All posts filed under: Reviews

Unboxing: BDJ Box Elite* (May 2013)

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Hello! It’s time once again for a BDJ Box post. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a subscription service in the Philippines. This month, they sent out limited edition “BDJ Box Elite” boxes, which I am verver excited about. This box contains a lot of full-size products, as well as generous samples. None of that sachet nonsense! (JK I am mean, but really, small tubes rock.) The theme is “Summer Indulgence,” and for once I do think it fits the products inside. Instead of the folded-up card that usually comes with the box, the BDJ Elite Box has a collection of small cards that highlight a certain offering they have that month. They’re kind of like playing cards. 🙂 The nifty thing about these new cards is that they show you the original size and price, and the sample size they give and the calculated cost. That way, I don’t have to do any math! Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer — This is supposed to kind of bring out the skin’s natural moisture, and allow …

Put a spring in your step with Chanel Ombres Fleuries in Délicatesse

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I’ve been eyeing this palette for a while now, ever since I saw it in the promotional shot. I kept saying “I don’t need another quad, I don’t need another quad,” but as you know I have terribly low EQ. I was actually doing pretty well. I crossed it off my to-buy list, and saw it in Rustan’s one day and swatched it and loved it but stayed away. And then—a relapse at the Kansai airport in Osaka. This quad magically appeared into my shopping cart when I was buying perfume for my sister. I didn’t touch it for a week, suffered from buyer’s remorse, or more like guilt, I guess. But then I tried it on my eyes, and poof! Guilt gone. This is an amazing quad if you’re planning on looking pretty, and soft, and feminine in the springtime. I’ve been gearing my posts toward more summer-y content because I live in a sauna for a country, but Chanel really hit the nail on the head when it released Délicatesse for Spring. Délicatesse …

This or That: Guerlain Turandot vs. Le Métier de Beauté Silk Road

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Today’s post is a quick comparison between the Guerlain quad in Turandot from the Holiday 2012 collection and the Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscope Eye Kit in Silk Road from the Fall/Winter 2011 collection. Turandot ($59) is part of Guerlain’s permanent line and Silk Road ($95) is limited edition. I don’t think you can get it anymore, but if it helps, I got it from Neiman Marcus. I noticed some similarities between these two palettes when I had already gotten them. I put off swatching them right next to each other for the longest time because I didn’t want to admit that I might have gotten two identical high-end eyeshadow quads. Thankfully, they are different enough for me, personally, to not feel bad about purchasing both. Both are limited edition. ETA: Turandot is not limited edition. Guerlain is cheaper at $59 but it comes with less product. I do like the more stark variation of Turandot when it comes to finishes, but I appreciate the “technology” of Le Métier de Beauté eyeshadows in that layering …

Quickie: shu uemura Eyelash Curler

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The shu uemura eyelash curler is the sort of thing that has reached a certain level of cult status that no one else bothers to write about it anymore. And, really, why would you even bother? I didn’t really care for curling my lashes because I always seem to get uneven “curlage” anyway. My right set of eyelashes would be more curled up than the left set and my eyes would look wonkier than it already does, which you’d think would be a hard thing to pull off, but it’s really not. Anyway, I don’t really know what to say about this eyelash curler, so I’ll let the pictures speak for it. I have pretty short and invisible lashes, so I tried to do only one eye with the curler and let you see how it compares to my uncurled lashes. See how it opens up my eyes? 🙂 The eyelash curler comes with an extra silicone pad, in case you need to change them. Be warned, though, that they do not sell extra pads. …

Quickie: Suqqu Quad in Ex-11 Sumiredama

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I have only a handful left of my Japanese makeup loot to show you guys and it’s quite sad. Weirdly enough, I have these intense cravings for makeup but I don’t really go out (or go online) and buy any of that. Is this maturity? In any case, this is one of my favorite purchases, the Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow in Ex-11 Sumiredama, or “Violet Pearl.” I got the translation from Kate’s review. When I got home, I noticed that the name is similar to the heroine’s of my favorite Haruki Murakami novel, Sputnik Sweetheart. She is called Sumire. Obviously, this was a delightful surprise. It seems like a pretty basic color selection, but with a couple of complex shades thrown into the mix. There’s a pearly cream, a shimmery pale peach-pink, a pretty metallic taupe-y color that has turquoise shifts, and a blue-purple duochrome that I just love to bits. The texture of the shadows is exceptional, though the application on the eyes really is quite sheerer than I’d like. The compact is quite …

Sample Stash Sunday: Addiction by Ayako Tinted Skin Protector

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For this week’s edition of Sample Stash Sunday, I have a little packet of Addiction’s Tinted Skin Protector in Tint No. 3. If you’ve just tuned in to this blog, Sample Stash Sunday is a sort of quick, first impressions type of review. It’s also a way for me to get through the numerous samples I’ve acquired, so win-win! The Tinted Skin Protector is basically a foundation that has a) great suns protection, and b) is a primer as well. It’s meant to protect the skin from drying and from UV rays, while also providing even coverage, even over pores. It’s also designed to be light, feel fresh, and wear long. It has: moisturizing ingredients “centifolia rose flower extract” combination. emollient ingredient “Rose hip oil” combination. no fragrance SPF 50/PA+++ So, this little packet right here contains 0.9ml worth of product. It doesn’t seem like a lot, and it didn’t feel like a lot. So, being a dumbass, I assumed it was tinted moisturizer (because I didn’t research before trying) good for one use and …

BECCA Beach Tint in Raspberry

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The BECCA Beach Tint is quite an expensive find, but one that I’ve been looking for for so long. I went to Adora to pick one of these beach tints up, but after purchase I found out that the mark-up was nearly double the original price. I would love to buy more of these, but I might have better luck online, since the price mark-up is so high and that’s the only retailer I know in Manila that carries the brand. However, after everything that’s been said, I highly recommended the Beach Tint and I don’t regret this purchase. I haven’t extensively used this until I went to Japan on vacation. I wanted to keep my makeup bag light and portable and I succeeded, somewhat. I wanted to bring this because it is a multi-purpose product, for use on the lips and cheeks. It is also supposedly waterproof (which explains the name). It was when I was on vacation that I appreciated the versatility, ease of use, and overall greatness of this product. I got …