I usually don't like doing "Favourites" posts, but because I had some beauty products that I was obsessed with throughout the month, I thought to share my love towards them with you all.
Revlon Color Burst Lacquer Balm in Coy has been on my lips since I got it in the end of September. I usually don't emphasise my lips with a bold lip stick but this particular shade is absolutely gorgeous that I instantly fell in love. I might do an in-depth review soon so I'm not going to ramble about it now but it's a perfect autumn / winter shade. Another product that's been on my lips is L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire by Color Riche in 601 Nude Ballet. I think I got it in summer and I've been loving it since then, but especially in October I was wearing it a lot when I had strong eye makeup. It smells like peaches or apricots or something delicious, and makes my lips look glossy and full and just beautiful. Also it lasts for at least 2 hours on my lips which is impressive for this kind of formula.
No7 Stay Perfect Shade And Define in Cook Mink has been my favourite for months also. I got it in July, and I kind of regret why I didn't buy more shades. I only have Cool Mink and Glistening Ray, and I'm thinking of buying Coffee Bean and Velvet Truffle next time I come to the UK. Cool Mink looks much more pigmented when swatched on the back of my hand, than it does on my eyelids, but still it's such a beautiful taupe colour. It stays all day and never creases. For the cheeks, I've been loving PIERRE COULEUR Mineral Mousse Cheek in CK-1 Lovers Pink. It's a Japanese brand and I got this blusher a long time ago to review. The shade is perfect for autumn / winter as it's such a lovely plum colour. It's got this unique mousse-like texture, I apply it on my cheeks with my fingers and blend with Stippling Brush from Real Techniques. It creates such beautiful cheeks as if blushing from within.
For foundations, the combination of LUNASOL SKIN MODELING WATER CREAM FOUNDATION in OC01 and Dior Star in 020 has been my favourite. I wish I could use Dior Star by itself but the shade I got (again, to review) is a tad too dark for my skin tone and it kind of oxidises throughout the day, so I have to mix it with the one from LUNASOL which is too bright for my skin tone. This combo makes my skin looks flawless that sometimes I look in the mirror at work and think "WOW my skin looks amazing today". My skin doesn't get shiny when these foundations are on, and my pores are invisible.
Skincare wise, I've been enjoying Twany Time Refresher. It's a serum that you apply right after you cleanse your face. Massage it into the skin for about 30 seconds, until it feels less slippery, then leave it for about 1 minute so that it sinks in. Then add lotion, moisturiser and eye cream like you usually do. When I use this serum / mask, my skin looks plumped and moisturised, and I can tell my skin is satisfied! It's such a lovely product. Prada Candy L'eau is my signature winter scent. It smells very similar too Candy, but with a hint of citrus it smells a little lighter. It smells like caramel in a very sophisticated way, not like a body spray, which is suitable for business occasions too.
L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil for Thin Hair is a must-have for this season. It smells divine and makes me feel happy instantly. The oil itself is super light that doesn't weigh my hair down at all. The only downside is that the scent doesn't linger. I wish I could enjoy the scent all day. Alterna Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse is such an amazing product. I apply it on my wet hair and blow dry as usual, and it gives such great volume! I have the cream version of it as well, but this one works better for my limp hair. I usually get it permed every 6 months or so but I am currently suffering from this weird skin disease on my scalp (I know it's gross but it's caused by stress and I just cannot get rid of it for months!) which makes it impossible to go get my hair done, thus my hair is really limp and boring. This mousse saved my life as it just sets my hair within seconds! Though it smells like grandpa for some reason, I am loving it.
Hope you enjoyed! x
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!
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 :)
First of all, I'm sorry about the picture as it's a bit blur. I used my mother's camera this time and took quite a nice picture, but when I edited using Illustrator -I wish I had Photoshop- the picture became blur like this. I'm not a professional so I have no idea why but well, it's not the end of the world.
So I'm going to go through the products -from left- quickly!
1) Caudalie Zeste De Vigne Shower Gel : I finished the purple one called "Thé Des Vignes" the other day, and I loved that one so much. I thought of putting Thé Des Vignes in here as my favoruite item of the month, but this orange one is also very nice so I pick this one as my favourite. It smells zesty and fresh, it's perfect for a morning shower. It doesn't foam much and that's kind of annoying but the scent is amazing. I recommend this shower gel strongly if you haven't tried it yet.
2) Caudalie Gentle Cleanser : I LOVE this cleanser. Basically it's milky cleanser which you can use in both morning and night. I don't use toner to remove my makeup but this one takes everything off including my eyeliners, eyeshadows, foundation and mascara. It's gentle and moisturizing, which is perfect for my dry skin. Smells so clean and nice, I love love love this cleanser. I might repurchase it when it runs out.
3) Caudalie Beauty Elixir : I'm not going to talk about it anymore as you might get fed up but I'm going to repurchase it soon. I wish they had a bigger bottle like 500ml, I'm sure there is demand.
4) NEOM Real Luxury Organic Body Scrub : A very nice sugar scrub, could be the best one I've ever used. It makes my skin so soft and hydrated, and the scent is heavenly. I pair it with the body lotion in the same scent, it makes me so happy.
5) Pangea Organics Facial Mask : The best facial mask ever. It was 22% off on Vitacost, I will definitely repurchase it soon as my mum and I have used a half of it within a month. It stinks and looks gross but it does what it says on the package. "DOES EVERYTHING". If you want a baby-like-skin, get this mask. This makes it happen!
6) Jason Facial Wash and Scrub Apricot Scrubble : Usually I only use a facial scrub once a week or one in two weeks even as my skin is a bit sensitive, but I use this one twice a week. I just can't help it because it makes my skin so smooth. It's a gentle scrub so you can use it every day if you want, but I try not to use it more than twice a week because I heard too much scrub can be a cause of a skin breakout. This scrub smells very nice, and the apricot oil is very hydrating without making my skin feel greasy or oily. One of the best facial scrubs for sure. And also it's 43% off on Vitacost!
I hope you enjoyed it!
What was your favourite item in September?
