Monday, August 26, 2013

St. Ives Green Tea Scrub Review

Product: St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub

Price: $4.99 (Target store)

Quantity: 4.5 fl oz. or 133 mL

Packaging: White colored squeezable soft plastic tube with a clear flip up cap

Reasons to love this:
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Non-Comodogenic (won't clog pores)
  • Oil-Free
  • Paraben and Phtalates Free (Phtalates are substances added to plastic to increase it's flexibility, durability, longevity, and transparency)
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Claims to be made from 100% Naturally Derived Exfoliants
  • Contains 1% Salicylic Acid for Acne Treatment



 Reason(s) why I like it:
I have always been iffy about trying out exfoliating products because they seem to almost always break me out. I have tried many products ranging from the MAC volcanic ash, St. Ives apricot scrub (which I loathe!), and even the Clarisonic, to name a few. The only one that I've liked so far is the Cure Natural Aqua Gel (#1 Exfoliator in Japan) and quite possibly this one St. Ives Green Tea Scrub.

Though, I am not keen on exfoliating each week, I do it once in a while only as a way of pampering my skin when it really needs that extra TLC. So why do I like the St. Ives Green Tea Scrub you may ask? Well let's start off with the fresh scent. It doesn't smell strong not even close to the green tea scent if you ask me, more like honeydew or melon scent, but it's more on the fresh light side and not fruity. 

It won't break the bank! Let's face it, you want good skincare products but maybe you don't have the monetary means to shell out $100 for the supposed best exfoliating cleanser out in the market. Well, fear not for this might be the answer!

How often do you see an exfoliating scrub that also acts as a blemish controller? It clears breakouts and calms redness. Talk about multi-purpose.

  When first dispensed it looks like a very light whipped avocado cream in color and textured.

Then you spread it out onto your skin and you feel these micro-sized exfoliating particles, not a grain size, not a seed size, and even gentler and smaller than sugar scrub.

As you massage it more on the skin, the particles seem to melt away into this nice lather.

Leaving you with clean baby soft skin.

I will update you guys about this product the more I use it, so you can know more about how it affects sensitive acne-prone combination skin. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I hope you enjoyed this review. ^_^

Monday, August 19, 2013

NYX Brow Cake Review

Product: NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder

Price: $5.99 (Ulta *check cherryculture.com for discount price!)

Quantity: 2.65g

Packaging: Simple, lightweight black and clear plastic. The clear top is nice so you see the color well.

Comes in 6 different shade combos - Black/Grey, Dark Brown/Brown, Taupe/Ash, Auburn/Red, Brunette, Blonde (above pictured is in the shade Brunette).


There's an off-white wax that goes on clear, two different shades of brow powder, a spooly brush, and a stiff angled brow brush.



I used the brow brush and spooly and they are good quality, so this is great to throw in your bag for when you're in a rush to go but forget to do your brows or for general travel.

How it compares...as you can see I've tried several different brow powders. My go-to brow powder is the MAC brow shader in Maple/Soft Charcoal. I've had this for years and I've obviously barely hit pan. I only use the brow powder in soft charcoal because the maple color (lighter color) is more for highlighting the brow bone. Unfortunately, this is no longer being sold by MAC. You can most likely purchase this at a Cosmetic Company Outlet or online.

I've also tried the e.l.f studio eyebrow kit. It is $3.00, comes in 4 different shades, available online and at free-standing stores such as Walmart and Target. This one comes with a dual-ended brush, which is now loss in space somewhere. What's different about this one is the pigmented wax. The brow powder is suppose to compliment and set this colored wax but I find that it's too light.

Now onto my comparisons---
First the packaging...
   The e.l.f studio brow kit comes in a sturdy compact that has a small clear window so you can see the colors prior right off the bat and when you open the compact there is a small mirror convenient for application. It closes shut nicely and locks well so no worries about it opening suddenly while in your purse and making a mess.

   The NYX eyebrow cake has a lighter packaging compared to e.l.f You see everything inside because of the clear compact closing, but does not have a mirror. It closes shut nicely as well, but not as tightly as the e.l.f one.

   The MAC brow shader is simple. The packaging is smaller but there is more product inside. I've had this for years and never had any issues with the packaging. There is no mirror, no place of extras like a spooly, wax, or brush. It's just the powders.
 

Quality...
The pigmentation of the e.l.f studio brow powder and wax are about the same as the NYX. I'm not sure if it's because of the MAC brow powder goes on softer and is definitely more pigmented than the other two.

Price...
The MAC brow shader, depending where you purchase is the most expensive of the three. If you go to the CCO, I think it goes for $11 but Amazon sells it for about $20. The other two are inexpensive and comes with all sorts of extras, however you do get less brow powder compared to the MAC.

Excuse my bare face (sans makeup except for the brows), I am wearing the NYX brow cake in the above picture. Since it's not as pigmented, you can see that it does give a softer look to the brow. The way I applied it is by first applying the wax and then the powder to set it.

The above picture shows my brow with the e.l.f studio brow kit. It looks about the same as the NYX. The only difference is that I ONLY used the tinted wax from the e.l.f studio brow kit. This is without setting it with the brow powder that it comes with.

Here's an old picture of me using the MAC Brow shader. I apply the brow powder and then set it with a brow gel to get this result. I think although this brow powder is darker and more pigmented compared to the NYX and e.l.f, once I apply the brow gel it lightens it a bit and actually takes away the excess pigment.

I hope this review helps and thanks for stopping by my blog. ^_^

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Firmoo FREE Glasses!



1. New Customers get your first pair free at Firmoo.com right now! Check out more products!
2. All free code eligible eyegwear at that page is offered in limited quantities every day. First come, first served!
3. For new customers only. One pair per person.
4. All free frames come complete with 1.50 single vision lenses, complimentary cases, cleaning cloth and other accessories. You just need to pay shipping.
5. Full refund for dissatisfaction.





(The above model photos are all derived from Firmoo+.)
New Customers, check more products for your first free pair at Firmoo.com right now! You just need to pay shipping. First come, first served!
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About Firmoo
Firmoo is the World's Most Popular Online Eyeglasses Store. We have always been committed ourselves to offering customers the best quality products at the most affordable prices which start at 8 dollars- 80%-90% lower compared to that in local store.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow Review

The Product: MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow

Size: 0.14 oz

Price: $20

In a nut-shell these are cream eye shadows dispensed as a jumbo pencil. It's not as creamy as the NYX jumbo eye shadow pencils but not as dry as the MAC shadesticks (no longer really available these days).

I purchased these when they went on sale at Hautelook.com (amazing site by the way!) 2 eye shadow pencils for $17, but they normally retail for $20 at either Sephora store or webstore and Makeupforever.com (surely there are other online stores where you can find them). I simply could not pass up on this great deal so I bought all of the ones on Hautelook and I'm so glad I did!

There are 12 shades available. I managed to get my hands on shades -- 6E (Matte Navy Blue), 4E (Matte taupe gray), 28E (Pearly beige), 32E (Pearly white), 20E (Pearly taupe), and 30E (Pearly Pink Beige).

My first impression upon swatching the colors onto my arm is simply "Wow!" I absolutely love how pigmented the colors were and especially with just one light swipe.

It claims to be long lasting, smudge-proof and water resistant. Now, I have had the opportunity to unknowingly wear the swatches on my arm for practically the whole day (I forgot they were even there!) so, I washed my hands, dishes, and even took a shower with them on my arm. Unfortunately, the only two colors that lasted were the matte colors 6E and 4E.

However, I think the colors with pearly finish are beautiful and especially great for highlighting the eye areas, such as the inner tear duct, middle of the eye lid, under the brow bone, and lower lash line.

Would I re-purchase?

I'm glad that I was able to purchase these MUFE Aqua shadow pencils and would definitely re-purchase them again! They are a great alternative to bringing fragile eye shadows for travel and I can stress enough how much I love the finish and color pay off.




Friday, August 9, 2013

Battle of the Brighteners

I use to suffer from terrible acne as a teen and now as an adult, I've been able to move pass that, however I still have the acne scars left behind. It's probably unfair to compare these products, but to me this review will serve some purpose for those of you who are looking for ways to brighten and diminish your acne scars.

First let's talk about these two brands, POND'S and Shiseido. These are very different brands, in that Shiseido is high end and more costly and POND'S is on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to cost.

Shiseido is a highly known Japanese brand and these two products, pictured above are from their White Lucent skincare line and are available for purchase at Sephora and online stores. The White Lucent line of products from Shiseido appeals for those in the market for brightening and lightening skin products.

The Brightening Cleansing foam comes in a glossy white tube with a light pink flip open cap and is priced at $35 for 4.7 oz.
According to Sephora.com....
This reformulated skincare essential purifies the complexion and promotes a look of inner radiance. A dose of micro white powder helps remove dead surface cells to boost clarity and luminosity. 

The Brightening Moisturizer cream comes in a light pink glass jar with a plastic metallic pink cap and is priced at $59.50 for 1.7 oz. This moisturizer is to be used for nighttime but I use it for day and night because it contains SPF 21 protecting against UVA/UVB rays.
According to Sephora.com....
Help your complexion recover from daily UV damage as you sleep. This formula's Multi-Target Vitamin C helps reduce existing pigmentation, minimizing dark spots, while Tranexamic Acid adds further dark-spot action. Super-Hydro Synergy Complex deeply moisturizes and refines texture for softer, smoother skin that captures light to convey a healthy luminosity. 

In comparison to the Shiseido Brightening Cleansing foam, the POND'S Cleanser is obviously more affordable, but you may be wondering...."What about the lightening powers?" Both of these claim to lighten dark spots and help brighten the face, giving it that luminous glow, however who really delivers....

After using POND'S for almost 1 year, I find that my acne scars have slightly lightened. I don't get as many breakouts and this cleanser absolutely does a wonderful job at removing most of my face makeup. I mean, I actually see the water stained with foundation color while I'm rinsing my face. I keep one tube in the shower and one by the sink, so I use it a lot. The only issue I have is that it doesn't remove waterproof mascara well, but then again what cleanser does? So what I do is remove my eye makeup first.

 POND'S Luminous Clean Cream Cleanser (on the left) and Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam (on the right)

The Shiseido cleansing foam is actually not a foam. It does lather up to a nice soft creamy texture once you massage it onto your skin. It actually makes you want to massage your face even more because it's feels so easy to do so.

A little bit of this goes a longgggg way and it has a nice clean scent. After using this cleanser, I noticed that my skin feels squeaky clean (emphasis on the feels word), however, it is actually not. I still find residue of makeup or dirt when I use my toner after cleansing with this. It also does not remove makeup at all.

As far as scents, they are both scented. POND'S cream cleanser, however, has a much more obvious clean floral scent where as the Shiseido cleansing foam is more subtle but also smells floral.


I was recently asked if I still use the POND'S Clarant B3 Moisturizer and yes I still do. It's a good moisturizer. I can't say that I'm completely happy about it, as it sometimes leaves my skin feeling greasy, that's why I really recommend to use only a very small amount, think a dot on the forehead, cheeks, and chin. The US version of the Clarant B3 moisturizer is thicker compared to the one that can be purchased at an international store. That one is more like a lotion.

In comparison to the POND'S B3, I actually like the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing cream better and I will tell you why. Though the Shiseido moisturizer is much pricier, it is very light in consistency, does not break me out, my skin feels nourished once I apply it, and I love the fact that it gives me sun protection. I hate the price, but a little of this product also goes a long way just like the cleanser.

The Shiseido moisturizer comes with a small spatula to scoop out the product, but I don't really care for it to be honest, though I know it's more sanitary. It's great that it is an option though.

Although the Shiseido moisturizer has SPF 21, it is surprisingly not greasy once applied to the face and doesn't make my face more oily through out the day. It looks water-based even in the picture. I think the POND'S Clarant B3 is too heavy and thick for my liking. Also, the Shiseido moisturizer does not have any sunblock type of scent or feel to it, which I simply adore.

Overall, I think that the POND'S Luminous Clean Cream Cleanser is still a winner, but the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing cream beats the POND'S Clarant B3.

I hope this helps those of you who are thinking of which product might be best for brightening those pesky post-acne dark spots. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below. Also, let me know your thoughts about these products, if you have tried them yourself.

THANKS for stopping by!





Thursday, August 1, 2013

Product Review: New POND's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream

Hello stranger! You guys remember when I reviewed and designated POND'S Luminous Clean Cream Cleanser as my holy grail facial cleanser right? So you can imagine how ecstatic I was to find out about the new BB cream from the same POND'S Luminous line. Gosh, who ever came up with the idea to use the word "Luminous," which means light or glowing was a marketing genius.

Anyways, I decided to go ahead and go on the hunt for this New POND'S Luminous BB Cream after watching quite a few review vids on Youtube. A few people from the internet said that they purchased it from Walmart, but to my disappointment the one near my house did not carry it. Good thing hubby asked me to go the grocery store and get him some sore throat medicine and voila! I was able to get both of the light and medium shades that this BB cream comes in. FYI it was my local Harris Teeter that carried it. Also, in the midst of looking for the store that carries this product, I luckily stumbled upon a $2 off coupon that can be used for one of this per transaction so if you want to get both then I suggest doing separate transactions.

Now that I'm done boring you with letters..the following are for those who are more into visuals...
POND's Luminous BB+ Cream
Product Amount: 1.5 Fl. Oz. (44 mL)
Price: $11



Packaging: The tube comes in a box, with details in both English and (flip open side) Spanish. 


Though I appreciate that the expiration date is visible and clear, I would have liked it better to be on the product tube and not on the box because who really keeps their boxes these days? Also, you will notice that the expiration dates vary so I suggest looking for the one that will expire later and get your money's worth!


The tube is easy to squeeze with pink and silver colors and a hard plastic cap that twists onto the white tip also made of hard plastic
 

What it Claims to Do. . . .
  • Natural looking coverage
  • Helps prevent sunburn SPF 15 with UVA/UVB
  • Visible dark spot reduction
  • Instant luminous coverage 
  • Tone perfecting complex
  • Non-greasy moisturization
  • Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Hypoallergenic

Swatches

Light (on the left) and Medium (on the right)

After spreading the product a little bit

and then completely spreading out the product...you will notice that the light is definitely lighter with pink undertone NOT neutral in my opinion, which is what's being said about this product. the medium shade blends out better and may be more justified to be said as a neutral shade. However, the medium shade is more transparent and has less coverage than the lighter shade, which is more opaque.

My take on this product. . . .

After applying this onto my face, I noticed that I did look oily especially on my T-zone areas so a bit of blot powder or translucent is a must for me (I have oily combination skin), however, after removing it I realized that I actually did apply my Boscia Tsubaki OIL as my moisturizer for today, which may or may not affect the oily/greasy effect that this BB cream had on my face. I will re-apply it tomorrow and will also post pictures! promise ^_^

I love the fact that it can possibly reduce my dark spots and that it protects my skin from UVA and UVB rays. I didn't get any type of strong scent, if at all, from this product and believe me! I smell everything since I am prego! Hahaha. Anyways, I also like that it won't clog pores and is hypoallergenic. The packaging is OKAY with my only complaint being the expiration date should be on the tube and not on the box. 

As I said before, I will post pictures of my face with and without the BB cream so you can see for yourselves what kind of "luminous" look this BB cream gives. Also, as far as COVERAGE, the medium shade gives you a very light, almost sheer looking coverage, best for those laid back days when you just want to go au naturale. I will apply the light shade tomorrow and see how much coverage that one gives.

Would I Re-purchase. . .

I will leave this as a "no comment" for now, since I have only used this product once.

*UPDATE*

 Here are the pictures of me wearing the POND'S Luminous Finish BB+ Cream in shades light and medium

On this first picture, I applied the BB cream in Light shade on the left (technically my right side). You will notice an instant glow compared to my bare face on the right side of the picture.

Now in this picture, the Light shade is still on the left but I've also applied the Medium shade on the right. There's not much coverage, but you can see the luminosity.

I know that I previously said that I like the medium shade better because it looks to match my skin tone better, but after applying the Light shade of this BB cream I have realized that because of my acne scars, the light shade is what I prefer since it gives more coverage than the medium shade.

At the end of the day, I still found my face oily, which for me is not much of a surprise, especially in this summer heat. So I still think that using blot powder or translucent powder is a must!

I hope this review helps. Thanks for reading!

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