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Exclusive in Asia? L'Oreal Lucent Magique Cushion Foundation


L'Oreal Lucent Magique Cushion Foundation  3,200yen
L'oread just came out with their version of Korean Cushion Foundation in Japan. It's already sold in Hong Kong and Thailand I suppose, and might be coming to other countries soon considering the fact this kind of foundation is getting more and more popular over there.

The case and refill come separately. The case is 1,000yen, and the refill is 2,200yen. Meaning once you've used it up, you can repurchase the foundation for 2,200yen which isn't too bad. The shade I've got is N2, which is the lighter shade out of two and another is N3.


You can see how liquidy the texture is, but the puff controls the wetness of it by absorbing the excess water (or whatever it is making it liquidy). It evens out the skin tone when applied on the skin by the cushiony puff, but it has very little coverage that you definitely need a concealer if you have blemishes or dark circles. I don't personally think this is a downside because I don't want my foundation to cover literally everything that I don't even need a little bit of concealer. That would be a scary look as if I am wearing a 'face mask made with foundation'.  Foundation is to even out the complexion, not to mask everything.

If you have dry skin, you will like the finish of it because it makes your skin look naturally healthy and dewy. If you have oily to combination skin like me, you might find it a little too shiny even if you set it with a powder.


This foundation is for those who have normal to dry skin, have no concerns and troubles with it that a foundation isn't even needed -but want something to even out the skin tone to make it look slightly better than bare skin. It also has SPF29 PA+++ which is perfect for a daily use.

Cushion foundation gives this beautiful and natural glow to the skin without making it look heavy and cakey. The texture is pretty unique that you might need some time to get use to -I was like 'EW!' when I tried for the first time because it feels cold and wet, which in't necessarily a pleasant feeling. But I definitely recommend it to younger people in their twenties, including my younger self at the age of 18.


L'Oreal La Palette Nude Rose


L'Oreal La Palette Nude Rose
I have mentioned this palette in my Best in beauty 2014 post already, but I thought this beautiful palette deserves an in-depth review. I know many UK beauty bloggers have been raving about it, and you might be sick of hearing about it. But if you haven't gotten your hands on it, you probably should pop into Boots and have a look at least!

I got to know L'Oreal launched this palette via Twitter. They tweeted the photo of it, and I instantly fell in love with it. Then my lovely fellow blogger Danniella from Famous in Japan kindly (yes, super kindly) included it into our occasional beauty / magazines swap! 


Though I'm not a huge fan of pinky eyeshadows, I love this particular palette because this leans towards neutral than pink. It's got 4 matte shades and 6 shimmery / metallic shades.


Some matte shades do not show up on camera but they are very useful to define the crease or blend the shades together. My favourite shade is the 3rd from the right, a perfect taupy browny purple shade. The formula of this particular shade is creamier than the others, the word 'buttery' is perfect to describe it.


The eyeshadow stays on my eyelids all day without creasing (my CANMAKE eyeshadow primer could be helping it though) and the colours are just beautiful. I often use the 4th shade from left on my crease, the 6th shade from left on the lid, and add the 3rd shade from right on the outer corner. When I want to make it darker and smokier, I use the 2nd from right on the crease, the 2nd from left on the lid and the right purple shade on the outer corner. I do not wear much of the orangy shade but other than that, I wear them on daily basis. 

The palette is slim, which makes it suitable for traveling, and you don't need any other eyeshadow as long as you have this in your bag! I hope they will bring more to the collection, I absolutely love eyeshadows from L'Oreal. I wonder why L'Oreal Japan doesn't launch good products much, I'm kind of worried they might pull off the brand completely someday....I will definitely buy tons of products from L'Oreal (and KIKO for sure) next time I go to London!


Best in Beauty 2014 -Makeup


BASE
As mentioned in my previous post, my skin has changed from dry to combination in the past year or two, and it was my mission to find products that make my makeup stay put all day!

E.L.F. Cosmetics Makeup Mist & Set

I originally wanted to try the setting spray from Urban Decay, but as they don't ship to Japan, I tried out this affordable alternative from E.L.F. And it was surprisingly good! It helps my makeup stay put all day, and the best thing is that my eyebrows would stay as they were in the morning until 11pm. As I am extending quite a bit of the end of my eyebrows with my eyebrow pencil, I tend to end up with shorter brows without the ends at the end of the day especially in summer. But one or two spritz of this spray sets them completely and they never go away.

CANMAKE Lasting Multi Eyebase Waterproof
A very good eyeshadow primer which is only 500yen. This tiny tube lasts for more than 6 months which is also a good thing. I don't see a need to invest in an expensive primer!

Kiehl's Micro Blur Skin Perfector
Such an amazing primer!! It really does blur the pores on my cheeks, and makes my foundation goes on smoothly on top. My first tube was kind of defective and separated inside of the bottle, it ended up squirting weird liquid every time I tried to use it. My second tube has been great and NO liquid comes out at all. They said it tends to separate a little bit, but when you squeeze the tube and only water comes out, that is definitely defective. You should contact the customer service if you come across that kind of issue. Anyway, it smells amazing, it felt like burning my skin at the beginning but that was because it has 'a lot of nutrients are concentrated into this formula' as the shop assistant explained. After my skin has been repaired completely, it doesn't irritate my skin at all.

Diorskin Star Fluid Foundation
The shade #20 Light Beige is too orangy to my skin unfortunately, so I am mixing it with my LUNASOL Cream foundation which is a tad too light for my skin. I like to apply this foundation with Dior Star Fluid Sponge which looks like a black egg, as it goes on semi-matte when applied with this particular sponge, and it coves the pores really well. It's medium coverage and semi-matte, yet it still reflects the light and makes your skin look healthy. It's suitable for oily to combination skin as well, for those who do not want a dewy finish yet want to avoid a completely matte skin.



EYES and CHEEKS
For eyes, I enjoyed coloured eyeliners last year, though I was a 'black liquid eyeliner kind of girl' for more than a decade! For cheeks, I found amazing products that I am completely in love with.

L'Oréal Paris La Palette
I cannot live without this palette. The quality of each eyeshadow is amazing, and the shades are perfect for people who love taupe like I do. I haven't worn any other eyeshadow since I got it from lovely Danniella from Famous in Japan.


MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection Extra Dimension Eyeshadow
Definitely the best packaging of the year! I love this shade 'Soul Serenade' which is a very deep taupe which is perfect for a simple smoky look.

Visee Color Impact Gel Liner


In Japan, coloured eyeliners were on trend towards the mid-end of the year. I LOVE these pencil eyeliners from Visee, as they glide on so smoothly, easy to blend, and never budge after being set completely. I love the burgundy shade and the taupe shade called Winter Orchid, which was limited (you still can purchase it on my website HERE).

No7 Stay Perfect Shade And Define

I LOVE this kind of cream eyeshadow in a stick form. I love this shade Cool Mink, such a beautiful and subtle taupe that is perfect for a daily use. It helps eyeshadow on top to stay put as well, and you can of course wear it on its own. I want other shades such as coffee bean, too!

Dolly Wink  Liquid Eyeliner  in Dark Brown

I don't think I've worn a black liquid eyeliner to work for months now. This is such a gorgeous brown liquid eyeliner, which is easy to apply and the colour is perfect. It's not too warm, and pretty pigmented. The brush is thin and does not dry out. I would repurchase it over and over again!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush

My shade Blissful is such a pretty peachy pink which is perfect to wear on daily basis. What I like about it the most is because it's not too pigmented. Drugstore blushes tend to be TOO pigmented that you need to be really, really careful to apply otherwise you will end up with super red cheeks like apples. But this is is subtle, elegant and very beautiful on the cheeks. Also the staying power is amazing for a powder blush.
  
Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek in Cherry Mix
I didn't expect to love this blush this much, but I DO!! The marble patterned blush gives a beautiful and natural flash on the cheeks within seconds.The puff is so fluffy (with a cute ribbon on top), and the effect the marble blush gives is just amazing. You need to have this blush in your life. I'm 100% not saying that just because I sell it on my website (HERE), I sell it because I love it this much. I'm not trying to make profits here, I wanted as many people as possible to enjoy the product, and help them in a country where Majo / Majo isn't available to purchase. You can read an in-depth review HERE.



LIPS

...and a sneaky eye product ;)

Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara Waterproof

Well, I forgot to include in into the eye makeup category but I love this mascara without a doubt! Japanese mascaras tend to stick your lashes together to make them 'thicker' which makes you look like you only have 5 lashes, but this one doesn't do that at all. It separates and lengthens without clumps.

L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire

I am in love with this shade Nude Ballet.I purchased Rose Melody but it's too pinky to my liking. It's more like a lip gloss, but the pigmentation is beyond an ordinary lip gloss formula. It smells fruity (not the typical L'Oreal scent) which I like. I love how glossy and plumped it makes my lips look.

OPERA Sheer Lip Color

A lip gloss in a lipstick form? How handy! It literally looks like I'm wearing a lip gloss, but much less sticky and greasy. My shade Salmon Pink is such a pretty peachy pink which I wore a lot during summer. It's so tiny that fits into my smallest purse.

Carmex Ultra Moisturising Lip Balm
I literally cannot live without Carmex!!! These are the only lip balms that work during winter. I love the lime one the best, and am keen on trying out the vanilla one someday.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy
The shade Innocent is such a wearable shade, and it stays for hours and hours on the lips. If you don't have time to reapply a lipstick, this is the one you should apply in the morning. You just need to apply a lip gloss or lip balm on top throughout the day for an instant update.

It's become the longest post ever!!! Thanks for reading x



Best in Beauty 2014 -Skin, Hair and Body


I have written my 'Best in Beauty' post on my Japanese blog at the beginning of Jan, but I missed a chance to write on this blog...until now. I know I'm a bit late, but hopefully you enjoy it :)

SKINCARE
My skin has changed slightly about 2-3 years ago. It used to be super dry, but it started becoming a bit oily during summer. This year, I turned 30 and my skin has become combination skin all year round. I struggled to find suitable products for my combination skin, as I was used to having dry skin. But these products are the ones saved my skin a lot throughout the year!

CyberWhite HD Advanced Brightening Night Creme
I'm about to use up the 2nd jar of this beautiful night cream, and I am not looking forward to that because I don't think I can purchase it myself. This cream is supposed to help eliminate dullness, brightens up the dark spots and make your whole complexion looks brighter. And I noticed that my dark spots around my eyes look brighter actually. Brightening skincare products never worked on me so I was not expecting anything to be honest, but I'm happy too see the visible result! But what I love about this cream isn't that effect, it's how it feels on the skin and how it smells. It's not too heavy yet moisturising enough, and it smells divine that helps me relax before going to bed.

Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
It minimises the appearance of my pores. Enough said.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
It applies like lotion but moisturises the skin around the eyes well. I tried the sample sachet which lasted for more than a week I remember, and felt it reduced the intensity of my dark circles, and picked one up at the duty free shop in Okinawa. It's not greasy or heavy around the eyes at all, and definitely reduces the fine lines in the next morning as well as brightens up the dark circles. And this tube will last me forever!

Terracuore Damask Rose Dew Oil
Oh my god, has a facial oil ever been this fragrant? I don't think so. It is like a fragrance that you apply on your face. It moisturises, brightens, plumps up your skin, while redusing the visibility of the pores. It feels like a serum rather than an oil when applied an appropriate amount, and sinks into the skin instantly. I use it before moisturiser when my skin feels stiff, or apply it on top of the moisturiser when my skin needs intense hydration. Also you can use it along with a steamed towel for a 'at home spa treatment'. 


Perfume, Hair care and Body care

Jo Malone Perfume
I discovered Peony & Blush Suede in summer, and asked my husband to get one from the duty free shop at Heathrow Airport when he was back in London, as the price in Japan is ridiculously high even when you consider the terrible exchange rate between GPB and JPY. I don't typically pick a floral scent, but this one smells feminine yet not grandma-like. I used up half the bottle within 2-3 months, which was because it didn't stay on my skin at all and I had to spray it a few times throughout the day. Then I purchased Pomegranate Noir on Rakuten Auction for 1,000yen  just because I didn't want to use up Peony & Blush Suede. I am combining it with Red Rose (in sample size) as it smells too musty to me on its own. I also like Blackberry & Bay, French Lime Blossom and Earle Grey & Cucumber. 

Rituals Honey Touch Body Cream
Definitely the best smelling body cream, ever. This is my first ever body cream that I've used up in my life. It leaves my skin soft and smooth, without being greasy at all, and the scent transfers to my clothes and remain smelling divine for hours. It was too heavy during the summer as it's super humid in Japan, it was the only thing I was looking forward to about autumn / winter. It smells like a gorgeous bathroom at a very high-end hotel. I know it sounds horrible, but you may understand if you've tried it!

L'Oreal Elseve Extraordinary Oil
The best hair oil ever. It doesn't weigh down my hair at all yet nourishes the ends instantly. It smells of 'oriental flowers' which is a bit musky, kind of dusty in a way yet feminine and sexy....which I absolutely love.

Alterna Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse


It gives a great volume in my hair!! The mousse texture makes it easy to distribute to my hair. I use it mainly on my roots when I wear my hair down to give enough volume, or apply it all over including the ends when I wear my hair up, which gives a good 'grip' to my hair without making it greasy.

Do you want to know what my favourite makeup products of 2014? It will be up on Sunday!

L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire by Color Riche


L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire by Color Riche
First of all, let me thank lovely Danniella from famousinjapan, who kindly sent me the shade Nude Ballet from L'Extraordinaire when we did a swap a couple of weeks ago. I had been eying on L'Extraordinaire since the launch in the US, I knew I would love them because I love L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash, and L'Extraordinaire seemed very similar and even better.

The shade Danniella sent me was Nude Ballet,  and I purchased Rose Melody myself on eBay because I loved Nude Ballet so much and wanted to try other shades.


The left is Rose Melody, a beautiful nude pink with tiny silver glitter particles. The right is Nude Ballet, a creamy nude beige with a rosy / pinky undertone which doesn't wash you out.



Rose Melody
Look how pretty it looks on the lips! I'm so glad that it's not a kind of pink that has a blue / purple undertone which I'm not a big fan of. It's a perfect nude pink that you can wear on daily basis.



Nude Ballet
I've been in love with nude lips since I discovered Nude Delight and Notting Hill Nude from Rimmel, as a nude lipstick makes the whole look sophisticated when the shade is right for you. And I must say that Nude Ballet is the new favourite nude of mine! It goes with any look, from smoky-eye to natural no-makeup-makeup. It makes your lips look pinker yet less red if that makes sense...You know why I love this shade, look at the photos, it's gorgeous!! 

I must mention that it has a subtle scent that some people might not like. For me it  smells like Origins Drink Up, kind of fresh and fruity. I don't mind the scent at all, but I can understand if someone says it's disturbing. 

L'Extraordinaire is not a lip stain, but it stays on the lips for hours. It remains pretty glossy for hours without reapplication, which is very handy for me at work as I literally don't have time to re-apply a lippie. One thing I don't like about this product is that it is a little bit sticky and kind of gooey on the lips. You never forget that you are wearing it on your lips, as it reminds you every time you open and close your mouth. But at the same time, I shouldn't be complaining about it because this is why it stays on the lips for so long...If you are not a big fan of sticky lipgloss, you might not like this product.

Overall I'm loving both Rose Melody and Nude Ballet at the moment. They are always in my bag, I take them wherever I go. I wonder why L'Oreal in Japan is so crappy, although the brand has so many great products in the US and UK. I've been eying on the nude lips that were inspired by the actresses. I'm thinking of getting Cheryl's nude or Eva's nude! 

What's your favourite L'Oreal product?

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint


L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint 2300yen
I am not a kind of girl who has 10 foundations and switch them around every day. I am happy with one foundation that works wonders on my skin. I liked Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation for more than a year but recently I have been on a hunt for a foundation that looks more natural yet cover my pores. 

I was going to buy GIORGIO ARMANI Maestro Foundation because I loved it when I tried out a tiny sample that I got from Shinjuku Isetan where the only Armani counter in Tokyo is in. But then I thought of this foundation which just came out in April in Japan. I heard so many good things about this foundation, and people were raving about it saying that it's a dupe for Maestro Foundation which is around 7,000yen mark. So I thought to give it a try.


Shall we take a moment here to depreciate the package? Why the heck does it not have a dropper like Maestro? Nowadays many drugstore foundation have a pump, and isn't it easy to imagine that it would get really messy as the consistency is very loose and liquidy? 

I shake the bottle before use, open the lid and place my finger on top and turn the bottle upside down, and apply the foundation that is on my finger. Every time I do that, the foundation goes all over for some reason and I have to wipe my desk and the bottle itself. I hate this bottle so much, it's pain in the butt to use.


It's very liquidy and feels a little bit oily when applied on my skin, but as I blend in it turns to a powdery texture (or at least that's what I feel) and it covers my imperfections. Despite the fact I only apply one tiny drop on the cheek, it covers -or let's say it blurs- my pores perfectly and it creates this smooth and beautiful base on my face. 

I usually blend with my fingers, that I found works the best, and make sure there is no harsh lines with my favourite Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It doesn't cover up my dark circles but that's normal, there is no foundation that covers them up, so I use Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and Bourjois CC Eye Cream on top. 


It doesn't look cakey or powdery, yet not too dewy. I've been using this foundation for about 2 months now and I'm loving it. I am dying to try L'Oreal True Match Foundation as it sounds like a very nice foundation too. On the other hand, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua has been on my wishlist for ages now. The only problem is the shade range, #20 is a bit too dark and orangy, and #10 looks a bit too pale. Not sure the shade range in Japan is exactly the same in other countries, as even #10 looks quite dark for pale skin. What's you favourite foundation at the moment? And what's your holy grail foundation? Let me know! :)

My Best Beauty Finds in 2013



Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner  
This is a very refreshing toner that I was loving throughout the summer, autumn and winter. It has blue green algae, organic kelp, hyaluronic acid and teatree which help to maintain an acne-free, moisturised skin. It smells so refreshing that I'm totally addicted to it! I apply it on a cotton pad and gently wipe my face with it. It's the perfect balance between refreshing and hydrating.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
I don't need to write too much about this product, do I? There are so many amazing reviews about it, and I've written my in-depth review of this peach-smelling face mask a few weeks ago, so I'm not going to ramble about it here again, but my skin can't be the same without it. It smells amazing, feels brilliant on my skin, and the result is very impressive.

Nourish Revital-Eyes Eye Cream
I use it every morning and night. It contains peptides, amino acids, B vitamins and antioxidants to boost natural resilience against signs of ageing, and it also helps to reduce the pigmentation of my dark circles too.


LUSH Let the Good Times Roll
Thank you LUSH so much for making such a wonderful cleanser!!! It looks, feels and smells of cookie dough. If you love sweet scents like I do, it would be your dream come true to cleanse your face with cookie dough, isn't it? Plus it's super moisturising, perfect for dry skin. Thank god it's now available all year round.

Predia Spa et Mer Fango Double Cleanse
It's a very luxurious cleanser that makes you feel like you're in a spa. It gently removes my makeup without any oily residue, while moisturising my skin. It smells heavenly too.


Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Body Lotion

It smells very sweet and nutty without being overpowering. I'm not sure when I'll be able to use up this massive bottle, but I've been enjoying it very much since I got it in Jan 2013. It doesn't make my skin feel greasy at all yet hydrate the dry parts perfectly. And the scent lingers for hours.

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Butter Cream  
Well...it might beat Smoothie Star to be honest! It smells like sweet yogurt when I open it but once it's settled on my skin it smells like sweet brown sugar with a hint of lime as it claims! Although this one is butter cream which must be heavier than body lotion, I feel that this one is lighter than Smoothie Star Body Lotion actually. I love them both anyway.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Conditioner plus Keratin
The most effective leave-in conditioner, ever! It worked wonders on my hair, it made my hair silky smooth without any tangles. That's unbelievable because my hair is usually very frizzy, dry and very easy to get tangled. Plus it smells like hair salon. Bonus.

Soap and Glory Hand Food 
Love this hand cream! It's quite thick but doesn't make my hands feel greasy or over moisturised if that makes sense. I reapply it every 30 minutes at work just to enjoy the scent. Oh, and to hydrate my hands.

Soap and Glory HAND MAID  
Yes, Soap and Glory again. I hadn't used any hand sanitizers until I bought this one in London in March. It smells divine, lighter than Hand Food although it's the same scent. 


MUA Undress Me Too Palette
Such a useful palette for 4 pound! Although the staying power isn't great, the pigmentation is amazing overall and the shades are all wearable on daily basis. I love creating greyish smoky-eye look with the silver, purple and dark grey.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick / Notting Hill Nude
I've been wearing this lipstick none-stop since I got it. It's not completely matte but it's not shimmery or glittery. It has this rosy undertone to it that doesn't make my whole face like a zombie.
 
L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash / Pink Resistance
I believe this shade is not available either in Japan or the UK, but if you love a very natural coral-pink shade, you should get it from eBay! It's such a beautiful shade that makes me look healthy. I love how it's buildable, too.

Rimmel London Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer
I purchased it because I couldn't afford the hyped-up primer from NARS, and I'm glad I did! It works really well as a primer, although it's doesn't have a colour-correcting effect. My eyeshadows stay much longer when I use it underneath them, and it's super affordable.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
I'm so glad I did purchase it in London in March. I have shade1 and 2, that I use on my dark circles. I don't find them too drying as some people claim, but I wish they had more shades.

Max Factor Clump Defy Volumising Mascara
Such a good mascara, isn't it? It really doesn't make my eyelashes clumpy, it just coats each eyelash that I don't need false lashes at all! I wish I could buy it here in Japan.

Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Mascara
My favourite mascara that I can buy in Japan for sure. I like it better than Falsies just because it makes my eyelashes fuller than Falsies, which I found the formula was a little bit too wet for my liking. I love this mascara so much that I'll repurchase once I run out of it.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush / Peach
In 2013, I fell in love with cream blushers. I also liked the one from Bourjois, but this particular shade easy to wear with any kind of makeup, in any seasons. It feels pretty wet on the skin but once you blend it out with Stippling Brush from Real Techniques, it creates this pretty cheeks that looks like it's from within.

Maybelline ColorTattoo Metal / Barely Branded
This shade works amazingly as an eyeshadow base! It's such an elegant campaign colour that I wear every single day underneath any eyeshadows. I just hope it doesn't dry out until I actually hit the pan.


What are your best beauty products you discovered in 2013? Let me know!


Hope you have a happy new year!

What's on my face?


Today I'm going to talk about the makeup products I use daily. 


After moisturising my face with SOLAR Protective Moisturizer SPF30, I apply this BB cream from Baby Pink which I talked about HERE. It has SPF35 too which is definitely needed especially in spring and summer. After I apply it with Buffing Brush by Real Techniques, I move on to concealer. I use a few different concealers starting from Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating Concealer in 040 soft beige. It's a little bit darker to use as highlighter so I use it to cancel out the redness around my nose. Then I apply Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 02 Light under my eyes, then mix 01 Fair with Maybelline Fit Me Concealer  in Light, and apply on top. Because my under eye circles are brown / orange, and I was told to apply peachy concealer first, then apply yellow toned concealer on top. It still doesn't cover them up completely but better than nothing, I guess.


Then I move on to my brows. The first thing I use is my eyebrow mascara. My favourite one is Heavy Rotation Colouring Eyebrow in ashy brown. I bleach my eyebrows every 2-3 weeks to match them to my hair colour but I still like applying eyebrow mascara to even out the colour. Then I use my eyebrow pencil from KATE in BR-02. Then I use VISEE Powder Eyebrow in BR301 which is the lighter shade, and I only use the lightest colour in this palette to fill any tiny gaps. 



For my eyes, I use NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skin Tone as a primer. I apply just a tiny bit on my eyelid with my finger to even out the skin tone. I actually don't like this product much because it still makes my eyeshadow crease anyway, and it's kind of oily. I am on the hunt for a cheap yet good eyeshadow primer! Then I apply Maybelline Color Tattoo in Eternal Gold. I didn't like this product much at the beginning but now I love how it shines on my eyelids. You still can see through the shine even after you apply other eyeshadows on top. Then I use Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Storm. I like MUA palettes as well but they tend to come off very quickly...Is it just me or does it happen to you too? 

Next I use Kingdom Liquid Eyeliner in black. I only use liquid eyeliner just because I like to define my eyes. I don't like black pencil eyeliner just because it's hard to draw a straight line and does get smudged easily. Anyway this eyeliner is very good because it doesn't come off easily in daytime but it comes off without rubbing it too much with a gentle cleanser and hot water. 


Relevance Highlight Tip in pearl beige is something I use when my eyes look tired. It brightens up my eyes instantly. Then finally I use L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara. I didn't like this mascara much at the beginning but it doesn't clump and creates very natural looking eyelashes.
 


On my face, I use Baby Pink BB Loose Powder to set my foundation. It makes my skin look flawless and I love the matte finish it gives. It erases my pores on my cheek as well, I love this powder so much! Then I use Relevance Shading Mineral Powder for shading. I apply it on my chin and forehead to make my egg-shape face look rounder. On my cheek I like to use Pierre Couleur Mineral Mousse Cheek in Lovers Pink. It has this unique texture which is exactly like mousse, and it melts into my cheeks when I apply it with Stippling Brush by real Techniques and creates this glowy look. And I sometimes use Sun Beam from Benefit (in this tiny bottle came with ELLE magazine last year).




On my lips I use different lip products depending on my mood. I like to wear Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick from Soap and Glory when I'm wearing a simple eye makeup as it shows up pretty bright on my lips. I love applying Bath and Body Works Lip Gloss (which I talked about HERE) on top of any lip stick I have! It smells so nice like vanilla syrup or something, and it gives pretty pretty shine on my lips. I also like L'Oreal Paris Glam Shine Stain Splash in Lolita. I use it all the time especially at work. It doesn't show up much on my lips but definitely creates "Oh my lips look naturally this pigmented and make my whole face look healthy" type of look if that makes sense. Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter  in Berry Smoothie is another favourite of mine. It's such a pretty girlie colour I want to wear on a date or something. It's such a perfect pink!

Phew it became such a long post! Thanks for reading, and share what's on your face today!
 

L'Oréal Volume Million Lashes Mascara




L'OrĂ©al Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara £9.35

I was on the hunt for new mascara as my favourite one from LANCOME was running out. I wanted to try something new as I was bored of the same types of mascara I had been using.  LANCOME Virtuose Drama which I got as a PR sample is my favourite for sure but I didn't want to pay 4,000yen for mascara. 

    
It's got the plastic wand which I had never used before. I didn't know that before I actually opened it when it arrived because the websites I checked didn't have detailed information about it. Well, I should have googled it though...Anyway, it's all fine because I wanted to try out the plastic wand as many beauty bloggers mentioned that this type is better than the normal brushy-wand. 



At first I didn't like it at all because it didn't impress me. I was expecting more volume from one or two coats like LANCOME Virtuose Drama does. But I realized that the wand didn't hold much formula so I had to put it back in to the bottle once or twice and reapply. Then it made it much better. Although I still think the name "Volume Million Lashes" is too much of an exaggeration.



By the way can you believe how flat my eyelid is in this picture?? I don't have the eye sockets at all. I wish my eyes were deeper so that I would be able to enjoy makeup more than I do now where it doesn't even make a big difference with or without makeup. Anyway, you can see that my eyelashes are coated evenly by Volume Million Lashes Mascara. It does its job! And the good thing is that it doesn't contain fibers which I hate.

I really like the fact that the formula is not too thick, and it doesn't make my lashes crumpy at all. And it lasts pretty long and it's waterproof so it doesn't smudge even when I put eye drops. Over all, I think it's a pretty good product in comparison to many Japanese mascara in the same price range. It's not the best mascara ever so I won't repurchase it once I run out of this one though. I would like to try Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Flared Mascara next! What is your favourite mascara?

October Favoruites


I know it's the middle of November but I made an effort to take photos of my October Favourites, so I'm going to write about them!


Liz Earle Cleanse&Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser  (full review)
I am totally in love with this cleanser. It works, it smells good and it makes my skin so soft and smooth like a baby's. I use this cleanser with the muslin cloth about 3 times a week. It's tempting to use it every day but I try not to because I'm not sure if it's true or not but I have heard that we Asian have thinner skin than other races so we shouldn't exfoliate our skin as much. Also if you exfoliate every day, your skin cells get removed before the skin underneath is strong enough, and that could cause sensitivity. Anyway I love this cleanser so much, and since I started using this product my skin has been in a very good condition.

balance me rose otto Body Cream  (full review)
There's no reason to complain about this product. It moisturizes my skin perfectly, smells so gorgeous and I love the packaging. balance me is definitely one of my favourite beauty brands. The best part of this body cream is that it doesn't make my palms greasy after applying it on my body. I hated and forgot to put moisturizer on my body before I discovered this product, but now I can't wait to put this good-smelling body cream every night before bed.


Caudalie Divine Oil  (full review)
Love love love this oil. Usually I apply this oil on my arms, neck and hair to enjoy the scent. I cannot describe the smell but it's something like a mixture of floral and vanilla type of sweet scent if that makes sense. It's so addictive and I really love this scent in the winter air. The oil is very light and it sinks in very quickly which is perfect for a busy morning because I don't have to wait to put clothes on!

Sunshine Spa Bath & Body Oil (full review) 
I pour a few drops of this bath oil into my bathtub when I feel the need of relaxation. It smells incredible, I don't care the fact that the oil makes the whole bathroom slippery. It smells of lavender, chamomile, bargamot and sandalwood which is truly relaxing. You can use it as a shower oil or body oil if you wish, I strongly recommend this oil if you're having a stressful life!



balance me wonder eye cream (full review) Another balance me product I was loving in October. This eye cream is so light yet moisturizing, so I can use it in the morning as well as night time. It moisturize my skin without making it greasy as it sinks in very quickly. I love the herbal scent too. 

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment
I haven't done a full review of this product yet, but I will definitely do it very soon. I've been using this for about 3 weeks now and whenever I apply this oil, my hair becomes so silky. I've got fine hair and it gets tangled which is horrible -sometimes I tear my tangled hair accidentally- but this oil prevents tangle and that is amazing! It also smells really nice, like a musky vanilla type of scent which reminds me of some male perfume.

Aveda Eye Color Trio in Sea Grass (full review)
I use this eyeshadow palette every day. I haven't figured out how to use the black colour as I have been into brown eyeshadows rather than black recently. But the other two colours are my daily essentials for sure. The pink one is perfect for the base on my eyelids, it creates the even skin tone which is like a clean canvas! I use the brown colour to contour and sometimes on my eyebrows.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter (full review)
I wear Peach Parfait nearly every day to work. It's such a pretty colour, which is not too bright and not too nude. This colour makes my whole face look fresh and healthy!! I am very busy at work and don't have time to look into a mirror and fix my makeup, so I like the fact that I don't need a lip brush and a mirror to apply this lipstick, instead I can just apply it as if it's a lip balm and it looks fine!

Thanks for reading, it became such a long post...sorry! Hope you enjoyed it :)

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter


Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter

I know it's a bit late to talk about this product but I have to because I'm pretty excited to finally get them! I wanted to try sooner because there was a huge hype going on, but it's really expensive in Japan and I didn't want to pay 1500yen for a tinted lip balm. I found a very good deal on eBay and got two different colours for $7-8 each.


Peach Parfait is sold in Japan but Tutti Frutti is not so I was excited to try out. I usually don't wear lipstick especially in orange, so it was a challenge for me but I wanted to try because recently I wear brown eyeshadows a lot and thought this colour would go well with brown. 


Peach Parfait is such a lovely colour that matches my skin tone.


I was surprised to see how sheer it actually was because it looked pretty dark. This colour brightens up my face without looking overdone.


Tutti Frutti is a very bright orange colour.


And it's very pigmented though I was expecting a bit more sheer pigmentation. The colour is a little bit too bright and strong for me so I just tap it on my lips instead of applying it fully, to give a hint of orange. 


Overall I really like the product although I made a mistake on picking a colour which matches my skin tone. It's moisturizing and I love how sheer Peach Parfait is! Have you tried this product? Did you like it?

October Empties!


This is the time of the month to talk about empties again! In October I used up quite a lot of products considering the fact I am a slow-user. I am going through the products I used up quickly now!


Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner

Rahua is an american haircare brand which came to Japan at the end of last year I think. Their products are pretty expensive, these are 3900yen and 4200yen, and their hair oil which I don't own costs 18900yen for 30ml botttle. Ridiculous!

But trust me, this is the best harecare products I've ever used. They contain a plant oil called rahua oil and that seems to be the key ingredient. It makes my hair unbelievably soft and silky, like it's never been. They smell weird but I just don't care because the result is absolutely amazing.

I'm very sad that I've used them up. I was given them as PR samples from a Japanese company and just loved them so much but don't think I would spend about 8000yen on haircare products. Not that I don't want to but I can't! I strongly recommend rahua if you are interested, it's so amazing.

...Oh and I apologize for the dirty bottles, I washed them but wasn't able to make them crystal clear.


moemoe Spa Treatment

Can you believe this pair of small tubes costs about 1000yen? These are hair treatment tubes for an intensive haircare. They smell amazing, like fruity floral clean scent if that makes sense. You apply tube No.1 treatment mainly at the end of your hair after wash, then apply tube No.2 treatment on top, leave it for 5 minutes and rinse. It does make my hair soft and moisturized I guess but at the same time it makes my hair flat. I liked this product but I wouldn't buy it myself.


These are sent by Zanka from Zanka talks cosmetics, and it was fun to choose which one to use depending on my skin condition and mood! 

The honey one was a peel-off facial mask which I had never experienced, and it smelled just like honey!! I was like "Oh my gosh it does smell like honey and I feel like I'm Winnie-the-Pooh!" It felt a bit tingly on my skin but didn't make my skin red or irritated. I think it contains pretty high level of alcohol and maybe that is why. I really enjoyed how it worked and the smell of course, and it made my skin feel clean.

The avocado one smelled lovely too. It didn't smell of avocado and I cannot describe the scent but I liked it very much. This one tingled my skin as well but again it didn't affect my skin. Maybe it was because this facial mask is supposed to stimulate my skin, I cannot tell if it did to be honest but I really liked the smell. And the packaging is so pretty!

   
Caudalie Grape Water

It only lasted less than a month I guess but I can't blame it as it's only a 75ml bottle which is tiny! I used it as lotion after washing my face every morning and night. It doesn't have any smell in it and it doesn't hydrate skin too much but it was a nice product. I think it's good for summer to carry it around to refresh.

L'OREAL Paris ELSEVE Damage Care Pro

It's hair treatment in a spray bottle which you use in the shower. Basically you spray this mainly at the end of your hair after wash and rinse it off. You don't have to wait for 5 minutes to rinse as the oil sinks in quickly. It smells amazing and it does work. I will miss this product.


Caudalie Lip Conditioner

This lipbalm is one of the best ones I've ever used. I love the subtle smell of vanilla, and the matte finish it gives, and of course the fact that it moisturizes my often-chapped-lips! It really works and I actually repurchased this item recently! I recommend this lipbalm to anyone who's suffering from chapped lips.

I am not sure if I would use up more products in November as I finished quite a lot of products in October, but I will write about my empties when I have enough products to talk about for sure!