All posts tagged: cosmetics

Sample Stash Sunday feat. Benefit: BDJ Box 7 Day Challenge

I’m not sure for how long these monthly BDJ Box challenges run, but there was so much stuff to sample from the Benefit exclusive box by BDJ last month that I felt I should try and do it, so I could try everything out, at least! Here’s a diary I began some time in June. The products were used, collectively, for seven days. I tried to get a rotation going, but I missed using all my other makeup, too. 🙂 The eye cream was a mainstay, though, but I’ll put it out there right now—it wasn’t my favorite of the bunch! DAY ONE And on the first day, I used the It’s Potent! Eye Cream, and I saw that it was good. Intended for “brighter, younger-looking eyes,” It’s Potent! fades dark circles and helps smooth fine lines. I noticed that it has a more emollient texture than my current eye cream (Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream), but it also sinks in much faster and isn’t sticky. I’ll try to use this under makeup/concealer during this …

Mask Appeal: A Selection of Sheet Masks from Leaders InSolution*

I am a sheet mask nut. I love them so much. But of course, not all sheet masks were created equally. My favorites so far are the ones by The Beauty Buffet (available at Watson’s, sometimes on sale!) and Dermal (a bit pricier, but so good). I was really excited to see sheet masks in my BNTGirls Box this month. Leaders InSolution Sheet Masks* are known to be some of the best on the market. From the masks I received, two were “Premium Care,” these first two aren’t part of that range and come in a narrower packet. The first one I tried was the Collagen Lifting Skin Renewal Mask. It’s for skin firming and skin elasticity; this mask “helps recover younger-looking skin with revitalizing skin by supplying plenty of moisture.” This is what the mask looks like: And what the mask looks like on the face:

Lazy Girl Makeup: Quickly

A look for all y’all who need to get out of the door quickly! Here’s the look, with my old hair, still: It’s pretty basic and safe-ish, but passably put-together if I may say so myself. I don’t tend to fuss too much with base/complexion products when I’m in a hurry, but on a real bad skin day, I will pick up a concealer and target problem spots and areas. Here’s a video in which I talk a bit more about the products and show you how I use them: Products Mentioned: — NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (Ginger) — Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (shown: Luminous Light) — K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 24H (02) — MAC Paint Pot (shown: Constructivist) — MAC Eye Kohl (shown: Prunella. Teddy) — Illamasqua Cream Blusher (shown: Dixie) — BECCA Beach Tints (shown: Raspberry) — Addiction by Ayako Cheek Sticks (shown: Revenge) — NARS Pure Matte Lipstick (Montego Bay) What are your go-tos for a quick makeup look? 🙂 Follow me: Bloglovin' • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Facebook

June Monthly Favorites & July Beauty Goals

Aside from my Beauty Dare (20 Days of Lipstick), June was a pretty lazy makeup month, partly because I was more antisocial than usual. Here are a few of the beauty bits I enjoyed a lot the past month, though. I kept switching it up in the eye makeup department, but a quad that I went back to a lot is THREE’s Star Guitar. I also practically used a MAC Paint Pot called Groundwork on my lids as a primer when I became too dark to use Painterly. I’m still loving my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I have the shade Ginger and was convinced that I maybe should have gotten Custard instead but that turned out to be too light for me. For my quick face base, I was using the Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder in Shade 2 a lot last month, though towards the end, I began using my liquid foundations and bases more. My go-to cheek has definitely been the Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie. I used to …

Helen Park Jalousian Anti-Wrinkle Cream*

The Helen Park Jalousian Anti-Wrinkle Cream* is a (seemingly) widely popular anti-wrinkle cream in Korea. I say ‘seemingly’ because all of the rave reviews that I can understand/is in English are from websites that are shilling this product. The active ingredient is Adesonine, which is “effective for wrinkle care.” Their claims for wrinkle freedom are kind of extreme, and it’s a shame that I don’t have much to show you whether or not it works to that level. Here’s some of the information I found at a Qoo10 listing for this product: I won’t even pretend I can understand that enough to attest to its effectivity. I can, however, show you how it’s worked out for me! Now, the company claims that the cream a) gives you “baby skin,” b) makes makeup stick well to the skin (“as it contains 2 types of oil”), c) keep the skin moist for a long time, and d) CAUSE JEALOUSY. Because your skin is so resilient. I suspect this is where the term “Jalousian” comes from, correct me …

Makeup Inventory + One Week Series: Rouge Bunny Rouge Long-Lasting Eyeshadows

My Rouge Bunny Rouge Long-Lasting Eyeshadows multiplied like gremlins when I jumped on an RBR sale. Prior to that sale, I only had Solstice Halcyon and Abyssinian Catbird, which is a really pretty soft taupe, so I actually have a swatch post of these shades, sans Solstice Halcyon and Eclipse Eagle, already (click here). So I figured I might as well show how beautifully these shadows apply on my actual face. Swatched, L-R: Solstice Halcyon, Bohemian Waxwing, Eclipse Eagle, Delicate Hummingbird, Abyssinian Catbird, Periwinkle Cardinal, Tantalizing Lovebird, Bejewelled Skylark The quality and texture of these shadows are unreal—I don’t mind the price tag… much. I mean, I get why they’re so expensive: because they are phenomenal. You’ll notice that I don’t have any mattes here. While I’m sure their mattes are exceptional, I didn’t find a shade that I was willing to spend 24€ on. My favorites are probably Solstice Halcyon, Delicate Hummingbird, Abyssinian Catbird, and Bejewelled Skylark. The most obvious beautiful texture belongs to Delicate Hummingbird and Abyssinian Catbird; they truly feel like the …

Unboxing: Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP for June 2014

The June 2014 Box, aka the penultimate box, of the Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP came with one product and no note. The product in question is called the Daily Refresh Tonic, which retails for $50. First of all, this box is huge, and contains 4oz. of product. Here it is in comparison with another skin care item we received earlier in the sub period, the Peau Vierge Dark Spot Correcteur, which contains a mere 0.5oz of product—my main reason for not repurchasing it. It’s a great product, but I don’t have $125 to spend on 0.5oz of product. Anyway, here is the size difference: (The Peau Vierge bottle is so grotty; I apologize!) See? Huge. Product Description: “Freshen up: this skin-invigorating tonic is an essential step in any skincare regimen prepares the skin to better receive topical restorative treatments by stimulating circulation, restoring balance to the complexion, as well as conditioning and hydrating. It also re-energizes the skin, creating a freshly-flushed appearance. How it Works: Daily Refresh Tonic, featuring the Rebalancing Complexe, …