Review/Swatches: BOURJOIS PARIS Little Round Pots of Parisian Charm

I was browsing my local Priceline and stumbled upon this set individual eyeshadows by BOURJOIS. Individually they are $20 but all 3 was $25.

All these eyeshadows are mineral eyeshadows with a pearlescent finish. The set comes in a chocolate brown (74),  champagne beige (08) and pearly white (90). Each can be used individually or combined together to do a nice nude look. The colours in set son't have chunky glitter which I like. I especially like the white eyeshadow as it can be used as a highlighter. These are so smooth, blendable and well pigmented. 

Swatches on each finger

L-R: 74, 08, 90.

Blended out

Blended out but more and on my paler arm

Pros:

Smooth

Blendable

Pigmented

Each pot has a lot of product

Cons:

More expensive compared to other drug store products

Bulky container

Weird placement of applicator

NARS blush: Desire review

I've been accumulating matte blushes lately. My latest one is one by NARS in Desire.

I would describe the colour as a barbie pink bordering neon. The colour is a bit darker than the photo in real life. At first I was very surprised by the colour, but when I applied some it looked very natural.

I've applied some on my outer cheek bones. The camera has washed away some colour. I applied a tiny dab...that's how good the colour pay-off is. 

Pros

Highly pigmented 

Smooth

Easy to blend and build up

Cons

Packaging gets dirty easily

Expensive...but a little does go a long way

Nail Polish Haul and some Sportsgirl nail polish swatches

Just a minor nail polish haul. This is what I got over the past 5 months. 

L-R: Sportsgirl NAIL IT! in Blossom, Belle Vista and Peachy Keen, CHANEL Gold Shimmer, Oroton mini nail set, ulta3 red glitter and Rimmel Aye, Aye Sailor. 

I'm unsure of the colour names of the Oroton set because I bought it in June at the factory outlets. The pink one is a bubblegum pink with tiny gold shimmers and the silver is a shiny matte shimmer...does that make sense? The clear one is a top coat. 

I've been buying more Sportsgirl nail polishes recently. It's an Australian fashion brand much like the UK's topshop. Personally I think the nail polish quality is great for the price and I usually don't put a top coat because they don't really need it. They apply smoothly and don't chip as quick, unlike some OPI ones I've had. 

Over the years the packaging has changed. They originally had black lids (the pink and sky blue one), but switched to the cylindrical bottles then back to the standard polish bottle but with silver lids. All the cylindrical ones are my sister's. 

This is my collection so far. 

Some swatches of my the most recent purchases. These are still available in store. 

L-R: Blossom, Peachy Keen and Belle Vista. Blossom and Peachy Keen are a bit darker than the swatch pictures in real life but the Belle Vista is true to colour. It has fine glitter and reminds me of clear blue skies. 

Mini Review: CHANEL Vitalumiere Eclat Comfort Radiance Compact Makeup

I finished my Za compact foundation and I could not get a refill to replace it because I bought it in Hong Kong. So I searched online for a good compact powder foundation and I stumbled upon CHANEL. Not good for the wallet but the packaging is just divine. I got mine in B30. I'm a MAC NC20/Revlon Colorstay 150 Buff.

Comes with a sponge and brush. Brush is kinda useless as powder goes everywhere, and it's wasting the powder!! So I use the sponge to apply.

Such a shame the logo will disappear after a few uses. But I did buy it for a reason and it's not gonna just sit pretty on my vanity. I use this to set my foundation or when I'm lazy, I just use this by itself to even out my complexion. Its got decent coverage.

I'd say it's a teeny bit darker than my normal shade but that's alright since my skin tone has slightly darkened. The powder is so fine and feels like silk against my skin. I've used it several times now and it does not clog my pores or cause me to break out. My old Za foundation did give me the odd spots now and then. 

Pros:

some SPF: SPF10

very fine powder

easy to apply

can be used on its own for light coverage

pretty packaging

good for dry skin

doesn't look cakey

Cons:

brush is useless

expensive (can vary from $55 - $100 depending where you get it)

not much product (13g)

I'd definitely buy this again.....if I had money. This was only one off to try a CHANEL foundation and I don't think it performs like a million times better than other products. If I had plenty of disposable income I'd make a repetitive purchase. I think other product around the $20 mark would be just as comparable to this. 

NARS Gilda Blush Review

My first NARS blush. I wanted a matte blush because all my current blushes had shimmer in it. Gilda is described as "a perfect coral with hints of red." I think this blush suits all skin tones. Pigmentation is like WOW!! I gently swept my blush brush over it and patted some on both cheeks. There was more than enough to cover another face. Blends beautifully. Not a big fan of the rubber casing. Lots of other reviewer comment on the casing as getting dirty easily and it's definitely true. I think I'm starting to grow an addiction. 

For reference, I'm a BUFF in Revlon Colorstay/ MAC NC20

Any other colours that anyone recommends for light Asian skintones?

Autumn Cleaning

Since it's Easter break I have some time to do a bit of cleaning. I'm throwing out all the old/expired/used up products I have. Trust me some of theses thing are over 5 years old! I'm a hoarder but I've been slowly getting better over the years. My new years resolution was to use up anything I had, then I was allowed to buy a new one. These are all the beauty related things I'm throwing out. I'll do a mini review on some of the items.

L-R: Kiehl's Acai Damage Correcting Moisturiser, Skin79 Gold BB cream, Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in 21, L'Oreal Derma Genesis Pore Minimising Moisturiser, Kiehl's Acai Damage Protecting Toning Mist

Kiehl's Moisturiser: Initial use of this product was good but as months went along it started to sting my skin so i stop using it. I ended up using it as an expensive hand cream. 

Skin 79 BB Cream: I'm on to a second bottle now. I don't like the grey cast it has but it eventually oxidises overtime to better suit your skin tone. I do get some break outs on the odd occasions. 

Missha BB Cream: This BB cream is really good as well. Not as grey as the Skin79 one. It's not as moisturising as the Skin79 one but it works well overall. I like that it has a higher spf so it's better on sunny days out. 

L'Oreal moisturiser: I quite like this moturiser. Good for dry skin. I did notice that my pores were minimised but I didn't like the smell!

Kiehl's toning mist: HATE this! I'm throwing it out and the bottle is 95% full. It stung my skin. 

L-R: (All Mascaras) Maybelline sky high curves waterproof, Benefit get bent, Maybelline Great Lash in Royal Blue, Lancome Hypnose waterproof, Lancome Fatale, Lancome Hypnose, Dolly Wink liquid eyeliner. 

I'm throwing out the Maybelline mascaras because they are over 5 years old! The Benefit mascara came free with a magazine I bought years ago, I did try it back then, it was a curling mascara but didn't really hold a curl well. 

Lancome Hypnose Waterproof: Great volumising mascara and holds a curl well. It does smudge slightly. Hard to remove =(

Lancome Fatale: A tri-comb mascara that's meant to volumise dramatically. This was very clumpy and weighed my lashed down a lot. I think it was discontinued long ago, it wasn't available for very long either. Did not really like this one much. 

Lancome Hypnose: One of my favourite high end mascaras. Hypnose volumises my lashes well and makes them more noticeable. However, it smudges and weighs down a curl. I've purchased this several times but I've used better mascaras for less than half of this one. 

Dolly Wink eyeliner: I get great control with this liquid liner, lines come out really thin but it sometimes rubs off for me because I have extremely oily eyelids. I'm currently onto a second one though in the hot pink packaging because it was only $1 extra with the Dolly Wink Mascara.

I'm also throwing these primers out, I bought them 3 years ago in Hong Kong. The Kate one performs better than the Shiseido dramatical eyes. However, with the popularity off false lashes now there is not need for primer, plus it's a more lengthy process applying these.

Looks like I've thrown away a lot of mascaras but they were all bought over a 5 year period. I've also got some un-opened ones waiting to be used and some half used ones. 

L-R: (All unopened) Canmake Gokubuto, Dolly Wink Long mascara, Ettusais BI-TA-BA volume mascara

L-R: (Half Used) Kiss Me Long and Curl mascara, Deja Vu Fibre Wig, Canmake Gokunobi. 

Canmake Gokubuto: This one is my second one, I got introduced to this when my friend from Japan sent it in a package, great overall mascara (it's a volumising mascara), washes off easily with warm water. One of my favourites.

Kiss Me Long and Curl: Gives great definition to lashes and holds a curl well but it's so hard to remove!

Deja Vu Fibre Wig: Noticeable fibres but this one does not wow me at all. Little definition, literally no lengthening and fibres get into my eyes!! (Irritating =( ) Does not live up to its hype.

Canmake Gokunobi: Similar to Fibre wig, there are noticable fibres but it doesn't really lengthen, only defines an does not hold a curl.

Enjoy your Easter everyone, let me know if you wan't any more opinions of some of the things =)

Dove Foaming Makeup Remover Review

I first saw Dove Foaming Makeup Remover in the October 2009 issue of ViVi magazine. It was a detailed advertorial which explained how the product works and how to use it. Although I can't read Japanese =( I could understand the Ad from all the pictures. I love that in Japanese mags there are always detailed step by step explanations of things.

I had no idea how to get my hands on this product as I thought it was a Japan exclusive item, so I forgot about it. However, the other day on my lunch break I was browsing through Priceline (Aussie drug and makeup store) and stumbled upon the yellow bottle (Can't believe they have it in Australia!!), it's quite hard to miss considering the majority of the Dove range is white with blue accents. I bought it because Priceline had 20% off all Dove products, also I'm running out of my Lancome Bi-facil makeup remover and sometimes I dislike using cleansing oil especially at the end of a long night out because I always cleanse after I use cleaning oil. Too tired!! >.< 

 I researched the product further and found this on the Dove website 

Alarmingly, nearly 75% of women will sleep with their make up on at least once this week, even though most of us know it’s bad for our skin. The reason? It’s a hassle to remove and we can’t be bothered. As a result, we suffer through rough skin, stinging eyes and even make-up stains on our pillows.

What makes this product unique is that the yellow liquid transform into a light fine foam when you pump it out (possibly from the pump mechanism - I've seen this kind of idea before in the Clean and Clear foaming facial). The foam makes it easy to spread the product all over the face and dissolve makeup. It claims to remove waterproof mascara and other heavy makeup easily. 

How to Use:

1. Pump 3 pumps of the product onto hand

2. Apply to wet or dry face and work the lather in circular motions (same procedure as cleansing the face)

3. Work the product over closed eyes gently

4. Rinse off

5. For Best results (according to Dove) after removing makeup with the foaming makeup remover, wash face with Dove Beauty Moisture facial cleanser. I used my everyday cleanser instead but this step can be skipped.

It's better if you use the product with dry hands and dry face. 

Verdict: 

I really like this remover! =) It's easy to use and quick. Really good when you've just arrived home from a long night out and can't be bother to spend a lot of time removing makeup. Also you don't need to use cotton pads! It removed my BB cream easily and my skin was squeaky clean. However, I had to spend more time trying to remove my mascara. Also it didn't leave my skin overly dry. Overall it's a great product and I think I would repurchased =]

Pros:

Easy to use

Don't have to spend too much time trying to remove eye makeup and face makeup 

Quick

Affordable (Got mine for $8.79 AUD, RRP is around $10)

Easy to find (Priceline and most chemists/drug stores would stock Dove products)

Cons:

Need to spend more time trying to remove mascara

Fueki Body Cream Review

Long ago I made a haul but didn't immediately use some of the products I had hauled because I wanted to finish ones that were already opened.

I bought Fueki Body Cream of SaSa because the packaging was extremely cute!!! 

The lid is his hat ^_^

Also comes with a spatula to reduce bacteria transfer.

Here's what SaSa says about Fueki Body Cream

description

Fueki Body Cream is enriched with horse oil which helps relieve dehydrated skin and provide enough moisture to maintain supple and healthy skin. Since horse oil is similar to human lipid structure, its compatibility is better than any other nourishment agent, hence fast absorption can be achieved without feeling greasy. It effectively prevents chapped skin or enhances healing in minor cuts. 

It’s a must-have moisturizing treatment for your body.

how to use it

Take appropriate amount and spread evenly across body part. Massage until complete absorption. 

ingredients

Potent ingredient: Glycyrrhetinic Acid 

Moisturizing ingredients: Shea Butter, Horse Oil, Aloe, Starch, Squalene 

The Product was easily absorbed and I believe there is no scent to it. I use it as a hand cream but it can be used all over the body. I had dry cracks on my hand because I work with a lot of water. When I used this by hands were starting to improve and heal.

Pros

Moisturising

easily absorbed

no greasy feeling

cute packaging

good for kids as well

Cons

hard to get, SaSa and Cosme-de supply it

My Beauty Diary Vienna Black Tulip Mask Review

Sorry I've been a lazy blogger lately >.< But here is the final mask review in the Blooming of Beauty series by My Beauty Diary.  

• Comes in a pack of 5
• Firms and Smooths Skin
• Moisturising, soothing and evens skin tone
• Suitable for all skin types

To Use:

1. Cleanse and tone face like usual
2. Remove mask from packaging and unfold
3. Place onto face and adjust accordinly
4. Smooth out the mask and massage the excess essence onto neck (I also rub the excess essence from the plastic mask that is ripped off from the cloth mask onto my arms and legs, I also squeeze the excess out of the packaging as well - just trying to get the most out of it and treating the other parts of my body =P )
5. Leave mask on or 20 - 30 minutes
6. Peel of mask, Pat and massage essence into face and neck to assist its absorption
7. Moisturise

Ingredients list of Mask

This mask felt really good on my skin and smelt really really nice. I noticed that my pores appeared to be reduced in size ^_^ My skin felt moisturised and supple. Most importantly my skin felt firm as well. When using the mask I could feel it kinda tightening my skin. I really like this mask, recommended. 

Pros:

Moisturising

Soothing

Clearer skin

Good price

Firming

Smell =]

Good Expiration time (3 years)

Cons:

Limited Edition

Hard to get at a store outside of asia - has to be ordered online

My Beauty Diary Peruvian Sunflower Mask Review

On to my second last mask of the Blooming of Beauty series of masks. This one is definitely one to try. 

• Comes in a pack of 5
• For supple and clear skin
• Revitalising and clarifying
• Moisturising, soothing and nourishing
• Suitable for all skin types

To Use:

1. Cleanse and tone face like usual
2. Remove mask from packaging and unfold
3. Place onto face and adjust accordinly
4. Smooth out the mask and massage the excess essence onto neck (I also rub the excess essence from the plastic mask that is ripped off from the cloth mask onto my arms and legs, I also squeeze the excess out of the packaging as well - just trying to get the most out of it and treating the other parts of my body =P )
5. Leave mask on or 20 - 30 minutes
6. Peel of mask, Pat and massage essence into face and neck to assist its absorption
7. Moisturise

Ingredients list of Mask

This mask felt really good on my skin, no reactions and very soothing. When I peeled off the mask the results were noticeable right away. My skin was smoother and felt and looked plumper (in a good way =p) Although not a listed characteristic from what I researched about this my skin did look brighter. I really loved using this mask. 

Pros:

Moisturising

Soothing

Clearer skin

Good price

Smell =]

Good Expiration time (3 years)

Cons:

Limited Edition

Hard to get at a store outside of asia - has to be ordered online

My Beauty Diary Formosa White Phalaenopsis Mask Review

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a fantastic celebration. I slept through the count down -_-"  lol.
Next on my Blooming of Beauty Series by My Beauty Dairy masks reviews is the Formosa White Phalaenopsis Mask. 

• Comes in a pack of 5
• Whitening and Evens Skin Tone
• Suitable for all skin types

To Use:

1. Cleanse and tone face like usual
2. Remove mask from packaging and unfold
3. Place onto face and adjust accordinly
4. Smooth out the mask and massage the excess essence onto neck (I also rub the excess essence from the plastic mask that is ripped off from the cloth mask onto my arms and legs, I also squeeze the excess out of the packaging as well - just trying to get the most out of it and treating the other parts of my body =P )
5. Leave mask on or 20 - 30 minutes
6. Peel of mask, Pat and massage essence into face and neck to assist its absorption
7. Moisturise

Ingredients list of Mask

The mask made my skin feel a bit itchy but it was not unbearable. It soothed my skin. After I took the mask off I my skin looked clearer and a bit brighter. When I woke up in the morning my kin was very clear, smooth and skin tone was noticeably even. This flavour is definitely my favourite so far =]

Pros:

Moisturising

Soothing

Evened out skin tone after one use

Good price

Smell =]

Good Expiration time (3 years)

Cons:

Limited Edition

Hard to get at a store outside of asia - has to be ordered online

HadaLabo Gokujyun Cleanser Experience

I know so many people have reviewed and tried this but it does live up to its hype.

HadaLabo Gokujyun contains hyaluronic acid to aid in the retention of moisture in the skin to keep it remaining supple. The face wash/cleanser claims the following:

• Hydrates as it cleanses, helps restores skin's natural moisture leaving it silky smooth
• Gently cleanses leaving skins comfortably hydrated an refreshed
• Skin pH balanced and low irritation
• Free of fragrance, mineral oil, alcohol and colourant

This product definitely ticks all of the points for me. After I used it my skin did not feel dry, over washed, or tight. My skin felt really smooth, soft and bouncy =]

My skin did not react with the product. It says fragrance free but it did smell like rice to me which isn't too bad since I like the smell of rice.

The one I received was made in Japan. Not too sure if country of manufacture makes a difference ???

It's a creme cleanser which lathers really well into the skin

Pros:

Kept my skin moisturised

No reaction

Smells good

No tight feeling

Soft, smooth skin =]

Affordable

Cons: 

none so far =]

Should I try the other things in the line up of products?

My Beauty Diary French White Lily Mask Review

Today I'm reviewing the French White Lily Mask from the My Beauty Diary limited edition Blooming of Beauty mask collection.

• Comes in a pack of 5
• Soothing and Whitening
• Suitable for all skin types

To Use:

1. Cleanse and tone face like usual
2. Remove mask from packaging and unfold
3. Place onto face and adjust accordinly
4. Smooth out the mask and massage the excess essence onto neck (I also rub the excess essence from the plastic mask that is ripped off from the cloth mask onto my arms and legs, I also squeeze the excess out of the packaging as well - just trying to get the most out of it and treating the other parts of my body =P )
5. Leave mask on or 20 - 30 minutes
6. Peel of mask, Pat and massage essence into face and neck to assist its absorption
7. Moisturise face like usual

Ingredients list of Mask

Smells like lilies =] which I totally love as they are one of my favourite flowers. 

Pros:

Moisturising

Soothing
Actually whitened/brightened complexion

Good price

Smell =]

Good Expiration time (3 years)

Cons:

Hard to get

Limited Edition

I haven't taken a decent photo of what the actual mask looks like because I use this during night time and lighting is horrible for a photograph =( but the masks look like the usual My Beauty Diary masks