Have you always want to create your own custom perfume? Then you should definitely take a look at Demeter Fragrance! Demeter Fragrance carries over 300 scents that you can mix and match to create your own personal scent. How awesome is that??!!
Category: Reviews
NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint Review
So, here’s my NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint review. You can either watch me rambling about this foundation on my Youtube channel, or you can read all about this foundation in this review. I pretty much say the same thing on the video and this post, but probably I have a better train of thoughts on this post.
Chanel Healthy Glow Foundation Review
Last Tuesday, I finally grabbed the latest Chanel foundation and so I’ve decided to post this Chanel Healthy Glow Foundation review. I used this foundation on my latest Lunar New Year tutorial if you want to see how it looks in action. Anyways, just so you know, I returned this foundation this weekend back to the Chanel counter. Want to know why? Read more below!
How To Reverse Contour (The Eve Pearl Technique)
As promised, here’s a how to reverse contour tutorial. I’ve come to a realization that there has been a few beauty vloggers and bloggers who attempted the Reverse Contour technique using very dark and very light foundations. Let me stop you right there! Using shades that are way too dark and too light for your skin do not work! The Eve Pearl Reverse Contouring technique does NOT use foundations/concealers that are TOO light and too dark. Instead, this technique actually uses 2 foundation colors that are very similar in shade to each other.
ChopSaver Review
I’ve been wanting to write this ChopSaver Review for a while, but since I wanted to push my youtube tutorials first, I decided to postpone this post until today. Anyways, just a quick background story, I received a sample of the Chopsaver a few days after New Year, and since the weather has been getting colder, my lips have been pretty dry and chappy lately. I’m quite picky with lip products since I have quite sensitive lips. I’ve tried several lip balms but I just didn’t like how some of them feel too goey/sticky on my lips, while some are just simply not moisturizing enough.
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Swatches
Are you guys ready to see the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani swatches? I was lucky enough to grab the palette as soon as it was released on the UD Canada website. I’ve tried this palette as part of my tutorial, which will be posted in a couple of days. I won’t be doing an in-depth review, but will do a quick first impression instead. I haven’t tried this palette long enough to actually do an in-depth review, but so far, I’m loving it!
Check out my VLOG using this palette!
Have you bought this palette, or are you thinking of buying it (for yourself or as a gift)? What are your thoughts/concerns regarding this palette? Comment below!
At first, I wasn’t going to buy this Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette, since I do have a lot (A LOT) of neutral palettes on my makeup kit already. However, since it is Gwen Stefani, I decided why not and I thought if I didn’t like it I could always return it, right? Oh boy, when this palette arrived at my doorstep, I knew I was going to keep it. The palette’s packaging is so gorgeous, and how cute is that “Magic’s in the Makeup” quote on the mirror? So adorable!
As you know, Gwen Stefani has this very quirky Japanese inspired fashion style, yet at the same time she has a vintage look for her makeup – winged liners, red lips, etc. It was no surprise to see most of the colors on this palette are neutrals since she does use a lot of neutrals on her eyes (watch her on The Voice and see for yourself). I love how she adds some colors like Pink, Blue and Gold, I wish she has added a Purple, but hey these colors are gorgeous too!
Let’s get going to the swatches! All description of the eyeshadows are from Sephora’s website (not an affiliated link).
Top Row – this row is mostly highlighter colors (except for Punk), but the shades on this row also have more of a warmer undertone.
- Blonde – pale beige/pink iridescent shift
- Bathwater – pale beige with gold pearl
- Skimp – pale nude satin
- Steady – medium rose/metallic gold shift
- Punk – reddish brown matte
Middle Row – this row has mostly matte shades, except for Baby and Serious. It’s slightly darker than the first row, and the shades are a bit more cool toned.
- Baby – cool metallic rose
- Anaheim – light taupe-brown matte
- Stark – nude-pink matte
- Zone – medium brown matte
- Serious – smoky gray with iridescent floating pearl
Bottom Row – most of the shades on this row are jewel tone shadows, except for Blackout which is just a matte black.
- Pop – pale coral with iridescent sparkle
- Harajuku – metallic blue-pink/iridescent micro-shimmer
- Danger – deep metallic royal blue/blue micro-sparkle
- 1987 – bright metallic yellow-gold
- Blackout – blackest black matte
Pros
- Gorgeous packaging
- Beautiful pigmentation
- Easy to blend
- Long lasting
- 12 new shades
- Large range of textures and neutral shades
Cons
- Might not work for those with darker skin since most of the colors are pretty light (can look ashy if it is too light)
- The colors are not unique, you can definitely find dupes of these eyeshadows
- Sparkle eyeshadows have a lot of fall out, as usual. For this palette, watch out for “Pop”
Eve Pearl Swatches
Happy Weekend, everyone! As promised on my Instagram account, here’s all my Eve Pearl swatches and first impression post. I received this PR package from Eve Pearl last week, and in this package I received 1 Bronzing Highlighter Trio, 1 fan brush, and 2 lip glosses.
I saw Eve Pearl used the bronzing highlighter trio and fan brush at the IMATS Toronto 2015, and was eyeing for it but didn’t end up buying it, so it was really great to actually receive it as part of the PR package. The fan brush is so soft and fluffy! I love this brush for bronzer, blush, and highlighter. Absolutely love it, it’s like THE brush for powder bronzer/blush/highlighter.
The Eve Pearl Bronzing Highlighter Trio is meant to be used all at the same time. They way Eve Pearl uses it is by using the fan brush and swipe the brush left-right, which will pick up all the 3 products at the same time. The bronzer is very warm, the blush looks very similar to NARS Orgasm, while the highlighter is so pretty. These 3 products are very warm and since it has a lot of shimmers, it gives a very glowy look to the skin.
The bronzer is very warm, worn by itself it gives a very nice tan look on the skin. Please do not use this bronzer to contour your face, it’s very orange, it does not look good as a contouring product. The blush is a coral pink blush with gold shimmers, it’s so pretty! The highlighter is a very pale champagne color with gold shimmers.
You can wear these products on its own, and they’ll look pretty, but together they just give the most beautiful color and glow to the cheeks!
The lipglosses are called “Kisses of Pearl”, and they are infused with Aloe and Vit. E. I love how hydrating these lip glosses are. The shades that I received are Stardust and Peach Champagne. The Stardust lip gloss is a brown-gold, while the Peach Champagne is a soft peach. I love Peach Champagne! It’s a color that I’ll probably use quite often. The Stardust, I’m not so sure how I’ll pair this color with. This shade is definitely out of my comfort zone.
All in all, the products are of high quality, very pigmented and definitely a must try! If you are interested in purchasing these, please check out Eve Pearl website for more info.
THEFACESHOP Canada (Product Reviews)
As you know, I recently received a few great products from THEFACESHOP Canada. If you have not checked out my post using these products, please check out my Lavender Glitter Party Makeup tutorial! It’s easy, fun, and definitely eye catching!
Have you tried any THEFACESHOP products? If you have, what’s your favorite product from this brand? If you haven’t, which product would you like to try? Leave your answer below on the comment section.
So, as part of the Canadian Beauty Bloggers network, I was selected to give THEFACESHOP Canada products a try. Big shout out to Canadian Beauty Bloggers, as well as THEFACESHOP Canada! I received these 5 products in the mail (L-R) – Freshian Big Mascara, Candy Violet blush, Lavender Glitter eyeshadow, Purple Violet Color Proof eyeliner, and Pink Scarf Rose Ink Lipquid. Keep on reading below to find out the swatches, as well as my review on these products!
THEFACESHOP Canada
Let’s start with THEFACESHOP Canada Freshian Big Mascara (01 Curling). The Freshian Big mascara is described as “Mascara that provides natural eyelash looks. Curling & volume effects are well seen!”. There’s actually a Volume version of this mascara, the one that I received is the Curling effect. I actually quite like the wand on this mascara, it’s thin and I can get the bristles right in between my lashes. The formula is not too runny, and it does not dry out too quick either.
THEFACESHOP Canada Freshian Big Mascara (01 Curling)
In the “before” picture below (top row), you can see that my lashes are stick-straight and long. I have to curl my lashes before I apply the mascara (middle row). As you can see in the “after” picture (bottom row), my lashes lost some of its curls but gain extra length. The mascara itself does not cause my lashes to clump, it separates the lashes pretty well. The reason why this mascara does not keep the curls of my lashes is because it does not dry quick enough. If you’re looking for a curling mascara, you should look for one that is waterproof since waterproof mascara dries out faster when you apply it, which then would help to lock the curls in place. This mascara is NOT waterproof, and so it does not hold the curls very well. It is still better than other non-waterproof mascara though in terms of holding the curls.
THEFACESHOP Canada also sent me a Candy Violet blush! Prior to this, I did not own a violet blush. This was my first time using a purple-toned blush. I know it looks quite pink in the picture, but it is actually a light purple if compared to other pink/rosy blushes. It is a very pale cool tone blush, so I wasn’t quite sure how this would show up on my skin.
The blush, since it’s purple, is really great to brighten your skin. As you know, purple/violet works as a brightening corrector. So, this blush does a good job to brighten up your skin. It has a little bit of shimmer, and it works well as a highlighter. The downside to this blush is the fact that it’s too light for my skin. I can’t really use this as a blush on its own, so I use it as a highlighter or a brightener on top of my other blush. I also can use this blush to change the “warmness” of my other blushes. For example, if I think my other blush is too warm-toned, I can apply this blush first then the warmer blush on top to make it more cool-toned or neutral.
THEFACESHOP Candy Violet single blush
One of my favorite products from this package is this stunning sparkly purple eyeshadow! THEFACESHOP Lavender Glitter eyeshadow is described as “Highly pigmented Single Shadow Glitter gives a uniform and ultra shiny finish. Its silky, easy-to-adjust texture applies easily and adheres without smudging, for long-lasting hold.”
Oh, this gorgeous eyeshadow is amazing! Just enough glitters and there was no fallout at all! Glitter eyeshadows are notorious for their fallout, where the glitters will be everywhere EXCEPT in your eyelids where you want it to be! Not this eyeshadow! The glitters in the eyeshadow stay on the eyelids. You can also apply this eyeshadow with a wet brush, and it’ll make the shade even more purple and sparklier. Don’t believe me? Check out my Lavender Glitter Party makeup tutorial to see the eyeshadow in action.
THEFACESHOP Lavender Glitter eyeshadow
My other favorite product from THEFACESHOP Canada PR Package is this Purple Violet Color Proof eyeliner. I wish the eyeliner is slightly more purple, but as you can see from my swatch, it’s actually pretty dark in color. On my tutorial, you can see that it looks almost black. However, I don’t really mind it. It almost looks like a soft black eyeliner, which will be a great alternative for those who prefer a non-black eyeliner. Sometimes a black eyeliner can look too harsh on those with fair-light skin tones. The hint of violet in this eyeliner will bring out the colors on your eyes. Purple is universally flattering on everyone and every eye colors!
THEFACESHOP Color Proof Purple Violet eyeliner
The last product in my package is THEFACESHOP Pink Scarf Rose Ink lipquid. It’s a liquid lipstick, hence the name lipquid. It is described as ” [An] all-in-one lipstick, gloss, and tint comes in 12 shades and provides hydration and hold for up to 12 hours! The specially shaped applicator helps both define lip contours and fill in the lips. Using the chisel tip, you can define and color your lips with great precision.”
This lipquid is similar to a lip stain. It stains your lips with a pretty color, and you can layer it to make the color more intense. Since it is a stain, it lasts pretty long even after eating and drinking. When I did the swatch for this lipquid, my hand was stained for the whole day.
I love this lipquid, it’s not sticky or drying like other brands, and it’s also moisturizing. This shade Pink Rose Scarf is a beautiful shade of rosy pink, which is very flattering on everyone. One tip on using this lipquid is to apply it in layers. When you apply it in layers, apply it sparingly to control the intensity of the stain. On my previous tutorial, I applied a sheer layer on my lips, then I added more layers just in the center of my lips to create a gradient effect.
THEFACESHOP Ink Lipquid Pink Scarf Rose
Maison Kitsune Indigo Palette Review
You all know my love for Shu Uemura x Maison Kitsune Holiday Colection, yes? And as promised, here’s my review and swatches on the Maison Kitsune for Shu Uemura Beauty Remix palette in Indigo. This Maison Kitsune Indigo palette review is based on entirely my own honest opinion and experience with the palette. I bought this palette myself, and I’ve done 3 tutorials using it. Please check out my tutorials if you want to see how the shadows look like on my eyes.
Why do I choose the Maison Kitsune Indigo palette over the Plum? Well, that’s probably because I prefer the colour selection on the Indigo over the Plum. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Plum palette is gorgeous, but I’m more attracted to the shadows in the Indigo palette. The difference between the Indigo and the Plum palettes is that the Indigo palette leans towards the cooler tones, while the Plum palette is a lot warmer compared to the Indigo.
What is Maison Kitsune for Shu Uemura Beauty Remix Smoky Eyes & Cheek Palette #Indigo?
“Sharpen up for a night of clubbing and electro beats in a “new classic” Maison Kitsuné style with the beauty remix smokey eye & cheek palette. Inspired by Western smokey eye and Tokyo street girl’s high cheek. Be bold and chic French style, or subtle and modest nipponesque, two opposites create a new harmony. Play with accent colors on smokey eyes for a fresh, spirited twist. A happy collision between effortless French style smokey eye with navy and pink blush under eyes inspired by a youthful Tokyo spirit.”
This collection is all about East meets West! Bringing the French chic and Japanese street style together, this palette is the perfect combination of East meets West vibe. This Maison Kitsune Indigo palette consists of stunning shades from smoky navy to sparkling gold, and pink blush to top it all off.
Packaging
As you can see from the first picture on this post, the Maison Kitsune Indigo palette comes in plastic package. The front cover is a pretty artwork, and it’s very colourful. Open the palette up, and you get a huge mirror inside, 7 eyeshadows and a blush. You also get 2 makeup brushes along with it. I don’t use the brushes that come with the palette, just because I find them too small.
Shades & Finish
7 eyeshadows and 1 blush.
Top row (L-R):
- #1 pressed eye shadow P navy – navy blue (metallic)
- #2 pressed eye shadow IR black 985 – gunmetal grey (metallic)
- #3 pressed eye shadow P soft blue – sky blue (shimmers with white glitter)
Middle row (L-R):
- #4 pressed eye shadow G gold – yellow gold (glitter)
- #5 pressed eye shadow IR white – white (glitter)
- #6 pressed eye shadow G soft green – lime green (glitter)
Bottom row (L-R):
- #7 pressed eye shadow G deep pink – pink (glitter)
- #8 glow on blush in pink (matte)
Pigmentation/Blendability/Longevity
All the eyeshadows and the blush blend easily, and they last for a good while, especially if you use primer underneath. Who doesn’t use primer nowadays, right?!
The only issue I have is that some of the eyeshadows, even though they might look highly pigmented on the palette, on the eyes they aren’t that great. In my case, I think the Gold, Green and Pink shades look pretty, but don’t really show up on my eyes. As you can see from my tutorial #1 and #3, the Gold and Pink are very sheer, but it still looks very chic. The glitter shades are very pretty as highlighter, to be placed on top of other eyeshadows (like in my tutorial #2).
The Navy and Black eyeshadows are gorgeous, and very pigmented. The shades are beautiful on its own but I have to say, if you layer a colored base underneath it, the shades pop even more especially the Navy. Absolutely gorgeous. My Navy smoky eyes tutorial show just how stunning the blue eyeshadow is.
Price
CAD$85 from Shu Uemura website
Pros
- Beautiful palette
- Gorgeous eyeshadows and blush
- Eyeshadows and blush have a great pigment pay-off
- Lots of sparkles on this palette
- Eyeshadows with sparkles/glitters are quite sheer, but in a way it makes wearing glitter very chic and not tacky.
Cons
- Eyeshadows with sparkles/glitters are quite sheer, so in terms of pigments pay-off it’s not that great.
- The lighter shades might not work for darker skin tone
- Pricy
Kaia Juicy Bamboo Makeup Wipes Review
Have you guys ever use makeup wipes? I don’t usually use makeup wipes, so it was interesting for me when I was given the chance to do Kaia Juicy Bamboo Makeup Wipes review. You might have seen a picture of the wipes when I posted in on my Instagram last week. I finally have the opportunity to use it today. This Kaia Juicy Bamboo wipes were sent to me as PR consideration. So, huge thanks and shout out to Kaia for sending me the Juicy Bamboo cleansing clothes!
If you are interested in getting these wipes, please check out Kaia’s website! You can also find Kaia on Instagram & Twitter
So, what is Kaia Juicy Bamboo Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths?
“juicy bamboo is not your typical makeup remover “wipe”. It’s actually a healthy cleanser with natural oils.
Cleansing with oils, humectants or balms (non mineral oil) will eliminate skin issues overnight. juicy bamboo natural cleansing oil cloths are soaked in honey, jojoba oil sunflower oil and eight essential oils… they may be called a wipe but on the contrary… they are a cleansing oil cloth. Soaked in vitamins B12, C, E.
Without the harsh makeup stripping ingredients of a typical wipe you can use juicy bamboo as a convenient cleanser. Our cashmere-soft 100% bamboo fibers can be placed in the soil and watch them disappear!
100% biodegradable.
For full coverage makeup, you may wish to remove eye makeup prior to cleansing with juicy bamboo.”
Isn’t this wipe so cute?! I love the packaging! Besides the adorable packaging, I was given wooden tongs (picture on my Instagram) to pick up the wipes. Anyways, the juicy bamboo cleansing cloths come in container of 30 sheets. The nice thing about these wipes are the fact that the wipes are not soaking wet. It’s just wet enough to remove the makeup, but not so wet that it’s slobbering all over my face.
As you can see on my picture below, 1 wipe removes all my makeup on my face. I had foundation, concealer, mascara, eyeliner, brows, lipstick, blush, & powder. It does a pretty good job removing all my makeup without drying my skin off. I did find that it was a bit hard to remove my mascara, but after leaving it on my eyes and pressing it down for couple of minutes, it did remove the mascara as well. It is recommended, though, for you to remove your eye makeup using an eye makeup remover before using the wipe. However, I wanted to test the full strength of the wipe, which was pretty awesome since it did removed all the makeup off my face!
The wipe is pretty small, compared to other makeup wipes, but I don’t mind it at all. I find this size is pretty good for when I travel. Since the Juicy Bamboo wipes are soaked with vitamins (B12, C & E), as well as essential oils, I definitely will be bringing these wipes with me when I travel, esp when I fly to Jakarta! This would be perfect to clean my face on those long flights, since it cleans, tones and moisturizes my skin!
Disclaimer:
- This review is based on my own experience only, and should not be used to treat, diagnose, prevent any skin conditions.
- If irritation occurred, please contact your health care provider.
- I am not liable for any reaction occurred to you while using this product.
- This product was sent to me by Kaia PR.
- I do not gain any monetary profit from writing this review.
- Links to Kaia website are NOT affiliated links.