Category: Makeup

Photo of makeup products which I no longer need

Makeup that I no longer need in my life

KimLeave a comment

After years of buying, trying and decluttering makeup, I have learnt what works for my skin, style and aesthetic. Especially after barely wearing any makeup in 2020 I have come to realise what I really like and actually enjoy using.

I’m in my late 30s and I’ve come to realise that there are products that I have that aren’t really necessary. Either I no longer enjoy its effect or a multitasker exists that does the same job or I want to cut out the step entirely because I’m lazy. I mean makeup itself isn’t necessary, people wear it for different reasons, as do I. There are a few categories of products that I can definitely live without so if you’re interested to find out what they are, please keep on reading 🙂

Highlighters

Cream, liquid and powder highlighters. When I first started watching beauty YouTube, every person would use highlighter when doing their makeup. Even when most of the time I didn’t like how it looked on them, even under all their fancy lights, I still yearned to have it too. The packaging is generally gorgeous and who doesn’t like (the look of) all that pretty shimmer. So I bought a bunch over time and slowly realised that I hardly used it. I have pigmentation on my cheek bones, it’s not that obvious with foundation and concealer but when I used highlighter it just seemed to make them reappear (duh it’s job is to highlight) and my meticulous concealing work proved to be a waste of time. I guess out of the three types I do prefer cream because I can lightly tap it onto my cheekbones so it doesn’t disturb my base but it’s still not a necessity for me. I remember buying my first highlighter, which was RMS’s Living Luminizer, it was so damn beautiful but I couldn’t even make a dent in it before it decided to expire on me.

I have always favoured a more natural application of makeup, so I’ve never liked to shine like a disco ball. Kudos to those who do though, each their own. Also by the time I normally apply highlighter, I already have foundation, concealer, blush and bronzer on and my skin is already looking quite dewy so happy to skip it since I think that’s already quite enough for my liking. Enough time spent!

Primers

Ever since I started wearing sunscreen daily I have barely touched my primers. I would classify liquid glowy illuminators as a primer too, not just pore filling or hydrating ones. I’ve been trying to use up my Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, which is beautiful, but I have no idea how much I’ve used up from its packaging and now it smells funny (time to toss). There’s also a liquid illuminator from Burberry that I’m almost done with, purchased at a time when I was really into primers and Sephora. I mean I enjoy their effect, which is glowy skin, but I already get that effect of healthy and dewy skin from the sunscreens and foundations that I use. I’ve used the og Porefessional from Benefit (never worked for me) and so many others and have been tempted by Tatcha’s Liquid Silk Canvas due to hearing so many rave reviews. But at the end of the day, it’s an extra step for me and if I had bought it I wouldn’t remember to use it.

I’ve been much more mindful about buying any primers and haven’t for a long time. Even if I were to get ready for a dinner out, I still wouldn’t miss the primer step. There’s the suggestion that primer will help your makeup’s longevity, but honestly I don’t need my makeup to last that long, I’ve been working from home and also in work in IT. I also haven’t experienced much of a difference between no primer or primer (even those which had long lasting claims). Primers are also expensive, almost the same price as foundations sometimes. If I were to pick between the two it would be foundation everytime.

Lip liners

Some people love lip liners, they can’t do their lips without it. I am not one of those people, though I have tried to be. Again I fell for the whole beauty YouTuber marketing telling me that I needed to use lip liner before lipstick application. I’ve also been told that it can make your lipstick lasts longer too (which for me it never does). I mean I can definately see a place for it, especially if you want a precise application of darker or red lipsticks, or if you are a MUA, but for ordinary me I’m mainly a neutral lip person and am pretty basic with my lip products. I’ve used liners maybe twice in my life, so the bunch of lip liners that I have are just sitting there, waiting to expire or have expired.

Setting spray

I used to love spritzing my face with Mac’s Prep and Prime aka Fix+ because that’s what people in YouTube did. Besides that I did like the feeling of it and the way it made my face look and feel. But like I mentioned before, I already use dewy and glowy products like sunscreen and foundation and I don’t really care about longevity anymore so using a setting spray as part of my regular makeup routine was overkill.

Urban decay’s (original) all nighter did a good job in locking in makeup but I always thought it smelt weird and I have not owned it for a long time. It no longer has a place in my makeup routine since I haven’t been going to any occasions where I needed my makeup to be glued onto my face for 20hrs. It’s also full of denatured alcohol so use it with caution and only if you really need to.
I also don’t apply powder all over face anymore, I only apply it in my t-zone where I really need it. Therefore I no longer need a hydrating setting spray like Fix+ to tone down the matte or powdery look.

I still own some of these products and have sold some as well. Lip liners are probably ready to be tossed.
For the ones I have kept, I will keep using them for when I can be bothered or remember to. Basically just to use them up which won’t be anytime soon (I’m looking at you powder highlighters). But I will not be buying anymore products from these categories in future. I know that not everyone will agree with my reasoning but they are just my opinions. Makeup is very personal so you do you.

What products did you use to love but no longer use or see a purpose for? I’d love to know.

[Review] Laneige Lip Glowy Balm – how does it compare to the iconic lip sleeping mask?

Kim1 Comment

When Laneige released these lip balms (within the last year or so), I was curious to see how they would compare with their cult favourite lip sleeping mask. In my opinion this was the product which got a lot of hype and made Laneige a household name worldwide. Launching their line in Sephora also helped. I really like the sleeping mask, everything about it, except for the pot packaging. So when I saw these balms released in tube form, I hoped that they would be just as good as they are convenient.

I picked up 3 of the 4 shades, #Grapefruit, #Pear and #Peach. I couldn’t get a hold of #Berry at the time.

Claims

from laneige.com

The perfect daytime partner in crime to the cult-favorite Lip Sleeping Mask, Glowy Lip Balm is pocket sized for easy, on-the-go application. The formula contains murumuru and shea butters that provide powerful hydration and lock in moisture longer.

Price

$15.95 AUD, 10g, from letsfaceit.net.au

Ingredients

See laneige.com for the ingredients for all 4 flavours. Included ingredients from their website for Peach.

Peach: HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PHYTOSTERYL/ISOSTEARYL/CETYL/ STEARYL/BEHENYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, POLYBUTENE, PHYTOSTERYL ISOSTEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX /CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, SUCROSE TETRASTEARATE TRIACETATE, SYNTHETIC WAX, ETHYLENE/ PROPYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER, MICA, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX / CANDELILLA CERA HYDROCARBONS / CIRE DE CANDELILLA, ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEEDBUTTER, BUTYLENE/ ETHYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER, CANDELILLA WAX ESTERS, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, DIMETHICONE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, METHICONE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX / COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / CIRE DE CARNAUBA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, RED 6 (CI 15850), PRUNUS PERSICA (PEACH) KERNEL OIL, BHT 

Without analysing all the ingredients in each one, which I won’t be doing, the hero ingredients do differ between the lip sleeping mask and the glowy lip balms.

From laneige.com:

Lip Glow Balm

Key Ingredient: Murumuru Butter, Shea Butter

Lip Sleeping Mask

Key Ingredient: Berry Mix Complexâ„¢

Comparison summary

Packaging

The packaging is a small and slim plastic squeezy tube, pretty common to other lip balms on the market. It’s easy to squeeze out your desired amount and you can use the applicator to also spread the balm on your lips. Hands free lip application is the most sanitary option, especially in these dark times, so I’m all for simple tubes because they do the job efficiently.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balms – Peach

One of my pet peeves for lip products is having to use my fingers for application. I know that Laneige does provide this small spatula thing (which I already lost/threw away on day one) with the lip sleeping mask, but even if I did use that I would still need to keep it sanitised which requires unnecessary effort in my opinion.

Cost

The lip glowy balm only has 10g of product where the lip sleeping mask has 20g. Sephora sells the lip sleeping mask for $28 and the glowy balm for $23. So for an extra $5 you can get double the product of the lip glowy balm with the lip sleeping mask. I’ve used my jar for months (not consistently because of the packaging) and I haven’t made much a dent yet so I can vouch that it’s far better value. It will probably expire before I use it up. The cost of convenience however, is priceless. If I can get the glowy balms on sale (which I did), the difference isn’t that bad.

This is all in AUD by the way and cost varies depending on where you shop. This is more common for k-beauty since it’s sold through many different retailers. I would definitely recommend the Let’s face it online store (I’m not affiliated) if you are in Australia, their prices are competitive and shipping was super quick.

Performance

True to its claims, it does provide a lot of hydration and moisture to my lips, which are pretty dry but not cracked or anything. It makes my lips look very juicy with high shine, which I don’t mind since I’ve only been wearing it at home. It gives the same effect of the lip sleeping mask, glossy, non sticky lips.

In terms of its lasting power, I would say that it’s just as effective as the lip sleeping mask. You will need to reapply it after eating (depending on how heavy your meal was) but it does last if you’re just drinking and going about your day. I have applied it before bed as well and my lips have felt soft in the morning. The same result as using the lip sleeping mask. It’s marketed as use for daytime, but it also kept my lips moisturised throughout the night too. Either might not be enough if you have extremely dry or cracked lips, you might need to re apply during the night.

Shades

The tint is barely noticeable too so the difference colour wise across the different flavours is very minimal especially once on the lips. I would say they are pretty much transparent. Each flavour has its own scent of course, which is most detectable when freshly applied and isn’t offensive whatsoever. It doesn’t smell artificial which I appreciate. I’ve only used the Berry flavour of the lip sleeping mask so I don’t know if the other flavours have a stronger scent but the Berry one has a subtle yummy scent, as do these glowy balms. My favourite of the bunch being Peach. Grapefruit is a tad bitter which I don’t like as much but it’s also pretty subtle.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm – Swatched from top to bottom: Pear, Peach and Grapefruit

Final thoughts

Rating: 5 out of 5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)

I really like these Lip Glowy Balms from Laneige. I enjoy its fuss free packaging and don’t mind paying a bit extra for this convenience. I would actually get use out of them for this reason which is worth it. I would say it’s incredibly similar to the lip sleeping mask in terms of how it feels and performs on my lips. Would definitely prefer these over the cult classic lip sleeping mask. If you don’t mind using a spatula or fingers, the latter is better value.

Have you tried these out yet? If you already own the lip sleeping mask, how do you think it compares? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Laneige Stained Glow Lip Balm

[Review] Laneige Stained Glow Lip Balm #Rich Red

KimLeave a comment

I went on a big trip to Japan and South Korea last Christmas and came back with wayy too much skincare and makeup (keep on eye for many more reviews from me!).

I was looking for things I hadn’t seen before and things I couldn’t get over here. I also got to see/buy the latest releases which was exciting. Living in Australia, we don’t always get the new stuff as soon as they release, more like weeks/months after.

One makeup item that is new that I will be reviewing today is a lip product from Laneige called the Stained Glow Lip Balm. What initially drew me to the range was it’s packaging which is similar to Diors’ Glow Color Reviver Balm which I already love so I’ll highlight the similarities between the two.

Cost

About $20 USD from a Laneige store in Myeongdong, Seoul (Dec 2019)

Ingredients

From laneige.com

* LANEIGE Stained Glow Lip Balm No.2 (Rich Red)
PHYTOSTERYL ISOSTEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, PHYTOSTERYL/OCTYLDODECYL LAUROYL GLUTAMATE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIISOPROPYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, BEESWAX / CERA ALBA / CIRE D’ABEILLE, OCTYLDODECANOL, POLYETHYLENE, OZOKERITE, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE, SQUALANE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, TRIBEHENIN, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, RED 22 LAKE (CI 45380), BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEED BUTTER, RED 27 (CI 45410), LACTIC ACID, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), RED 7 (CI 15850), POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, WATER / AQUA / EAU, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, TOCOPHEROL, POTASSIUM ALGINATE, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, BHT, ALCOHOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, LYCIUM CHINENSE FRUIT EXTRACT, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, COFFEA ARABICA (COFFEE) SEED EXTRACT, SAPINDUS MUKOROSSI FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MACROCARPON (CRANBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, FRAGARIA CHILOENSIS (STRAWBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, RUBUS CHAMAEMORUS SEED EXTRACT, CHENOPODIUM QUINOA SEED EXTRACT, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, BETA-GLUCAN, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, MANGANESE SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, DISODIUM EDTA, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE

There are three shades available and the ingredients vary due to its colours. It contains the same Berry Complex and Moisture wrap technology used in their popular and now cult favourite sleeping masks.

Claims

from laneige.com

Tinted lip balm offers hydrating moisture and fresh tinting color for lovely lips.

Shades

The stained lip balm comes in three beautiful shades.
I picked up only the shade No.2 Rich Red.

Image credits: laneige.com

True to its name, since it is a balm, it is very sheer but contains enough pigment to brighten up the lips. I’ve never been able to get to that level of payoff in the picture due to its sheerness. Maybe if you wore a lip liner underneath or something. I love the subtle colour it leaves and being sheer, it’s also so easy to apply without a mirror.

No. 2 Rich Red

Alike to Dior’s balm, it has its own smart tinting technology where the colour adapts to the ph of your lips, so the colour can look different on everyone which is pretty cool.

Scent

There is a light fruity scent but it’s very subtle and pleasant. I’m very sensitive to fragrance in makeup, but I enjoy this.

My final thoughts

Rating: 5 out of 5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)

Firstly as you can already tell from my rating, love this product. As much as I like a full coverage matte/satin lipstick at the best of times, for my more casual days (like in self isolation at the moment) where I wear lighter makeup or none at all, I like to go for easier options. Which this balm definitely is.

Secondly it is much like Diors’ Glow Color Reviver Balm (such a mouthful!), heck even their names are similar. They are both easy to apply, provide a nice tint of colour using their own ph adapting tech and they both leave a nice shine to the lips which never feels sticky or uncomfortable. They both contain moisturising ingredients, providing lasting suppleness, juiciness and hydration to the lips. I hate it when I swipe on a lip balm and my lips get dry again just 10 mins later. As mentioned earlier, there is a subtle fruity scent to this lip stain where Diors’ balm has a light vanilla smell.

The price is probably the biggest difference, Dior’s balm is $52 AUD and the Laniege’s version is going for $37 AUD at Yesstyle.com at the moment. The shade range differs too actually, only 3 shades for this lip stain vs Diors’ which has 7 shades.

If you love Diors’ version, or if you tend to gravitate towards lip balms, I would definitely recommend giving this a try. I think it’s only released in Asia so far but it’s currently available from Yesstyle.com.

Empties March 2020, skincare used up

Skincare empties (March 2020) – Korean, Japanese and Western skincare

KimLeave a comment

6 months later, another empties post. You know the drill, keep on reading to see whether I loved/liked/hated any of these products.

Dr. Althea – To Be Eyeconic Eye Serum

Cost: $64 AUD, 20ml from yesstyle.com *

What attracted me to this eye serum was the packaging, I liked the idea of having the angled tip so you can dispense, apply and massage the serum directly from the product. A lot of eye creams are in jars for some reason. It claims to help with all that I and probably most people are who are over the age of 30 are searching for, a remedy for fine lines and dry under eyes. For someone with combo skin my under eyes are very dry. It contains green tea to soothe, adenosine to smooth out wrinkles as well as squalene and chamomile extract for moisturization. The product is light, didn’t irritate my eyes and I could use this alone for ample moisture. BUT, my problem with it was the packaging. I couldn’t really use that angled end to rub the serum effectively under my eyes, I still had to use my fingers for that so I found it gimmiky. Also the container is long and slim with no weight to it so it kept falling over when stored with my other skin care products. Damn it just fell over again…!

Would not repurchase.

Mac Fix+ – Watermelon

Cost: AU $25 (I think) from mac cosmetics . Limited edition. 30ml

Mac Fix+ is an oldie but a goodie and a reliable hydrating mist regardless of what scent you buy. They released limited edition scents mid last year and I grabbed the watermelon as well as the pineapple scent. I love both and they work just as well as the original. I’ve also tried the coconut one which I also liked.

Was worth a try but if I were to repurchase it would be the full size which costs $39 for 100ml, making it more bang for your buck.

SK-II Genoptics Aura Essence

Cost: $210 AUD, 30ml, from sephora.com.au

I suffer from sun spots and hyperpigmentation so I’m always looking for products to fade this damn discolouration. This serum offered brightening properties which included SKII’s patented hero ingredient Pitera.

The serum was milky, lightweight and easily absorbable. It has a light scent which was pleasant enough. I expected to see results but did not. I used up the entire bottle since it would be a crime at this price point not to. Liked it enough to use up but wouldn’t repurchase.

First Aid Beauty – Hello FAB Vital Greens Face Mist

Cost: Not sure, this mini size 30ml was in a set which is no longer available, full size is $29 from sephora.com.au

This is a nice spray, nothing unique but nice. It is cooling on skin and contains lots of plant extracts which gives it that lovely green colour. I’m not really loyal to face mists if I’m being honest since I want to try them all. The only ones I have repurchased has been MAC’s Fix +. Nothing to write home about here so will not repurchase.

Drunk Elephant – B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel 

Cost: $35 as part of the Rise and Glow set from mecca.com.au

Another one bites the dust. To hear my thoughts and praises for this product you can find a quick review of it here in my last empties post.

It’s such a good mixing product and if you use enough of it by itself, it’s quite a nice hydrating serum.

I am still contemplating on buying the full size. TBD.

DERMA E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum

Cost:  $34.99, 60ml from priceline.com.au (Australian Pharmacy)

I heard about this brand and product from Renee @ Gothamista. To date I haven’t found a vitamin c product that I’ve actually liked. I hated the Drunk Elephant C-Firma and didn’t like the smell of the Klairs Freshly Juiced drop. I’m pretty sure The Ordinary’s Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% broke me out.

Anyway I really liked this serum, texture was nice and light, easily spreadable, absorbed immediately and I really liked the fresh subtle citrus smell. I used it immediately after cleansing in the morning and as well as my complexion appearing brighter over time, my skin also felt plump and hydrated. During the summer, I would just apply this and sunscreen, skipping moisturiser.

Would definitely repurchase, it’s value for money and it’s actually effective.

Alpine Berry Watery Cream

Price: $ 73.10 from yesstyle.com *

I love this moisturiser, this is the second jar that I’ve finished and I already have repurchased. It is the perfect cream moisturiser which is perfect for my combo skin. It has a slight gel consistency making it easy to apply and spread. You don’t need a lot which is great. It contains an alpine berry complex which consists of blackberries and strawberry sprouts as well as hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and squalene. Never greasy and gives your skin a lovely glow, I will always buy this! Thanks Liah Yoo for sharing your love for this product, I’m hooked! I think this warrants a full review so keep an eye out for that if you’re interested.

Ok that’s all folks! What products have you finished recently? Do you tend to repurchase the same things or do you like trying new products out? Let me know!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skincare empties (September 2019)

Kim1 Comment

Keeping empty containers may seem like a silly thing to do but I have good reasons for saving them. I can’t post dedicated reviews on every possible thing I try so I tend to collect them for a bi annual post like this. I enjoy watching people review their empties because it gives me a good indication of whether they would repurchase having used up all the product.

Skincare, especially, is something that you (generally) can’t form an instant opinion on so having some more information after its entire use is more helpful than a first impression (compared to someone just rubbing it on their hand in a haul). As usual, I’m going to be breezing through (well I’ll try my best to) each of them, otherwise this will be very long.

DHC Deep cleansing oil 

DHC Deep cleansing oil

Cost: $20 AUD from yesstyle.com

This cleansing oil is a cult classic and one that I had always wanted to try. When I saw that Yesstyle had in this cute Alice in Wonderland packaging in a smaller bottle, I was sold. I can see why it’s a popular product, the consistency is in the middle, not too thick and not too thin. I can massage it easily around my face and it does a great job in melting down my makeup. I always follow with a second cleanser but after I use this oil, my face already feels clean and moisturised with no sticky residue. The main ingredient is organic olive oil. 

Would definitely repurchase the larger pump style size in future. 

IUNIK – Calendula complete cleansing oil 

Cost: AU $24.81 from ebay *

IUNIK - Calendula complete cleansing oil

iUNIK is a brand that focusses on natural ingredients so I thought I’d give this a try. Calendula has recently appeared in a number of skincare products across different brands. It’s extract can serve as an antiseptic to soothe and heal wounds and it’s also great for collagen stimulation. This cleanser contains a bunch of oils, the main ones being sunflower and canola oil. This performed fine, melted makeup well enough and didn’t leave a film on my skin but what I struggled with was the scent. This outright smelt like cooking oil with a hint of floral. So if you don’t like strong scents in your cleansing oil I would give this a pass.

Would not repurchase.

NEOGEN – Real fresh foam – Green Tea

NEOGEN - Real fresh foam - Green Tea

Cost: $15.58 USD, from bbcosmetic.com

This is already a repurchase and is my HG cleanser. I love its subtle scent and they way that it foams. The texture is soft but holds it’s shape so it’s easy to dispense and apply. It doesn’t strip my skin even though its ph of 7 is a bit on the higher side. This product is also sold in other “flavours” but I love this green tea version so much I haven’t dared to deviate. This one definitely deserves its own post and I will get to it once I get another. So it’s a definite repurchase for me. Myer (department store in Australia) also now sells Neogen so it’s much more accessible which is awesome. 

ORIGINS – Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment

ORIGINS - Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment

Cost: $70 AUD, 50ml, purchased from mecca.com.au

This is ultimately a moisturiser despite its fancy long name and I was attracted to it because of its star ingredients which included Rose of Jericho, Lychee and Watermelon. These ingredients appear in all their Make a difference products and are great for hydration. I have combo/dehydrated skin and it was summer at the time so I needed something lightweight and non greasy. This is oil free so it seemed fitting. I actually really liked this moisturiser, it was rich enough to properly moisturise and hydrate but light enough for me not to feel it or mess with my makeup. It has a cream gel consistency so it was perfect for me since I don’t really like just gels in moisturiser form. I need a little bit more even in summer. It has a slight fresh citrus smell which I was ok with. Would repurchase.

GO-TO Face Hero

GO-TO Face Hero

Cost: This was part of the Tiny Stuff set which was $39 from gotoskincare.com.

I like to support Aussie brands and I had liked everything I had read about this brand. It was founded by Zoe Foster-Blake and I resonated with her beliefs that skincare should be simple and fun. The aesthetics of the packaging and products appealed to me, always a sucker for pastels, so I thought why not give it a go. This sampler pack of their popular products was a cost effective way to try it. This oil was the first thing I tried and was the product that I was most interested in. It has a tonne of oils in it and is easily absorbable into the skin. It’s quite rich but lightweight at the same time. The scent of this oil is particularly strong, it’s derived naturally from the ingredients, but man it’s strong. It isn’t unpleasant but bad enough for me to not look forward to using it though I did finish it. It’s a shame because I did like everything else about it. I definitely favour my Marula Oil from Drunk Elephant over this any day. Will not repurchase. 

Drunk Elephant – B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel 

Drunk Elephant - B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Cost: $35 as part of the Rise and Glow set from mecca.com.au

I didn’t like this the first time that I tried it because I tried to use it as a moisturiser. For my skin type, this definitely wouldn’t be enough. When I started to use it as a mixer to my acids, it became magical. Drunk Elephant’s products are designed to be mixed into one another and I chose to mix it with their Framboos Glycolic Night Serum at first. I’ve also mixed it in with my Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster and it really helps to make the product go further as well as improve spreadability. 

Will definitely repurchase the full size once I’m done with my current hyaluronic acid serum. 

Sunday Riley – Good Genes

Sunday Riley - Good Genes

Cost:  Came in a The Flash Fix mini pack with their clay cleanser $24 GBP from cultbeauty.com 

Sunday Riley has since reformulated Good Genes to use Glycolic Acid instead of Lactic Acid. I finished the old version and haven’t tried the new so I can’t compare the two. There was so much hype around this and the claims were that you would see brighter and more radiant skin, less wrinkles within a very short period of time, 3mins in fact! My skin never felt quite comfortable after application. I found it a bit hard to spread it around and I felt like I needed to use quite a bit to cover my face. The smell was a big turn off actually. I like the smell of lemongrass but this was way too strong and also had a chemical smell mixed in too which I didn’t like at all. Buying the full size of this is a big investment that I for one will not be making. The brand itself is a turn off altogether based on that drama with making their employees post fake reviews on Sephora…no deal. Won’t be repurchasing anything from their line again.

The Ordinary – Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Cost:  $12.90 from adorebeauty.com.au

This was first foray into hyaluronic acid (HA) and one of my first products from the brand. HA is pretty popular at the moment, it’s everywhere from skincare to makeup.  The consistency is on the thick side and my face felt tacky after application. I usually used it at night so I would normally follow with an oil or moisturiser so I didn’t mind the tackiness so much. But it wasn’t my favourite. I have since used other HA serums/toners which I’ve liked much better which don’t do that so I won’t be repurchasing this. 

MUJI – Cleansing milk

Cost:  $15 AUD (I think) from MUJI (in store)

I love both foaming and milk cleansers equally and everything about this cleanser was positive. It contains peach and apricot extracts, has a very subtle fruity scent, packaging is basic but easy to use with the pump. The texture isn’t as runny as milk so it’s easy to dispense and massage onto the skin. It rinses off easily and leaves my face feeling fresh and clean, not stripped. This product contains parabens but that doesn’t bother me. As long as the product is effective and works for me, that’s all I care about. Muji sells most of their skincare in different sizes so if you’re curious but not wanting to commit to a full size, there are mini sizes available too. Best of all, their skincare is very affordable, similar to drugstore prices. They also have an amazing cleansing oil which I adore. They don’t seem to sell skincare online though which is a bummer. Worth checking out if you have store near you.

Will definitely be repurchasing this one.

Ok so that’s it for my empties and product roundup. I need to do them more regularly so that these posts don’t get ridiculously long each time!

What products have you finished recently? Do you tend to repurchase the same things or do you like trying new products out? Let me know!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Review] Quick roundup of luxury lip and cheek tints – YSL, Edward Bess and Giorgio Armani

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A quick roundup of three luxury lip and cheek tint products. Everyone loves a good multi tasker! . In order from best to worst: . 1. @yslbeauty Babydoll Kiss & Blush – shade 4 – Creamy whipped texture making it easy to apply, works well in both lips and cheeks, good lasting power on the cheeks, around 7-8hrs. . 2. @armanibeauty Neo Nude A-Blush – shade 51 – Texture is thin but is solid enough to easily apply. Very little comes out at a time so you will need to layer it. Lasting power isn't too bad, around 4-5 hours on the cheeks. . 3. @edwardbess Water Colorist – shade nude spice – Texture is very watery and doesn't provide much pigmentation. It has the 'lip tint' scent which I despise and looks awful on my dry lips. Since colour payoff is poor I can't vouch for it's long lasting claims. #review #beauty #blogger #luxurymakeup #blush #lipandcheektint #multitasker #makeup #cosmetics #ysl #edwardbess #giorgioarmani #lips #cheeks

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[Review] MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) – Retro Movie, Key Light and Sepia Filter

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Line Friends are a group of cute cartoon characters made popular from an asian messaging app. They are commonly found on merchandise, stickers and Missha have regularly used some of the characters on their beauty products.

My favourite character is Brown who is a salty looking bear who wears a constant frown. He has a sister named Choco and it is she who is used on the packaging of the Velvet Like Color Sticks. She’s just as cute and I’m not afraid to admit that I bought them mostly for the adorable packaging. I bought a blush (#Retro Movie), contour (#Sepia Filter) and a highlighter (#Key Light) so if you’d like to hear more about them please keep on reading 🙂

Product Description

from yesstyle.com

Creamy blush stick glides on effortlessly, leaving a high color payoff and velvety finish. Blended with mango seed and avocado butters to nourish skin. Cap is furnished with a three-dimensional figurine of Brown’s younger sister Choco.

Cost

$11.49 AUD from yesstyle.com *. Available in 5 shades. Prices fluctuate constantly on Yesstyle so keep an eye out for their sales.

Packaging

The color sticks are packaged in a sturdy plastic tube with its shade covering the whole container. The cutest part is that Choco is on the lid of each one. As well as being 3D, she is made of rubber and has a soft matte feel. It feels more expensive that is is and well made, very similar to Nudestix’s cheek stick packaging. Some of Nudestix products are made in Korea which is very interesting and since I have a fair bit of their collection, a review is coming very soon!

MISSHA - Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) - Retro Movie, Key Light and Sepia Filter
MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) – Retro Movie, Key Light and Sepia Filter

How to apply

I have used this product only on my cheeks, forehead and cheekbones but I’m sure like any multi use stick, you can also use it on your eyes and lips.

I usually swipe the product directly onto my face and blend with a small duo fibre brush. The Real Techniques Stippling brush is an excellent one but you can use any brush that can blend cream products. Fingers work too and I especially like using fingers to apply the highlighter.

For the contour stick (Sepia Filter)

I swipe it in the areas I normally bronze/contour which are the sides of my forehead, under my cheekbones and under my chin. I use the brush to blend it all in and it’s effortless.

For the blush stick (Retro Movie)

I dab the blush onto the apples of cheeks a couple of times and use the brush to blend it across my cheek. I’ve used my fingers to blend too but I prefer using a brush because it stretches the product a little further and is a breeze to blend in.

For the highlighter (Key Light)

I tap my index finger on top of the highlight and dab it onto my cheekbones. I don’t use a brush because I want a subtle sheen and doing it this way is perfect because you only need a small amount.

Performance

Just like the name implies, all three sticks dry down to a velvet finish which means that they are not sticky or need to be set down with powder. This helps with longevity and they last all day (9hrs) on me which is impressive. I do have combo skin (dry cheeks and kinda oily t-zone) so please keep that in mind. Pretty sure that they will last very well once powdered too if you have oily skin.

I didn’t expect much pigment since k-beauty isn’t well known for that but I was proven wrong. There is definitely strong colour payoff (as shown in the swatches) with all three of these sticks and layering them works well too.

MISSHA - Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) Heavy and untidy swatches (sorry!) - Left to right: Key Light, Retro Movie and Sepia Filter.
MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition)
Heavy and untidy swatches (sorry!) – Left to right: Key Light, Retro Movie and Sepia Filter.

Consistency

The texture is creamy and smooth but not so emollient that it will slip and slide around your face. They glide on easily making it easy to apply directly to the face. It has never lifted my base products which is a huge plus.

Scent

It doesn’t really have a scent but if you really sniff it you can smell the mango seed butter which is quite nice. This definitely doesn’t translate once on the face.

MISSHA - Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition)
MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition)

Final thoughts

Rating: 4/5 (really liked it!)

As you can already tell by the rating, I really like these products. As well as having cute packaging the products themselves are decent. I didn’t give it 5 stars because if you blend them too much, they can blend away, in particular the blush. This can be remedied by layering more but it means you need to use more product. The contour has a nice tone to it but isn’t warm enough to use as a true bronzer so sometimes I need to apply a powder bronzer on top in order to get the bronzed effect. The highlighter is my favourite out of the three. It looks very light/white in the swatch but once blended it is so beautiful! It provides a glossy sheen which is my favourite type of effect. The shimmer isn’t noticeable once applied and little does go a long way with it. It rivals a lot of high-end highlighters that I own.

If you are looking for affordable cream cheek products I would highly recommend this line. They perform very similarly to Nudestix cheek products and have great lasting power. Or even if you just love Line Friends and cute packaging, you won’t be disappointed with these. Let me know if you’ve tried them or if you have any other Line Friends beauty recommendations.

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you ðŸ™‚

[Review] Chanel – Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint (Eau De Teint)

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Chanel’s Les Beiges Summer 2019 collection recently landed in Australia and while I would have loved to grab the whole lot, there was one product that I had been lusting over for months.

The Water fresh tint is so unique and really stood out from the masses of like-foundation. Chanel’s website suggests that you can use this in three ways, as a primer, alone or as a touch up product. The concept and it’s texture were intriguing so if you want to know my thoughts on this product please keep on reading.

Claims

From chanel.com

The first CHANEL complexion tint featuring pigment micro-droplets that deliver a water-fresh sensation and a radiant, healthy-looking glow.

Created with patented MicroFluidic technology, the lightweight gel texture bursts with ultra-pure ingredients for a bare-skin effect with eight hours of hydration and comfort. Skin feels refreshed and energized.

Texture

The texture of this tint is something else. It has a gel consistency and is transparent so you can really see the pigments suspended in it.

Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint – gel texture with micro pigments suspended

How to apply

Chanel recommends to pump some (I use two pumps at a time) on the back of your hand and then to use a brush to break the pigments up to mesh with the gel. Once mixed, you then apply it with the brush. The brush provided is fine but is a bit on the small side. If you have similar flat top brushes then they will be ok too. I generally just swirl it around my face and because it’s so lightweight, it’s so quick and easy to do. I sometimes use another pump or two just to adequately cover my face. The burst of coolness on application is really refreshing and would be amazing in summer (it’s almost Winter here). I’ve also applied it using my fingers and that works nicely too.

Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint – texture once the pigments are mixed up.

Coverage

This is a tint so there is little to no coverage. I will describe it as sheer coverage at best. It does a really good job of evening out my skintone and giving me a hydrated and luminous skin effect without any heaviness and cakiness. There is 75% water in this formula as well as tamarind seed extract which helps with hydration, resulting in that natural and healthy glow. I would normally use concealer if I want to cover up any old acne scars or pigmentation as I would do with any other foundation. I would rather let my natural skin show through and spot conceal any troubled areas.

Packaging

It comes in a frosted plastic bottle with a pump which is both elegant and practical. Included is a small buffing brush which probably more useful for touchups but works fine nether less.

Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint – frosted plastic cylinder with a pump
Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint – buffing brush which is included. It’s bristles are soft but dense enough to distribute the product evenly

Shade

I bought the shade Medium. It might look scary dark in the bottle but when swatched, it looks more normal. I’m an NC30 and this shade suits me fine.

There are 6 shades available from Light to Deep. This doesn’t sound like enough in hindsight but because the formula is so sheer, there is a lot of give around the shades. I recommend that you go in store if possible and swatch it just to be certain since it is pretty pricey.

Lasting power

I only wear this as a standalone base product and powder my t-zone where I get a bit oily during the day. I didn’t have high hopes for longevity but surprisingly it holds up for a whole work day (8-9 hours) and I can still see traces it on my face when I go to remove it which is much later (around 10-12 hrs). It wears very well and fades evenly without patching off like some foundations. All the while my face doesn’t feel dry at all, very much hydrated in fact which I really appreciate especially with the cold winds we’ve been experiencing in Sydney.

Cost

$109 AUD from Myer. Included is a small brush and is 30ml.

Final thoughts

Rating: 5/5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)

I genuinely love this product, it’s the perfect base to throw on quickly without having to worry about it fading or caking off. It’s ideal for people who like a natural and fresh look. Glass skin is all the rage (born from Korean skincare) and I can confidently say that it can be achieved with this product. This is the look I generally like to go for day to day. The cooling effect when it touches your skin is just very unique to me and really wakes me up in the morning which is a great bonus! The only downside is the price and since I need to use at least 3-4 pumps each time, it wouldn’t last as long as regular foundations. If you’ve been curious about it, I would go get a sample or try it at your local Chanel counter.

[Review] Innisfree – Smart Drawing Blusher

Kim3 Comments

I would consider myself a blush fanatic. Ok a blush and foundation fanatic. These are the two constants in my makeup routine and definite must haves for me. Since I’m currently riding the cream blush train and had been curious about Glossier’s Cloud Paints, I picked this blusher up from eBay. It is sold in 5 colours and I picked it up in shade #04 Dried Rose.

Claims

from yesstyle.com

Cream blush gives cheeks a vivid dash of color while hydrating skin
Lightly adheres to skin for vivid and rosy cheeks with a non-sticky satin finish
User-friendly brush applicator allows for foolproof and precise application

Price

$12.23 AUD from eBay (roseroseshop)*

Packaging

The packaging looks like a paint tube. I like its aesthetics and it reminds me of the packaging of the Glossier Cloud Paints. The colour on the outside represents the shade and the combination of coral and white feels similar to the cloud paint in Dusk.

The brush tip, although it can get unruly after squeezing the product out, makes applying easy. You’ll still need to use fingers or a brush to blend it into the skin.

Innisfree - Smart Drawing Blusher - #04 Dried Rose - Brush tip
Innisfree – Smart Drawing Blusher – #04 Dried Rose – Brush tip can get a bit messy

Performance

This product once squeezed and applied to the cheeks, is easy to blend with a brush or fingers. It’s consistency is thick enough so it stays put after it is painted on. The issue I have with it is that it tends to blend away so I need a couple of layers for it to show up on my skin tone (NC30). Because it’s so subtle on me, it’s hard to judge it’s longevity because it doesn’t look like much in the first place.

Innisfree - Smart Drawing Blusher - #04 Dried Rose Freshly swatched photo. Vibrancy fades once blended and has dried down.
Innisfree – Smart Drawing Blusher – #04 Dried Rose
Freshly swatched photo. Vibrancy fades once blended and has dried down.

The good news is, that even with the amount that I have to use, the finish isn’t sticky or tacky. I would agree with the claims of it drying down to a satin finish. This product also has an SPF 26 PA ++ which is quite rare for a blush. Since Koreans are generally very serious about sun protection (and we all should be), I’m not too surprised by this.

Final thoughts

I haven’t tried any of the Cloud Paints because we can’t get Glossier here in Australia but judging from reviews, they are quite pigmented and a little goes a long way. This Smart Drawing Blusher is the opposite, subtle and I need a lot for it to even show up.

This blusher does have the potential to be a nice product. I do like its formula and brush tip, but I think I’m too dark to be able to reap its benefits. When I wear blush, I actually want some colour to show, so this disappointed on that front.

If you have a fair to light skin tone, this might work for you. But if you’re any darker than that, I would give this a miss. There’s a red shade in #05 Shy Camellia Flower that could be more vibrant but I won’t be getting it.

Still lusting over the Cloud Paints so if you know of any dupes, please let me know!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 🙂