There was a lot of hoo-ha about this mascara when it was first launched. The huge brush simply screamed volume, and the tiny bristles promised clump-free lashes. I've read many good reviews on it, and when it was finally launched at Priceline, I grabbed one (the waterproof version), just before my holiday.
Description:
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. Not at all. I'm afraid I have to say that this does not work for Asian eyes (please let me know if any of my Asian readers who have tried this actually liked it, yeah?). The brush is simply too big to accommodate our short eye lashes. I don't have very short Asian eye lashes, but they're not long either. When I tried this on, I had to be very careful not to smudge my face, simply because the brush was so big.
Many a time, when applying the mascara, I did smudge my skin. And I really hate this from mascaras, especially after I've done up my face and still have to be very careful in removing the smudge without creating a hole in the foundation.
In comparison with Max Factor's Aqua Lash
Left brush - Max Factor's Aqua Lash. Right brush - CoverGirl's Lash Blast
So nope, I didn't like this mascara at all. As the brush was freakin' huge, it did not curl nor volumnise my lashes at all. I'd be better off sticking to mascaras with smaller, normal brushes. Plus the tube is huge compared to other mascaras, thus taking up valuable space in my makeup bag. To those with short Asian eye lashes, I'd suggest you to give this one a miss.
Lash Blast? More like lash blah to me. Who wants to take it off my hands? It's yours for free :p Just make sure you have eye lashes that go on for miles. If you do, I hate you. Okay I don't *fingers crossed behind my back*.
Cover Girl's Lash Blast mascara retails at AUD17.95 and is available at Priceline.
What I like about it: As a mascara on the whole, it's okay, I guess.
What I did not like about it: Massive tube, massive brush for my Asian lashes. Sigh.
Description:
Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. Now in waterproof, too!
Instant volume and fullness
Smudge and smear-proof
Hypoallergenic and suitable for contact lens wearers
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. Not at all. I'm afraid I have to say that this does not work for Asian eyes (please let me know if any of my Asian readers who have tried this actually liked it, yeah?). The brush is simply too big to accommodate our short eye lashes. I don't have very short Asian eye lashes, but they're not long either. When I tried this on, I had to be very careful not to smudge my face, simply because the brush was so big.
Many a time, when applying the mascara, I did smudge my skin. And I really hate this from mascaras, especially after I've done up my face and still have to be very careful in removing the smudge without creating a hole in the foundation.
So nope, I didn't like this mascara at all. As the brush was freakin' huge, it did not curl nor volumnise my lashes at all. I'd be better off sticking to mascaras with smaller, normal brushes. Plus the tube is huge compared to other mascaras, thus taking up valuable space in my makeup bag. To those with short Asian eye lashes, I'd suggest you to give this one a miss.
Lash Blast? More like lash blah to me. Who wants to take it off my hands? It's yours for free :p Just make sure you have eye lashes that go on for miles. If you do, I hate you. Okay I don't *fingers crossed behind my back*.
Cover Girl's Lash Blast mascara retails at AUD17.95 and is available at Priceline.
What I like about it: As a mascara on the whole, it's okay, I guess.
What I did not like about it: Massive tube, massive brush for my Asian lashes. Sigh.
Review: Yes To Carrots Eye Can C Clearly Now Eye Contour Cream
2 Comments Posted by Tine on Sep 19, 2008 at 8:40 AM.
I first saw the Yes To Carrots range at Target a few months ago. The quirky names of the products intrigued me, and when Priceline started selling Yes To Carrots products at introductory prices with a 15% discount, I thought I'd give the eye cream and hair mask (which I will review very soon) a go.
Description:
Let's start with the texture of the cream. It doesn't feel light and creamy; in fact, it's just a tad curd-like. Just a tiny scrape of the cream would do to be applied just below the eyes and on the lids. I'm not really sure exactly what it smells like. It doesn't smell like carrots, but then again, I'm not a fan of carrot juice so I wouldn't be too sure.
Did it work for me? I'd say yes, at first. The fragile skin below my eyes felt more taut, although it did not reduce the lines. The skin also felt more moisturised (not as dry as before). But after a couple of weeks of using the cream, the sides of my eyes (where the *gulp* crow's feet are) started to itch. I can't be 100% certain that it was due to the eye cream, but when I stopped using it, the itching stopped. Dodgy? Hmm ... I don't know.
To be honest, I don't really know what this eye cream is for (yes yes, you can thump me for buying something I know nothing about). It does not proclaim to reduce lines or dark circles, which most, if not all, eye creams do. I'm still hesitant in agreeing it to be a contour cream because I don't see any physical evidence of contouring. But I will say that it kept the dry skin moisturised.
The eye cream is paraben-free, which is good, isn't it, given the hype and all that these days. What is also good is that it contains niacinamide, which is also known as vitamin B3. Topical application of niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, preventing skin from losing water content, and stimulate microcirculation in the dermis*.
I'm not giving up on this cream just yet. Heck, there's 50ml of it, which will take me AGES to finish. I shall update you on this product a few more months down the line.
Oh, and when Mum said that carrots are good for your eyes, she meant your actual EYES. Not the skin around it. I'm just sayin'. :p
Yes To Carrots Eye Can C Clearly Now Eye Contour Cream is available at Priceline and Target.
What I like about it: Moisturised the under-eye area; big tub of eye cream at a low price (compared to other brands' tiny 15-30ml jars).
What I did not like about it: No physical evidence of any contouring as proclaimed.
*Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition, pg 1128
Description:
You never believed your mom when she said carrots were good for your eyes. Our Eye can C Clearly Now moisture rich Eye Contour Cream will have you believing differently.
A gentle spring water based Eye Contour Cream with organic carrot juice, organic cucumber juice and 26 Dead Sea Minerals.
WARNING: You may smile more often as a result of using this product!
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Cucumis Sativa (Cucumber) Water, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Juice, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dead Sea Water (Maris Aqua), Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-40 Stearate, Chamomila Recutita (Chamomile) Extract, Sorbitan Tristearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance (Parfum), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Silt (Maris Limus), Niacinamide, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Peel Extract.
Let's start with the texture of the cream. It doesn't feel light and creamy; in fact, it's just a tad curd-like. Just a tiny scrape of the cream would do to be applied just below the eyes and on the lids. I'm not really sure exactly what it smells like. It doesn't smell like carrots, but then again, I'm not a fan of carrot juice so I wouldn't be too sure.
Did it work for me? I'd say yes, at first. The fragile skin below my eyes felt more taut, although it did not reduce the lines. The skin also felt more moisturised (not as dry as before). But after a couple of weeks of using the cream, the sides of my eyes (where the *gulp* crow's feet are) started to itch. I can't be 100% certain that it was due to the eye cream, but when I stopped using it, the itching stopped. Dodgy? Hmm ... I don't know.
To be honest, I don't really know what this eye cream is for (yes yes, you can thump me for buying something I know nothing about). It does not proclaim to reduce lines or dark circles, which most, if not all, eye creams do. I'm still hesitant in agreeing it to be a contour cream because I don't see any physical evidence of contouring. But I will say that it kept the dry skin moisturised.
The eye cream is paraben-free, which is good, isn't it, given the hype and all that these days. What is also good is that it contains niacinamide, which is also known as vitamin B3. Topical application of niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, preventing skin from losing water content, and stimulate microcirculation in the dermis*.
I'm not giving up on this cream just yet. Heck, there's 50ml of it, which will take me AGES to finish. I shall update you on this product a few more months down the line.
Oh, and when Mum said that carrots are good for your eyes, she meant your actual EYES. Not the skin around it. I'm just sayin'. :p
Yes To Carrots Eye Can C Clearly Now Eye Contour Cream is available at Priceline and Target.
What I like about it: Moisturised the under-eye area; big tub of eye cream at a low price (compared to other brands' tiny 15-30ml jars).
What I did not like about it: No physical evidence of any contouring as proclaimed.
*Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition, pg 1128
Review: Payot Demaquillant Sensation Yeux Et Levres Eye and Lip Makeup Remover
2 Comments Posted by Tine on Sep 13, 2008 at 9:36 AM.
This Payot eye and lip makeup remover was a gift to me before I left for Melbourne.
Description:
I have to admit, I've never really been keen on oily makeup removers. They're messy and leaves a greasy residue on my fingertips. But I have to say, they do a damn good job in removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner. And the Payot makeup remover is absolutely brilliant in doing all that.
Waterproof mascara has always been a pain in the neck to remove. More often than not, a few lashes will come off when I tried removing the mascara. This makeup remover removes stubborn waterproof makeup in a flash. It also does not dry out the fragile skin nor sting the eyes. I wouldn't say that this does not leave any trace of oiliness on the skin, as per description, because it IS an oil-based liquid after all. However, it's easily washed off with a gentle cleanser.
The makeup remover is also suitable for contact lens wearers.
So far I've not seen Payot products sold in departmental stores, which lead me to believe that this brand of products is only available at beauty salons and spas.
What I like about it: Very good in removing stubborn waterproof makeup.
What I did not like about it: It's not easily available.
Have you ever tried oil-based makeup removers? If so, what works for you? If not, try using it on waterproof mascara and eyeliner. You should find it easier to remove, thus reducing rubbing stress on your fragile eyelids.
Description:
With its dual-phase texture, this fragance-free formula instantly removes all types of eye and lip makeup, including waterproof products, while soothing and helping to decongest the skin around the eyes. The skin is left feeling softer, more comfortable and moisturised, without any trace of oiliness.
Shake it up!
I have to admit, I've never really been keen on oily makeup removers. They're messy and leaves a greasy residue on my fingertips. But I have to say, they do a damn good job in removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner. And the Payot makeup remover is absolutely brilliant in doing all that.
Waterproof mascara has always been a pain in the neck to remove. More often than not, a few lashes will come off when I tried removing the mascara. This makeup remover removes stubborn waterproof makeup in a flash. It also does not dry out the fragile skin nor sting the eyes. I wouldn't say that this does not leave any trace of oiliness on the skin, as per description, because it IS an oil-based liquid after all. However, it's easily washed off with a gentle cleanser.
The makeup remover is also suitable for contact lens wearers.
So far I've not seen Payot products sold in departmental stores, which lead me to believe that this brand of products is only available at beauty salons and spas.
What I like about it: Very good in removing stubborn waterproof makeup.
What I did not like about it: It's not easily available.
Have you ever tried oil-based makeup removers? If so, what works for you? If not, try using it on waterproof mascara and eyeliner. You should find it easier to remove, thus reducing rubbing stress on your fragile eyelids.
Labels: Eyes
Now next to my nose, another very oily part of my face is, oddly enough, my eyelids. Come afternoon, and my eyelids would be oil slicks. I don't understand why the area generates so much oil and sebum though. Eye shadows will crease on my peepers, no matter how good quality they are. One evening, I wore the NARS Habanera to a party, and 8 hours later, all the pigments slid of my lids and gathered in a thick, 1mm crease. I didn't realise this until I went to the restroom. I had to use a tissue to remove all the eyeshadow because compared to the yucky thick crease line, I'd rather not have any eye shadow at all.
I've heard a lot about Too Faced's Shadow Insurance eye primer on beauty blogs, and how it's comparable to the uber popular Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP). As the latter is not available here, I decided to try out the Shadow Insurance. And honey, it was love at first sight.
Description:
I've tried Bloom's eye base, which didn't work on my oil-slick peepers. I wasn't sure if this would work either, but I just gotta try. And thank God I did, because this worked fantastically on my oily lids. It provided a very matte coverage on the eye lids, and made application of eye shadow smooth and easy. My eye shadows lasted many hours without the yucky crease lines. To me, who has had oily eye lids for so many years, it was like magic.
Sometimes I even use this WITHOUT eye shadow on. Seriously, my oily lids made it look as though I was crying at times. Yep, it's that bad.
You only need so little of the eye primer per eye to work that magic. Blend it well on your eye lids using your ring finger (it has the least strength of all your fingers, and best to use when applying anything on the eye area. This includes eye creams as well) and let it sit for a minute or two before you apply your eye shadow. This is going to last me ages since I'd only need so little each time.
Since I've never tried the UDPP, I cannot tell you which one is better. But for this to work wonders on super oily eyelids with no crease at all with eye shadows, this is one heck of a product.
Too Faced Shadow Insurance is available at Kit Cosmetics counters or boutique at Myer or Chapel Street respectively. It costs AUD30. If you're in the US, lucky you; it's only USD17, and you can get it at Sephora.
What I like about it: Like? Dahlink, it's LOVE. It got rid of the oilies on my eye lids and made my eye shadows creaseless. It's beautiful, I tell you :p
What I did not like about it: Why is it bloody (almost) twice the price in Australia?! Sigh.
I've heard a lot about Too Faced's Shadow Insurance eye primer on beauty blogs, and how it's comparable to the uber popular Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP). As the latter is not available here, I decided to try out the Shadow Insurance. And honey, it was love at first sight.
Description:
Your full-coverage insurance policy against all fading, creasing, melting, blurring, oil-slicked and hard-to-blend eye shadow accidents. Our silicone-based eyeshadow primer transforms any eye shadow into a perfectly blendable, color-drenched, intensified version of its self, then locks it down perfectly until you take it off. Our skin soothing formula evens out the skin tone on your lids and smoothes outlines while it secures a barrier between the oils of your skin and your makeup, so no shadow catastrophes will ever happen again.
Benefits:
Vitamin E - Conditions, soothes and calms the delicate eye area.
Unique Binders - Volatiles lock down eye shadow pigments for amazingly long wear.
Tocopherol - Anti-aging, antioxidant moisturizer.
Versatility Galore - Use with powder or cream eye shadow products.
Reliable Beauty - Anti-creasing formula holds eye products in place.
Concentrated - The size of a rain drop covers the entire lid.
I've tried Bloom's eye base, which didn't work on my oil-slick peepers. I wasn't sure if this would work either, but I just gotta try. And thank God I did, because this worked fantastically on my oily lids. It provided a very matte coverage on the eye lids, and made application of eye shadow smooth and easy. My eye shadows lasted many hours without the yucky crease lines. To me, who has had oily eye lids for so many years, it was like magic.
Sometimes I even use this WITHOUT eye shadow on. Seriously, my oily lids made it look as though I was crying at times. Yep, it's that bad.
You only need so little of the eye primer per eye to work that magic. Blend it well on your eye lids using your ring finger (it has the least strength of all your fingers, and best to use when applying anything on the eye area. This includes eye creams as well) and let it sit for a minute or two before you apply your eye shadow. This is going to last me ages since I'd only need so little each time.
Since I've never tried the UDPP, I cannot tell you which one is better. But for this to work wonders on super oily eyelids with no crease at all with eye shadows, this is one heck of a product.
Too Faced Shadow Insurance is available at Kit Cosmetics counters or boutique at Myer or Chapel Street respectively. It costs AUD30. If you're in the US, lucky you; it's only USD17, and you can get it at Sephora.
What I like about it: Like? Dahlink, it's LOVE. It got rid of the oilies on my eye lids and made my eye shadows creaseless. It's beautiful, I tell you :p
What I did not like about it: Why is it bloody (almost) twice the price in Australia?! Sigh.
Labels: Eyes
Doing The Smokey Eye with Silkygirl's Smokey Spark
9 Comments Posted by Tine on Jul 17, 2008 at 8:00 AM.
A huge favourite Malaysian drugstore brand of mine is Silkygirl (previously known as Wet 'n' Wild). I love the funky eyepencils, and even though the eyeshadow duos have quite an odd colour combination, I quite like the colours on their own. And my favourite-est of Silkygirl's eye shadows would be the Smokey Spark.
I love doing the smokey-eye look with the Smokey Spark. In fact, of all the eye shadows I have, cheap or expensive, I love the smokey-eye effect by the Smokey Spark the best. On the down side, the Silkygirl duo eyeshadows do not last very long, definitely not all day. With eye shadow primer, it will last a little over 4 hours. This should last you the evening. Still, it's so cheap; at only RM15.90, I'm not complaining :p
This is an easy method of creating the smokey-eye effect, using drugstore-brand makeup items available in Watsons and/or Guardian, Malaysia. To keep it simple, I used the sponge applicator at came with the eye shadow. Using your fingers and/or makeup brush would give you better control in your application, but I wanted to show you that even using the little plastic applicator can also give you good results.
To achieve the look, these were the items I used:
1. Silkygirl Smokey Spark
2. Maybelline Sky High Curves Waterproof Mascara
3. Jordana FineLiner liquid eyeliner
4. Cotton buds/Q-tips
As you can see, the smokey-eye effect is not as dramatic as expected. I actually like it this way as I can wear this during the day as well. For eyes to really pop, you can use a darker shade of grey or kohl pencil (blend outwards for this one) on the lids.
There ya go, a simple, smokey-eyed look, the cheap and chic way.
Give ahead, give it a go!
I love doing the smokey-eye look with the Smokey Spark. In fact, of all the eye shadows I have, cheap or expensive, I love the smokey-eye effect by the Smokey Spark the best. On the down side, the Silkygirl duo eyeshadows do not last very long, definitely not all day. With eye shadow primer, it will last a little over 4 hours. This should last you the evening. Still, it's so cheap; at only RM15.90, I'm not complaining :p
This is an easy method of creating the smokey-eye effect, using drugstore-brand makeup items available in Watsons and/or Guardian, Malaysia. To keep it simple, I used the sponge applicator at came with the eye shadow. Using your fingers and/or makeup brush would give you better control in your application, but I wanted to show you that even using the little plastic applicator can also give you good results.
To achieve the look, these were the items I used:
1. Silkygirl Smokey Spark
2. Maybelline Sky High Curves Waterproof Mascara
3. Jordana FineLiner liquid eyeliner
4. Cotton buds/Q-tips
Without eye makeup on
Apply the dark grey shadow on the outer lid
Sweep the silver shadow on the inner lid and on the browbone. Blend, blend, blend! I also lined the bottom lashes using a cotton bud.
Apply the liquid eyeliner and mascara
As you can see, the smokey-eye effect is not as dramatic as expected. I actually like it this way as I can wear this during the day as well. For eyes to really pop, you can use a darker shade of grey or kohl pencil (blend outwards for this one) on the lids.
There ya go, a simple, smokey-eyed look, the cheap and chic way.
Give ahead, give it a go!
Review: Elianto Shimmer Shadows & Refill Palette
5 Comments Posted by Tine on Oct 3, 2007 at 3:43 PM.
I've always wanted to do a review on Elianto makeup, so let me show you what I bought over the weekend.
Elianto is inspired from the fashionable, beauty-oriented Korea, and we all know how popular Korean makeup is nowadays (e.g. Skin Food, The Face Shop, etc). Elianto means "sunflower" in Italian. Didn't know that, did ya? Okay, I didn't either :p
I've not used Elianto skincare products (yet), so I won't talk much about that. What I love about Elianto is the incredible amount of eye makeup colours (Shimmer Shadows) available. Most of their eye makeup are sold as refills; the colours are caked in a small and flat cylinder, and the packaging's pretty no-nonsense. They either come in plastic covers, or small and flat paper boxes. These work fine for me, as they're very portable, very easy to be carried around in my makeup bag.
And when they preach about affordability, they weren't kidding. These eye colours are RM5. EACH. I can buy 10 of them at one go and not feel a pinch :p
Anyways, what I wanted to show you today are Elianto's refills palette.
These are blank palettes; you select any six eye colours you want, simply pick and mix, mix and match, and then stick 'em into the palettes. Now, a word of warning though; these palettes come with double-sided tape on each refill blank. Once you remove the sticker, and press the colours in, you won't be able to take them out. So if you aren't sure of what colours you want to put in, do not remove the sticker bits. Of course, if you don't stick 'em in, you'll have to be very careful when opening the palette, lest the refills fall out.
They have a few palettes - 6 refills, 10/12 refills (not too sure about the number), all the way to 20 refills. I love the palettes; using them make me feel like a real makeup artist! :p
The one on my right is now my travel makeup palette. I even added a blusher to the palette! (bottom right)
About the shimmer shadows - they are quite shimmery (hence the name) and not too sheer. It lasts for about 4 hours before reapplication is needed. Not quite as long as I'd like, but really, at RM5 a pop, what more can one ask for?
The 6-colour refill palette is RM10 (I didn't inquire the prices for the rest; I shall do so the next time I'm at Elianto). All in all, with the refills, each palette only cost me RM50. What a steal!
The palettes do not come with a makeup brush or sponge though, so you'll have to provide your own. There's a groove at the bottom middle of the palette for the brush/sponge.
Elianto Shimmer Shadows (RM5 each) and refill palettes (RM10 for the 6-colour) are available at all Elianto counters.
What I like about it: Very affordable, great selection of colours, very versatile.
What I did not like about it: The shadows did not last very long per application. Other than that, I'm sold!
Random breast cancer fact of the day: Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
Elianto is inspired from the fashionable, beauty-oriented Korea, and we all know how popular Korean makeup is nowadays (e.g. Skin Food, The Face Shop, etc). Elianto means "sunflower" in Italian. Didn't know that, did ya? Okay, I didn't either :p
I've not used Elianto skincare products (yet), so I won't talk much about that. What I love about Elianto is the incredible amount of eye makeup colours (Shimmer Shadows) available. Most of their eye makeup are sold as refills; the colours are caked in a small and flat cylinder, and the packaging's pretty no-nonsense. They either come in plastic covers, or small and flat paper boxes. These work fine for me, as they're very portable, very easy to be carried around in my makeup bag.
And when they preach about affordability, they weren't kidding. These eye colours are RM5. EACH. I can buy 10 of them at one go and not feel a pinch :p
Anyways, what I wanted to show you today are Elianto's refills palette.
These are blank palettes; you select any six eye colours you want, simply pick and mix, mix and match, and then stick 'em into the palettes. Now, a word of warning though; these palettes come with double-sided tape on each refill blank. Once you remove the sticker, and press the colours in, you won't be able to take them out. So if you aren't sure of what colours you want to put in, do not remove the sticker bits. Of course, if you don't stick 'em in, you'll have to be very careful when opening the palette, lest the refills fall out.
They have a few palettes - 6 refills, 10/12 refills (not too sure about the number), all the way to 20 refills. I love the palettes; using them make me feel like a real makeup artist! :p
About the shimmer shadows - they are quite shimmery (hence the name) and not too sheer. It lasts for about 4 hours before reapplication is needed. Not quite as long as I'd like, but really, at RM5 a pop, what more can one ask for?
The 6-colour refill palette is RM10 (I didn't inquire the prices for the rest; I shall do so the next time I'm at Elianto). All in all, with the refills, each palette only cost me RM50. What a steal!
The palettes do not come with a makeup brush or sponge though, so you'll have to provide your own. There's a groove at the bottom middle of the palette for the brush/sponge.
Elianto Shimmer Shadows (RM5 each) and refill palettes (RM10 for the 6-colour) are available at all Elianto counters.
What I like about it: Very affordable, great selection of colours, very versatile.
What I did not like about it: The shadows did not last very long per application. Other than that, I'm sold!
Random breast cancer fact of the day: Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
This is proof that even the beauty-conscious can have their off days.
I've committed one of the cardinal sins in grooming.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I OVER-TWEEZED MY EYEBROW!!!
*gasp*
Horror of horrors, eh? I had absolutely NO idea what on earth possessed my itchy hands to keep going on with the tweezer and brow scissors. I now have a very obvious bald spot on my left brow, just days before heading to the beauty salon for a facial! GAH.
The eyebrow pencil, something which I've never used on a daily basis, has suddenly become my best friend.
Let this be a lesson to us, ladies. Please leave the eyebrow shaping to the professionals, lest you end up with brows like mine *sob*.
*slap itchy hands for the 100th time*
Random breast cancer fact of the day - Although small breasts are technically more challenging, you should not need to worry about not being to have a mammogram. It is rare that a mammogram is impossible because of small breasts.
I've committed one of the cardinal sins in grooming.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I OVER-TWEEZED MY EYEBROW!!!
*gasp*
Horror of horrors, eh? I had absolutely NO idea what on earth possessed my itchy hands to keep going on with the tweezer and brow scissors. I now have a very obvious bald spot on my left brow, just days before heading to the beauty salon for a facial! GAH.
The eyebrow pencil, something which I've never used on a daily basis, has suddenly become my best friend.
Let this be a lesson to us, ladies. Please leave the eyebrow shaping to the professionals, lest you end up with brows like mine *sob*.
*slap itchy hands for the 100th time*
Random breast cancer fact of the day - Although small breasts are technically more challenging, you should not need to worry about not being to have a mammogram. It is rare that a mammogram is impossible because of small breasts.
Labels: Eyes
Review: Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum (15ml)
4 Comments Posted by Tine on Sep 19, 2007 at 12:53 AM.
Every once in a while, somehow or rather, I'd end up buying something totally useless which will end up as one of the many white elephants which I already have in my "beauty" cupboard.
The Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum would be one of them.
I bought this on a whim when I was shopping at a Giant store a few months ago. It all started when I first noticed tiny crow's feet (*gasp!!!*) at the corners of my eyes, and the ever-increasing fine lines on my lower lids. I saw this when I went grocery-shopping, and thought, what the heck, I'll give it a go.
Description:
Okay, I've been using this for over a month now, and I did not notice any difference. My eyelids did not seem any firmer, nor were my eyebags improved. My eyelids did feel velvety smooth after application, that I would say. But other than that, I did not find anything else good about this.
The tired eyes could be due to the whole lot of stress I've been having for the past couple of weeks, so maybe that contributed a lot more lines and dehydration. It certainly contributed more dark circles under the eyes. Maybe the serum just wasn't strong enough to combat that. But that again, I could just be trying to find an excuse to why this serum's not working :p
I did find something which improved my fine lines around the eyes though, and that is concentrated Vitamin E. But I'll leave a review on that for another day.
The Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum retails at RM37.88 at Guardian, and around RM45 at Giant (tsk tsk at the price difference).
What I like about it: The eyelids felt smooth after application, but I reckon all skin would feel that way after applying lotion on it, don't you think?
What I did not like about it: It just didn't work for me.
The Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum would be one of them.
I bought this on a whim when I was shopping at a Giant store a few months ago. It all started when I first noticed tiny crow's feet (*gasp!!!*) at the corners of my eyes, and the ever-increasing fine lines on my lower lids. I saw this when I went grocery-shopping, and thought, what the heck, I'll give it a go.
Description:
Notice a turnaround in 24 days: firmed eyelids, smoothed corners and even-toned under-eyes. Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum visibly lifts the look and brightens the area around the eye without drastic measures. With an exclusive Amino Peptide Complex, it hydrates to firm skin and to allow the natural regeneration of skin. Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum has a light, greaseless feel that leaves skin feeling velvety smooth.
Okay, I've been using this for over a month now, and I did not notice any difference. My eyelids did not seem any firmer, nor were my eyebags improved. My eyelids did feel velvety smooth after application, that I would say. But other than that, I did not find anything else good about this.
The tired eyes could be due to the whole lot of stress I've been having for the past couple of weeks, so maybe that contributed a lot more lines and dehydration. It certainly contributed more dark circles under the eyes. Maybe the serum just wasn't strong enough to combat that. But that again, I could just be trying to find an excuse to why this serum's not working :p
I did find something which improved my fine lines around the eyes though, and that is concentrated Vitamin E. But I'll leave a review on that for another day.
The Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum retails at RM37.88 at Guardian, and around RM45 at Giant (tsk tsk at the price difference).
What I like about it: The eyelids felt smooth after application, but I reckon all skin would feel that way after applying lotion on it, don't you think?
What I did not like about it: It just didn't work for me.
Labels: Eyes
My aunt, who used to be an air stewardess, once told me that during her training, she was told that one of the most important features of your face are your eyebrows. And how true she is, for the shape of the eyebrows can either open your eyes, or make them droop further. Incidentally, she was the first person to pluck and shape my brows for my college prom night, as Mum still thought that I should only start shaping my brows when I started working!
Well-plucked eyebrows can make you appear more groomed. Many women (me included) have their eyebrows tweezed professionally. I'd highly recommend you have a professional do the first *ahem* "damage" on your brows first to give it a shape which suits your face, and then all you have to do is to pluck where the hairs grow in.
I would discourage you to do it yourself at the very first go as you'd most likely be unsure how much to pluck, and you might be left with too-thin brows, or *gasp*, uneven brows. Believe it or not, pencil-thin brows do not suit everyone. Thicker brows suit my face as it's not what you'd call, erm, delicate.
I prefer plucking to shaving as the hairs take longer to grow, plus I'm not left with unsightly stubble.
Here are a few tips on how to tweeze and maintain your eyebrows (when you've already gotten a "blueprint" of your brows, of course):
Remember that your eyebrows play an important role on your face, by brightening the eyes. Do keep them regularly groomed.
Source: Beauty.About.com
Well-plucked eyebrows can make you appear more groomed. Many women (me included) have their eyebrows tweezed professionally. I'd highly recommend you have a professional do the first *ahem* "damage" on your brows first to give it a shape which suits your face, and then all you have to do is to pluck where the hairs grow in.
I would discourage you to do it yourself at the very first go as you'd most likely be unsure how much to pluck, and you might be left with too-thin brows, or *gasp*, uneven brows. Believe it or not, pencil-thin brows do not suit everyone. Thicker brows suit my face as it's not what you'd call, erm, delicate.
I prefer plucking to shaving as the hairs take longer to grow, plus I'm not left with unsightly stubble.
Here are a few tips on how to tweeze and maintain your eyebrows (when you've already gotten a "blueprint" of your brows, of course):
- The biggest mistake people make is to tweeze too much. Avoid over-plucking as it can take months for brows to grow back.
- Here's a simple trick to remember: The space between your brows should be equal to, or a little wider than, your eyes. To find where your brow should go, take a long eyeshadow brush or pencil and hold it parallel to the side of your nose. Where the brush meets your brow is where your brow should begin.
- To find the end of your brow, extend the brush diagonally from your nostril, following the outside edge of your eye toward the brow. Where the inside edge of the brush hits is where your brow should end.
- The best brows have a slight arch. To find yours, hold the brush parallel to the outside edge of the colored part of your eye (the iris). Where the brush meets the brow is where the highest part of your brow should be.
- Cleanse your skin.
- It might be a bit painful if you're not used to having your brows plucked. I'd normally rub some astrigent (on facial cotton) on the brow area just before plucking. You can also numb the area by rubbing a bit of ice (wrapped in a handkerchief) around the area if you like.
- Make sure that you are near a window with light pouring in or under a bright light with a good mirror.
- Pluck the hairs in the direction they grow. Do not grab too many hairs at a time (I tried that during one of my lazy days. I ended up with a red bump on my brow which got infected. Ugh).
- Stop every few hairs to step back and look at the job you're doing. If you overpluck, STOP! Do not pluck more to try to "even out the shape". You can always add colour back to the bald area with an eyebrow pencil.
- If you use a pencil to fill in sparse brows, apply with short, feathered strokes from the inside of the brow out. Then carefully rub brows with a brush or your fingertips to soften the effect.
- Do invest in a good tweezer and eyebrow brush. I always like to give my brows a good brush to avoid it looking unkempt (especially when the hairs in the brows have grown).
- The ideal time for brow-shaping is the week after your period begins.
Remember that your eyebrows play an important role on your face, by brightening the eyes. Do keep them regularly groomed.
Source: Beauty.About.com
Labels: Beauty Tips, Eyes
Here's another one of my beauty buys in Melbourne - Bourjois Suivez Mon Regard.
I've always wanted to get something from the French brand (if I'm not mistaken, they had the blush mousse way before Maybelline did. Well, it was when I saw it in the UK anyway). It's so la-di-dah, don't you think? :p
Anyways, I was at Chadstone when I saw these on sale in one of the cosmetic booths in the hallways. My first thought when I saw it? "Oooh ... something with a built-in brush. Definitely not something I'd find in Malaysia". Well, that, and it cost me only AUD$5 per pot.
Description:
The colours were quite pretty, although a tad too shimmery for my liking for work (it'd definitely work for evening makeup). Unfortunately, that is probably the only good thing I can say about this.
It's supposed to be a no-spill pot because it has a built-in brush. But when I took the brush out, the powder was flying all over the place, which caused a bit of a shimmery mess on my dressing table. It states the the pot deposits just the right amount of powder on the brush with each application. Unfortunately, that's not true, as a lot of the powder was stuck to the brush, which was quite a waste. Of course, you can tap the brush in the pot first before taking it out, but that kinda defeats its original description, don't you think?
Well, for AUD$5 a pot, I can't really complain. I swiped the brush on the back of my hand once, and gently applied the colour onto my lids using my finger. That way, I could control the amount of colour I want for my lids, rather than swiping the brush on my lids directly.
What I like about it: Fancy pot (different from the ones I was accustomed to); nice shimmery colours for the evening. Oh, and it was cheap :p
What I did not like about it: Too messy; too much powder on the brush for a single application. Poor quality of brush.
I've always wanted to get something from the French brand (if I'm not mistaken, they had the blush mousse way before Maybelline did. Well, it was when I saw it in the UK anyway). It's so la-di-dah, don't you think? :p
Anyways, I was at Chadstone when I saw these on sale in one of the cosmetic booths in the hallways. My first thought when I saw it? "Oooh ... something with a built-in brush. Definitely not something I'd find in Malaysia". Well, that, and it cost me only AUD$5 per pot.
Description:
Shimmering loose powder eye shadow with a built in brush. The unique, no spills pot and ingenius built in brush are the perfect companion for a professional application wherever you are. The clever pot deposits just the right amount of powder on the brush with each application. Explore the multiple facets of the intense, shimmering shades.
The colours were quite pretty, although a tad too shimmery for my liking for work (it'd definitely work for evening makeup). Unfortunately, that is probably the only good thing I can say about this.
It's supposed to be a no-spill pot because it has a built-in brush. But when I took the brush out, the powder was flying all over the place, which caused a bit of a shimmery mess on my dressing table. It states the the pot deposits just the right amount of powder on the brush with each application. Unfortunately, that's not true, as a lot of the powder was stuck to the brush, which was quite a waste. Of course, you can tap the brush in the pot first before taking it out, but that kinda defeats its original description, don't you think?
Well, for AUD$5 a pot, I can't really complain. I swiped the brush on the back of my hand once, and gently applied the colour onto my lids using my finger. That way, I could control the amount of colour I want for my lids, rather than swiping the brush on my lids directly.
What I like about it: Fancy pot (different from the ones I was accustomed to); nice shimmery colours for the evening. Oh, and it was cheap :p
What I did not like about it: Too messy; too much powder on the brush for a single application. Poor quality of brush.
Oh my, Lancôme sure is coming up with a lot of pretty makeup goodies. First the cooling eye shadow gel, and now this. Voila, the Destiny Cube!
Can't imagine what bulk this would add to your makeup bag, but who wouldn't want such a pretty piece?
The Destiny Cubes are available in two palettes - Charisma (pale pink lip colour with brown and voilet eye shadows), and Deep Fascination (red and burgundy lip colours with light green and pink eye shadows).
This is from Lancôme's upcoming Fall Collection, and is available in August on Lancome USA's site. I hope it doesn't take too long before it makes its way to the shores of Malaysia soon. I'm definitely getting my mitts on this ;)
This retails at USD$50.
Update: This is now available at Lancome counters for RM180.
Can't imagine what bulk this would add to your makeup bag, but who wouldn't want such a pretty piece?
The Destiny Cubes are available in two palettes - Charisma (pale pink lip colour with brown and voilet eye shadows), and Deep Fascination (red and burgundy lip colours with light green and pink eye shadows).
This is from Lancôme's upcoming Fall Collection, and is available in August on Lancome USA's site. I hope it doesn't take too long before it makes its way to the shores of Malaysia soon. I'm definitely getting my mitts on this ;)
This retails at USD$50.
Update: This is now available at Lancome counters for RM180.
Lancome just came out with their limited edition of their eye makeup - Lancôme Ombre Glacèe Cooling Eye Shadow Gel. These eyeshadow gels give eyelids give a burst of icy freshness, which, in my opinion, would do great in our hot, tropical weather. Imagine having literally cool eyelids, eh?
According to Marie Claire UK, these eye-shadow gels are out in the UK stores now, at all Lancome counters. I'm not sure if they are out in Malaysia yet, but once they are, I'm getting 'em. They're currently selling for £14.50 in the UK, in two shades - Vert Boho and Rose Bali.
Here's a short makeup tip of the day:
For dramatic eye makeup colours, check out the colour wheel.
Select your eye colour, and choose the colour for eye makeup OPPOSITE the eye colour. The contrast will make your eyes really bright and dramatic; perfect for evening makeup. For example, if you have green eyes, purple would bring out the colour very nicely.
This tip would work more for Caucasions, with different-coloured eyes, but for those who like to wear coloured contact lenses, this could work too :)
Being Asian, you know that the majority of us aren't blessed with double eyelids and deep-set eyes. International magazines tend to focus eye makeup techniques for Western women. Which is great for them, but not so much for us, because as much as we try to apply colour on the "crease" of our eyes, a lot of us are going to go "Eh? What crease?? I don't even have double eyelids to begin with!"Smokey eye makeup has always been an Everest for me. If I may say so, it could well be a feat for a lot of Asian women too, because it is difficult to create that smokey eye effect without looking either like a raccoon, or that someone has punched the daylights out of our eyes. I tried it many times in the past, and all I ended up with were black eyes. Literally BLACK eyes. Not a pretty sight, if I may say so myself.
It was only after I went for a makeup and grooming course with Stella-in International that I finally learnt how to create the smokey eye effect correctly. Even then, I still need a LOT of practice because a bit too much dark grey or brown, and you'll end up looking like a zombie.
So there I was, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, suddenly struck with the desire to paint my face, and I finally got it right (YAY!! :p). But not before I checked out these videos. Man, there sure are a lot of good makeup videos on YouTube :p
This is done by the Asian Beauty Blog. I quite like it as it is not overly dramatic, as most smokey eye makeup are. However, she tends to use a lot of MAC, which I'm not so in favour of (other than the foundation). They're not too bad, but I guess a lot of the sales assistants in MAC (and I can vouch for many consumers who share the same view) are pretty arrogant, which pretty much turned me off even visiting the store. Not all of them, of course, but sadly, a majority are.
Okay, I know, the model isn't Asian (even though the makeup artist is), but her makeup tips are pretty good. This was by Your Look.
This is quite a good tutorial (okay, okay, she's pretty :p). Michelle Phan has quite a number of video tutorials in her blog too, so do check it out.
This is by Pursebuzz. Man, she has a LOT of video tutorials on Youtube, ranging from hair style tips to more makeup tips. Worth a watch, but look out for more use of MAC.
There are so many more smokey eye makeup tutorial videos out there on YouTube (plus other makeup tips), so do check it out. Remember to practise this style of makeup several times before an actual function, so that you'll get a hang of it (especially if you aren't used to applying makeup on a regular basis). You don't wanna only try it out when you have an actual function to attend, 'cos there are chances that you might muck it up because you aren't used to the amount of dark shadow to apply on your lids (yep, happened to me once. Wasted my time removing the mess and applying something else which I was more used to). So, ladies, practise, practise, practise. Good luck!
And most of all, have fun! :)
PS: Oh, and remember to clean out your brushes after you're done with the makeup. Some eye shadows tend to stain and remain on the brushes, especially the nondescript, cheapo (aka cap palang) ones.
