Polishes -Revlon - Gray Suede #705
papierflora 1/1/2013 1:41:00 AM
A beautiful pinky-nude colour with a hint of taupe on my NC10-15 pale Asian colouring. This nail varnish would have been a STAPLE in my nail varnish collection if not for the formula. The colour gave this product two stars. It bubbled up no matter how I tried to work with it. Despite good coverage in two coats and fast drying time, bubbling was the last straw for me. SGD$11.90 for a nail varnish which looked pretty but incompatible formula. Will not repurchase again. Doubt I'll try other Revlon polishes too. I advise you to save some pennies and invest in other better polishes like O.P.I. or China Glaze instead. I much prefer Revlon's lip products to their nail varnishes.
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Lips -Unlisted Brand - TONYMOLY TONYMOLY Tony Tint 02 Red Apple
papierflora 1/1/2013 1:37:00 AM
I got this for around SGD$20 on amazon.com, I think. For a product that does not work, it was really crappy. I should have bought the mini trial size one. The colour is a beautiful blue-based red and looks really scary in the bottle. It has a doe-foot applicator which does NOT help in application. Even if they changed the applicator to a brush, it will not help much too. The tint simply dries up too fast. It literally dries when you apply it onto the lips. I tried many ways to "lubricate" and sheer it out a little, eg. applying balm and blotting off a little, this product will not blend. In the end, with a swipe, you end up with a line of red on your lips. A BOLD, red line. That is not pretty, unless you love a bold, striking red lip everyday. It also settles unevenly into the lines. I even tried using a Q-tip to apply this. I used the stained Q-tip to dab my lips--crappy look. Uneven splotches EVERYWHERE on my lips. FYI, my lips were not peeling. I'm neither going for the Korean "ulzzang" look nor a bold red lip. I just want a natural reddish tint that is perfect for everyday. I have heard good reviews on how natural this is. I was sorely disappointed. Maybe my short-lived adventure with lip tints will come to an end. I'd rather use a bold lipstick as a stain. Much prettier and much faster. As expected, I will not repurchase!
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel
papierflora 12/31/2012 10:27:00 PM
I have repurchased this SOOOOOOOOOO many times in various sizes and packagings ever since I was 14. Now, I'm 20. That's almost 6 years and it's a record for me! This baby has so much versatility: -I use it as a facial moisturiser on days when I feel oilier. It does the job and does no give me breakouts! I also find that my acne scarring and surrounding redness fades faster when I incorporate this into my daily skincare regimen? I'm not sure, but since I'm seeing results, this is a keeper! -After tweezing, this is GREAT for reducing redness. The redness in my skin would be gone after an hour, as though I have done nothing at all. It also soothes any irritated areas. I do cleanse my face with a non-irritating cleanser first though. -I use this as a moisturiser on my legs after shaving. It helps heal any irritations, but it is not moisturising enough for my dry skin. I might layer on a body lotion after that next time! Cons: -None! Yet, I must mention that the small squeeze tube travel-sized packaging is a pain to use when you're at the last few squeezes of the gel... I will repurchase this again and again and again! Please do NOT discontinue this!
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Blush -Shu Uemura - Glow On Blush
papierflora 12/31/2012 10:10:00 PM
I hate to be the naysayer for this product. Pros: -This blush has extremely good longevity on my combination-oily skin which tends to be a a little dry around my cheeks depending on where I'm at (drier when I'm at air-conditioned places like lecture theaters and buses; oilier when I'm walking hastily around school). It NEVER oxidises on me! -The packaging is brilliant. Now, you can buy refills instead of the entire packaging when you're done with one pan of blush. -Looks natural on the skin. Doesn't look overdone. Cons: -The higher price of initial outlay might turn you off. You have to purchase the blush AND the compact, unless you have a palette and the relevant tools to store it. I think the blush is SGD$33 and the compact is SGD$27? Correct me if I'm wrong. -I don't know, but I find it tough to build up colour? I'm NC10-15 (leaning more towards the neutral side), and I'm always struggling to build up the degree of colour that satisfies me. By that, I'm not trying to look clownish--I just want a flush of colour on my cheeks. When you overapply (if you do), it's tough to blend it out too. I find other blushes, like even my BeneFit Boxed Powder, easier to work with than the Glow On Blush from Shu Uemura. That being said, given the good reviews here, if you want to purchase this blush, do go ahead and give it a chance. Products work differently on everyone anyway. If you have oily skin and you have problems making your blush stay on longer, you should try this blush. I will not repurchase.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous in Pink Pop
papierflora 11/8/2012 10:24:00 AM
Pros: 1. Longevity: Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours on me. Pretty darn good for a drugstore lip gloss. A Lancome Juicy Tube lasts for around 2 to 2.5 hours on me. 2. Colour: *Beautiful* girly pink. It is a sheered out slightly blue-based pink upon one swipe and a more intense one with another layer. Buildable colour with multiple swipes. A plus is that it makes my teeth look whiter. 3. Application: Doe-foot applicator. Application is a breeze. The applicator allows me to apply it fast and the tip allows me to define my cupid's bow. 4. Wear: I'm actually on Accutane which spells dry lips for me. I always make sure my lips are moisturised and nicely exfoliated prior to using this. Yet, this lip gloss is not drying and adds a touch of moisture to my lips. It is creamy and lightweight. and not sticky (unlike M.A.C. lipglasses and Lancome Juicy Tubes)/ My lips seldom feel uncomfortable when I use this lip gloss. Lancome Juicy Tubes do make me lips peel. Highly recommended for both Accutane and non-Accutane users. In fact, if you're a non-Accutane user, I think you'll love it even more than I do. 5. Packaging: Chanel-esque. Very chic and classy. I would call Revlon the "Drugstore Chanel". Most of their products not only look good but they actually do deliver. Cons: I would like it to have more moisture... But I can overlook that. Love this product! I would admit that the speculation of Blair Waldorf (played by Leighton Meester) using this product on Gossip Girl was a novelty factor that drew me to this lip gloss. Yet, this lip gloss certainly did not disappoint. I would repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
papierflora 11/8/2012 10:15:00 AM
Second time buying this product in Black. Do take note that my lids are only slightly oily and I mattify them with Laura Mercier Translucent Setting powder, which keeps them matte for most of the time throughout the day. Pros: 1. Longevity: Better than Bobbi Brown (which smudges and flakes badly on me, hence irritating my eyes when flakes enter them). Lasts through an entire day at school (more than 10 hours). Minor smudging under the eye area near the lash line but nothing a quick swipe of Q-tip cannot fix. Line on the upper lash line stays almost immaculate even after 10 hours of wear. 2. Application: Use the brush provided and it would be a breeze. No complaints here. SGD$21 for BOTH the gel liner and a decent brush? A steal. 3. Colour: Smooth, creamy and does not dry out as quick as the Bobbi Brown gel liner which dries out after three months despite having being placed upside down as advised by many. Decently pigmented but do over the line twice for a more opaque look. 4. Packaging: Standard gel liner packaging, no complaints. Cons: 1. Minor smudging as mentioned above. *Would I repurchase? Yes.
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Lip Treatments -Nivea - Nivea Fruity Shine in Pink Guava
papierflora 8/23/2012 7:33:00 AM
Now that I'm on Accutane (low dose of 20mg/day with approximately 5-6 more months to go), my lips dry out easily and they cry for moisture almost every single minute of the day. Pre-Accutane lip product favourites like Revlon Lip Butters, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipglosses and even the pretty darn expensive (but worth it) Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick, do not cut it for me anymore. At the end of the day, my lips will be peeling and be in a sorrier state than ever. My bad. My dire situation drove me to my wit's end and put me on a looooong search for a good tinted lip balm. After reading tons of reviews here and elsewhere, I decided to take a plunge and bought this baby. And I will never look back. The colour of this product is a warm rosy pink--certainly a MLBB colour for my rather pigment light mauvey-rosy lips. There are some shimmer particles but not overtly so that the shimmer translates to an OTT effect on your lips. The first layer is enough to add some moisture and a nice tint. Go over once more for more moisture and an added punch of colour. 2 coats do the trick for me and my lips are left feeling soft and smooth throughout the day with a nice colour that adds some life to my pale Asian complexion. It definitely tastes like guava--fruity but not sweet in an overtly artificial way. I'm quite sure most people will enjoy the scent and taste. It's quite light on the nose and certainly not overpowering at all. The usual retail price is $3.50 but I got this for around $2.20 (SGD) because I redeemed my Watson's card points and bought two others (which will be reviewed under the "Fruity Shine" name, also by Nivea). I will continue to repurchase this baby for as long as it's here and for as long as it works for me. Great for university, casual meetings with the girls or even heading to town area--it's just an effortlessly pretty look. *This moisturizes better than my beloved The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick (I've gone through 3 of these!) at less than half the price, with SPF10 and a nice colour--that's saying a lot!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Neo-Whimsical
papierflora 8/16/2012 12:31:00 PM
Pros: -such a ladylike colour, IMHO it would work all year round Cons: -too streaky -too watery -uneven application -not fully opaque even after 2 coats Such a waste of money. :(
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Shu Uemura - Point Cealer
papierflora 5/4/2012 2:24:00 AM
This is a relatively new concealer from Shu Uemura. It costs SGD$56, the most expensive concealer I've ever bought. It is creamy but the texture gets a little tacky after a while so that it could actually stay put on one's skin a little longer. It is very easy to blend and the shade 7YR-L Light Beige is actually a spot-on shade for my fair neutral Asian complexion with slight yellow undertones (I'm leaning more towards NC15). I use this mainly for my undereye circles. It covers 80%--not full coverage but I can live with it. It creases slightly, so I must set it with a light dusting of loose powder. On blemishes, it tends to wear off easily though the coverage is quite good (moderate, I would say). It does not last well through a day (maybe six hours?) of perspiration but under the eyes it works fine as a good everyday concealer. This is a twist-up tube where the twist mechanism at the bottom of the concealer dispenses a small amount of product through a sponge-like doe-foot applicator. To me, this is a potential breeding ground for bacteria so I always apply it onto the back of my hand first prior to application. I would repurchase. Not the best undereye concealer, but I do enjoy the natural look it gives. It's easy to work with too. Oh, and I must mention that it does not cause breakouts and it gives a slight cooling effect upon application--maybe because of the Depsea water in it?
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Lip Treatments -The Body Shop - Lip Care Stick - Cocoa Butter
papierflora 4/23/2012 12:03:00 AM
I have been using this lip balm for a week and I really like it a lot! Could possibly be my HG lip balm! It does not melt in the hot tropical weather (a major plus) and it only takes two to three thin layers to moisturise my lips for the entire night. The next morning, I just have to rub my lips a little and the dead skin would slough off! My lips would look moisturised, fresh and feel soft to the touch--just healthy! I got this for SGD$9.90 but this product is really becoming a fast favourite of mine. I will definitely continue to repurchase this! I can even see myself using this when I enter university. It never looks greasy, never feels greasy but yet sufficiently hydrating. A winner!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Essence - Essence 24h Hand Protection Balm
papierflora 4/22/2012 11:47:00 PM
I have been using this product for three months now, and for two months it really helped me when I have cracked hands due to constantly staying in an air-conditioned room. Now, I'm using it every night to moisturise my hands as I sleep in an air-conditioned room which proves to be rather drying for my skin. The lotion is a more like a lightweight cream that sinks easily into the skin if you spend a few minutes to rub it in well. This step applies for whatever lotion you're using on whatever part of your body. I think for those who think that this is greasy, you might have skipped the step above. Once it is absorbed, I'm left with soft and smooth skin and the next morning, I would wake up with my hands still feeling hydrated. I'm sure that with long term use, my hands would be able to retain moisture well and subsequently, the youthful look too. You don't need too much of this. I like to apply it layer by layer. After rubbing in a thin layer, I would add on another layer. That is usually sufficient for me. I tend to wear scents a lot during the day. I did use this during daytime when I'm wearing perfume. The light refreshing and slightly herbal scent of this hand balm does not compete with my fragrance of choice (usually YSL Parisienne). Unlike the Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams which are heavily scented, I find the scent to be non-offensive at all, and it gradually fades away into an extremely light scent. I bought this at ALT in Singapore for only around $3. For its extremely affordable price, this is a true winner. I would continue to repurchase this. When I get older, I might switch to another brand of hand cream that helps in anti-ageing, but for now, I'm extremely happy just using this good basic hand cream.
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Eyeliner -Chanel - Stylo Yeux Waterproof Ebene
papierflora 4/14/2012 6:44:00 AM
Smooth, pigmented, a neutral black with subtle blue undertones that helps to brighten the whites of my eyes. Because of its strong pigmentation, it helps to create nicely defined eyes. I use this mainly on my upper eyelids. It retails for SGD$36. When I use this on my eyelids, I must use Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer no matter what because this does smudge, maybe due to the fact that it is not as waxy as other similar liners like the Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner (but then again, if the Chanel one was as waxy, it would drag the skin and smooth application would be compromised). I have tried it on without primer before and it smudges after a couple of hours on my oily lids. With primer, it stays on the whole day. I never use it to tightline simply because it transfers onto my lower eye area and creates racoon eyes. I have tried using it lightly on my lower lash line and it smudges very easily. Would I repurchase? Yes. Not because it is CHANEL, but because of the shade of the black and how easy it is to apply. I use primer no matter what, so it doesn't matter and it does not bother me that I can only use it on my eyelids. If I really do want to tightline, I would settle for the Revlon Colorstay one for that purpose.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
papierflora 4/14/2012 6:25:00 AM
I got a lip butter in the shade 'Macaroon', which is not sold in US but available in Singapore. It is a berry-ish red with subtle blue undertones and gold shimmer. FYI, I'm going to judge this product based on its texture and so on, but not the shade. The shade was slightly off for my slightly yellowish fair Asian complexion--it looked mumsy! I had to use it sheerly because it did not work with my colouring. I got so frustrated that I just tossed it in the end. What's the point of trying to make it work for me when the shade simply does not suit me? Yet, the quality is just...really exemplary for a drugstore product. The lip butter glides on smoothly (just like butter) and if you do get a more pigmented shade, one swipe would provide enough coverage for moderately pigmented lips like mine. It lasts for a rather long time, maybe a couple of hours without eating and sipping of drinks. Even when it is gone, it might leave a stain behind! Just make sure not to get the shades with shimmer--the glitter bits are really quite unflattering once the product fades on your lips. My lips feel hydrated and moisturised when I have this on. It is a good sheer lipstick-meets-lipbalm-meets-lipgloss product that is nicely priced (even in Singapore) for everyday use. I'm planning to get more online via a spree and I'm eyeing these shades: Tutti Frutti, Raspberry Pie, Berry Smoothie and maybe Sweet Tart. Overall, pushing the shade aside, it has been a pleasant experience using the Revlon Lip Butter.
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Pressed Powders -Lancome - Maqui blanc miracle
papierflora 4/14/2012 6:10:00 AM
To me, a compact powder foundation provides rather quick and simple application with a more natural finish as to a liquid foundation which provides more work with blending. I settled with Lancome's Maqui Blanc Miracle powder foundation amidst other choices from Chanel and Dior based on its claims--sweat-resistant, sebum-resistant and 12H lasting properties. Plus, it has an SPF 35, so that's a plus since I'm living in the tropics. It costs SGD$65 for the refill and $27 for the case. The case is white with a simple rose design--chic and elegant. Does this product live up to its claims? After using this for almost half a year, I can safely say that it does live up to its claims. I perspire a lot in this weather and that really results in overactive sebaceous activity. I usually pat my face with tissues from Starbucks and there are no traces of powder or foundation (ironically this actually happens with Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation sometimes!!). The makeup looks alright after blotting my face and I can actually touch up with this powder using a light hand and I would be good to go. Sadly, its oil-controlling properties are not to be praised for since I do get oily, but my complexion would have more of a glowy sheen than a greaseball-like appearance. FYI, my skin gets rather dry once I enter an air-conditioned area like the bus, shopping centre or a really cold lecture room, and this foundation does not really emphasise my dry flakes. I am using shade O-01, which is a teeny weeny light for my NC15-20 skin but it is more of an undertone difference than a shade difference. This shade runs a little too beigy and it is a spot-on fit for my face, but compared to my neck area which has stronger yellow undertones, I might need to get O-02 the next time. If there isn't such a shade, I will still get O-01 as the difference can be ignored. I'm just being picky. I just wished that this shade was a touch yellower so that it could help cover my redness around my nose. Also, this foundation does not oxidise throughout the day. It is really quite longlasting--I have had it on for eight hours so far and it looked fine after blotting and minimal touch-up. Do note that I don't have a habit of touching my face throughout the day when I'm out. It gets a little patchy sometimes, but that happens when I pile on too much product on my face. A facial mist would help, and a light hand at application would help too. I use the velvety side of the sponge to pat the foundation on. That's my way of applying it for a light and semi-matte finish. It works rather well with Laura Mercier's Undercover Pot concealer in UC-1 (though I might check out UC-2 the next time, but it might be too orangey). Coverage is sheer to medium, leaning more towards the sheer end of the spectrum. Be ready to use concealer for angry red spots and moderate scarring, but it can cover very light scarring. Also use concealer for undereye circles as this would not cover moderately dark circles. If you already have a good complexion to begin with, you most probably could get away without concealer. Apparently, this powder has been reformulated and improved on. Also, individual sponges could be purchased at Lancome counters for SGD$3 per piece. I will be getting another refill with the improved technology and also a new sponge once I'm done with my current refill, which already has a rather pronouned dent. I think this has become a staple in my personal makeup kit.
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Masks -LUSH - Cupcake Mask
papierflora 4/14/2012 5:53:00 AM
Cupcake is not really nice smelling…And though it cleanses really well, I feel that it does nothing much for my spots. 10 minutes worth of waiting time is rather convenient for me as compared to those sheet masks which need to be left on for 20 to 30 minutes. Yet, for $24 per tub that could only last for a month at most, I feel that this is really pricey. I use Cupcake every other day, and it only brightens my complexion a little while leaving it really clean. That's about it. There is an 80% that I would not repurchase Cupcake mask. I somehow feel that I seem to breakout even more after using this. I'm only left with at most 3 uses so I'm going to finish it up for the sake of using it up. It is a hassle to use this mask because I have to use a disposable utensil to scoop this out of the pot and make sure my fingers do not contaminate it. Again, this mask does not make a difference to my complexion, which is why I'm grouchy right now. I might try Cosmetic Repair from Lush. Or not buy any masks from Lush again. Somehow the Lush SAs in Singapore are really pushy and irritating. I feel that I might just settle for the latter because I'm really sad of Lush masks aggravating my breakouts which were already moderately severe to begin with.
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