Conditioner -Kiehls - Amino Acid Conditioner
aychan 10/5/2012 7:13:00 AM
I wish there was a drop down for "maybe" will purchase again. My random points on this product: - works ok - don't think it does better than a normal Pantene conditioner - VERY pricey for such a small bottle - smells ok - not enough coconut scent! - probably won't repurchase as it's too expensive and I'm not seeing amazing improvements to my hair
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Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - HOOLA
aychan 10/5/2012 7:00:00 AM
I got this when my friend said she could get me a 25% off... and I needed a completely matte bronzer I could use to contour my face and my nose. Before I got this, I was using Bahama Mama by the Balm for shaping the sides of my face and my jawline, and then an elf matte bronzer for my nose. The reason I don't use the bahama mama for my nose is because it's a little too dark, and the effect is just too fake... Hoola on the other hand is... close to perfect. It's matte, it's PERFECT for contouring the face (quite naturally). I do however wish that it was cheaper and the packaging was a little more compact... I live in HK so having extra unnecessary packaging does not float my boat. The brush is ok but I prefer using my own contouring brushes. Anyway, good buy, will likely buy again unless I want to give Nars a try next.
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Conditioner -Nexxus - Phyto Organics-Humectin Extreme Moisture Conditioner
aychan 10/5/2012 6:45:00 AM
This conditioner is pretty good, since a little goes a long way. I wish it would smell like the shampoo, but too bad it smells more sweet... like candy.
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Shampoo -Nexxus - Theratin
aychan 10/5/2012 6:44:00 AM
I LOVE this shampoo. It leaves my hair feeling VERY clean without it being too dry, smells like coconut and leaves my hair very soft! The downside is it's quite pricey in Hong Kong - BUT a little does go a long way, I actually need less of this compared to my cheap drugstore brands! Will definitely repurchase this and the humectin conditioner.
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Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Coconut Frosting
aychan 10/5/2012 6:40:00 AM
I'm going through a coconuts phase (plus just chemically straightened my hair) and cannot stop buying any hair products with this scent. I just had to get this when I saw that it was 3 in 1 (because I was also in Singapore without shower gel...) When I first smelled it, I loved the coconut smell, but then the night after I bought this, I drank a little too much, and the next morning this smell really made me want to throw up... Anyway, back on track. As a shower gel, I think it's pretty good. Is it any better than my normal drugstore stuff? I don't think so to be honest. It's not moisturizing, it doesn't make me feel "cleaner", the smell is ok but I user perfume anyway. As a shampoo, I think it's extremely mild and leaves my hair feeling.... unclean. I end up having to use another deeper cleaning shampoo, defeating the purpose of using a mild shampoo in the first place. Never used it as a bubble bath so can't comment on that. Overall, it's not bad since it's coconut scented (someone actually commented on how it smells really nice after I got out of the shower ;)), but I don't think it actually works that great on my skin or hair. The smell is a little too strong... so yeah, not going to repurchase.
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Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Zino Lash Builder
aychan 4/29/2012 11:31:00 AM
I purchased this because due to.. stress, excessive curling, mascara, whatever, I had a bald spot on one of my top lash lines. Obviously I freaked out a little and tried using vaseline on it but it just didn't work. I decided to give these lash treatments a try, and thought about Talika. Unfortunately the drug store I work by didn't have it, so I ended up deciding between this and another Japanese brand. I did a quick search on my phone and couldn't find anything on this, but the Japanese brand had low ratings. Out of impulse, I decided to give this one a try, and boy I am so happy! My bald spot was gone within days, and my lashes do look longer. I knew I had to add a review for this to share my thoughts since there wasn't anything on here for it yet! I don't know if these treatments only work for some people, but if you are desperate like me... give it a try. price - HKD188
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Eyeliner -Bare Escentuals - Buxom Lashliner -- Leatherette
aychan 3/25/2012 9:47:00 AM
I'm surprised by all the positive reviews on this product because it did nothing for my lashes and it dried out very fast (and I live in a very humid city). It applies the same as other gel liners (MAC, cheap Japanese ones), and isn't really that "black".
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
aychan 3/25/2012 9:43:00 AM
I was so happy when I knew I was going to the US for work last year, because it meant I would finally get to visit Target! Anyway, first thing I did was run to the makeup section, and was so happy to see that they sold ELF!! I got a couple of things, but what impressed me the most was the brushes. I got this powder brush because I've always wanted a flat top brush so I could stipple on my powder, and also I was hoping the edges would help me chisel my face shape better with a bronzer. For 3 bucks I didn't have super high hopes for the brush, and it performed quite well for the chiseling effect. I didn't use it for all over powdering because I always stuck with my kabuki brushes for that. Then not long ago when I got kinda lazy doing my makeup, I started using the same brush (right after my bronzer) as an all over face powder brush as well. It was pretty good and worked the same as my kabuki brushes, if not, better. It's nice not having to pull out 10 different brushes in the morning... really. I'd rather sleep for an extra minute. I also think that the left over bronzer on my brush gave my face a more even tone when I used it again for the powder. Quality wise, the hair was quite scratchy at the beginning, but after the conditioning, it got a lot softer. I also hate how the brush is so heavy near the hair, which makes it kinda hard to lay on the counter without it falling into the sink (ew). Anyway, good brush for 3 bucks! But nothing super amazing in my opinion. Edit: After reading the other reviews, I'd love to try it with liquid foundation!
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Eyeliner -MAC - Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel in Blacktrack
aychan 3/25/2012 9:32:00 AM
I'm the typical CBC girl who loves black eyeliner. Back in Canada, I could easily get away with using pencil liner without the raccoon eyes. After moving to HK, I realized that nothing but liquid eyeliners would stay on, however I am terrible with liquid eyeliner application, and the only one I can use (L'Oreal felt tip) is not available here. So... the search began, and I decided to give gel liner a try. I first started out with the cheaper Japanese brands easily available at Sasa for under HKD100, but thought... meh, easy to apply, stays on, but dries out before I am even half way through the pot. So I decided to splurge a little and give the MAC Blacktrack a try. Honestly, application wise, it's only a slight bit better than the cheaper alternatives. Staying power is about the same as the cheaper ones, granted I still had to set the liner with black eyeshadow. So why the high rating? Well, because it's been almost 2 years of using this every single day (yes I know you aren't supposed to use it for this long), I'm finally almost done the pot, but it still hasn't dried out. I don't even have to heat it up when I use it!! I think that's pretty impressive if you ask me... Packaging: why is the container so big? does it keep it from drying out or something?? Takes up so much room. So anyway, I'd continue to repurchase until they start selling my L'Oreal felt tip liner in HK.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #187 Duo Fiber Face Brush (Stippling, Skunk Brush)
aychan 1/20/2012 1:42:00 AM
I’ve wanted this brush for years but was never able to get past the price tag. I finally decided to cave in and get this on a Sunday afternoon while waiting around for my sister. Part of the reason why I decided to try this was because I recently got a beauty blender “dupe” in Taiwan for really cheap and decided to get this brush and do a comparison. When I first started using this, I used the “stipple and swirl” technique, but noticed that my makeup didn’t actually look “airbrushed” like others have said. It didn’t look much different than if I were to use my hands, and in fact the foundation didn’t look even at all. In comparison to the fake beauty blender, the application was kinda crappy. I finally did more research the next day and saw EnKore’s video on how to use the stippling brush and the reason behind how it creates that airbrushed look. Seriously, if you haven’t done so already, please take 10 minutes or so this weekend to watch the video. He does a really good explanation of how to use the brush. He also explains how if you were to stipple and swirl, you might as well use cheaper alternatives since the result would be the same. I won’t go into details on how to use the brush, since EnKore does a way better job explaining than I would. (just watch the video!) Any who, after using the stippling brush for ACTUAL stippling, my makeup looked very even and natural. The best part was that I was using a lot less product by using the brush. Complaints: 1. like what everyone else said, this brush sheds. I’ve washed it twice and it’s not shedding as much but at the end of the day… it still sheds. 2. I don’t know why but this brush gives my nose / mustache area a cakey finish. I prefer to use my hands or a sponge to smooth this area out. I’m hoping the cakiness is due to the fact that I’m not used to the brush yet. After using the brush for about 2 weeks, I find that I cannot go back to using my fingers. If I had to compare the 187 and the fake beauty blender, I would say… brush for everyday use (quick and natural) and the beauty blender for more special occasions where I need extra coverage. Would I repurchase? Well I sure hope I don’t have to! For HKD390 for one brush I sure hope it doesn’t fall apart any time soon.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear (old formula)
aychan 7/13/2011 10:29:00 AM
I'm onto my second bottle now. I've always been a drugstore foundation user - Almay to Vichy to Revlon - until I got to HK and none of the drugstore foundations have my shade. Yes, being pasty is considered beautiful in Asia. MUA bulletin boards recommended Estee DoubleWear, so I went ahead and got my first bottle. It was fantastic! The foundation went on so nice, so natural, not cakey at all (my mom always liked to point out how my makeup looked cakey). My skin is still bumpy after this, so I set it with the Kryolan waterproof loose powder. In terms of oil control, it does nothing for me which I don't blame them for, since my skin is so got dang oily. I would be surprised if I ever find anything that can eliminate my shine all day long. ZERO transfer. I sweat a lot and blot my face with tissue all the time, and honestly there's no color on the tissue at all. I know a lot of people don't like that it doesn't have a pump, but honestly I prefer this bottle since, well, the pump actually wastes quite a bit of product (getting stuck in and on the tube and all). Just be careful and you won't get this everywhere. Don't think I will be switching to another brand anytime soon. Unless I find something that can do what this does AND controls oil completely.
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Loose Powders -Kryolan - Dermacolor Waterproof Powder
aychan 7/13/2011 10:20:00 AM
I got this on a deal on one of my trips to Taiwan. Never heard of this brand before but since the price was good, and after all, it's just a loose powder, why not? My skin is extremely oily so I never expect loose powders to do anything special in holding up my makeup during the day. This was not an exception, once I get out of the building and hit the heat, BAM, oil all over my face. BUT, I do find that this powder helps smooth out my skin a lot. I use Estee Lauder DoubleWear foundation, but even after I have the foundation on my skin is still all bumpy and gross. Once I set it with this powder, my skin looks so smooth. Also, this powder is truly translucent which I like (no pasty face). This stuff comes in a ginormous container, so instead of using it straight from the container, I took the counter boy's advice and transfer it into my old Gosh powder container. I refill maybe once every couple of months. Seriously this stuff lasts forever. My problem with the container is that when I open it to refill my container, a lot of powder leaks out on the sides. Other than that, I love for the price and finish, but nothing special in terms of oil control. Will repurchase when I run out... like in 3 years.
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Bronzers -TheBalm - Bahama Mama
aychan 7/10/2011 10:01:00 AM
I wish there was a maybe on the "Would you repurchase" question. Pros: Extremely pigmented, a little goes too long of a way, doesn't have a red, muddy undertone Cons: Too pigmented, too much of a dark brown (pretty much just a dark brown eyeshadow), stained my MAC countouring brush I've always used cheap drugstore bronzers since I thought they would all look the same anyway. However, I've always felt that they weren't pigmented enough, and I end up spending 5 minutes just putting the bronzer on. I did my research on MUA, and was debating between Hoola and Laguna. Laguna seemed like a god choice until I found out that it actually contains a little bit of shimmer. My skin is "shimmery" enough without shimmery makeup, so no thank you. Hoola didn't seem to have extremely good ratings either, plus from what I remember it looks kinda like the NYC bronzer. Then I came across ratings for BahamaMama and thought, hey why not, let's give this a shot. I believe it might even be cheaper than Hoola. Anyway, it's extremely pigmented which I love, so at one swipe it's already done its job on contouring my face. If I decide to go for a little more, and add one more swipe, BAM I end up looking dirty. So yeah, a bit mixed feelings, maybe I just need to control my hand and stop going for that second swipe. Also, I'm pretty choked that my brush got stained. Anyone else run into the same problem?
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Treatment
aychan 7/10/2011 9:32:00 AM
I'm very surprised that no one has reviewed this product yet. I got my first tube from my sister about a year ago when she came back from Korea. This is an overnight cream you should put on after your regular skincare items. For me, I don't really use toner and stuff, because supposedly if you have an acne problem, you should avoid using too many different products on your face to reduce the irritation. All I do is remove my makeup using baby wipes and baby oil (yes I know some people say it's bad), wash my face with Biore mild face wash, put on some Cetaphil, and then apply a thin layer of this stuff over. Generally I wake up with very "glowy" / oily skin, which isn't anything you can't fix by washing your face with water. You then proceed to putting on your moisturizer or whatever you do in the morning. I've always had a lot of acne and redness on my face. After I started my current job, my skin has stopped breaking out as much as before, but the redness and scars are still there. After using this product, my skin got a lot "better". Most of the redness was gone, and my skin just looks MUCH healthier and moisturized. Again, some people might find this too heavy on the skin, but it's something meant to be used overnight (when your skin is the most dehydrated). It is NOT meant to be used during the day, so the heaviness shouldn't be an issue. Also, this just feels "heavy" when you apply, it doesn't feel oily (that just comes in the morning). I don't really know how much this costs since my sister got me my last 2 bottles and refused to take my money, but I assume it's around HKD300, which is probably around 30-40 USD? You only need a tiny amount each night. This will last you a long long time. I also like how the lid is on the bottom, so you get every drop of the product near the end. If you can get your hands on this, I strongly recommend you giving this a try.
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Treatments (Eye) -L'Oreal - Lash Boosting Serum
aychan 4/3/2011 7:50:00 AM
I got this serum because I've always wanted to lengthen my short Chinese lashes. Volume was never something I ever really cared about. When I first got this, I didn't actually notice any significant improvements to the length or volume to my lashes. In fact, I felt that my Vaseline and EVOO combo (a lot cheaper alternative) worked better than this in terms of conditioning effects. At a certain point I felt it was a waste of money. But being that it didn't make my lashes worse or anything, I would use it on and off, alternating with Vaseline and EVOO A week or 2 ago I noticed that there was a "bald spot" on my right eye lashes, so I thought, ok let's give this serum a try again. To my surprise, the bald spot was gone after maybe about 2-3 days of using this before going to bed at night. Thumbs up for not chucking this away after the initial impression! Packaging - The wand works pretty well for me, allows me to get this serum from the roots to the tips of my lashes. I actually thought about keeping the wand for applying my Vaseline and EVOO combo. Would be even better if the bottom of the tube was flat so I can have this stand up on it's own (yes I'm being picky and weird). Price - For something that actually helps my eye lashes grow, this is not expensive at all compared to all the other expensive department store serums. (~HKD120) Also, a little goes a really freaking long way for this serum (I've had this tube for almost a year now... yes I know, not exactly hygienic at all, and no I didn't use it everyday in the past year... but I didn't really need to anyway) Given all of the above points, yes I'm going to repurchase in case another bald spot shows up when I'm done with this tube.
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