Eye Shadow -RMK - RMK ingenious natural eyes N 03
strawbit 7/8/2008 1:41:00 AM
The colors are very pretty on the pan, like gemstones. I expected a finer texture though, but it is not so bad. On my yellow-based skin, the colors showed up vivid but lacked oomph. Don't know if it is my inadequate makeup skills, but I wouldn't buy again because I realize I don't look good with color eye shadows, except skintones. So if you are like me, skip this. But for the majority of you, this is a good buy. The shimmers are subtle and beautiful. It is easy to blend the colors together. It even comes with its own velvet pouch, aside from the double-ended (sponge and brush) applicator inside.
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Eye Shadow -Shiseido - Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow H10 – Languid Lagoon 
strawbit 7/8/2008 1:30:00 AM
Liked this color in the store, but found it hard to use at home. The aqua is dead on my eyes. Tried to bring it out by putting blue/green eyeshadow on top, but the effect was not pretty. Alone, it is very sheer and gives a sickly hue to the eyes. Maybe this is better suited on women with pink undertones, not yellow.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Shiseido - Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow H1 Goldlights
strawbit 7/8/2008 1:28:00 AM
Goldlights is a winner because of its unique color and texture. It is a true gold without being too yellow or shiny. The texture is soft and easy to blend. on the lids, the shimmers are extremely fine and tasteful. Brightens and adds dazzle to the eyes. Great to be used alone or under other shadows. Tried to use this as face highlighter, but I think Glistening Sand is more subtle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -RMK - Pressed Powder
strawbit 6/19/2008 6:21:00 AM
I have this in shade 01, a matte natural beige. I use this as a finishing and touch-up powder. I find that touching up with this can be tricky because it made my makeup look considerably thicker but not natural. I'm careful to apply this with a light hand. The texture is superb, though. The powder is very finely milled. The compact case is sold separately and comes with the usual flat powder puff. Comes in other colors (a darker matte shade and 2 more shimmery shades). Overall, it looks powdery and chalky (as it did other reviewers).
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Foundations -RMK - Creamy Foundation
strawbit 6/19/2008 6:13:00 AM
This is a cream foundation packaged in a glass pot with a screw-on silver lid. A transparent cover separates the product from the lid. A white plastic spatula is included in the silver box packaging. I like how this foundation feels really creamy yet so soft and nice. It delivers the best of both worlds of cream foundation: great coverage (without looking unnatural) and souffle-like texture (who thought that was possible?). I was nervous to blend it the first time, fearing that it would leave my face oily and heavy, but surprise (!) it was pure heaven. It's easy to spread and covers really well (more than RMK Liquid Foundation). I find more pleasure applying this than the liquid foundation. Overall, the liquid foundation gives a see-through natural face effect, while this cream foundation finishes with even coverage while still not looking too made up. The SA taught me to first put the scooped foundation on the back of my hand, then blend the foundation there before applying on the face. This is so that the oils on the foundation are evenly distributed. Finished texture is soft and smooth; no caking, no oiliness! Lovely! This comes in wide range of colors from yellow tones to pink tones. I'd buy again and again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -RMK - Liquid Foundation
strawbit 6/19/2008 5:56:00 AM
This is a liquid foundation that comes in a glass jar with a screw-on silver cap. It has a slightly runny texture which makes it easy to blend. The light consistency is easy on the skin. I didn't expect much in terms of coverage because of this, but was surprised to see that it covers imperfections (redness, blotchiness, veins) pretty well. RMK Liquid Foundation is easily buildable, and never feels heavy at all. Perfect for don't-feel-like-powder or light makeup days. The finish is soft and smooth. No greasiness or heavy feeling! I find it blends best using fingertips. As long as you are careful with application, there is absolutely no caking. It performs very well on top of RMK's regular Makeup Base. A bottle is 30ml; a small amount suffices to cover the entire face. Comes in many shades ranging from yellow tones to pink tones. Love it.
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Cleansers -IPSA - Cleansing Smooth Foam
strawbit 6/19/2008 5:43:00 AM
This replaced Cleansing Clear Foam EX. When the former was a light blue cream with blue granules, Cleansing Smooth Foam is purely white. It gets rid of facial dirt and oil very well, without stripping the skin. I find this better than Clear Foam EX, because though it cleansed well, it used to leave me with dry patches on the face (probably from the granules that rubbed too hard against my skin). This wash never leaves skin uncomfortable; always, it is smooth and pleasant to touch without feeling oily or dry. The ingredient list is in Japanese, so I'm not sure of allergens. I have hypersensitive skin, and so far Smooth Foam has performed excellently.
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Pressed Powders -Paul & Joe - Pressed Powder (04)
strawbit 6/4/2008 9:37:00 AM
This is the old version of P&J's pressed powder. Number 04 is a light pink shade with micro shimmers. I have to be careful when applying this because too much can make it look chalky. When applied with a light hand, though, it makes my complexion livelier. This powder also keeps oil at bay. The packaging is a circular plastic case in pale holographic pink. From afar it looks like an anemic sea shell. I am torn because I wish it were a darker color at the same time I am liking the weird paleness. I think the new Pressed Powder N is an improved version. See for yourself : )
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Lip Gloss -Paul & Joe - Lip Gloss N 09
strawbit 6/4/2008 9:24:00 AM
This shows MLBB on my lips. It's not sticky at all and stays put for a long time. By far, this is the longest-lasting lip gloss I've tried (BB, RMK, Clarins, Lancome, Awake, etc). The texture is soft and makes my lips look a *little* plumper. This was the only shade that flattered me (maybe because it was closest to my lip color), the others came out bright and tacky or too common. Lip color is subjective anyway, so do try out their other colors. This lip gloss' quality is superb!
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Brows -Paul & Joe - Eyebrow Pencil Duo Brun (02)
strawbit 6/4/2008 9:06:00 AM
This is a double-ended eyebrow pencil with a light and darker shade of brown on each side. My hair is black with brown undertones. I use the lighter side more often and find that it looks very natural on my brows. You only need to apply with a light hand to achieve clean, well-kept brows. The darker side can be filled into sparse or areas that are over-shaved. This product is practical and lasts a long time, so I think it is worth the buy.
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Lip Gloss -Unlisted Brand - Sony CP Curvy Lip silicone
strawbit 6/4/2008 8:54:00 AM
This review is for the Clear shade. I was intrigued at first, for this is the famed million-selling lip gloss in Japan. The packaging is drug-store quality, although I found the voluptuous shape of the tube and champagne-colored cap cute. Quality-wise, it's a good lip gloss--capable to stand on its own or layered on top of colored lip colors without fail. The applicator is innovative too. It's a plastic spatula that's easily applied on the lips. You can wipe it off to clean from time to time, unlike the usual sponge applicators that come with lip glosses. Overall, this does it job well, like an efficient secretary. There is no surprise why it won over the Jap beauty market. Practical, excellent, and cheap to boot.
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Lip Liners -DuWop - Reverse Lipliner
strawbit 6/4/2008 8:46:00 AM
Reverse Lipliner is an invisible lip liner. It's lined outside of the lip line to keep lipstick within the lip line. I found that my lipstick didn't travel out. The packaging it comes with is unique; a circular green plastic. I was pleasantly surprised that the lip liner came with a sharpener. There is a little cap on the bottom of the pencil that can be pulled out and I see a part of the liner there (not sure what this is for, though). I like this pencil because it goes with any lip color. Saves time and is a breeze to apply. Will repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Pure Light [DISCONTINUED]
strawbit 6/4/2008 6:39:00 AM
I like Pure Light because it really lives up to its claim. The skin is "lighted" after use. It is light in texture and spreads well. However, the color match is not exact. I think it is because their main customers aren't Asians, however the color difference is negligible. The light-reflecting property is perfect because it is not too loud, nor does it have shimmer. There is just a slight luminescence in the finish. My main gripes: it has a really sticky finish and it gave me red patches on the different parts of the face. It's not so bad; I found a great use for this foundation too. It can be used as under-eye concealer because of it's light reflective properties. The only con is it settles into fine lines. Oh well, can't have it all.
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Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorsnow Sublissime Whitening Liquid Foundation
strawbit 6/4/2008 6:26:00 AM
At first, I was hooked with this foundation. The color was an exact match (020 light beige) and the consistency just right to cover blemishes but allows skin to breathe. The liquid is not runny, slightly medium thick, but on the face it looks luminous and natural. With SPF 20 PA++, I found it very nice. However, I encountered the same problems I had with Diorskin Pure light--the finish was a bit sticky (but not as sticky as Pure Light) and it gave me a patch of red on my cheek. I'm not sure exactly which ingredient I'm allergic to, but as much as I love Dior, I would give their foundation a rest, for the moment.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Sally Hansen - Age Correct Retinol Hand Cream [DISCONTINUED]
strawbit 6/4/2008 6:19:00 AM
I find my hands softer and able to withstand multiple hand washing the day after when I put this on before sleeping. It is packaged in an orange tube with a white cap. The smell is ok, and you don't need a lot of product to moisturize both hands. The important thing is that this lasts throughout most of the day and guarantees softer hands compared to not putting any hand lotion at all. It works.
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