Monday, July 27, 2009

Maybelline Hauls: 2) Maybelline's Unstoppable Natural Brow Liner and Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara

Initially, I don't have any intention to buy any brow pencil as I never use them. Hahaha... One day, I went for free make up class with a friend of mine and learn how to shape and apply eyebrow liner. My eyebrows are natural thick thus I don't see the needs of making it more obvious. When I've look back into those photos we took after the makeup lesson, to my surprised it looks better when my eyebrows have filled.


The reason I buy this brown brow liner is because it is the cheapest and attached a brow brush to it's cap too! Hahaha... I wanted to get a brow pencil from Empro Triangular Eyebrow Pencil but it's out of stock and expensive at RM38.88 / USD11.00. Maybelline's Unstoppable Natural Brow Liner is only RM18.90 and having another 10% discount.

I like the nice soft nip, the color payoff is just nice and look natural. The only setback, is not long lasting enough.


Please allow me to do a small review on a mascara that I'd bought few months ago. Maybelline's Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara.

This is totally a crap! I got nothing to say about this mascara other than,

  1. It smells weird... like some sort of ink or chemical. Definitely not from long due mascara as I bought this mascara during it's launching. It's fresh ! Hahaha...
  2. It clumps like no other. Need I to say more ?
  3. It smudges too. No idea how and why...
  4. Only one coat, it's all you need to get spider eyes instead of CAT EYES ! Where's the cat !? I hate being a spider.
  5. It's Volum's Express and Hypercurl formula. I never see any volume or curl effects on this mascara at all. Crappy.
Whatever you don't need in a mascara, Maybelline's Volum' Express Cat Eyes has it. I really hate this smelly mascara. I bought this mascara at RM33.90 / USD10.00, not worth it at all.


Maybelline Hauls: 1) Maybelline's ANGELFIT Liquid Foundation

I've been eyeing on this liquid foundation for the longest time. First was the short advertisement from Taiwan, which Maybelline found Sato Mai (the winner from Super Sunday Girl many years ago) to test their AngelFit Liquid Foundation. After the application of AngelFit Liquid Foundation on her hand, the host put Sato Mai's hand into a big bowl of chemical poly foams but none of the foams stick on her hand! This action shows how light, smooth, non greasy and non stickiness formula in this foundation. I was sold after I'd watched the advertisement.


According to Maybelline's website, the pink pearls technology allows AngelFit Liquid Foundation to self adjusted the color in order to match with your skin and lighting. With Chamomile and Vitamin E, skin remains hydrate and supply yet smooth, light as feather and free from stickiness. Another important part is, Maybelline claims that no matter how many layers you have applied on your skin, it will remains light and smooth.

The truth is, AngelFit indeed is light, fast to dry and non sticky at all. Unlike other liquid foundations that I'd tried, even the infamous Lunasol Water Cream foundation does leave me sticky feeling and takes time to dries up. AngelFit Liquid Foundation comes with a little pink bottle with pump at 25ml. The texture is watery, this makes application easier as it glides easily without being cakey especially good for a rookie in liquid foundation like me. Although it dries fast but still leave me enough time to spread out the foundation evenly. The foundation is build able and still feeling smooth and light after a few layers on skin. All I can say is a little bit goes a very very long way for AngelFit Liquid Foundation.

Everything seems just nice until I've realised none of the available colors matching with my skin tone! Every AngelFit Liquid Foundation seems to be more on pinkish tone. I did swatches before buying the foundation. At the end, I'd settle with Natural Ivory as I thought it was only a slight pinkish, it won't hurt, after all it still match my skin when other colors are too dark. Who knows, when I put it on yesterday and found it's extremely pink and too grayish pale for my skin. I was totally look like a Geisha, even my boyfriend has notices my vampired pale looking but became a cooked lobster after sitting under the sun for a while. I didn't even wore any blushers yesterday. I thought it might because the foundation hasn't set in but for many hours, it still too pinkish pale for my skin. What a disappointment.

Not satisfied with the result, I was determined to try it again this morning. This time I only put on a tiny little bit because one pump of the foundation is way too much for my face. A tiny bean size is all I need this time. Carefully, not to overly done but the foundation is still too pink although this time the color payoff is no longer that pale. I guess my skintone is way too yellow thus everyone can notices a huge differences between my face and neck. Not the foundation's fault, is mine... I shouldn't buy something so pinkish. Basically, if this foundation can match my skintone perfectly, I would love it very much. Too bad, it doesn't. The retail price is RM39.90 / USD11.30 with additional 20% discount from local drugstore sale.

Angelfit Liquid Foundation is only available in Asia. That means this product is Asia Exclusive but don't we as Asian mostly have yellow undertone skin? Why would Maybelline comes out with something so pinkish for Asian? Or maybe I'm the odd one out. Hahaha...

Friday, July 24, 2009

Shu Uemura Protection XTR Protector Sunscreen Milk SPF50 PA+++ Vs Guerlain Perfect White C Brightening High Protection SPF50 PA+++

It's been a really long time since my last post... Hahahaha... No idea why, I'm always feeling lazy and not in mood to do reviews or hauls posting. Anyway, I'm not doing much purchasing recently. Tight finance ! Hahahaha... But I'm still reading a lot from bloggers everyday! I'm still diligent to know more on skincare and makeups... Hehehehe...

If you can remember, I did some damages few months ago in Kuala Lumpur. Today, finally I'd finished up my Shu Uemura's SPF 50, PA+++


I was using this Shu Uemura Protection XTR Protector Sunscreen Milk SPF50 PA+++ for more than a year. Yes, the same tube of sunscreen and I can't seems to finish it until today! If I'm not mistaken, I bought this tube of sunscreen at RM160.00 / USD45.00. I find it terribly expensive and I must be crazy at that point of time to purchased it. The texture is more on white color cream to runny, no white cast if you use a little bit. The problem is, from what I've learnt from 'QUEEN', the popular Taiwanese beauty show, I would need at least 0.7 gram of sunscreen to be applied on my skin before stepping outdoor. How do I get the figure of 0.7 gram ? Here is the formula and calculate how much sunscreen do we need to apply on face:

Step 1: Get a ruler or measurement tape to measure the length and width of your face. EG.
mine is 19cm (length- top from forehead to bottom of chin) X 18cm (width -
measure from the widest part of your face, left to right) and my answer is 342.

Step 2: Use 342cm X 2 gram
342 X 0.002 - 0.68 gram

Finally, 0.68 gram is the amount of sunscreen that I need to apply on my face but this is only a rough estimation, if you are using a normal hard ruler like me to do the measurement. This is because, with hard ruler we can hardly do the measurement for the nose area. Thus, I would recommended you to use a soft measurement tape. It should be more accurate than normal ruler as you can include the size of your nose. For me, application of sunscreen always more is better than less.

I would say 0.7 gram of sunscreen is a lot but with a good quality of sunscreen, it should not be any problem. Shu Uemura's doesn't do the job that well. Although the Shu Uemura Protection XTR Protector Sunscreen Milk SPF50 PA+++ (what a mouthful name!) gives me the glow and hydrates my skin that I'm quite pleased but with 0.7 gram of Shu Uemura sunscreen milk on my face, no good feeling at all. It's oily, sticky and slow in terms of absorbent. I had to let it air dry for at least 45 minutes or so, before I can put on my powder foundation or else, it'll become cakey, patchy, uneven and blotch. No kidding ! The truth is, I don't have 45 minutes and I hate that kind of feeling especially when I'm in rush hours...

Finally, I'd finished up my Shu Uemura Protection XTR Protector Sunscreen Milk SPF50 PA+++ and today I'm using my new Guerlain Perfect White C Brightening High Protection SPF50 PA+++ (another mouthful name, hahaha).

I've bought this many months ago, and I can't remember what was the texture and how does it goes. I always have good acquaintances with Guerlain hence I'm believe this sunscreen won't disappoint me too. The texture is similar with Shu Uemura Protection XTR Protector Sunscreen Milk SPF50 PA+++, also white in color but runnier. It's so smooth and easy to glide on skin. No tugging and oily feeling at all. Although it looks a bit grey and white cast during the application but it dissappeared before I realised the changes. All I can see is my skin is smoother without much visible pores, glow and dewy but not oily. I never know this sunscreen can hide pores, after application I'd feel it barely there! Guerlain Perfect White C Brightening High Protection SPF50 PA+++ does absorb into my skin pretty fast and I'm so touched during my foundation application. The reason ? Not only it's fast absorbent reduced my waiting time, also allows me have easier foundation and powders application. I've noticed that I don't need much foundation as before, no idea why. My guessing would be my skin is smoother after applied the Guerlain sunscreen hence I don't feel like to put on so much powder on my skin. I think my skin would love not to have so much makeup on. Hahaha... The best thing is it's a perspiration resistant sunscreen! I love perspiration resistant products as my job requires me to run whole day around under the sun. Personally, I feel my purchase on Guerlain Perfect White C Brightening High Protection SPF50 PA+++ is highly worth it.

My only complain about Guerlain is they had closed their counter at my local malls. I can only get my supplies from Kuala Lumpur. If I'm not mistaken, the original price for Guerlain Perfect White C Brightening High Protection SPF50 PA+++ is RM 190.00 / USD 54.00 for 30ml.


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

~H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment

I've been hearing and seeing a lot of advertisements and raves on this particular brand, ~H2O+ but I'd never take a good look at their products. Until recently, they have open a new outlet at my local AEON JUSCO. Out of curiosity, I'd stepped in for the very first time after I've got back from Korea. ~H2O+ was having a promotion, which bring one bottle / jar of your used moisturizer and you are entitled to buy their infamous Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment Moisturiser at 50% off from the original price RM159.00 / USD 45.00. I was tempted but neither I have any used moisturizer's jar nor money to buy anything as I just got back from Korea that time. Thus, I'd just passed it.

This product claims to be a moisture intensive gel that hydrates the skin while firming and diminishing the appearances of fine lines. To be frank, I don't really like this gel moisturizer at all. The initial thought of purchased it was to minimise my pores. As I'd found that as long as I cleanse my face throughly and allow my skin to be hydrates, pores will be less visible. I'm very happy with 'The Odbo' Aqua Smooth Essence that I've bought in Korea but it's only available in Korea too. Hence, I'm eager to find a substitute for it and thought why not give it a try on ~H2O+ since Jojoba was raving about it. Just looking at her glowy and supple skin, makes me so much envious. I like to read about her reviews, she's so funny and has very detailed inputs to her reviews. Most important thing is, she's also living in Malaysia. The weather, the environment and accessibility of the products are easier from her reviews. If you wish to know more about the ingredients and how they work in this gel moisturizer, you may visit her site.

Back to the gel, I have dry but sensitive skin. Just like Jojoba mentioned, the gel feels bouncy to the touch and light weight on skin but it leaves me with some kind of stickiness, no matter how little I had it on my skin. After a few tries, I'd given up using it during day time as the gel resulted my powder foundation to blotch, uneven and patchy. I know I should wait a little bit longer for the moisturizer to fully absorb before puffing up the powder but I'm always on hurry in the morning. Hahaha... Compared between ~H2o+ to The Odbo Aqua Smooth Essence, The Odbo absorbs almost instantly yet hydrates my skin perfectly and the price is only half of ~H2o+.

Personally, I don't find ~H2o+ hydrates my skin in any manners. This doesn't mean that the gel is useless, maybe it just not enough moisture for my dry skin. Still, ~H2o+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment is nothing any cheaper than my regular moisturizer, I will finish it up for that reason. I don't think I will repurchase this product unless it gives me better results.