Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Japanese Cherry Blossom body splash
Nekura 6/27/2008 9:53:00 PM
I actually specifically love all of the Cherry Blossom line from BBW but the Japanese Cherry Blossom is my favourite out of them all. I'm not one for body sprays due to the high content of alcohol in scent... waiting for the long dry down and poor staying power and just in general I'm not a fan of body sprays but Japanese Cherry Blossom is one of the stronger scents from the line. It's pretty strong for a spray that it'll seem like an EDT more than a body spray. On me, my chemistry brings out a lot of the basenotes with a hint of floral. Japanese Cherry Blossom isn't really a girly floral scent as it may sound (nor too similar to the other Cherry Blossom fragrances from the line). It's a lot more muskier with woody basenotes and a nice balance. It's a pretty dark scent from BBW (as dark as it'll get from them haha) but if you're a fan of unisex fragrances, heavier fragrances and sometimes want a hint of floral in your life for those lighter days you should try this one out before any of the others. I use the shower gel and body cream wash so this is a great addition after a shower :) The staying power for a body spray is excellent. Will definitely buy again.
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Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner - Blue Thunder
Nekura 6/27/2008 8:34:00 PM
Personally I love WnW's H2O proof liners. I find their normal H2O liners very easy to work with along with the superb (if not near scary almost permanent) staying power similar to MAC liquidlasts... This being said, I'm giving Blue Thunder (LE) only 3 lippies for a few reasons. Typically H2O liners are indeed watery but very pigmented and works with the sponge tip applicator. Even though I normally dislike sponge tips, the watery formula made application simple and easy. That's not the case with Blue Thunder. The consistency of this liner is not watery. Initially you'd think this because it would apply very sheer if not near invisible.. but this is actually due to this shade being a gel-liquid consistency. Similar to MAC liquidlasts actually. The sponge tip applicator plays a huge disadvantage because this particular shade is thicker so the sponge seperates it causing it to be very difficult to create an even line and also difficult to have the pigmenation show up since the sponge tip pretty much scoops it off the skin. I played around with this alot and it's not a hopeless liner, it just requires a brush tip rather than a sponge tip. If you use a liner brush with this it'll be the vivid royal blue as the tube shows, if not... it'll be this very sheer silverish blue close to the Mega Liner in 862. The shade is great once you get it to work but it takes effort.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Estee Lauder - Tender Blush sheer stick
Nekura 6/26/2008 9:49:00 PM
These are actually a multi-purpose cream to powder stick that's meant for cheeks, face, eyes. The texture of these remind a lot of NARS multiple except the stick is a bit smaller. While it's a cream acts more like a most powder. They are sheer but buildable. I have this in Rose (03) which is actually very similar to Tender Powder blush in Rose. It's a reddish nude shade with very very subtle golden shimmer to it (not noticable unless you're under a light). The color is very natural on me and gives a nice healthy flush. The stick form makes it comvenient and it's not sticky at all. I understand the negative review on these. They are quite sheer naturally unless you build so most shades would be more suited on someone with fair skin but nevertheless a very nice product. NC15, ivory with yellow undertones for ref.
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Eye Shadow -Kevyn Aucoin - The Essential Eyeshadow Set - Palette 2
Nekura 6/26/2008 8:27:00 PM
This is a really beautiful quint. I've yet to be impressed by neutral eyeshadow shades for a long time except those by Shu Uemura. I've always been interested in Kevyn Aucoin cosmetics, though a bit hard to find.. I'm more than pleased to own this palette. It is essential as it says and a very versatile palette at that so don't judge from what might seem like a bland colour spectrum from a glance. This sleek palette with 5 shades offers more than enough for low key days where you just want to brighten your lids with a wash, neutral work days, just a very polished look, to a sultry night time taupe/brown smokey eye. The eyeshadows have a sheer formula that's buildable, a creamy texture, easy to blend with a very nice luminance with 4 of the shades (minus the charcoal). I don't find the shades glittery at all but instead of have a very soft peal finish often found in Japanese cosmetics. It provides a soft glow to the face and brightens your eyes instantly without being garish, chunky, or metallic. I was very surprised to find this quality of finish in eyeshadow from a non-Asian brand. The colours are well coordinated that it's almost effortless to mix and match different looks. While the price might seem steep for some, this is truly a high end product when it comes to quality that it's worth the price tag of $55. If you're a fan of shu uemura or LUNASOL, you'll love the texture to this!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Young Sexy Lovely
Nekura 6/25/2008 8:25:00 PM
This scent is more "young & lovely" and only a bit sexy/flirty. I'm really used to darker/unisex scents and was in search of something for girlier light-hearted days. Reading upon the notes for Young Sexy Lovely, it sounds extremely busy and almost all over place with notes but strangely enough it works well with my chemistry. I actually would be more happier if the musky/spicey base notes were more apparent on me but I can still smell it there. Overall the scent is a fruity floral that has a pleasant balance where it's not overly sweet but not too floral with a very subtle hint of spice. The staying power is decent for me especially since it's an EDT. The bottle is very cute also. I would buy it again. It's a scent that's nice to have on those more playful days.
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Lipstick -Shu Uemura - Lolishine Reflects 935
Nekura 6/25/2008 1:47:00 PM
I happen to have 2 tubes of Lolishine Reflects # 935 in "Naked Pink" (bought my 2nd tube today). Naked Pink is a nude pinky-mauve shade with kaleidoscope reflects glitter as it promises. While at first that sounds a bit garish, the glitter is actually quite subtle, non-gritty, micro-fine, and not really too apparent unless you stop to stare at your lips closely. The reflects glitter catches light very well so it gives a very special touch to the lips as if small multi-coloured sparks dancing on your lips without needing the addition of a high shine gloss. As always the formula is very light, with a wearable pigmentation, and decent staying power. It's not a heavy lipstick so reapplying would be necessary throughout the day. I find the finish of Shu Lolishines very unique, it's worth the $20.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Mini Eyelash Curler
Nekura 6/25/2008 1:35:00 PM
I actually would repurchase this for it's retail price. The design of this curler probably isn't for everyone but it's suited for me. While full size curlers are nice and feels like it'll give me more of a bang for my buck... my asian eyeshape and pinstraight (yet long) lashes does not always mix together. With a full size curler, I get 75% of my lashes curled and quite a lot of random eyelashes left straight, leaving the work to the mascara. With this being said, the mini curler allows a lot of precision and control. It takes a bit more work since it is quite small but if I sacrifice an extra minute in the morning I can have -evenly- curled lashes which is something quite difficult to achieve otherwise. Also if you're like me and are dominant with one hand and seem to always curl one eye better than the other (is this a bit weird?), it's easier to balance it out with this mini curler. I've had no problem with pinching, poking, etc. with this curler.. I think a lot of people are looking too into the fact that it's smaller and shaped weird and feel nervous about it. As long as you don't shove this to the root of your lashes (like how you shouldn't with any curler but since this is smaller it's easier to do that) you shouldn't have a problem. It works like a breeze and does an amazing job. No more random forgotten straight lash hairs!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Unlisted Brand - Skin Milk - Facial Scrub
Nekura 6/21/2008 3:45:00 AM
This is an HG facial scrub for me for daily use. It's one of the most gentle and pleasant scrubs I've tried without feeling like there's beads or sand scraping on my skin. Even claimed "gentle" natural scrubs like those by Queen Helene which are really nice... are still not gentle enough for me to want to use everyday. SkinMilk's facial scrub contains oat flour and almond meal so when you apply this it immediately will feel very different than your average face scrub. Sometimes there are parts that'll be a bit chunkier than others but never feels harsh onto the skin. To be honest, initially I thought this scrub was too soft and it wasn't doing anything because I couldn't really feel the scrubbing qualities. However my skin feels softer when I use it and I can see my pores/black heads reduced/smaller after the use. Best of all I don't feel like my skin has been sanded down if I use this everyday. The price is really economically friendly for such a great product I can use everyday. The scent is also really pleasant, a bit sweet at times but it smells really natural and nothing artificial.. that with the results, it deserves a 5. I've been using this scrub every morning/night after cleansing with the SkinMilk Foaming Cleanser and noticed a lot less break outs, dry patches, redness and irritation. Even in the humid and heated summer, my skin manages to stay calm.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Skin Milk's Facial Cleanser
Nekura 6/21/2008 3:36:00 AM
I love skin products that are milk infused. It's often found in many Asian cosmetic/skincare lines but not so much in the US. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out about Skinmilk and decided to try a lot of the products thanks to very wallet-friendly prices. To be honest, I find this cleanser to clean better than a lot of imported Asian "milky" cleansers I've used. Possibly because there is also Lemon and Papaya extracts which are suppose to even out the skintone. The texture is creamy and lathers well on the face. It doesn't "foam" much as it states but it gives a good creamy lather which is just as good. It washes off makeup residue fairly well and leaves the skin soft. I continuously used this with the SkinMilk facial scrub and have noticed a big difference and improvement in my complexion even though my lifestyle hasn't changed much besides my face washing routine. My face is brighter, less bumpy, less red, and softer.. I also have less dry patches and less chances to prone to break out. This is a gentle and cheap cleanser that isn't harsh on the skin like many cleansers that claim to prevent acne but because of the gentle formula and moisturizing qualities it's actually reduced my breakout problems (even in this horrible summer heat!). The scent to this is fantastic! very calming vanilla cream scent, I love the scent of this line's products!! Like all milky cleansers, it's a bit difficult to wash off (it'll feel like there's a film on the skin sometimes) so I always wash my face with a loofah facial sponge or exfoliator cloth. It's a bit difficult to find these days in stores but it's worth ordering online.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Max Factor - MAXalicious Glaze
Nekura 6/19/2008 3:27:00 PM
I was hesitant of these due to the reviews but I actually find them pretty nice for a drugstore gloss. Typically I'm not the biggest fan of squeeze tube glosses but they do come in handy on the go. The plastic slant tip to these mixed with the non-sticky formula makes the application really simple. The gloss is on the slick side and not sticky at all so this makes staying power only decent but that's a common sacrifice when avoiding super tacky glosses. The pigmentation is medium which is nice because you'll get a hint of color but not overpowering yet nothing completely sheer either. The colors aren't super frosty and wearable. Even the more glittery shades are finely milled with glitter and doesn't come off "tween" at all, no chunky glitters. Also no aftertaste. As for the scents, I suppose it varies on shades. Currently I have 4 MAXalicious glosses. Two To Tango/Orange, Champagne Bath/Lemonade, Spring Fling/Watermelon, Weekend Getaway/Caramel. I'm not particularly bothered by any of the scents. I'm not too keen on Spring Fling because I personally dislike artificial Watermelon however the scent to these are only apparent in the tube, it disappears almost immediately once applied so it's not really a problem. Compared to other drugstore glosses it's similar to Maybelline Shineylicious except much more wearable with shades, less artificial in scent, less sticky, less glitter. Similar pricing as well but I prefer MAXalicious.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - Molten Metal Liquid Shadow in Bronze Bomber
Nekura 6/19/2008 2:21:00 AM
Very nice dupe of Chanel’s Ombre D’eau. I've been passing by these Revlon Molten Metal Liquids for a while because I figured I don't have a need for liquid shadow however after getting Bronzer Bomber out of boredom I have to say it's a pleasant surprise! Very nice and easy to work with. If you blend before it dries it's easier to adjust the intensity of the pigmentation. It dries in a relatively fast time but slow enough to still blend and work with. Easy to build too with no creasing and nice staying power. Bronze Bomber isn't too bronze on me. It applies more like a dirty gold with a hint of red (NC15 brown eyes). I believe its worth the retail of $12+ considering the retail of the Chanel ones. The packaging is very nice too. Fancy, sleek, easy applicator and looks much more expensive than a typical drugstore item.
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Eye Shadow -Revlon - Colorstay 12-Hour Eyeshadow Quad "In the Buff"
Nekura 6/19/2008 12:12:00 AM
This is a really great neutral eye quad for someone that's very fair. I can understand why some people are having problems with it and the unbalanced rating... However for me, this is the perfect no brainer neutral eye quad. It's obviously not a dramatic quad but great for retro looks, work, daily low-key days and just days where you don't want a lot of color on the eye but emphasis with shadows and a bit of an eye brightener. As usual the Colorstay quads are paired with very complimentary colors (if it works with your skin tone). The texture is a bit odd but I think if you've used Revlon eyeshadows you'll just adjust to it. They're still pigmented but work best with a primer. I find it weird that these eyeshadows swatch on the arm with a pearl finish but applies nothing of the sort on the eye lid. The pearl finish instead disappears and leaves a matte look with a very natural "luminance". Very nice for tired days too. Can be used wet/dry. Will rebuy. NC15, Asian with neutral/warm ivory tones for reference.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - NAUGHTY NUDE limited edition
Nekura 6/18/2008 10:27:00 PM
Like all nude lipsticks it's always a hit/miss with everyone. Under the glittery overspray is a sheer nude/brown lipstick. I think this lipstick's color would vary a lot on the user's actual lip pigment if we're going for a nude lip. Personally I really like this lipstick. I have a huge problem finding brown nudes because they're usually very grey tone or just flat brown on me. Naughty Nude looks like a dark brown in the tube but instead this is a nice nude with just a hint of brown that adds a more classier look rather than "bedroom". It doesn't wash me out but it's not overpowering and still resides in the nude lip category. The staying power is so-so but it has to do with the formula. I find this lipstick much more creamier than Revlon Super Lustruous lipsticks.. It's creamy and super smooth plus the formula is sheer so reapplying during the day is must. However it's very comfortable on the lips and isn't drying. The tube is clear and reminds me a lot of Shu Uemura lipsticks. Has a nice weight, nice colour, moisturizing, easy to apply, good for daily wear, no-scent, no after taste. The overspray isn't my thing but it doesn't interfere with application and is pretty unique to the eye. I give it 5 lippies. NC15/20. Asian with neutral/warm tones and medium-pigmented lips.
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Bath Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Skin Milk Foaming Bath
Nekura 6/16/2008 5:21:00 AM
The foaming bath delivers what it states with a calming and soothing vanilla cream scent. It creates a lot of long lasted bubbles in the tub without making the skin feel slimey like some bubble baths do or dry out the skin. Instead you can expect to finish a bath with soft and smooth skin with a soothing light scent. The vanilla cream scent has a hint of powder(?) in it I believe. Might not be everyone's cup of tea but to me a bubble bath that can put my senses to ease... It's quite faint but just a very calming sensation. The price is very economically friendly. Under $6 for a bottle of 22oz, and not much is needed for a bath! Since I've tried this bottle, I've invested in a lot of other products from the Skinmilk line! It's a shame this stuff is hard to find in stores and isn't as well known but it's worth it to order online =)
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Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
Nekura 6/13/2008 9:10:00 PM
I refused to give up on this product. I use a very small drop of this for a whole face application (smaller than a pea) and it saves wasting the product since it's quite small however the best part is that it works best at minimal application and I don't break out or have irritation from it. It makes applying liquid and powders a lot more smoother with less efforts to blend and does what it's suppose to do... extend the wear of the foundation. Strangely enough, using less of this makes my face less oily and not irritable at all but using too much causes irritation (break outs) and oiliness. Due to this complicated control of application, I give it a 4. But when it works, it works very well... it just took a lot of figuring out what was the proper amount for me. If you're finding it's "piling" or clumping when applying then thats way too much! A little of this primer does wonders.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No