Polishes -Milani - Black Magic
ch4n 12/8/2012 1:43:00 AM
Having a hard time to find OPI Black Onyx, so I was forced to opt for this one. LIKE : - the gloss is superb.it doesn't look like cheapo drugstore nail polish. this is black, the color that sometimes makes it like you color your nail with a permanent marker. but the gloss is so pretty, makes it look expensive. - great color payoff. applied 2 coats and there.shiny black nails. - the price. - the texture is perfect, not too creamy or too thin. DISLIKE : - bottle cap/handle. too small. hard to hold & control during application. - the brush reminds me a lot to Revlon's. flimsy and thin. - the smell. ugh. overall this is a very good bargain and it's a great product too.
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Makeup Brushes -Coastal Scents - Pro Blending Fluff Brush
ch4n 12/8/2012 1:29:00 AM
Holy Cow, i'm soo cursed for buying this! okay so i have huge soft spot for animals, i just love them and never bought/had natural hair m/u brushes ever. heard that this is some kind of dupe for the famous MAC 217 brush,so i was like :'eeh..let's try it' When this brush arrived, first thing to do was give it a bath to sanitize it, just like I did to all my brushes.Besides, I live in Asia, and this one had traveled half around the globe. I used my usual brush shampoo and ta-daa!the bristles gone wonk! meanwhile the other brushes didn't, this one instantly like have been through ages of The Torture of M/U Brush. So there i was, checking up on CS website, andd...okay.It's made of goat hair. Cannot tell you 'this is my experience of using this brush' because I haven't even tried it yet. It's a total mess, and the saddest part it, I even haven't had the chance to at least trying to use it. And what's the point trying to use this already messed up brush? :( Maybe I should get a tiny star and stripes, wrap this brush and ship it back to the US so they can bury it with the utmost respect.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Badger - Healing balm
ch4n 12/6/2012 9:06:00 AM
It still amazes me, how products that actually work don't cost so much and frequently underrated because they don't have flashy brand names. This is my first Badger Balm, and yes i'm not illiterate thank you, because I use this for my lips & cuticles despite of the writing on the tin :'for hardworking hands'. These are what I like : - the scent. it doesn't annoy me at all.i rather like it, it smells 'nature',clean, fresh scent.the scent will be gone in no time. - my lips are always dry,cracked and chapped.always, no matter what lip balm/lip treatment I use. Tried Egyptian Magic Cream, but it's too greasy.This doesn't. Badger has this smooth texture, quick to absorb, leave my lips moist & soft. - works magic for my cuticles.now they aren't dry and nasty anymore. - it's made from all natural, cruelty free ingredients.what's not to love? - due to the usage, the tin is HUGE.for $9? that's awesome bargain. what I don't like : - the packaging. not too hygienic eh? and i have to re-depot it to smaller container for each usage. but overall, I love it, and can't wait to get my hands to Badger's other balms :)
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Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
ch4n 12/6/2012 7:05:00 AM
HG mascara!Thanks to MUA. Asian here, with short-uneven and sparse lashes and way too lazy to wear falsies, and heavens, this mascara works nicely. Overall : - 1 coat = lengthen my lashes.seriously. i hardly get this result from any mascaras i have ever tried.i comb my lashes too to get natural look, otherwise it will look like i wear falsies. - 2 coats = instant falsies.again, need to comb my lashes or the lashes will clump here and there. ** i don't use lash primer, i just use any clear mascara and curl my lashes BEFORE i use this mascara, then comb my lashes afterwards** - Unnatural? Yes. But it's because my natural lashes are just uneven short hair here and there. So I kinda need and like this one. Dude, I have no lashes, for Pete's sake! Plus, the need of getting 'dolly & natural' falsies is now all gone. All I need is individual falsies [just 3 on each top & bottom lashes], apply this baby in a single coat, and I have that dramatic & sexy lashes. - Dries forever, like, forever. I have to be extra patient to wait for this to dry out completely before I continue to 'paint' another part of my eyes/face. - It doesn't smudge/budge, and I sweat a lot since I work as photographer. I do all kind of poses to get the best angle, and that gets me to sweat. Most mascara just bleed/smudge/budge whatever, and at the end of the day, I'm a raccoon. I don't like waterproof mascara because they're a pain to remove, but this doesn't smudge at all yet so easy to remove. - It adds cute gloss to my lashes. - It is pitch black, absolute no-joke black. Not charcoal, not dusty black, not grayish black. And i like this jet black color. will definitely buy again.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -E.L.F. - Flawless Finish Foundation
ch4n 12/6/2012 2:07:00 AM
ELF did it again. It's dirt cheap and it sounds risky to put something that cheap onto your face,no? Like there's a horror of dangerous and fishy ingredients they might put into the bottle so they could get some profit and selling stuff. But heck I'm sold to this foundation.Particularly since I bought it with no expectation but I did expect that the shade would go off, the texture would be terrible, but I was proven wrong. It's creamy, almost like asian BB cream [tad more liquid than skin79 BB cream, but same texture & consistency], glides like heaven, takes tiny bit of time to let it well-blended & absorbed before I end up with dewy, beautiful, flawless skin. I tried MAC [cakey,blotchy,drying,etc],UD,Stila, but this by far beats them all. This came with a 'fortune cookie' pump.One day it works perfectly, the other day it doesn't. But other than that, the bottle is quite a steal.I like the pump and how it prevents spilling and keeping germs at bay. I got this on #Sand, and wow. It's just the right shade for me [I'm NC25/3.0 for reference]. Doesn't break/clog me until now, just need an extra work with setting powder, and this baby has done wonder for my skin.Yes it smells weird,powdery, but I kinda like it,lol. well done, ELF!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Barre My Soul
ch4n 12/6/2012 1:33:00 AM
Twin sister of Bubble Bath, except it dries like forever.Maybe I got the bad batch? I really -seriously- really can't spot the difference between the two of them. Tried Bubble Bath on 1 nail, Barre My Soul on the other, and there, they both are identical. On the bottle, Barre My Soul is slightly yellow-y than Bubble Bath that is definitely pink, but on my nail, they both look exactly the same. Read a review somewhere that said that Barre My Soul is 'jelly-like', and that got me, but no, BMS ain't like jelly at all. Had to apply 3 coats to get the right color -unlike Bubble Bath that only took 2 coats-, and 20 minutes later, it peeled off when I was trying to zip my jeans. so disappointing. never going to buy this again.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Wet 'n' Wild - Ultimate Sheer Tinted Moisturizer - Natural
ch4n 11/29/2012 3:31:00 AM
I compare this product with Urban Decay Naked Skin. no joke. well, it doesn't really cover everything, hence the name. but it is a decent tinted moisturizer with some perks that would attract people whose skin is leaning to the oily side, like me. I'm NC 25 with strong yellow undertone, and when i squeezed this TM onto my finger, i thought 'okay, this is wayyy tooo dark, too beige'. coverage : sheer. texture versus packaging : the tube is so tiny, i think. and the texture is too thin, so extra careful when you squeeze the tube. color matching : as I said before, the color out from the tube : too dark, too beige. on my skin : blends in nicely. and why is this? it doesn't oxidize, or wear off throughout the day; i have combination skin, and this stays put on my face. and it dries pretty quick too. not that much coverage though, but i'd rather wear a real foundation to do that job. this product is decent & good enough for me doing some errands or things like that. it's cheap as well, and it doesn't break me out. 3 bucks. do the exact same thing with UD naked skin. think of that. **UPDATE** oh this thing is way better than UD naked skin. UD naked skin = transferred everywhere [at least that happens with my case] WnW = it stays put. i took one lippie because of the smell. this thing smells a wee bit weird.but that's all i have to complain about.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Urban Decay - Naked Skin
ch4n 11/29/2012 2:58:00 AM
It's Urban Decay and everybody's raving about it.Worth a try, so I thought. Texture : liquid, creamy enough to spread, but not oily at all once it's absorbed into the skin. Smell : IDK, i noticed something chemicall-y underneath. Color matching : I'm NC 25, and I got UD Naked Skin in #4.0. Perfect match for me, UD Naked Skin just blends right into my skin. Coverage : medium, buildable. Finish : semi-dewy [?] not matte but not dewy either, it falls in between. [-] - does NOT cover blemishes, red spots or skin discoloration at all.even with 2 coats.and i hate the feeling of putting 2 layers of foundation on my face. - claimed to be 'your skin, but better' foundation; sorry, i don't see that using this foundation. - rather pricey don't you think? [+] the bottle is utterly nice to look at. and no, I'm not seeing anything as Urban Decay claimed about this product. they should've put it this way: 'this is a foundation with medium coverage'. despite all of my whining, this pretty decent foundation; but i also get the same result with WnW tinted moisturizer for 3 bucks only. why would i flush another 40 bucks down to the drain if i could get the same result with cheaper stuff anyway? ***UPDATE*** I gave this foundation a second chance. At the first time I wore it, I was going to an outdoor photography job, so I was in a bit of hurry on 'let's put some makeup before get ourselves rolling on the dirt'.And my take on the product is what I wrote above. 2nd Chance : on a formal evening occasion, indoor. Used primer, applied it with E.L.F flat top powder brush, but I didn't set it with any powder. Claims : Coverage without compromise. Our weightless formula blurs imperfections for a flawless finish that feels invisible, but looks professionally retouched. Result: still can't get that 'full coverage' without feeling 'hey people, look at this layer of makeup!'. weightless: yes. But one odd thing: i feel dull, like my skin is absorbing all the light and moisture. I literally look at the mirror and seeing an old rag on my face. Worst part: it transferred everywhere. On my husband's suit, on my dress when I took the dress off. I thought it only happened for once when I was literally jumping and rolling on the dirt during the day job, outdoor, in the tropic's sun and humidity. I could forgive that it actually transferred to my camera's monitor and left oily-nasty blotches all over.But during an indoor - formal occasion? when i actually act like a well-mannered lady?That's just...*shaking head*. Okay I have combination skin; that my T-zone needs blotting every 3 hours or so,and for the record, this transfer issue doesn't happen with my Skin79 or Hanskin BB cream,E.L.F flawless finish, nor my Revlon Colorstay. Yes, those last two perhaps THE most hated foundation, but those two work for me,beautifully. No satin skin happy ending for me with this foundation.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Sleek - Creme to Powder Foundation Oil-Free
ch4n 9/12/2012 11:34:00 AM
after reading some tempting reviews, i bought the tester kit in fair/light and light shade. the package is okay, functional, and look good. at the beginning i kinda like it. i finally find the perfect foundation shade for me , which is #Shell. it's kinda weird because im asian, NC25 with strong yellow undertone and im not supposed to be that fair in Sleek's chart.but anyway, for all these years my face is DARKER than my neck & chest. maybe my face is NC25, but im not sure about the rest. i have trouble applying it as well. i use my foundation brush, but it wont slide. it just sticks there on my face like paint blots.so i have to use damp sponge to cover the whole area.it takes quite some time, and i dont like this kind of trouble. also, it smells terrible, like some damp rag. im not kidding, this thing smells weird, and annoying, and the smell stays there until i took it off. next thing i dont like, it dries me out, like gives me flaky-wrinkled skin.this is odd, really, because i have a very oily T-zone, and even that area turns to dry & flaky patches while im using this. i want to love it :( i really do, but i cant
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Masks -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 25% Mandelic Acid Peel
ch4n 9/5/2012 2:54:00 AM
i have stubborn white heads since i was a teenagers.been living with it for 15 years.and those white heads just wont come out except with barbaric picking method. and the result is of course, brown/acne scar spots here and there. i also have uneven skintone over my jawline, upward to the side of my ear.i've tried creams,cleansers,this and that but nothing works.NOTHING. so i joined a beauty forum and judging by the rave, chemical peel is one way to solve my problem but it's darn expensive.then i read about MUAC and how effective their products were. so i sent MUAC an email,asking which peel would be the best fix for my problem and my skin condition [im asian]. Wendy, this nice lady,recommended me their 25% Mandelic Acid.so i bought it and waited for it to arrive. today i give it a try, and even i have butterfly in my stomach and was scared to be lobster lady, i just jump off the bandwagon. and omg..i was wrong. no sting/irritation/whatever. i just feel a warm - ticklish sensation during the recommended 3 mins peeling. pardon my language, but holy crap this product is a miracle in a bottle!!! it is a heaven-sent pore degunker, no fancy thing.just simple, effective product in rather unappealing bottle.wonder how much money i'd save if only i knew about MUAC years ago! i now type this with glowing - baby smooth skin that i never ever thought i could describe the state of my skin.it still doesn't do anything much on my uneven skin tone, but we'll see.judging by the reviews here and there, i have to give it some time for at least a month. oh yes i WILL repurchase.who wont?
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Eyeshadow *ES18 Sahara
ch4n 9/1/2012 11:37:00 AM
31 yo and totally m/u noob, so i don't spend on high end cosmetics, i read tons of review before i go 'ok let's go buy it', and im also cheap on makeup since i tend to spend more on skincare -and gadgets. so, i was looking for highlighter for my NC25-ish skin. im asian, on the slightly darker end of NC25, super yellow undertone even i tend to burn under sunlight.i was looking for a highlighter because i just realized that i have high cheekbones after having them for 30years.what a dim wit. I wanted the highlighter not to be glittery,or disco ball-y.it has to be yellow-toned,not beige/white/pink/silver/gold.i ended up with zilch.or not really, there was NARS Albatross, but i dont want to spend 36$ for just one product. then i thought why not eyeshadow?e/s are cheap,so i can get more options.if it doesn't work,i can use it on my eyes. so i get this from local online store. packaging : well,i don't care enough as long as the lid closed well and i can hear that 'click'.nice enough with transparent lid/cap so i dont confuse it with my other NYX blushes. shade/color/pigmentation : AMAZING.since when i put it on, i thought it was going to be an epic failure.but heck no.it is beautiful.it blends amazingly to my skin tone.it is not obnoxious or screams 'look at this shiny part'.it tends to be cream-ish with yellow/pale golden undertone on me, which is quite a steal.lasting power is amazing.it stays there until i clean it up. how i apply this as highlighter: even im not sure this is interesting to read, but i applied this on my cheek bone,cupid's bow,and top of my eyebrow just a tiny little bit because my lids aren't that good.i use elf studio angled contour brush [thank you again MUA,this brush sucks for eyeshadow,but great to apply highlighter in areas other than eyes]. well , not bad for a noob .
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Jergens - Ultra Healing Lotion
ch4n 8/22/2012 5:08:00 AM
I've been using body moisturizer products from the body shop religiously over the years, especially the Shea butter line for i have very dry skin, and i happen to live in tropical country. i've heard about jergens and seen the bottles in the local drugstore but i never took it seriously until one day i just couldn't find the shea whip lotion. so i browsed around the shelves looking for lotion to replace my HG shea whip lotion, well, temporarily. i chose Ultra healing because after sniffing around, this is the most acceptable smell [they happened to run out the shea butter lotion from jergens as well]. this product is amazing. it hydrates me for over 10hrs in this climate. over a week i have my legs smoother. thing that the body shop's shea whip lotion simply couldn't do. for the price, i really really cannot complain.will always buy this
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Foundation brush
ch4n 8/22/2012 4:53:00 AM
disappointment. that's all i can say over this brush. it doesn't apply product, it absorbs product.in order to match the foundation to my skin color/tone, i dont use single foundation , but rather a mix of some liquid+cream+bb cream. i use this brush to apply the mixture from my palm to my face, and it doesn't work. i end up using too much products to make another mixture, and poof.and over the application, it doesnt glide or doing exactly the applying thing,it just makes nasty blots and blotches. and it's just being devilish stubborn over cleansing. i've tried brush shampoo,baby shampoo, dish cleaner,and i gave up.foundation mixture leftovers wont budge AT ALL since it got trapped and stuck on the bristles. i use it to clean my computer now.it does well after demoted to the IT department
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
ch4n 8/22/2012 4:32:00 AM
makeup brushes are ridiculously expensive, that's a fact.for a makeup artist, that's probably investment, but for the rest of us, to buy a 30bucks brush is a luxury.and only a few of us who can afford that.and ladies, i owe you all great amount of gratitude.i've been looking for a decent all-purpose brush that wont rip my money off when i got myself read this page. so i bought one. this brush is sturdy, doesn't shed, very soft, easy to clean, easy to hold. i use it to contour with cream foundation, and it does the buffering/blending job perfectly. i have airbrushed, perfect look in 20secs. for buffering, this is fabulous.anything just blends in perfectly, effortlessly. i dont label this or that as HG easily, but this one is the crown jewel on my vanity table.run to the nearest drugstore and stash them already! :D
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Kleancolor - Nail Lacquer - ALL
ch4n 8/22/2012 2:51:00 AM
marvelous colors to choose. want to buy them all *i wish,lol*. pros : glides on smoothly, nice brush, one application is enough on pastels/nude colors, two is best for more bright/neon colors. they last for a week, not chipped. a very good quality for the price, and i couldn't ask for more.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No