Showing posts with label bioderma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bioderma. Show all posts

Friday, July 31, 2015

June and July Favourites

I was actually worried that I wasn't going to have a lot of favourites this time around, which is ridiculous considering I'm already doing this on a bi-monthly basis. The last two weeks, however, have given me great opportunities to try out some of the things I've been neglecting a bit in my collection. I'm really excited to share these with you so read on!


Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (Shade: Nude)

I got this in my Big May Haul as I wanted a base that didn't require powder to set but wasn't drying on the skin. I also wanted to try tinted moisturizers considering that my Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream is running low ;___; This is a cult-favourite and rightly so as it is not only ticks all the boxes for what I wanted, but it is also pigmented enough to cover redness and looks like skin. I also love how this worked when I had oily skin and now when I have dry skin due to acne medications. Highly recommended!

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation (Shade: 3.5 Warm Beige)

Yes, you read that right! I have been very vocal about my dislike for this foundation on my blog, but I could never throw it out because of the price. Now that the condition of my skin has gotten better (greatly reduced oiliness, greatly lessened acne, smoother skin texture), this foundation works so well! I've also come to appreciate the freshness it imparts now that I'm no longer a greaseball. I've concluded that this is a good foundation if you've already got pretty okay normal to dry skin to start with. Also super long-lasting now!

Real Techniques Contour Brush

I've been very dissatisfied with my current powder brush and decided to try this brush for my powder on a whim, and it's amazing! I love that it gives me a lot of control and allows me to pinpoint exactly where I want my powder to be. The tapered edge also helps in depositing a good amount of product that doesn't make the face too powdery.

Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du Contour + BYS Synthetic Blending Brush

I've been attempting to learn how to contour this month, but could never get it right when I used the RT Contour Brush or the Expert Face Brush. I tried adapting Karima from Shameless Fripperies' technique where she uses a blending brush to really get into the hollows, and found that it worked perfectly! The blending brush works so well as it gets the colour right where I want, but also helps in blending. Great way for me to repurpose this brush!

The TCFS Contour Powder is great for beginners as it isn't too pigmented but still builds and blends very easily. I use the darkest mixed with the middle shade for a very subtly defined cheekbones for the daytime. The colour is also great if you're NC25 or lower with slight yellow undertones, as it doesn't look too ashy or muddy on the skin. Expect a review on this soon!

Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Treatment

Ever since taking medication for my acne, my lips have been really chapped and have peeled off pretty much everywhere. I've found that none of my lip balms worked, so I was recommended this by my doctor. I do need to apply an initial thick layer, but it has been the only one to restore my lips back to a normal, non-peeling state. It is quite pricey which is the only downside, but otherwise, a really great product!

Blogging Notebook from Artbox

I've forgotten exactly when I acquired this (maybe 1 or 2 months ago) but I love that it allows me to be more organized with my blog. It has also saved me from a lot of writers' block and creativity block  because it motivates me to really sit down and think about what I want to write. I also love that it isn't lined so I can write and draw (not that I'm any good, but in case I need to) freely. Plus, the cover design is very me. :D

That's it for my bi-monthly favourites! I hope you all enjoyed reading this rather lengthy post. If you have any favourites that you've loved for the past two months, don't hesitate to share that with me below!

Friday, March 06, 2015

SPOTLIGHT: Make-Up Removers

It's strange for me to admit as someone who really likes putting on and wearing make-up, but I also look forward to taking it off at the end of the day. There's something really satisfying about getting all that gunk off and being left with a clean, make-up-less face. Though I should say that I always cleanse with Kiehls Calendula Cleanser afterwards to make sure absolutely no residue is left. My skin is sensitive and acne-prone so insufficient make-up removal will guarantee me a pimple or two. 


Prior to these I've tried cleansing creams for my face, and deluxe sample sizes of Lancome Bi-Facil (very effective, but left an oily residue) and Clinique Take the Day Off (effective and less oily, but it stung) for my eyes, but I never found a remover I liked until I tried these. I also added a little bit of what the product is in general, so you guys can choose which kind of remover you'd like to try if ever you're in the market for one. 

Cleansing Oil: Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil

I talked about this product in my cleansers post (a lot has changed since then!) and as you can see, I have very little left. I need to purchase another one soon because I love using cleansing oils the most for removing everything on my face. For days when I have a lot of make-up on or when I want a really thorough clean, I use this as it effectively removes everything in a cinch. This is especially good for removing anything waterproof such as mascara. 

For those with oily skin, don't be afraid of using cleansing oils because if you remember from your science lessons - like dissolves like. A lot of the make-up we use contains oils in it, so using an oil to removes it in a faster and more gentle way versus regular soap. Fun fact: I've read that using oils balances the sebum on your face and reduces it! I can't say much about this claim though since I don't use cleansing oils daily anymore.

Micellar Water Solution: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution for Sensitive Skin

I was very interested when I first heard about cleansing waters, and my friends Alex from The Red Eyeliner (A very familiar name now, I'm sure, since I've mentioned her in nearly every post. Check her review on the Sebium variant here) and Tari from Tari in the Morning have used and raved about Bioderma. From what I understand, cleansing water is supposed to contain tiny oil particles (called micelles) which gently but effectively removes your make-up without being irritating or needing any harsh rubbing. It apparently also acts as a cleanser and toner, and works on all skin types.

I got this in my Impulse Haul and I really like it for days when I can't be bothered to use a cleansing oil, or when I want to take my make-up off immediately before starting home work. Honestly, I like it but I'm not in love with it, so I'm not sure if I would repurchase. I will continue to use it though and  we'll see if my opinion will change. I wouldn't recommend it for removing eye make-up unless you're patient or not wearing anything waterproof, because it involves a lot of waiting, rubbing, and tugging, which is why I got the next item!

Dual-Phase Remover: The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make-Up Remover

This kind of make-up remover is usually formulated to effectively remove waterproof make-up. It's a dual-phase remover because the bottle usually contains an oil to dissolve and remove stubborn, waterproof mascara and eyeliner, while the aqueous solution gently removes any residue. It just requires a good shake before usage. Dual-phase removers are great when you're trying to save up on the amount of cleansing oil you use, or when you want something that removes very stubborn eye make-up easily.

I got this a few weeks ago after seeing Amelia Liana's blog post on it and I love it. I just soak a cotton pad, place it on my eye with my lashes against my eyelid for 10-15 seconds, and 90% of my waterproof eye make-up is gone. It involves absolutely no rubbing and tugging and it also doesn't sting my eyes or leave an oily residue. I was scared that it would be heavily scented, but I found that there was no scent at all. This is something you'll definitely be seeing in my favourites post for this month because I'm not going to stop using it!

There you have it! While I do like all of these products a lot, I'm definitely open to any suggestions or recommendations, so please leave a comment below! Next on the list of removers to try - cleansing balms!

Friday, December 26, 2014

Impulse Buys #2

Hey everyone, and Happy Holidays!

I just wanted to share with you some of my impulse posts from the last month! All of these have been highly recommended by friends (two of which are because of Alex from The Red Eyeliner, who has been mentioned on almost every other post on this blog) and I thought I'd finally take the plunge and try them out. I've already tried all of them (oops) as of this writing and I'm pretty happy so far!


Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution

Everyone and their mother has talked about this queen of cleansing waters, and since I was running low on my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, and Bioderma has finally been released in stores, I figured I'd give it a try. So far, I'm loving how quick and easy it is to remove base makeup and a bit of eye make-up. It takes away the hassle that comes with cleansing oils, which makes it great for days when I'm too tired. It's not good enough to remove my mascara, but its a caveat I'm willing to overlook!

OGX Kukui Oil Conditioner

Another recommendation from Alex! I got to try this out when we were on a trip together with our friends and I really like how it isn't a greasy, heavy conditioner. It's also the only defrizz product that I  know of that really works! I have been searching for a conditioner that can defrizz and hydrate my hair without giving me dandruff (tmi, but this is always the case with me!) so I'm hoping that this will finally be the one!

EOS Lip Balm

This set finally went on sale so I got to purchase it and give some to my family. I've seen these on YouTube for years and have been curious about this uniquely shaped lip balm. I kept 'Summer Fruit' and 'Strawberry Sorbet' and I love the way they smell! I tried it yesterday and it was really lightweight but lasted me more than 3 hours, beating my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment which is really good, but it takes a while to sink into the lips. I wish I tried these earlier so I could have given them as gifts to my friends!

And that's it for my haul! What about you guys? Did you have any impulse buys during the holidays? Feel free to share them with me below!

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