All posts tagged: cosmetics

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

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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 …

FairyDrops VolumeBurst Mascara (Film Type)

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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. I think these mascaras are identifiable by their weird, caterpillar wands, comprised …

Stylenanda 3CE One Color Shadow in Saturn*

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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: 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 …

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

Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*

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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. 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 …

Graymelin CC Base Cream*

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I’ve been using the Graymelin CC Base Cream (for whitening, anti-wrinkle, hydration) for the past week now, and so far I am impressed. This came in my beautybox, which I am reviewing as part of the bntgirls network (more of that here). I’ve been loving Korean packaging lately—all the information about the products are on the box! I’ve never heard of this brand before, but the product description of this is as follows: “Formulated to refine uneven skin tone and enhance skin’s natural beauty color and for intensive skin care, this unique formula provides plenty of moisture and nourishment to leave skin hydrated for smoother and clear-looking skin as well as help full skin bright and radiant that will bring out your natural beauty.” The CC Base Cream has a similar look to the shu uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow Immediate Radiance Skin Perfecting Cream, which also has particles of pigment suspended in a white base cream. The Graymelin CC Base Cream features the following: CC means “color correction” that brings out natural balance of skin …

Drugstore Finds: NYX Butter Gloss

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Okay, so these were a ‘trick buy’ during my makeup ban (as detailed here) but I’m almost not sorry because these are fantastic. The NYX Butter Glosses have been celebrated pretty much everywhere. I wasn’t a big fan of many of NYX lip products, including the round lipsticks (hit or miss for me) and the soft matte lip creams, so I don’t know why I was so drawn to these. Anyway, I got two: Apple Strudel and Maple Blondie. They look pretty similar, but Apple Strudel is peachier while Maple Blondie is a touch pinker. These were the colors that attracted me the most. I’m not a HUGE fan of super saturated glosses, so these were kind of perfect. Swatched, you can see that they are sort of milky, but that doesn’t translate on the lips as opaquely as the swatches. They are a cinch to put on and spread out and the sweet vanilla-esque scent isn’t as overwhelming as the SMLC’s. Wearing Maple Blondie: These are freaking amazing; they aren’t tacky or heavy or …