Whats in My Travel Makeup Bag (Ireland/England Edition)

As I write this, I am currently fighting jet lag and waiting for dinner in Ireland. As it is the summer for most of the northern hemisphere, I thought it would be helpful for you all to see what I brought to Ireland with me on this month-long trip. It's the longest I've been away from home and I knew that makeup-wise, I had to bring products that I knew I could rely on and were multi-purpose.

I'm pretty good at packing the essentials (clothes-wise) so I had a bit more room for beauty products such as skin care, hair care, and make-up. I separated the items as follows: face, eyes, and lips. I've written my lists over and over again until I finally cut it down to a more or less acceptable number for each category. It may seem either too few or too excessive, but I find that I'm neither restricted nor overwhelmed with what I brought.

Face

Gasp! One primer, one foundation, and one powder? I was strictest with these items because I was going to buy tons while I was here. I also tend to bring too much whenever I travel, so I wanted something I was sure would work no matter what climate. 

The Etude House Good Bye Pore Ever Primer Essence has been a long time favourite of mine and is something I always come back to. It also pairs beautifully with the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint as it provides a layer of hydration and makes the tinted moisturizer look even more seamless and skin-like. The Maybelline Master Conceal while lacking in high coverage, makes up for it by blending beautifully and easily into the skin. Finally, the NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder won't run out! I do prefer it as its finely milled but doesn't take the dimension away from the face when applied. It's also much easier to travel with a compact powder versus a loose powder, so definitely no spills with this! Lastly, I wanted to test how well the Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray (Oil Control) fared in cooler climates. It'll also be useful when I'm going around for the whole day as I need to worry less about my makeup melting.

I only took one blush and my contour powder, since I was planning to buy a cream blush anyway (more on that later). The NYX Powder Blush in Pinched is perfect for the summer because of its coral and pink tones, which also works well with nearly all of the lipsticks that I bought. I decided to bring the Too Cool for School Createur du Contour as my face tends to bloat a lot whenever I travel. It's something I've noticed in all the pictures of me from past trips, and I'm determined not to look like a ball this time around!

Eyes

I was a little more lenient with eyes because most items are very small and compact. Of course I brought the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette because I want to test its versatility in creating multiple looks. I also brought a single Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Cosmopolitan because I am obsessed with the colour and I knew it would pair well with the other eyeshadows in the Cocoa Blend palette. I also brought along the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige in case I won't have time to do anything fancy. The Urban Decay Primer Potion is of course a must, because I do want my eyeshadows to last all day and not crease (something that still happens even when I'm in cold countries). 

I find that eyeliner makes such a big difference whenever I wear it, so I brought both the K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner Micro and the Clio Kill Brown Brush Liner for variety and ease of use. The Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (Waterproof) still hasn't gone bad on me, though if it does, I'm definitely going to pick up a new mascara while I'm here.

Lips

I remember asking Alex from The Red Eyeliner on the acceptable amount of lip products to bring while traveling, and she answered four including lip balm. Not going to lie, surprising answer considering how much she likes her lipsticks! I managed 5 lip products including lip balm (not featured due to embarrassingly beat-up packaging), though I did pick up the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment during my layover in Singapore (oops). 

I brought along the Golden Rose 2000 Lipstick for a nice red in case needed, along with the Etude House Play 101 Pencil in 21 as they pair well together. The MAC Lustre Lipstick in See Sheer goes everywhere with me now because it goes beautifully with warm eyeshadows, and isn't too stark like most corals. Finally, the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle is my go-to lipstick on lazy days, or for when I want to look a little more presentable. 

And that's it for me! I hope you all enjoyed this monster of a post. What about you guys - what do you usually bring on trips? Is there anything I should have brought that you recommend?

Friday, July 01, 2016

Whats in My Travel Makeup Bag (Ireland/England Edition)

By Pauline Read More

2015 Favourites

Better late than never, yes?

2015 did a better job at showing me who was boss than I did, so I'm honestly glad to say goodbye. While there were moments of laughter and joy, I was struggling through most of it. That, however, is not the case for make-up! I've found so many gems this year that I am more than happy to add to my permanent collection, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

I didn't choose a product for every category, as I didn't try much from each anyway. I included those wherein I had a lot of options, or those really worthy of a mention! These products have easily obtained holy grail status and will be used until they're gone. <3

Best Base: Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (My shade: Nude)

This was tough, especially for those of you who know how much I love bases. This Jouer one is great for everyday, and is also amazing for mixing with other bases! A little goes a very long way, and the coverage and finish is amazing. This is similar to the Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream (review here) though with a faster drying time. Essentially, perfect skin in a tube! 

Best Concealer: Maybelline Master Conceal (My shade: 30 Light-Medium) (Review here)

I've reached for this concealer ever time without fail. I love its thin, lightweight consistency but good dry down time, making it great for dark circles, covering redness, and for scars. It was non-cakey on my normal and my combination skin, and looked very natural even on its own! Really amazing drugstore concealer that I would recommend to anyone!

Best Cheek Product: Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du contour (Review here)

I never expected to love this product as much as I do now. I find that using a small amount every day makes a world of a difference in adding definition to the face without looking too obvious. It adds amazing shadow to warmer skin tones or Asian complexions like mine. I've already made a hefty dent, and yet its still going strong!

Best Eyeshadow: Too Faced Natural Matte Palette (Review here)

I have reached for this palette so much on so many occasions it's almost ridiculous. The colours are perfect for my needs, can be used alone or in conjunction with other palettes, and the formula is amazing. I still would highly recommend this palette and I will definitely be using it up until I hit pan!

Best Lipstick: MAC See Sheer

This was honestly the easiest for me to think of, despite acquiring a number of lip products this year. I have reached for this colour so many times even after the end of the warmer months, and I have loved this. Its essentially the only "coral" I would wear, which is a very big statement. This might be the first lipstick I will finish - I'll keep you all posted.

That's it for my favourites! I hope you guys liked this post and are looking forward to the year ahead as I am. Here's to a happier, better 2016!

Saturday, January 09, 2016

2015 Favourites

By Pauline Read More

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

REVIEW: Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du contour

Life update: I'm sorry for missing another weekly post! :( My laptop has been under repair for about a week now and might continue to be for another week or two. My battery has finally given out on me plus my internal hard drive died as well. Rest assured, all my blog pictures are safe, but things will be a little erratic for a while. Please bear with my irregular posting schedule for now! Hopefully things will go back to normal once the repairs are over.

Back to normal blogging!

*

Finally a review for this!

The Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du contour is a three-coloured 'shading' powder used for defining the face. I used the term shading instead of contouring as Korea does a softer, much more natural version. I've heard and read that this powder is often sold out in Seoul, so that was an indicator for me that it was going to be good!

Packaging

What made me interested in this initially was the packaging. It is not only very slim and compact, which makes it great for travel, but it also is such a pretty design. For reference, Rodin is an artist, which is why TCFS made the packaging extra pretty. I really like it when brands put in a bit more effort into their packaging, because it makes the product more fun to have and use.

Pigmentation and Blendability

I find the pigmentation for this to be just right - not to pigmented that it would be hard for beginners to use, but it won't take ages to build up either. Its enough for beginners (like me!) to experiment with, but I would still recommend a light hand for the first few applications. 

It is also very buildable and blendable if you want to really get more definition, or if you've applied too much. Having three colours is also a perk as it allows for you to create a gradient of colour that I find looks more natural. Mixing the three colours together will give a very subtle contour that is great for warmer skintones as it looks more natural versus ashy contour powders.

I will say though that there is significant fall out in the pan when you get product with your brush. Its nothing a little extra taps of the brush can't fix, but those who are very particular about fall out will have to take note of this. 

It works especially well after a setting powder, as it just glides over the skin and can be buffed in if needed. If on bare skin, I find that more buffing and blending is needed. I don't go out without setting my makeup with a powder anyway, so this isn't a problem for me. It also doesn't go on patchy which is something I've experienced with a lot of cheaper cheek products in the past. 

Lasting Power

I would say this lasts about 5 hours at the least. After this, you will still see the colour, though it has already begun to fade. I find that it doesn't wear off badly after a hot day which is great considering I live somewhere very hot and humid. I think it will last longer if you use a setting spray on top. Do take into consideration that this is if I use a setting powder under. I tried it without and the wear time was much less.

  

Before any shading - just base makeup (Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation + NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder) and curled lashes

With shading - slightly amped up to show on camera, but otherwise gives a very blended, soft shadow to the face

Price and Availability

I purchased this for 895PHP at Too Cool for School in SM Megamall. In Korea, it retails for 16000W, I believe, which is a little more expensive than brands like Etude House and The Saem. I do find that this is of higher quality than the aforementioned brands, and is still much cheaper than a lot of contour powders and bronzers from midrange to high-end Western brands.

Summary:
(+) Compact, pretty packaging
(+) Good pigmentation
(+) Buildable
(+) Blendable with setting powder under
(+) Decent wear time
(+/-) Reasonably priced, depending on your budget
(-) Fall out in pan
(-) Need light hand if inexperienced
(-) Needs extra buffing without powder under
(-) Only available in TCFS branches and in Korea

Recommended for: Anyone interested in face-defining products!

All in all, I'm really happy with this product! As someone with a round face, a shading/contour powder is very much appreciated in order to give definition to my face.

That's all from me for now! Have you guys tried this powder before? Do you have a favourite contour/shading powder? Let me know in the comments below!

Friday, September 11, 2015

REVIEW: Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du contour

By Pauline Read More

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Dark Red Lips

Before I go into this week's post, I'd like to apologize for the phone-quality photos for this and the next few posts. My SD card for my camera broke just as I finished shooting several posts, resulting to me using my phone instead. Ah, all that wasted time. :(

But yes you read that right - this is a 'Face of the Day' post! My friends from uni had a sleepover and photoshoot a few weeks ago, and I wanted to share with you the look I wore for that shoot! It was really fun as it was Harry Potter-themed, and being a huge fan of Harry Potter, it was easy to say I enjoyed not only planning, but participating as well. 

I was sorted into Slytherin - yes, we did go into that much detail for a sleepover + photoshoot - so I knew that I wanted to wear a dark red lip. It was meant to be an evening look so I didn't hesitate in having heavier eye makeup and (gasp!) contour. These were the products I used (save for the powder, as I borrowed Alex's Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder, which I need to get for myself) at the time.

Yes, no primer and yes, false lashes! I really want to get into wearing false lashes because they add such drama to eye make-up. Sometimes, I find that the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation applies better on bare skin as it fades evenly and breaks apart less after a few hours. I applied a bit of face mist prior to foundation and it gave a very skin-like, glowy finish. I applied a bit of Maybelline Master Conceal (review here) and set my base with powder.

After priming my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, I applied my Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in My Two Cents which is a coppery-bronze cream shadow. I put a bit of Strapless and Chocolate Cookie from the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette (review here) on my crease and blended. I added a bit of Sexpresso from the same palette to the outer portion of my eye to create a bit more depth. I then lined my eyes with Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner (post about it here) and applied my favourite Fairydrops Platinum/Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara (review here). I wasn't after neatness for this eye look, but more for the warm gold & browns. I didn't do it in this recreation, but I added 3 lashes per eye at the corners to give a more fluttery lash look. I then added a bit of the K-Palette Real Lasting Two Way Eyebrow Pencil to fill in any gaps to my brows (review here). 

I just added a bit of the Too Cool for School Createur du Contour as the last of my face make-up, and finished everything off with two layers of the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Mandore, blotting in between layers to give a darker colour. I absolutely love this lip pencil now and I'll definitely be using it more in the coming months!

Here's the finished look! I tried doing the eyebrow raise, but its hard to look mean in a floral shirt haha! I hope you guys liked this look, and let me know if you want to see more FOTDs in the future!

Friday, August 21, 2015

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Dark Red Lips

By Pauline Read More

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, July 31, 2015

June and July Favourites

By Pauline Read More

Big May Haul

I know I just did a haul but I also have bad self-control during this time of year. :p This time, this haul isn't limited to drugstore products as the more midrange products are some that I've been eyeing for around a year or so, plus some Korean products! These consist of two online orders (from Bon Marche and Make Up Pro), one that my friends Leya and Tari from Tari in the Morning kindly bought for me while they were in Korea (thank you again <3), and a mall purchase.

At this point I'm glad I'm going back to school - need the cash!

Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)

This is a fairly new product, released last December. Maybelline is known for their concealers and I thought it would be great to finally try one. This one claims to be high coverage and can be used for both under the eyes and for spots. Plus, it comes in a tube rather than the sponge applicator that the Instant Age Rewind has. I like that you only need a small amount to cover spots, and that it leaves a natural finish. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather (80 Creamy Beige)

I mentioned before that I frequently watch Essie Button's videos, and this was one of the products that grew on me. I found the original Color Tattoos too frosty for my liking, so this more matte version of Bad to the Bronze was a good alternative. That and I've been dying for a new cream eyeshadow.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (Nude)

As much as I love my Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, I know its too expensive for me to use everyday, and I'm quite fearful of it running out quickly. This one from Jouer is a rare gem in a sea of dewy tinted moisturizers, as it is one of the very few that I know of that gives a matte finish. Jen from From Head to Toe uses this quite often and like I said before, everything that has worked on her has worked very well on me so far.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (6 Ivory)

Yes, another concealer! I've wanted this for a while, but at the time opted for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer that I mentioned in some of my favourites. This one is waterproof, oil-free, and long-lasting, so its supposed to be best for scars and blemishes. As someone who is acne-prone, a lightweight concealer that doesn't aggravate acne is a must.

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

I used to tell myself that I shouldn't buy more palettes, but I knew I had to have this palette as soon as it came out. I'm fairly happy with my shimmery shadows recently (Naked 2 Palette & 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette) but I noticed I lacked matte shadows. This is much cheaper than my original plan which was to buy a few MAC eyeshadows. I'll definitely review this as soon as I get to test it out!

Etude House Play 101 Pencils (21, 47)

I liked my first pencil in 23 so much that I had to get more! 21 is a neutral red that is meant to be used as a lip liner, while 47 is a rich copper that is meant to be used as an eyeliner or eyeshadow. Etude House is a brand that involves a lot of hits and misses, but I have to say that so far these are hits!

Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

I had a long love-hate relationship with this eyeliner, as I mentioned here, here, here, and here. The hate eventually ebbed and I realized just how lovely this eyeliner was when I used it again late last year. I bought my first pen last year and its still going, but I got this because I don't want to be without another!

Innisfree Mineral Single Cream Eyeshadow (04 Romance Burgundy)

I love cream shadows so much, so to see one of my favourite Korean brands with cream shadows was exciting. I've also been toying with the idea of trying a burgundy eyeshadow ever since seeing eyeshadows like MAC Cranberry and the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk. Lets hope that this one works!

Too Cool for School Artclass by Rodin Createur du contour

As a person with a round face, I could always use a little definition for my invisible cheekbones. I saw this product while browsing a few blogs and I was drawn by the packaging, to be honest! The  SA that sold this to me also mentioned that this product was usually sold out in Korea! This isn't overly pigmented, which is good to hear for a beginner like me.

That's all for now! Lets hope that this is the last haul I do in a while, for my wallets' sake! I do hope you enjoyed seeing these anyway and let me know if you want me to do a review on any of the products I mentioned.

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Friday, June 05, 2015

Big May Haul

By Pauline Read More

2014 Favourites

Hey everyone!

I won't be having a favourites for this month in favour of the ultimate favourites post - my 2014  Favourites! This is a special kind of favourites as it also includes my favourite travel experience from this past year as well. Not going to lie, this was a pretty difficult year for me in terms of everything, but it was easily the most eventful. Restarting this blog was definitely a big part of my year, and I hope to continue being more active and sharing all these experiences and products with all of you!

Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream (Review here)

I've said this before, but this is by far the best BB cream I have ever tried. No grey cast, great colour match, lightweight, light to medium coverage, and photo-friendly! This makes me look like I have healthy, almost flawless skin, which is definitely not the case. The shade range and packaging definitely need some improvement, but I have been so happy with this overall and would highly recommend it!

Innisfree Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (Review here)

I used to use it twice a week when I first got it, but I like it better as a once a week treatment on Sunday nights to clarify my pores after wearing make-up almost the whole week. It also helps calm my acne though I don't use it as a spot treatment anymore. It also reduces the redness on my face, which is always a huge plus for me. It's easy to see why this sells so well!

Real Techniques Shading Brush

This wins as my favourite brush this year as it is the one that I didn't expect to work as well as it did. It works well to pack on colour as well as to blend harsh edges away no matter what type of eyeshadow. It also allows me a lot of control because of its small size. All in all, it's a really great multi-purpose first eyeshadow brush!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow (Birthday Suit, My Two Cents)

These two have been my go-to for an easy wash of colour on lazy days, as well as bases to make similar colours sitting on top more vibrant. I also like how you can't find similar colours of these in the famous Maybelline Color Tattoo range, which convinces me to purchase the full-sized versions when I run out...which won't happen soon as I'm not even halfway through the tiny pots!

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX

This is the newest one among all my favourites, but it is the one that has made all the difference to my rough, dehydrated skin. It does exactly as it claimed - to smoothen skin and add moisture. I also like how quickly it absorbs into the skin without leaving an icky oily feeling unlike other moisturizers. I think I found another skin care staple!

Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence (Review here)

I like how this adds enough moisture and has just the right amount of silicone to make the application of whatever base I apply on top smoother without making me feel like I have a film over my face as most primers tend to do. I'm happy with the price tag as well despite its availability (rather, lack of) in most Etude House branches I go to. Highly recommended for people with drier skin!

Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff (Review here)

I was in denial for a long time on choosing this sponge over my make-up brushes, but this gives the most flawless, skin-like finish, especially when paired with cream products like my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer! It also helps my base products to separate less when worn for a long time.  This combined with my Fairydrops BB Cream and NARS Concealer make for a (seemingly) good skin day. Another unexpected favourite, and it won't break your bank as much as the original Beauty Blender would!

Best Travel Experience

Singapore

I already consider myself lucky to have traveled overseas more than once this year, but what made my Singapore May 2014 trip better was that I got to visit a friend I hadn't seen in a long time, and experienced planning and paying for a trip all on my own. This was more of a vacation for me than my Seoul trip was, as I didn't have to stress over the itinerary and making sure my parents weren't lost. It was nice to go at your own pace and do what you wanted to do for a change. In a way, it was a semi-independent trip that I won't forget for a lifetime.

And there you have it! Feel free to share with me your own favourites for this year down in the comments below. I'd like to thank everyone who has made this year what it was, especially you guys! Here's to a happier, better 2015!

1. Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX
2. Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence
3. Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream
4. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
5. Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff
6. Real Techniques Shading Brush
7. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Favourites

By Pauline Read More

REVIEW: Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff

Hi everyone! 

This is long overdue but I finally made a review on the Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff! I originally wanted the Beauty Blender after seeing my favourite YouTube beauty gurus like Estée from Essie Button and Amelia from Amelia Liana use it but I just cannot bring myself to spend $19.95 or P1200 for a sponge that I'm going to throw out at some point, knowing a brush would last me much longer. I searched for possible dupes and found the Marshmallow Puff to be the best value for money. 

    

Unlike the Beauty Blender, the Marshmallow Puff is gourd-shaped with a sharper tip. If you're not familiar with how these makeup sponges work, you just have to run the sponge underwater while wringing it to dampen it. After removing the excess water, you tap a bit of your foundation at the round part of the sponge, and proceed to 'bounce' it on your face until it is all blended out. 

I've used this with my Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream and it left me with a flawless finish (much more than with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush) but I love using this with my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I use the tip to blend the concealer out after I've dotted it on my face, and it just blends seamlessly onto my skin. When I have time, I use it to blend my concealer under my eyes, and it has been the only technique that has considerably lessened the amount of creasing (though not completely). Out of all (brushes, fingers) this sponge really does give the most natural finish and I'll definitely be using this for a long time.

Despite this, there are a few qualms to owning a make-up sponge like this. One is that it is a bacteria and germ magnet. Because of all the moisture in the sponge, leaving it enclosed without drying it, or not cleaning it before the next use will definitely attract all of the bad bacteria, germs, and molds to the sponge. You definitely do not want this on your sponge ever since you're applying it to your face, so it's best to clean it immediately after use. As for storage, he case it comes with is really good especially for travel, but especially while it's wet it has to be left out to dry, otherwise it can collect molds.

It's also quite difficult to clean completely. I personally use an anti-bacterial facial foam after every use, then olive oil and dishwashing soap for my weekly deep clean. With the latter it's much easier, but with the former, it requires a lot of wringing and working against my palm to get all the colour of the BB Cream and concealer out. 

I got this for P279 at the Too Cool for School Kiosk in SM Megamall, and out of all it's the cheapest sponge with that particular shape and function. It's usually readily available for purchase (except for that one time I checked), so I'd recommend this for those who want a natural finish despite all the hassle with cleaning. 

Summary:

(+) Value for money

(+) Makes base seamless
(+) Blends cream products very well
(+) Available at all TCFS outlets

(-) Hard to clean

(-) Hard to store
(-) Bacteria and mold magnet

Rating: 7.25

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Friday, November 21, 2014

REVIEW: Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff

By Pauline Read More