August and September Favourites

Not going to lie, writing this bimonthly favourites has been difficult. I wanted to start by listing each product I liked at one particular time during the month. As the weeks progressed however, I found the list too lengthy. I then scrapped the tiny lists, opened my make-up drawer, and critically asked myself which one among the many have I really used and liked. Eventually, I decided that I liked a lot of non-beauty favourites as well, which is why this post is a mix!

Etude House Good Bye Pore Ever Pore Primer Essence

Yes, this again! I use this whenever I use the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint, as it does not apply well over textured skin. I've grown to love it again after not using it for a long time, as it gives both an extra layer of hydration to the skin, plus a bit of a glow that never registers as greasy. I'm running out of this tube, so I need to start looking for a backup!

Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du contour & Happy Skin Angled Blush Brush

Yep, still banging on about this. I find that when I have the time, I will always opt for a bit of subtle shading or definition to my poor round face. As fun as the BYS brush was to use, I liked using the TCFS Contour Powder with this blush brush as it gave an even more natural, shadow-like effect to my face. There's a bit of a dent in the powder already, which goes to show just how much I've used and loved it.

Etude House Play 101 Pencil in #50

I was so interested in tightlining in the past few months, but had no proper coloured liner to do it. As soon as I got this pencil however, I found that I have been tightlining non-stop, especially with my new mascara (that you will hear about soon)! Not only does this last all day, but it hardly smudges once dried, and does not irritate my eyes one bit! It's an extra step, but I found that it makes such a difference in making my lashes look fuller.

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel

I bring this whenever I sleep over at someone's house or need to take a shower somewhere. It's not only tiny so it fits into most of my bags, but it also smells amazing! I've gotten tons of compliments whenever I use this, and I find that the scent is not too overpowering nor irritating. I am trying to save it as much as I can because this range only comes out during the holiday season!

Momax Power Milk (5 L)

I might be the last person I know to get a power bank, but I finally bit the bullet and bought one, as I have left my phone at home charging too many times. This has been a life saver whenever I need to get home and need to use apps to find the best route (yes, the navigation app is Waze, not that I'm being paid to advertise). It hold 2.5 charges, which is enough by my standards as I am quite thrifty in terms of battery usage. Plus, the design was the cutest among all the other power banks!

That's it from me for now! What about you guys - what were your favourites for August and September?

Friday, October 02, 2015

August and September Favourites

By Pauline Read More

Spring Drugstore Haul

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share with you my long overdue haul. I got these all to start my venture into drugstore makeup, which I have long ignored in favour of high-end products or Korean cosmetics with cute packaging (and equally cute advertisers. See The Saem for reference).

I also wanted to get more spring/summer appropriate makeup since all of my current lip products are more fall/winter appropriate. Never mind that the only seasons I get are extremely hot and dry and extremely rainy - its an opportunity for me to expand my collection and to try out new things! I've already put these to good use right after taking photos so expect to see these more on my blog from now on.

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Make-up Remover 

I may or may not have put this in here just for the flower design, but you always need a makeup remover, right? I wasn't satisfied with the Bioderma I got from my last Impulse Haul, so I got this to remove my eye makeup. Being a person who wears waterproof mascara religiously, I know the pains of removing it and this makes it a breeze, I kid you not. I like that it isn't overly oily and heavily scented either. I also raved about this in my Make-Up Removers post and March Favourites.

NYX Powder Blush (Pinched)

I've been wanting to try this line of blushes since I was in high school, but Pinched more than others since it is famed as one of the top NARS Orgasm blush dupes. It's the standard pinky coral with a golden shimmer which screams Spring/Summer to me. I like how it makes me look much more awake and healthy, so I'm definitely going to be using blush more often!

Milani Baked Blush (Bella Rosa)

This was another product I got because of Essie Button, particularly in her Taylor Swift Inspired Drugstore Makeup Look. Colour-wise, reddish blushes seem to be more for Autumn/Winter, but because this one looks so bright in the pan and it has a bit of pink, I thought it was appropriate for Spring/Summer, too. I will say that you only need the tiniest amount due to the strong pigmentation, but the end result is a really pretty pinky red flush.

Happy Skin Angled Blush Brush

Happy Skin is a local brand that I honestly did not expect much from. I ignored it for a while whenever I saw it at Beauty Bar, until Alex told me about the brush set she got. I got this brush since it's the cheapest angled blush brush that I know of, and I'm surprised at the quality of it! The bristles are synthetic and very soft, and I like that they're white so I can tell how much pigment I have on my brush. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick (05)

I've been waiting for a long time to try this lipstick, especially after seeing Alex's review here. I wanted this particular shade because I knew I needed a lipstick that wasn't red. It definitely has a hint of berry in it, but its so brightening and makes me look so fresh and awake, which I think is something that one associates to Spring. Either way, I think this will be a great year-rounder lipstick for me. I need more from this range!

NYX Butter Gloss (Strawberry Parfait)

Who hasn't heard of these glosses? I knew I loved this as soon as I put it on because it applied well, smelled amazing (like cake batter), and left my lips moisturized. Even as it faded after about 2-3 hours, it didn't leave my lips icky and crusty at the edges which is what happens with me most of the time with most lip glosses. I got the shade Strawberry Parfait, which is a sheer fuchsia that leans more pink. I would have bought more but NYX stores locally haven't restocked in months.

That's it for now! I'm still looking for more Spring/Summer products to try so if you have any recommendations, please leave a comment below! Also let me know if you want a review on any of the products mentioned here and in my past posts!

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Friday, April 17, 2015

Spring Drugstore Haul

By Pauline Read More

March Favourites

As you can see from the picture, the number of favourites I have every month are dwindling. It's mostly because I still have quite a small collection of make-up, so I usually use the same things more or less. I was thinking of doing this once every other month or every 2 months just so I have more to mention. Let me know what you think!

This month was hectic but I'm glad that uni is finally over...for now. -_- Since I spent most nights accomplishing few but heavy on my grades requirements, I didn't have time to wear a lot of make-up the next day. These favourites are half skincare, half make-up(ish) and I haven't mentioned most of them before.

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Make-Up Remover

I bought this late February and talked about it in my make-up removers post, but I really love how easily it removes eye make-up. I haven't had a dual phase remover in years and now I finally see why its so useful to have. I just soak a cotton pad (well, most of it because I don't want to use too much product), press it on my closed eye for at least 15 seconds, and by then 90% of my eye make-up is gone. It's really gentle too and inexpensive, so I highly recommend it!

Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

I forgot which favourites I mentioned this in but obviously I still have it, and it's still going strong! I'm more of a brown eyeliner kind of person and I love how it adds a little more attitude without being as bold as a black eyeliner would. Plus, it has a brush tip versus a felt tip, so the point stays sharp and it has not dried out on me yet. 

Kiehls Skin Rescuer

I got this deluxe sample from my Christmas Haul. It addresses redness and stressed skin, which is exactly what I was looking for in a skin care product. It is quite hydrating to the point that it will leave a sheen on your face, so I use it in the evening. The next day, my skin is devoid of the usual irritated redness and looks much brighter. Despite my 'Only 5 non-drugstore purchases' regulation, this is definitely worth buying the full-sized version for.

Skin Food Black Sugar Mask

I only appreciated what this did for my skin when I used it sparingly. It's a great physical exfoliating mask that leaves skin soft yet hydrated after use. I love using it midweek when I'm feeling tired and when my skin has those teeny tiny bumps (I don't know what they are, if someone does please let me know!) because it adds a bit more life into my skin and makes it smoother for days.

There you have it! Let me know what products you loved for March - I'm always looking to try new things so feel free to leave me a comment below. Also, if you have any requests for posts you want me to do or think I should do, don't be shy to tell me because I'm open to ideas!

Hopefully (and I emphasize hopefully) my next post will be a review on a mascara I've been using and loving since the day I got it, so anticipate that for next week!

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Friday, March 27, 2015

March Favourites

By Pauline Read More

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!

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Friday, March 06, 2015

SPOTLIGHT: Make-Up Removers

By Pauline Read More