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Unboxing & First Impressions: Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP October 2013 Box

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LMdB Complexion Serum

Inside Le Métier de Beauté’s Beauty Vault VIP box for October is a skincare item: the Peau Vierge Complexion Serum & Dark Spot Corrector. I wasn’t planning on using this because I just read the “dark spot corrector” part, but thank the Lord for accompanying literature.

A while back, LMdB challenged beauty lovers to use their Dark Spot Corrector for 28 days with a promise to deliver visible results. I don’t really have a problem with dark spots, but I do have some skin issues that I wanted to take care of.

“Just what your skin ordered; a complexion pick-me-up created to energize your skin. It is an all over Complexion Serum, an Anti-Aging Treatment, Skin Tone and Texture Rebuilder, and Dark Spot Repair Cream.”

I think that’s A LOT to promise, and when that happens, I tend to lower my expectations because there are things that can’t be that good. Aside from a “dark spot corrector,” this serum claims to improve skin complexion, be an anti-wrinkle and fine line treatment, rebuild/even out skin tone and texture, and correct hyperpigmentation, and it promises to deliver some results and improvements during the first week of use.

Now, this isn’t a full review. Just a very, very early impression of this product, and I don’t normally do this especially for skin care items but I used this yesterday with a light moisturizer (as prescribed), and MY SKIN FREAKING UPGRADED.

Most noticeably gone are the small spots that hang out in the triangular area under my eyes and beside my nose. I used to have tiny whitehead-like bumps there. My skin is also very noticeably smoother. And that’s just from ONE usage. I’ll do the 28-day challenge, and post updates. But so far, so freaking good. I love this serum. I’m kind of sad I can only use it every other day, to avoid dryness from the retinol.

Still, I’m pretty happy to be able to try it. The Peau Vierge Complexion Serum & Dark Spot Corrector retails for $125, and the LMdB monthly box is around $29. I think that may be the best part.

Review soon, thanks for reading! Here’s the note that came with the October box:

LMdB - OCt 2013 - Note

Le Métier de Beauté is cruelty-free. Thank you to Sarie for being my LMdB Beauty Vault VIP sponsor!

FairyDrops VolumeBurst Mascara (Film Type)

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Fairy Drops - Volume Burst

Here’s a quick review of FairyDrops VolumeBurst Mascara (Film Type), which I got way back in April when I went to Japan. I only opened it fairly recently, as I was trying to finish up some mascaras before cracking open a new one. Predictably, I was super excited to use it, but I quickly found out that the formula was way too goopy for me. Dejected, I set this aside and didn’t really reach for it all that much, but determined, I wanted to see if I could make it work for me.

FairyDrops is kind of like an elusive unicorn, especially for mascara-lovers in the Western side of the world. To my knowledge, very rare shops carry (or have carried) this brand, but those who have tried this favored it over other mascara formulas. I randomly picked this one up, without knowing which type it was, but the VolumeBurst mascaras don’t seem to be the most raved-about formulas from the FairyDrops range.

Fairy Drops - Volume Burst - Wand

I think these mascaras are identifiable by their weird, caterpillar wands, comprised of three furry “balls,” meant to catch each lash or something. I find them really hard to work with, since the goopy formula will get stuck in the ridges, making me prone to overapplying the mascara.

Here’s a preview of what it looks like on lashes, by itself. I wore the mascara on curled lashes, (your side) left eye.

FairyDrops Volume Burst Mascara - Eyes

I don’t like it much for that as it tends to clump together my lashes and kind of make them droop and not hold a curl. However, I have been experimenting with layering mascara and I find that I really like it on top of a mascara that can hold my curled lashes. Here it is layered on top of Maybelline’s The HyperCurl:

Mascara Magic - Volume - FD

True to its name, it has added volume to my eyelashes. I especially like using it on my bottom lashes, though the wand makes it a weirdly messy affair. It also kind of takes a while to dry, so I blink with caution, lest my upper and lower lashes get stuck together.

I also like how it’s a “film type” mascara, which means I can take it off without scrubbing and having to deal with makeup remover. Lukewarm/warm water does the trick and I am so glad for that.

All in all, it’s not my favorite, but I’m not swayed enough into not trying the other variants. I especially want to consider this brand some more, since taking off the product is so easy.

FairyDrops, to my knowledge, is cruelty-free.

Stylenanda 3CE One Color Shadow in Saturn*

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Stylenanda 3CE - One Color Eyeshadow - Saturn

My makeup heart is always attracted to eyeshadow, even though I already have too much. I’m so pleased to have gotten one from my bntgirls beautybox. Here’s a Stylenanda 3CE One Color Shadow in Saturn. It’s a new release, part of the Shimmer range of 3CE eyeshadows. There are three other finishes: matte (natural), lustre (dimension & glow), and sparkling (dewy & youthful).

Stylenanda claims that the characteristics of the shimmer eyeshadows as fine-textured eyeshadows will look great on Asians for “structured, glamorous makeup.” All of the shadows are a one-touch eyeshadow color—if I’m not mistaken, they are marketed as eyeshadows you can wear on their own. Right off the bat, the quality is pretty amazing, just judging by texture and feel.

I didn’t realize just how red Saturn was until I pulled out a color I had that I thought to be similar to it:

Stylenanda 3CE - One Color Eyeshadow - Saturn - Kiko 204

On the left is 3CE’s Saturn. On the right, we have 203 Burgundy, which is a Water Eyeshadow from Kiko Make Up Milano. Side-by-side, they look identical, but they swatch kind of differently:

Stylenanda 3CE - One Color Eyeshadow - Saturn - Finger Swatches

Though both red, 203 Burgundy (on the left) has just a touch more purple in it. Saturn is described as a burgundy mixed with pearlescent pink.

Stylenanda 3CE - One Color Eyeshadow - Saturn - Swatches

I find Saturn to be of better quality, too. The pigmentation is amazing, and the texture is quite soft and buttery.

You can actually wear this color in several ways. It looks scary, but you can actually just apply it lightly for the slightest hint of color, like I did on the left. On the right, I spritzed MAC Fix+ on my brush, dipped it in Saturn, and kapow! A beautiful, extra-bold festive red.

MAC Fix+ - Eyeshadow

I used it for a failed video (I poked my left eye and made it red), but here is Saturn in action, for posterity:

Stylenanda 3CE - Eyeshadow - Saturn

Honestly, I do not find it that hard to work with, despite it being quite red. Especially if you pair it with more neutral, earth-toned shades like browns. For this look, I paired it with cool greys, so I suppose it’s a little harder to wear out on a regular day.

All in all, this is an amazing eyeshadow and I’d love to try out some more colors in the near future. The colors are actually pretty exciting, especially if you see how their campaign utilizes them:

3CE Saturn - ads

Each color retails for $12.11 at StyleNanda.

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* This product was provided to me, free of charge, for review. All opinions are honest, unbiased, and my own. 🙂

As of September 20, via KARA (Korean Animal Rights Activists):
For 3 Concept Eyes, despite that the brand tried to cooperate with our process to clarify their animal testing free policy, one of their producers was unable to check with all the ingredients suppliers so they have been on hold.

If you could contact these brands and express your interest in finding them on our list, that would be great. The Korean cosmetics industry is trying to reach out to foreign consumers more than ever so it would definitely help. Thank you.

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Unboxing: BDJ Box October 2013*

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I know I just did an unboxing post, and I don’t normally do those because I haven’t really been buying subscription boxes or much of anything, really. However, I received the October 2013 BDJ Box and it’s a pretty awesome one, I thought I ought to share it, immediately.

Like some of their most popular boxes, this month’s box is brand-centric, this time filled with products by Maybelline. I haven’t bought Maybelline products in a while, since I’m steering my makeup purchases towards a more cruelty-free direction, but I can attest to the quality of most of their products, especially their mascara and lip products. Without further ado, here’s what BDJ Box subscribers have in store this month:

BDJ Box - October 2013 - All

There’s a lot of ground to cover, so I’ll hop right to it.

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Eyes

Named Express It: Queen of Extreme, this Maybelline exclusive box wants to bring out your regal side with full and voluminous lashes using their Volum’Express Rocket Mascara (Php 399). I’ve always wanted to try this mascara, so I’m pretty excited! Also for some definition and drama, an EyeStudio Master Eyeliner (Php 359) is included in the box as well. It’s retractable (yay!), water-proof, and smudge-proof.

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Cheeks

For cheek products, there’s just this lone Cheeky Glow in Peachy Sweetie (Php 199). I haven’t tried this range, so I’m looking forward to that. It looks like a pretty everyday shade, and Maybelline claims that it wears like a natural flush and has “feather light coverage.”

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Face

I always find that it’s tricky to include face/base products in subscription boxes, but thankfully, I think these look like pretty close shade matches to my skin. There’s the Clear Smooth All in One Shine-Free Foundation in Sand Beige (Php 249) and the Clear Smooth BB Stick 8-in-1 Skin Transformer in Fresh (Php 279), both of which have decent SPF content. I’ve never tried a stick or full-on powder foundation before, so this should be interesting. I don’t know how well they’re fare on my skin type, but let’s hope for the best!

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Lips

Lastly, lip products. I have a ColorSensational Lasting Lip Color in Coral Crush (Php 399), and a Baby Lips Runway Brights in Pink Peony (Php 89). I can attest to the general good quality of Maybelline lip products, so I’m pretty stoked for these.

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Card

Aside from the full face of products, this box also comes with a Maybelline Card, which is a sort of loyalty card that earns you points every time you make a purchase from the brand.

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Cards

This box has awesome cards, too. Aside from the product description and letter from the BDJ Box Team, there is also a voucher for a free gift with purchase (Lip & Eye Make-Up Remover), and an instructional for product usage. I think that’s extremely helpful for makeup beginners.

As far as I know, there are other variants of the box, too. So far, I’ve encountered Femme Fatale, Scene Stealer, Wild Thing, and Runway Rock. I can’t wait to see what everyone else got!

That’s it! Thanks to the BDJ Box Team for sending over the October box. I truly wasn’t expecting it, and it was pleasant surprise. 🙂 Get your own BDJ Box here!

BDJ Box - October 2013 - Sticker

* This box was sent free of charge for editorial consideration. All views expressed are my own.

Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*

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Verikos Ultra Matte Primer

Today, I have a review on the Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*, which is something I got from my bntgirls beauty box. It claims to cover pores and control sebum (oil), like a usual primer would.

Product Description: “Porous powder gives light and silky texture while absorbing excessive sebum from the skin to balance the moisture and oil of the skin. The oil-free primer tones the skin texture and corrects the skin tone without causing irritation Tocophery lacetate and Retinyl Palmitate removes harmful free radicals from the skin for healthier skin tone. Also, GLA from evening primrose oil and polyphenol from the green tea seed oil helps to protect the skin.”

Pretty lofty claims, if you ask me! Let’s see how well it fares.

Verikos Ultra Matte Primer - Swatch

First of all, this primer is not like the primers I’ve used in the past. It’s not very silicone-y and I was a little worried that it would feel heavy on the skin. However, if you work it into your skin well, it eventually sets to a velvety finish. There is also a slight tint to it, but it dries down transparent.

One thing, I feel, I should note as well is that it’s a 6-Free Formula, which means that it has no paraben, talc, artificial dyes, synthetic perfume, mineral oil, or alcohol. These are six major ingredients that are known to be harmful for the skin, and the elimination of which will help solve primary skin issues.

Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer under Graymelin CC Base Cream

Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer under Graymelin CC Base Cream

Now to the meat of the review! Here is a large photo of my face. I applied the primer on only one side of my face (as indicated on the photograph), and layered on the Graymelin CC Base Cream over my entire face as a base. I did this to compare sebum control, mostly.

As you can tell from the photograph, it’s pretty undetectable, which leads me to believe that it does little to obscure pores. I do think that maybe a heavier coverage foundation may make the difference more pronounced. There is no difference in ease of application of product over it.

Sebum Control System: “It contains a lot of sebum control powder to effectively control sebum and, therefore, helping the makeup stay put for a long time for you to maintain refreshed look until the afternoon.”

While I didn’t feel like it particularly help extend the longevity of my makeup’s wear (unlike how I feel about setting sprays, which are amazing!), it didn’t lessen the longevity of the makeup. I don’t have oily skin (more dry, really), so I can’t say I oiled up more on one side, but my makeup was intact by the end of the day, without powder, so I suppose that counts for something.

It also asserts that it contains Vitamin A & E, which it claims to help remove harmful free radicals, and also help to clarify skin, retain the skin’s moisture, and make it healthy.

All in all, I don’t particularly think it’s a necessary step in your routine, especially if you have mostly dry skin, like me. However, I do want to keep using it because of all the skin care benefits it claims to have. So far, I haven’t noticed anything different, but once I do, I’ll be sure to let you all know. 🙂

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* This product was provided to me, free of charge, for review. All opinions are honest, unbiased, and my own. 🙂

I have no information regarding Verikos’s animal testing policy.

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Stash Shopping No. 8

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A new round of Stash Shopping! Here are a few FOTDs from last week’s picks.

Sunday: Suqqu Sumiredama on the eyes, Snoe Beauty Plum Crazy on the lips.
Graymelin CC Cream - Face

SATURDAY: Suqqu Sumiredama on the eyes.

SS N8 - Eyes

Tarte Blushing Bride on the cheeks, Le Métier de Beauté Linaire on the lips.

SS N8 - Face

And now, onto the stash! I promise I used them more during the week. I just didn’t have time to photograph my face~

SS N8 - Eye Makeup

EYES: Maquillage Eye Color N in RD734, theBalm Nude ‘Tude palette

SS N8 - Blush

CHEEKS: shu uemura Glow On Blush in soft mauve M225, Illamasqua Blusher Duo in Lover/Hussy

SS N8 - Lips

LIPS: Le Métier de Beauté Hydra-Crème Lipstick in Signature, NYX Lipliner Pencil in Bloom, Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crème in Café Crème

And those are my picks! Do you have any pieces in your makeup stash that you want to pay special attention to this week? Do share! 🙂

Unboxing & Preview: Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP August Box

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Here’s an unboxing/preview post of the Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP box from last August. If you’ve been reading my blog, you’d know that I missed the initial sign-ups (makeup ban, grr!) but then Sarie surprised me with a sub when they opened up again for fifty slots. The LMdB subscription box requires you to pay quite a huge amount upfront, $29/mo, and is locked down for 12 months.

Each box was guaranteed to have a full-size product or, I think, a selection of samples, but I knew it would be worth it in terms of cost, because a single LMdB product, at its cheapest ranges from $25 to $30.

LMdB BVVIP - August - All

Because I signed up late, I got my first box in October along with the October box. Since this is the maiden voyage, they really wanted to make an impression, so they went all out!

Kaleidoscope Lip Kit in Bauhaus ($95)
Arguably the most exciting thing in this box (and the entire collection, so far)—a Kaleidoscope! This is sort of the signature product of LMdB, except the Eye Kits are more sought-after and well-known. This is actually my first Lip Kit.

LMdB BVVIP - August - Bauhaus lip
 

Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Noir ($42)
Your basic felt-tip eyeliner. This one by LMdB is well-loved by fans worldwide.

LMdB BVVIP - August - Eyeliner
 

Hydra-Crème Lipstick in Signature ($25)
This is a ‘secret lipstick’ because no one seemed to have any info on it (I cross-checked mine from an email LMdB sent to Refinery29) until recently, when the actual line is about to launch. This mysterious red lipstick came in without a name or a label, but you can get it once it launches this month! There will be 16 shades available. 🙂

LMdB BVVIP - August - Lipstick - Signature
 

Kabuki Brush ($85)
This is quite soft (though not as soft as a Hakuhodo powder brush), not super dense and smaller than I thought. It is very cute. Seriously.

LMdB BVVIP - August - Kabuki Brush

And there you have it! I think this is a pretty insane deal. The following boxes were not as exciting as this one, so far, but I do love every single thing that I’ve gotten so far. The collective value of the box this month is $247.

LMdB BVVIP - August - All2

I think that’s a pretty sweet deal. Reviews of each item to trickle in over the next few weeks!

Le Métier de Beauté is cruelty-free.