Review: Skin79 Super BB Cream (Hot Pink)

I’ve decided to try this BB Cream because my friend told me it was HER current favourite. My friend and I had similar skin conditions and I thought if it worked for her, it should work similarly for me.

Quick Story: Both my friend and I both suffered from relatively bad acne and oily skin since we were young (around 6^th grade). Both of us tried many things to get rid of acne. When over-the-counter creams/gels didn’t work, we asked our doctors for prescriptions. When prescribed creams/gels didn’t work, we used Proactiv. When Proactiv stopped working, we used prescribed drugs. My friend actually was a step ahead of me every time during this process which was why I also tried this BB cream after she did.

PROS: I think it is a great BB cream for those with relatively drier skin. This BB cream did not clog my pores based on the length of time I had been using it for (which was approximately a few months). I personally like to be as matte as possible when it comes to my foundation and my face and this BB cream gives like a dewy glow, which I sometimes translate as “borderline oily”. This BB cream gives a medium coverage which is good for those with “already even and flawless” skin and just wants to cover slight redness and light imperfections.

CONS: I felt like I had to use a bit more concealer for my acne scars after application. Normally, I wouldn’t have to conceal as much, but with this BB cream, I used a little more to ensure coverage. Also, as mentioned before, I felt like my skin looked a little oilier. I already have oily skin to begin with and using this product didn’t help it. I ended up having to use more oil-sheets than usual.

OVERALL: It is a great BB cream even though it is not my current favourite. I will give this a 4/5.

Review: EOS Max Pure Brown Circle Lens

I love these lenses! I currently wear them almost every day because they are so natural and have a nice enlargement effect. My friend first wore them when we were still in high school and I thought they looked amazing on her. Then I started researching about them. I saw an advertisement picture of Sayaka Araki wearing the Max Pure series and thought she looked really nice with them. She is also one of my favourite gyaru/Japanese magazine models which kinda made me want them more!

PROS: They are VERY pretty and have become my current favourite pair of circle lens. It gives like a natural, but slightly lighter shade of brown to my eyes. They are also one of the most comfortable pair of circle lens I’ve ever worn.

CONS: Just like any other pair of circle lens, I can’t wear them for too long. And by ‘too long’ I mean the same amount of time I would wear regular contact lenses.

OVERALL: I love these lenses! I would definitely re-order them once I get my new eye prescription J I give them a 5/5 J

Review: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

I wanted to try this for a while now. I was so happy when purchased the Naked Palette and it came with the primer potion as well. I’ve seen many Youtube users using it and it was also quite popular at Sephora. This product is known for making your eyeshadows last longer as well as making it look ‘nicer’ on your eyes as well. To be honest I never thought it was necessary to prime your eyes before eyeshadow. I felt the same way about foundation primer until I started using the Smashbox one. Now that I’ve started using the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer, I’ve been using it every day! It is truly amazing J

PROS: It gives my eyeshadows something to stick to and makes the colours more opaque and long lasting. I also love how it doesn’t cause my eyeshadows to crease throughout the day. I think it has become a necessity and I will definitely purchase the full size once I run out.

CONS:  Based on what my friends have told me, the packaging is not the best. Apparently the brush/sponge tip does not reach all the way to the bottom and therefore you will have quite a bit of produc left at the bottom and end up wasting it. LOL my friend actually cut open to tube and saw. Other than that, the product itself is perfectly fine.

OVERALL: I love it J I think it is a must-have! I give this a 5/5 J

Review: Geo Nudy Brown Circle Lens

I’ve seen a lot of pictures of people wearing these lenses such as cosplayers, gyaru models and many of my friends. All of those pictures looked very pretty and I’ve also noticed how popular they were. They looked very pretty and cute in those pictures which was why I decided to give them a try J

PROS: They are indeed really pretty. They give an anime-ish look and are amazing in photos.

CONS: They are not the most comfortable. I’ve also noticed that they tend to dry out easily and make my eyes red and teary. Also, I find that I had to wear a sufficient amount of makeup to balance the dramatic look of these lenses or else my eyes would look very awkward o.o!

OVERALL: These lens look really nice, but you must sacrifice comfort. I’ve only worn them about three times and haven’t worn them since L If they were more comfortable I would have worn them more often. I give these a 2/5.

Review: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream (no. 21)

I discovered BB creams when I noticed many celebrities using it. From what I have been told, BB creams originated in Germany and was first developed to cover post surgery lines on the face. Later on, it had become a famous cosmetic product and became very popular among Asian countries. It is known for its ease of application, skin whitening techniques and sun protecting properties. I’ve tried quite a few BB creams in the past and found this one to be my current favourite. Everybody’s skin is different and just like foundation, I had to search for the formula that was best for me.

PROS: This formula feels light and not as greasy as others I have tried. I like how it has SPF 42 because my skin, like a vampire’s, is SUPER sensitive to the sun. Another thing is that it doesn’t smell much like sunscreen. I also like how it looks so natural and flawless on my skin. The pump to release the product also makes it easier and less messy to use.

CONS: This product easily rubs off. I’ve noticed that by the end of the day when I remove my makeup, there is barely anything that is left to come off my face. Also, like any other product with SPF, it reflects light when taking photos with flash and it creates like a ghostly white face appearance.

OVERALL: This is a wonderful product and is currently my favourite BB cream. I recommend using this during the day and not at a party where lots of photos are being taken. I give this a 4/5 J

Review: Smashbox Photo Finish Light Oil-Free Foundation Primer

I was actually able to test out the ‘original’ Smashbox foundation primer at Sephora a few years ago. I remembered at the time I didn’t really like it because it felt oily and heavy. It felt as though it was heavier than my actual foundation and was really disappointed. Afterwards my friend even told me some people broke-out because of it as well.

About a year later I was able to get the NEWER Oil-free version as a 100-point sample at Sephora. At first I was hesitant because I thought it might still feel heavy even thought it was changed to ‘oil-free’. But I gave it a chance and got the sample anyways. To be honest I tested it once and never really used it again. I didn’t find foundation primer a necessity in my regular makeup routine. It wasn’t until the beginning of this year that I started using it every day only on my nose and forehead (because it tends to be the oiliest areas on my face).

PROS: This teeny tiny sample lasted me from January until now. THAT IS AMAZING LOL. Even though I only use it on my nose and forehead.....it is still overwhelming (AND IT STILL has some product left!) I also love how this didn’t break me out and it does not feel as heavy as the regular foundation primer. It also makes my skin feel matte, soft and keeps my foundation on longer (makeup tends to rub off faster on the oily areas of my face).

CONS: None at the moment LOL

OVERALL: I love it, it is my current favourite foundation primer and I will most likely purchase the full size J I give this a 5/5!

Review: Dior Iconic Extreme Mascara (Waterproof)

To be honest, I’ve never had a Dior Mascara disappoint me. Before trying this mascara, I have also tried the Diorshow (both regular and waterproof) and the Diorshow Blackout mascara (waterproof). I loved both of those mascaras because they worked well with my thin lashes. I like to get waterproof mascaras because one time, during an extreme snowstorm (yes in Canada, snowstorms tend to happen in the winter...a lot), the snow and wind blew so hard on my face that my mascara formed HUGE black splotches under my eyes. I didn’t realize how bad it was and people were giving me stares. When my friend finally told me, I had an even harder time rubbing the splotches off.......so bad. So yea, I learned to always get waterproof mascaras.

I have been told that waterproof mascaras are bad for your lashes (i.e. they tug and pull on them causing your lashes to fall off faster), but to be completely honest, I still use it LOL.

PROS: It makes my lashes look super long! I even got compliments. The brush is able to apply the product so that your lashes don’t clump. Also, the fact that it is waterproof prevents it from smudging when I tear, sweat, or cry.

-using only 1 thin coat of the mascara

CONS: the price is a bit high for mascara, but given the benefits, it makes it completely worth it J

OVERALL: I love it! It is one of my favourite mascaras of all time! I give this a 5/5 J

Review: Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Glitter Mascara

I remember this brand being in Sephora when it first opened here in Canada. I thought it was adorable! The packaging was cute and everything kind of reminded me of the makeup you find little girls using LOL. I believe a few years after Sephora opened, this brand was no longer available at Sephora along with several other brands as well. I remembered trying to look for it and was not able to L

Recently, I went to a Wal-Mart and saw Hard Candy products available at the cosmetics section. I was so surprised. I even noticed that the prices were a lot lower than what they were when it was available at Sephora. Because the prices were low, I felt like trying something from that brand. I saw this glitter mascara and remembered that I really wanted to try one. I thought it’d be perfect for parties and night events!

PROS: The packaging is really cute and I love how it was pretty inexpensive.

CONS: The formula did not seem strong enough as mascara. It really just seems like a glitter gel. When I tried to apply it on top of my black mascara, it did not seem like it brushed on at all, so I gave up trying. Maybe it was the design of the brush that was not able to coat my already mascara-ed lashes,  although I don’t think wearing this mascara alone would work either. Maybe I’ll use it for another purpose besides mascara.

OVERALL: The packaging and price was nice, but the formula was not the best. I rate this a 1/5 L

Review: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit

I have seen quite a few people use this concealer. For example, Michelle Phan used this for her “Tim Burton Look” tutorial and famous makeup artist in Hong Kong, Zing, used it on models for a show on TVB. At the time, I did not use concealer at all and thought this one would be a nice one to start with. After using it for two years, I’ve gotta say that I LOVE it! It is perfect for concealing dark eye circles, acne, and acne scars. It is amazing! Recently, I’ve noticed on the Sephora site that they changed the packaging. The one I currently have is a small cylinder package with the concealer on top and loose powder to set the concealer on the bottom. The new packaging appears to be more of an oval shape and I believe it comes with pressed powder instead. I have not tried the new one yet, but I will as I am currently trying to use the last micrometer of product I have left!

-the shade I use is called "Ivory"

-the new packaging I saw on Sephora.com

PROS: It conceals anything I need to conceal, which are my DARK eye circles, acne scars and occasional acneL. The product is long lasting and has a nice finish (meaning it does not look like I’ve used concealer). I also love how the concealer does not slip and slide elsewhere on my face throughout the day as my face gets a little oily.

-all that I have left (sadly)

CONS: The powder tends to finish before the concealer itself, but it is not much of an issue for me as I simply use another type of powder instead. Also this product contains enough for me to last approximately half a year, maybe a little longer. The problem is that in Canada, at least where I am from, buying Bobbi Brown products are not as easy as other brands. Why? Because there is only ONE store that carries it and that store is Holt Renfrew. From where I live, there are only two Holt Renfrew’s that I can possibly reach, but it is still VERY inconvenient to do so. Sephora currently does not carry this brand in Canada. I know that other countries like the United States do and I am very jealousL.  

OVERALL: This is an awesome product and I really recommend it. I give this a 5/5J.

Review: Make Up For Ever High Definition (HD) Powder

I have used this powder for about two and a half years now and I love it! When I first used it, I remember putting too much on my face and ended up looking “chalky”. A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY with this powder!

I have also heard rumors about celebrities such as Eva Longoria and Nicole Kidman having issues with this product. From what I have searched up, they get white powdery patches on their faces when using flash photography. To be honest, this has NEVER happened to me before. I even used it during prom where there were LOTS of photos being taken and did NOT have a problem with it. I really think they just put on WAAAY too much for that to happen and I don’t think it was necessary.

PROS: It gives my foundation an even and matte finish. It is a translucent powder which works on all skin tones and does not make my face “cakey”. Also, you only need to use A LITTLE BIT at a time and one jar lasts for about a year, which is really good.

CONS: It is not the best for dry skin and can actually make it look even drier. I remember getting my friend to try it and she, having dry skin, didn’t like it.

OVERALL: I love it and will continue to use it J I give this a 5/5 J

Review: Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes EXTRA LONG Mascara

My bf bought this for me from Hong Kong. I remember him telling me before his trip how his sister had a mascara that had mini ‘lashes’ on the brush that merges with your real lashes to make them look longer. I was amazed when he told me and said “OMG there is such a thing?!?!?!” And so when he came back, he gave me two mascaras J I originally asked him to only help me get the Fairydrops mascara on his trip, but instead he bought that AND the Fiberwig mascara as well J. The moment he showed me the mascara, I realized that it was the same one Eki used in her tutorials. I was soooo happy and excited! I mean, it looked great on her lashes!

PROS: The love the packaging. I like how it was fully sealed so that I KNOW for a fact that nobody could have opened it (it was sealed in a way where you had to use scissors and cut through the plastic). Also, it did lengthen my lashes and doesn’t smudge.

CONS:  I was kind of disappointed in this mascara. I heard many great things about it before and I expected more from it. The formula only lengthens my lashes and does not thicken or volumize. It also didn’t hold up my curled lashes and I had to heavily coat my lashes to get it noticeable.

OVERALL: I was not very happy with this mascara. I thought it would be able to do more than just lengthen. Nowadays I only use this mascara to coat my lower lashes because I don’t want it to go to waste. It was very different compared to the results Eki had, maybe her lashes were just naturally long and thick and this just gave her the enhancement she needed. I unfortunately didn’t get the results I hoped to get, so I give this a 2/5 L

Review: FAIRYDROPS Volume Burst Mascara (Waterproof)

My first makeup review...YAY! My goal is to do a review on every makeup product I have. It will be difficult, but the purpose of me doing so is to remember the pros and cons of each product I own and an overall LIKE or DON’T LIKE for each product. Anyways...let’s begin.

My bf bought this for me when he went on a trip to Hong Kong. I originally wanted him to get the FAIRYDROPS mascara with the pink/blue packaging instead, but he said this was newer and that the lady recommended this instead. At the time I was desperate for a waterproof mascara and thought I’d try this out.

PROS: I love the packaging! It is so pretty and cute. It is also AMAZING when it comes to being waterproof. It doesn’t run when I tear up (and I tear up often) and it lasts all day. The brush is unique and works in a way where it coats my lashes evenly without ‘chunking’ up my lashes. The formula is also great. It holds up my curl as well as lengthens and volumizes.

CONS: Its SOOO waterproof that I have trouble removing it with my makeup remover!! I use the Neutrogena All-In-One makeup remover and have used it for years. Maybe it was just not meant for waterproof makeup. Also, I’ve noticed there are mini ‘lashes’ in the formula. I believe it was meant to attach to your real lashes to lengthen it, but they tend to fall onto my cheek, nose and even on my eyeballs L which are a pain to get out.

-you can kind of see the little 'lashes' on the brush

OVERALL: I love this mascara and will most likely continue to get and use it J I give this a 4/5 J

Eating Pet Peeve

I don’t know about you, but I HATE it when people stare at me when I’m eating. I mean it’s just so AWKWARD....It’s like you’re happily enjoying your food minding your own business AND THEN you realize somebody is staring at you. You don’t want to look back cuz it’s just weird, but you can’t enjoy the rest of your food knowing someone is staring (great..) and what’s worst is when you think/know that they’re smiling....not creepy at all...

I’ve told many people about my pet peeve and they’ve all told me they don’t mind it at all. WHAT?!?! It bothers me like crazzzzzzzy! But to be honest, I think it started when I was really young. I remember having dinner and sitting across my dad at the dinner table (hence the reason why I avoid doing so now). My dad would tell me to eat whatever he thinks tastes good. I would try it out and as I eat he would stare at the same time and then I would say something along the lines of “oh it is really goodJ.....”. But after my comment, I thought it would be the end of it...but no. When I choose something else to eat, it felt like he was watching and expecting me to continue eating what he recommends, don’t tell me it’s the only thing I should eat!!!! It is just so freaking awkward! And so every time I choose from a different dish and is munching & crunching it away, it’s as if he is watching my every move K...smiling at the same time...

And so, one of the main reasons why I dislike people staring at me eating is 1) the experience with my dad..and btw, it happens frequently, not just the one time, 2) I don’t look too attractive when I’m eating (and I’m sure many people are the same unless they come right out of a commercial) and 3) It makes me feel self-conscious, like I am obligated to eat with “proper manners/etiquette” even if it’s just hamburgers and French fries.....