids, then blend "Geek" on top for a perfect golden shadow.

This is what it looks like when you first open it up.  There are three diagrams of three different looks you can try out.  There's also a clear film over the top of the shadows with their names printed on top.  I find that this is a little bit annoying to hold back when you're trying to use the shadows, but I guess it is helpful for not getting shadow all over the top of the lid.


Here's an overview of all the names.  The ones with a star next to the names are "never before seen" shades.  As you can see, there are quite a few of this some it makes getting this pallet really worth it since there wouldn't be too many repeats of other shadows you might already have. 

At first glance, my favourite shades were Oddfellow (black with teal glitter), Queen (a redish brown-green duo chrome), Wonderland (dark plum with pink glitter), and WTF (bright red with purple-ish undertone).  After using this pallet for a while, the colour that I grew to love was Smile Now because it looks like an orange-peach colour but when applied on the lids, it actually has a pink duo-chrome action going on.  I really like this as an inner corner highlight because when the light hits it in an angle, it's pink.


This is definitely a pretty colourful pallet, but I think it's very good for someone who is just starting to use brighter colours, like I am.  I'm not all for the full-on-bright-colours-all-over-the-eyes but I like a hint of colour here and there or different tones of neutral-ish colours.  For example, sometimes I use a red-ish shade like Stupid Audocorrect in my crease as a transition shade instead of a standard taupe or brown.  Or sometimes I use a combination of the greener shades like Gunner and Hexagram with a golden shade to highlight like Sunset Blvd or Precious.  Hexagram is an olive-green type shade that is a little more neutral than a straight up green so it's easy to work with without making your eyes look like a rainbow of colours, while Gunner is a very saturated green to give it that pop of colour.  The one shade I haven't really used is Bukowski, which is that one bright blue on the bottom, only because I really don't rock blue very well without looking like a hooker.  I have one other bright blue shadow in my collection and I don't even use that one either so I don't know how I'm going to use this one.

The texture of these shadows are super buttery smooth.  Just swatching them with my fingertips felt like a dream because they were just so soft.  The pigmentation is excellent, but I would use an eyeshadow primer under them just so the colours are as pigmented as they can be and to ensure they last all day and don't crease.  In terms of fallout, the darker colours, especially the ones with glitter, tend to have a bit of fallout.  It's not a crazy amount, but I'm assuming you tap off the extra on your brush before applying like you should be doing.  Speaking of tapping off the excess, when you do so, you'll see that a ton of it comes off of the brush.  I think due to how soft and finely milled these shadows seem to be, this translates to a lot of potential fallout.  Having said that, I would imagine that this means you will use up these shadows pretty quickly if half of it is fall out that you can't press back into the shadow.  That's just loose powder being blown everywhere!  That's something you should keep in mind.

Another thing I want to mention is that the golden shades, Precious and Sunset Blvd (especially Precious), seem a bit powdery.  It's almost hard to get them on the lid without packing them on a ton.

The thing that I love most like I've mention before is that a lot of these shadows seem to be duo-chrome (which I've always love love LOVED) and what makes them so special is that you can layer them to get a different shade!  Now, I'm not talking about like mixing a blue and a green will give you an orange (that's not even possible to begin with), but something like Birdcage and Gunner layered on top of each other makes a grassy-lime green.  This also means that blending these colours into each other is a breeze because the overlap will be an automatic transition colour!  Honestly, I think this is really what makes this pallet so unique. 

I got this eyeshadow book as a birthday present this year but I know Sephora sold it for around $55 or so.  I'm not sure if they still sell it now because I don't see it on the Sephora website anymore but if you really want to pick this up, try walking into the store to see if it's there and if not, maybe eBay will be your next best bet.

Rating: ★★★★☆  4/5

I really want to give this a perfect score but as reviewed, there are some cons to this pallet so I cannot give it 5/5.  Although I has quickly became one of my favourites, next to the Naked 2 pallet.  This is my first ever Kat Von D cosmetic item and it has definitely given me an excellent impression on the quality of her products.  I'm curious and excited to try out a few of her items in the future!

Labels: cosmetics, eyeshadow, kat von d, makeup, review

Hey cuties,

I'm super excited to be doing this review right now! A little back story: my friend introduced me to her IOPE/Amore Pacific (I can't remember which one she has) cushion and raved about how cushion foundations are really great and handy.  I've heard about them from Youtube and Korean beauty blogs but never really paid too much attention to them until now.  This is my first cushion foundation and I wasn't too sure how I'd like it so I went with a cheaper alternative to the higher end Hera/IOPE/Amore Pacific route and got Innisfree! 

This is also my first Innisfree product and spoiler alert: I'm impressed!
I believe Innisfree's most famous cushion is their Long Wear Cushion (matte), however I went with the Water Glow (dewy) version because I have dry skin!

I haven't seen many reviews for this product so I hope you enjoy :)


 The compact itself it very sleek and simple.  It fits nicely in the palm of my hand and isn't too thick or heavy to travel with.  This will be perfect on the days I'm over at my boyfriend's house and do not want to bring a whole bottle of foundation + brushes.

The back has all the specifications: name, colour, manufacture date, and product amount.  You get 15g of product per cushion and they are also refillable so you don't have to keep buying new compacts.  It has a 12 month expiry life but I'm pretty sure you'll need to buy a new refill after 2-3 months if you use it daily. 

The Water Glow cushion has SPF 50+ and PA+++ which I've found pretty standard for Korean BB/CC/foundation.


 When you first open the compact, there's a film that seals the product which you remove before using.  I guess this is to show that it hasn't been tampered with.


To get the product, you have to press down into the cushion.  As you can see, the product itself is much lighter than the cushion itself which is very misleading when people are trying to choose shades!  Always keep in mind that Korean girls have super pale skin so all their foundations are in the lighter side of the spectrum.

When swatched on my hand, you can see the difference between my cool skin tone versus the warmer tone of the foundation.  It also has a light texture.  It's not quite watery but it's not too thick like say Skin79's purple BB cream which has a gel-like texture.

After I tapped/blended it out with the sponge, it blended into my skin quite nicely.  I was surprised to find that it was a good colour match for my face.  Although it is slightly warm toned, it neutralized my skin tone well and gave a brightening affect.

The coverage for this foundation is light to medium.  It's definitely build-able and gets better the more layers you apply.  I usually do an overall application and go back with a second layer on areas that need higher covers like around the nose and on my dark circles.

Overall I am very impressed by this product and I've been using it every day since I got it.  I got mine on eBay for around $26 CAD while the cheapest refill I've seen goes for $17-18.  This has been a very pleasant introduction of cushion foundations and I'm eagered to try other brands!

Rating: ★★★★★  5/5

xoxo.

Labels: cosmetics, cushion, foundation, innisfree, korean, makeup, review

UserName: Hyokii
Age: 23
Birthday: January 22
Location: Toronto, Canada.
Sign: Aquarius Sun, Gemini Moon, Aries Rising

Who are you?
I'm just an average girl studying graphic design in my hometown Toronto. I'm nothing special but I like to blog and document my findings :) I'm really into astrology so come and tell me your sign!

What do you blog about?
Mostly just about my life and occasional beauty hauls and product reviews.

What does 'babo gongju' mean?
It's Korean for 'stupid princess'.

Boyfriend?
Yes! He does Muay Thai and he's a Virgo.

Tell me about your skin type!
I have extremely dry dehydrated skin and really dry/flaky lips. Light; yellow with neutral leaning cool undertone. Currently wearing NARS Sheer Glow in Gobi.

Reviews:
Tonymoly Cats Wink Smooth Primer
Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer
Skin Food Choco Smoky Eye Palette
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Shine Deep Treatment
Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set
Etude House Golden Ratio Contour Maker
Skin Food Coffee Creamy Sheer Lipstick (PP701 Plum Wine)
Etude House Real Art Cleansing Oil (Moisture)
Skin Food Bath Salt (Peppermint)
Etude House Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blusher
Skin Food Red Orange Makeup Finish (Matte Type)
Tonymoly Cat Chu Wink Tony Tint (Cherry Pink)
Etude House Etoinette Crystal Shine Lip Lipstick (PPK001 & PPK003)
Etude House Etoinette Brush Collection
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Special Set
The Face Shop Cotton Pads
The Face Shop Face It 07 Quick Top Coat
The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Design My Eyebrow (01 Gray Brown)
The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Style My Eyebrow (01 Gray Brown)
The Face Shop Face It Designing Cake Eyebrow (01 Khaki Grey)
Etude House Dear My Blooming Eyes (OR203 Mesmerizing Orange)
Nicole by O.P.I. Nail Polish (Iceberg Lotus)
The Face Shop Real Nature Mask Aloe Vera
The Face Shop Face It Styling Auto Gel Liner (01 Edgy Black)
The Face Shop Floral Water Mist
The Face Shop Mild Papaya Peeling Gel
Kat Von D Spellbinding Eyeshadow Book
Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick By Kate Moss (111 Kiss Of Life)
Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick By Kate Moss (102)
Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat
Witchcraft Mini+Cures Set
Maybelline Volum’ Express The Colossal Smoky Eyes Mascara
Nicole by O.P.I. Quick Dry Top Coat
Essence Kalinka Beauty 01 Babushka Me Lip Brush
Maybelline Volum’Express The Rocket Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner in Midnight Master
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light
Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Ivory

Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer (sample)
Etude House Mal;Gem All In One Emulsion (sample)
Etude House Mal;Gem Smoother Toner (sample)
Etude House Sun Prise Super Aqua SPF45/PA+++ (sample)
Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream SPF30/PA++ (sample)
Etude House Moistfull Collagen Firming Eye Cream (sample)
Skin Food Platinum Grape Cell Essential BB Cream SPF45/PA+++ (sample)
Skin Food Agave Cactus Emulsion (sample)
The Face Shop Chia Seed Moisture-Holding Seed Cream(sample)
The Face Shop Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Toner(sample)
The Face Shop Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Lotion(sample)
Updated The Face Shop Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Toner & Lotion (full size)
The Face Shop Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Facial Butter(sample fullsize)
The Face Shop Volcanic Clay Black Head Aloe Nose Strip(sample)
The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Acerola (sample)
The Face Shop White Secret Whitening Body Essence (sample)


Tutorials & Tips:
How I Contour My Face
Tips On How To Drink More Water
2013 Summer/Fall Wish List
My Current Everyday Makeup Tutorial

Most Common:
Reviews
Personal
Food
Tips & Tutorials
Fashion
Haul

Brands:
★ Etude House
★ EOS
★ Forever21
★ Garage
★ Guess
★ Hada Labo
★ H&M
★ My Beauty Diary
★ Nicole by O.P.I.
★ Skin Food
★ Smashbook
★ Starbucks
★ The Face Shop
★ Tony Moly

Jin

. Put a lock on Seoul’s Namsan Tower's fence
. Visit the beach; any beach (063011)
. Party hard
. Starbucks date (072310)
. Learn to drive
. Star gaze (062812)
. Road trip (Summer`09)
. Be loved
. Visit South Korea
. Wedding; anyone's wedding (10.13.13)
. Be happy
. Bake cupcakes from scratch (04.06.10)
. Ride a motorcycle (08.21.14)
. Get my first tattoo
. Kiss in the rain
. Pull an all nighter
. Belly button piercing (02.19.14)
. Disney world/land
. Anime North
. Cosplay Rin
. Cosplay X-23
. Princess Cafe date (12.10.12)
. VVIP album(02.20.11)
. Visit Hong Kong again
. Graduate university
. Paris

to be continued...

Comment once and refresh the page please :)