Treatments -Biore - Pore Cleansing Strips - Nose
aznlau22 6/15/2013 12:04:00 AM
I really enjoy these strips but they can be a hit or a miss, depending how well you prep your skin. Yes, in order for these strips to be used at its full potential, you have to do couple things to your skin before you slap these things on. Otherwise, these things won't work as well or work at all. Below is a regimen I use to whenever I use these strips: 1. Exfoliate. You need to rid of the top layer of the skin so the strips can get in contact with the blackheads and clogged pores. Instead of using a scrub, I like to use an aspirin mask because it's effective as sloughing on the first layer of skin and it makes your face feel baby smooth! I leave the mask on for 20 mins. Brand doesn't matter but fyi, I use the CVS brand. 2. Steam your pores. This step is super important because you need to open your pores to loosen the blackheads/sebum. There a few ways to steam your face and the way I do it is placing a hot face cloth over my face. I run hot water in the sink, soak the cloth, and lay the face cloth over my face for a few seconds. After repeating this a couple times, I then just do this on my nose area for a few times because that's where I'll be putting the strip (duh lol). 3. Wet your nose. Pat water on your nose so it's damp but not dripping wet. I made a mistake once of putting too much water on my nose and the strip never hardened. I just did all this before writing this post, and boy, am I satisfied! It's gross but satisfying to see all that gunk on the strip. It's summer so my skin is oily and literally all my pores on my nose are clogged.The strip helped rid of a TON of blackheads but not all, so don't exepct that the strip will unclog all your pores if you have a ton of blackheads/clogged pores. Nevertheless, Biore strips help me immensely. Though these strips are known to be pricey, you should get them on ebay. Instead of paying $8+, I can get them for $6.50 on ebay. Overall, I recommend these and would purchase again.
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Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
aznlau22 5/26/2013 12:43:00 AM
I really love this foundation! It has a thick creamy consistancy that gives a medium to full coverage. My favorite method of applying is with a brush, specifically Sephora's mineral brush because it is small and dense. I think any dense brush will do. Lots of people use their fingers with this but I don't get as a good of a coverage as I do with a brush. I would say one thin layer (you really need a very small dab for sections of your face because it is thick) gives me a good amount of coverage without giving me that heavy makeup look. But on days when my cheeks are extra red, you can still see a bit of red under a layer of foundation. The finish of the foundation is a bit dewy/satin and gives me supple looking skin. Whenever I visit my extended family, my aunt always comments on my "perfect" skin and I'm like, "It's not me, just foundation!" haha Since I do have normal to slightly dry skin, I do have to watch out for days when my skin is flaky and dry because otherwise, the foundation will outline and show my dry patches. The longevity of the foundation is great. Just tonight, I went out from 4 in the evening and came back at midnight. The foundation held up really well and my redness was still concealed. Overall, this a foundation I can count on to give me a healthy almost perfect skin look. I will def repurchase.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Jojoba Oil
aznlau22 4/22/2013 9:22:00 AM
My skin has gone from oily to normal/dry over the past couple of years (I'm 19 and at 16 my skin was the oiliest). Back when I was frustrated by my oil skin and some pimples/lots of clogged pores on my nose and forehead, I sought out for jojoba oil to help me out because I heard that the human-like sebum qualities it had would control my oils. At first, jojoba oil clogged the bridge of my nose (there were flesh colored bumps). I stopped using it,concluding that I was the unlucky one who jojoba oil did not magically work on so I immediately stopped using it and the clogged pores on the bridge of my nose were gone. Then I think weeks or couple months later, I was determined for jojoba oil to work for me (and because I hated to waste the almost full bottle I had), I think my skin had readjusted and accepted it. Gradually, the oil helped clear my complexion and the clogged pores on my nose/forehead improved. When I was at my driest, jojoba oil didn't provide nearly enough moisture so I doubled it up with another moisturizer and I have been doing that ever since because jojoba oil + moisturizer = super bomb moisturizer :). Though, when I had my really dry bad skin days jojoba oil failed to help. So to conclude, I had a love hate relationship during my oily and especially very dry skin phases. Now that my skin is a more better condition thanks to better cleanser and lotion moisturizer, my normal/dry skin has received the jojoba oil better. My skin feels supple, smooth and dewy (because jojoba oil is oily, it will make your skin dewy... or greasy looking if you are not careful). Also, because my skin is in better shape, it absorbs the jojoba oil (and skin products in general) better. I think now, I can use jojoba oil alone especially now in the spring/summer months. So for those people out there with normal skin on the bit of the dry or oily side would find to love this stuff! One bit of a downside is that to this day I still have the damn clogged pores/blackheads on my nose. There are still tons though it has improved over time. However, I don't blame the jojoba oil much because no matter what product I try, my blackheads are still there. Oh well :( One big plus side to jojoba oil is that it's natural and I feel like I'm doing my skin a big favor in the long run. On the topic of makeup, I would make sure to give the jojoba oil 10 to 15 mins to absorb and not to use a lot of it because it does leave the skin dewy as I said before and it may cause some problems when applying foundation or eye makeup (well, if you do put jojoba oil on your eyelids). With my mineral makeup though, it looked best when I did jojoba oil because the oiliness. The person before me who pointed out that jojoba oil is good primer for mineral makeup is right. I don't know if it's just the mineral makeup I use, but there's no cakey look at all on top of the jojoba oil as opposed to using without it. My foundation would have a beautiful glow and dewy look to it, almost as if I applied liquid foundation. Other uses: I used to use this to take off my face makeup. It did it a good job but it was nearly impossible to wash off. However, I would use it to take off mascara and eye makeup. It's awesome at taking off waterproof mascara. I have gone through 3 bottles of jojoba oil so far. I bought them at whole foods, gnc, and amazon. I don't think brand matters as long as it's pure jojoba oil. Jojoba oil averaged out to be $12/bottle for me.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Facial Cleansing Towelettes 
aznlau22 4/11/2013 12:56:00 AM
I have been using Simple's makeup wipes for awhile and I wanted to try something new so I picked up burt's bees makeup wipes. The smell is fine, it has citrus scent and it smells like oranges. What is better than Simple brand of makeup wipes is that these wipes are moist and have the right amount of remover on them. They are gentle too but too gentle I think. These wipes take off my mineral foundation fine but it barely takes off my waterproof mascara which is a total let down. I will go back to the Simple brand due to it also being gently but effective at removing all my makeup including waterproof makeup. I won't be repurchasing these but I recommend this product to people with really sensitive skin, especially dry skin due to it also being moisturizing.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser
aznlau22 4/11/2013 12:44:00 AM
My skin has gradually changed from oily to normal/dry over the past couple of years. Once I realized that the cleansers I used during my oily times wasn't working for me anymore I knew I had to get a more hydrating cleanser. I picked up burt's bees on a whim while at the drugstore. I like the brand over all because of it using mostly natural ingredients. The price isn't so bad, I got it for $9. Ok, the smell. It smells pretty good. It's citrus-y and smells like oranges. The cleanser is a cream cleanser and it's smooth and creamy. Before I used another cream cleanser from whole foods also because of its natural ingredients. But I hated it because it stung my face. But the burt's bees one doesn't sting at all and it's super hydrating! If you have dry patches, this cleanser smooths your out your skin and hydrates it pretty well. It also soothes and calmes down the redness on my cheeks. My skin looks and feel better after a week of use. I think it helped clear a couple of pimples I had. However, i have black heads/clogged pores on my nose and cheek area and the cleanser doesn't seem to improve or worsen that area. I exfoliate to take care of that though. The cleanser claims to take off makeup but I doubt it does an effective job. Just use makeup remover which I always do anyway. For packaging, the tube it great to get the right amount. Overall, I'll definitely repurchase.
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Skincare - Face -MAC - Fix+
aznlau22 2/26/2013 1:59:00 AM
This stuff is amazing! I never seen the need for it because I assumed it was just a gimmick like water in a spray bottle. Boy, was I wrong. This product actually works and it works wonderfully! I spray it all over my face after I apply my mineral foundation. After it dries, my foundation looks dewy compared to how it would look cakey without the fix+. My foundation definitely lasts much longer; my foundation stays on from day to night easily. I have the travel size to test how I like it but I will pick up the fill size for sure when I am finished with it.
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Powder -Neutrogena - Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation SPF 20
aznlau22 2/26/2013 1:51:00 AM
I really like this foundation and I can say that it's my go-to if all else fails. The powder is nice and smooth. It gives light to medium coverage so it's buildable. It covers redness and uneven skin tone pretty well. I love how it lasts all day on me; by evening you may need to touch up but it isn't a big deal. I have dry skin but if you moisturize well, you will be fine. However, packing on the foundation it's expected it will look a bit dull and cakey so I use mac fix plus which makes a beautiful dewy complexion. With fix plus, my foundation lasts from day to night.
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Polishes -Maybelline - Color Show - All
aznlau22 1/26/2013 2:07:00 PM
I bought this for $5 at cvs which I think is an alright price, people may think it's a little pricey for how much you get. Anyhow, i think this polish is wonderful! I got it in amathest ablaze which is a pretty purple metallic color. The bottle shows more silver than purple. Since this is the only color I tried out, I give it 4 stars because other colors may not turn out so good according to the other reviews. But this color is gorgeous! Only one coat is enough. I love the brush!! It's small and perfect for application because it makes it so easy to apply a nice even coat. One coat dries fast. Top it off with a top coat and you are good to go! EDIT: Ok, my fault for giving a review too early on to know the full effects of this polish. I went from 4 stars to 2 stars because although I still stand by the beauty of the nail polish color I got, it chipped way too fast, like the next day my nails showed signs of wear. Plus, for the price I got, not even worth it.
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Concealers -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles
aznlau22 1/14/2013 5:54:00 PM
This concealer is really great! I got medium and it perfectly matches my asian yellow skin tone. Since I only tried a few concealers in my life, I can't say this is my HG because I'm sure there are concealers that give a bit better coverage. But don't get me wrong. The coverage is great, it almost covers my dark circles. I like the consistency; it isn't took think but it's tacky and thick enough. I don't have much to complain about except for the packaging. I think the sponge ball thing is unnecessary. The concealer lasts a decent time, I would say 5 to 6 hours. It doesn't get cakey or crease. Just put powder on top to make it last longer.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
aznlau22 3/3/2012 8:13:00 PM
i love this liner! i have it in black and it's very black. it's creamy and smooth. i haven't experienced any drying out since this purchase was quite recent so i can't tell you how fast it dries out. this liner hasn't smudged or faded or flaked on me whatsoever; it's really perfect! i also like the brush too! i thought it would just be a crappy brush but it works very well on me and i can easily obtain a thin, medium, or thick line. i love the control i have with gel and it's so easy to use which says a lot because i never used gel liner before. for me, gel and brush is much easier to use than a liner and it looks so much better than pencil.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Daily Nail Growth Treatment
aznlau22 3/3/2012 8:04:00 PM
i really like the silk polish treatment by sally, it really made my nails long and so pretty! when i ran out, i went to the drugstore but they didn't have it so i got the maximum growth. at that time, my nails were already a good length but i wanted it to grow a bit more and i wanted my nails protected as well. i didn't notice my nails getting much longer in the first week i tried, but they were very hard which i thought was a good thing. but then i noticed my nails were dried out. eventually, two of my nails broke off in big chunks. so my nails were practically like glass, hard and fragile. i ended cutting my all of my nails :( i wouldn't buy this product again. but to you all, try it for yourself since this product has gotten a lot of positive reviews.
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Cleansers -Alba Botanica - Coconut Milk Facial Wash
aznlau22 10/29/2011 10:42:00 AM
i would actually give this product 3.5 because this product isn't bad but for me, it doesn't give me what i was looking for in this cleanser. i have sensitive areas on my cheeks that i think maybe rosacea but i haven't gone to the derm to get it checked out. anyway, those part of my cheeks are constantly red and sensitive. i bought this cleanser because i thought it could help sooth my skin. but as it turns out, it stings my sensitive areas a little, esp after i exfoliate. my redness isn't relieved at all whenever i use this so i won't be repurchasing again. the smell, wasn't what i expected. it's reminds me of fluoride my dentist uses! haha i'm not sure how well this takes off makeup. the cleanser is nice cream cleanser and makes my skin smooth. i have oily skin and i don't find it to make my skin any oilier. overall, i recommend this for all skin types esp normal and dry skin. for sensitve skin people, this may work for you but i never experienced stinging on my face until i used this product. i used to wash my face with harsher cleansers but those never stung my face.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Nivea - A Kiss of Flavor Cherry
aznlau22 10/29/2011 10:24:00 AM
i generally buy the eos lip balms for its moisture but i ended up with this lip balm because my mom picked it up for me. the packaging is cute and the smell is delish! it smells like cherry candy. i really the texture of this lip balm. it's smooth and silky. and the color pay off is really nice! it's really buildable on me and i can get a pretty good red lip with this. however, unlike a lipstick, it comes on like a stain or as if you has eaten a popsicle look ( but it's not blotchy if that makes sense). i like it though. for the moisture, it's not super moisturizing, but it does give you a good amount of moisture like a regular lip balm. like what the other person said, it does cling to dry skin. this product is recommended for those have smooth lips and want a decent amount of moisture plus color on their lips.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Eye booster eyeliner + serum
aznlau22 7/24/2011 8:20:00 PM
OMG!! this eyeliner is a dream!!! the application is heavenly! you get so much control on how much you apply because it's a pen form. the applicator/tip isn't made of hairs but more like this rubber material so it won't splay out when you line your eyes. the formula does not crack and it dries in a snap! i have even exercised and sweated my butt off while having this eyeliner on, and i must say, it held up pretty well! the color just faded a bit but i didn't experience any smudging or running of the liner :) however, there's one con and that's the pigment of the eyeliner. i have tried both the brown and black and they are on the natural side. the brown is super natural on me to the point where i can't tell if i have it on or not. the black is like a super dark brown that is almost black. personally, i like that because it's more natural but for the people who are expecting a dramatic black, you won't be getting it. but either way, if you like dramatic eyeliner or not, get this eyeliner! it's a bit pricey ($12) but it's def worth the price! you won't regret a thing!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Cleanser/Mask
aznlau22 7/24/2011 8:09:00 PM
WOW! you have no idea how HAPPY i am to FINALLY come across a cleanser that works for my super clogged pores! i have been struggling with clog pores (esp on the nose area) for 3 years. i have tried a good amount of cleansers (aveeno, other neutrogena cleansers, cetaphil, burts bees, etc and even those more natural cleansers from whold foods) and exfoliating didn't help much either. pore strips work just ok. no matter how many times i squeeze out the clogged stuff, they still come back. i have also spent numerous hours researching methods to clear clogged pores. who knew this product would work like a dream?! i was skeptical of first. i doubted that it would absorb 85% of build up oil it claims to remove and i expected it to leave my face dry even though the packaging said it wouldn't. however, this cleanser proves me wrong! the cleanser smells good and has this foamy/mousse texture with tiny blue beads. but you don't feel them. so i massage it on my face for 20 seconds or so and on the first try, my nose was dramatically less bumpy/clearer and my skin was soft. it didn't dry out my skin at all! but for the sensitive people, like i am, i wouldn't use it everyday. maybe every other day at night or something. i have realized if i use it everyday, i would get more clogged pores (just a little) and this red patch i have on my face would get even more red. plus, my face would get oilier. so now that i have toned down my usage of this cleanser, my skin is back to the way i want it. on days that i don't use this, i use straight up oatmeal. overall, i would DEF repurchase this!!
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