Packages with love and make up brush cleaning

Ella dropped off this bag of goodies for me last night, she’s so nice!!!

She said that she had too much and wanted to pass them onto me, but… my gawd.. so much, and all of them were coincidentally things I’ve been wanting to try!

Serums, Skin food Omija Whitening set, sleeping masks, face masks, eye masks, eye cream, and even two pair of CK jeans that were too big for her.  Surprisingly they fit me.. and were actually a little loose too… I feel good XD AHAHAHA

Anyways thank you so much ^^ Going to cherish all of these!

I’ve been inspired by all these make up tool cleaning videos I’ve been seeing on youtube and I went on a make up tool cleaning spree at like.. 12am one night, and spent 2-3 hours on it… seriously late night lol

I am really lazy, and I just sit them on top of my box if I am just quick cleaning them.

Don’t do that if you are washing your brushes people…

Something different was a video by BeautyQQ.

She is so unique and creative, her ideas are always different.  This inspired me to clean even my sponge tip applicators – something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time but was worried they wouldn’t survive the cleaning process.

Couldn’t get all the colour out but they are pretty clean

I am reluctant to put these under the tap though, because I think it would really ruin the applicators.

Example of ruined sponge tip applicator.  This is an old Kate one.

From this cleaning experience, I really got to learn more about the different sponge tip applicators offered by various brands.

I found that the poorer quality sponge tips didn’t survive the cleaning process.

What I have found is that each brand rarely alternates sponge tip applicators and each brand has its own unique perks.

The best applicators I found were by Esprique, Lunasol, Coffret D’or and Visee.  The sponge part was dense, did not move around a lot on the plastic bit when wiping them, and were easiest to clean.

My experience is that, the best applicators must pass two tests.

1. When you bend the sponge part, it shouldn’t feel like the sponge is moving too differently on the plastic bit inside.
2. When you squeeze the sponge, it shouldn’t depress a lot.  It should feel quite springy.  Jill Stuart and some of Visee’s newer applicators were too squishy.

My favourite of them all is the one in the new Visee Glam Shade eyes.  I love how the bigger end is pointy as well!

I was worried that Lunasol’s applicators would crumble because I saw a few extra holes show up when cleaning it but it turned out alright.

Kate’s sponge tip applicators apply well, but also crumbled the most!! I don’t know why this is the case because they feel similar to Visee’s forming eyes ones.

At the top is Visee’s Glam Nude x Royal Party e/s, and below is from Blossom Eyes.

These were the poorer quality ones by Visee when they were trying to be innovative and putting a brush on one end.  I’m so glad they stopped doing that because it was horrible!

As you can see, the seams split apart because the sponge tip was too floppy and moved around the plastic when I was wiping it.

I used Bare Escentual’s quick change brush cleaner to do all my cleaning.

I was too lazy to wash them with water.  Shall do it next time ahaha

This quick change brush cleaner has a purpose of doing a quick clean for your brushes so that you can use many colours with the same brush.

Pros

• Really does do a quick clean, it can clean waterproof eyeliner off the brush too
• Relatively cheap, $17AUD from Strawberrynet
• generous size – 110mL
• hygienic bottle
• I choose this to clean my sponge tip applicators

Cons

• Very strong scent
• Have to spray at least 4 sprays onto cloth before you can start cleaning your brushes
• Can actually use up a lot of product by the end of all that cleaning
• Does leave some residue, so still need to actually wash the brushes after a few quick cleans
• Not really that quick drying

At the end of the day, I don’t know if I would repurchase.  I wouldn’t say I definitely won’t but I would need to try other products first.

And to end my super long post,

I bought all this lace from a craft shop at Greenslopes.  So many pretty laces – I need to put my mind in creative mode again and turn this into jewellery.

This could take a while… lol…

Some new eye shadows and miscellaneous stuffs

I received my shortly awaited Esprique Precious green eyeshadow from Beckie who so kindly bought it for me while she was in HK

Esprique Precious Dual Gradation Eyes in D2

I am so addicted to the texture, colour pay off and cuteness of this range!  This is my last though – not very fond of the new revamped Esprique, so BORING.

Pretty golden olive greens with shimmery peach to put on the bottom

She also gave me the “freebie” it comes with (after she got sucked into buying a blush XD)

I also got this from Beckie, must be another gift?

Stila E/S duo in Orchid

Very silky texture – light lavender, and deep vibrant purple with an iridescent finish

I think I don’t have a purple like this yet

I also made a purchase from Adambeauty, I think in late February?

I really couldn’t resist the new Visee eyeshadows, they looked so shimmery, so me!!

I wasn’t going to get this colour  because I have a few blues already and I don’t really wear blue often.  But Fuzkittie screwed me over by saying how the blue was to die for gahhh ><

She was so right T.T The blue is like shimmery denim!

Surprisingly this doesn’t turn out looking cheap and actually gives a smoky look with a bit of blue pop.  I guess it depends on how you wear it though.

The eyeshadow in GY-6

This makes an awesome beigey grey smokey eye.

The grey is this intensely shimmery bordering metallic gunmetal colour horrrr

Overall I was quite impressed with this collection.

Pros:

• Pretty packaging ^^
• No more brush applicator! The sponge applicators are now longer and have a pointier tip which makes application very easy
• All powder shadows
• Very smooth and silky texture with great pigmentation
• Super shimmery
• The blacks in this range are SOOO intense!  Probably the most pigmented blacks Visee has come up with.

Cons:

• A bit of difficulty blending the colours properly despite the silky texture, but patting the colours on made the application evenly

I also decided to buy the Juju Aquamoist Moisturizing & Whitening toner after Viv the ex-receptionist told me about this one

Nothing too fancy, it’s clear with no scent (at least I don’t notice it).  It feels really nice and I have noticed that my pores have gotten smaller after using this toner Can’t say much about the whitening properties yet though.

I should also mention a finishing powder I bought from Adambeauty with my NeGoo hair curler set.  I’ve been using it for a while now and I think it does the job.

Kokuryudo Point Magic loose finishing powder

I wasn’t very impressed when I saw all those shimmery bits, but it’s actually pretty nice.

It provides no coverage and gives the skin a nice glow.  People don’t really notice the shimmery bits unless they look really closely  Not bad for $8.50 USD!!

And that ends my random assortment

Cleansers

Ricky’s awesome bangers and mash.  I love his food.  Of course I love him too teehee

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to review today.  I thought the easiest was cleansers since I have quite a few now.

I have upgraded my cleansing routine because I’ve started to care a lot about my skin, and I’m sick of pores, and I’m scared of getting wrinkles, and I hate my freckles.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Beckie actually introduced this to me.  I’m glad she has experience with waterproof make up remover!

I was really sick of how crap The Balm Balms Away remover was, and sick of using cotton pads to rub my eyes.  I just wanted something simple.

Pros:

• Thick oil, easy to spread (I like it thick, doesn’t feel like I’m ruining my eyes)
• Emulsifies really well and leaves no oily residue
• Removes waterproof mascara!!!
• Economic I think.  I use like.. a third pump for each eye.
• Large size (200mL), hygienic pump

Cons:

• Expensive – $31.20 AUD (but will last me ages since I only need it for my eyes)
• Stings when it gets in my eyes! (If you get eye make up remover, it needs to not sting, but no matter what, it will get in your eyes.)
• Eyes get cloudy if it gets in my eyes
• Not very travel friendly

Overall, happy with this as my first cleansing oil.  I don’t think I will repurchase again as first choice though.  I want to try Softymo’s White C/O next, though I believe that DHC emulsifies the best ><

Food A Holic Charcoal Daily Purifying Foam Cleanser

This was a very cheap buy from a Korean grocery store for only $3AUD for 180mL.  There were a few different ranges, but I chose Charcoal for whatever reason I forgot now.  Forgot to take a picture of the back of the box.

Pros:

• No skin irritations
• Removes my cream and BB cream in one go.
• Goes from a neat grey toothpaste consistency cream to a foam
• Leaves my skin squeaky clean
• So cheap!

Cons:

• Looks like a knock off of The Face Shop
• No idea whether this is good for your skin.  Having said that though, I have had no skin irritations
• Only works up into a thin foam
• Not the most pleasant of scents.  Definitely has a hint of tar but I get used to it.
• No information or reviews online

 

Ylem Flower Basic Plus Soft Peeling Gel

I have no clue how to read korean and all I can understand is 3-5!!

3-5 what? minutes? times per week?  I have no clue.

Feel free to translate it.. actually PLEASE TRANSLATE IT!!!

This was $3-6 AUD?  I wanted something that can help me deep cleanse my skin.  I’m quite daring because my skin doesn’t seem overly sensitive.

Pros:

• Smells nice, really refreshing
• I feel like it does deep clean my skin, without stripping it down
• My skin doesn’t feel tight straight after washing it off, but of course it would after a few minutes.
• Doesn’t irritate my skin, only if I concentrate on one area too long.
• Very big and cheap.  $3-6 for 150mL

Cons:

• Bad instructions!  I just try my luck.  I’ve tried every combination: dry/wet skin, wait/no wait… everything seems to just do the same.  I prefer dry skin, wait 1-2 min, rub, then wait another 1-2 min.
• No information, no reviews, no nothing on this.
• Leaves a very slight film that’s not greasy and I think it disappears pretty quick.  Don’t need to double cleanse it.

St Ives Daily Microderm-Abrasion

I’m still a loyal St Ives fan.  This is my new found love.

Pros:

• Cheap on sale at Priceline XD $7.99AUD
• Gentle enough to use everyday (for me)
• Pleasant, refreshing scent
• The small little scrubs really do scrub, and they scrub well
• Only need a small amount to cleanse the whole face

Cons:

• Nil!

On a different note, I made my first Lush purchase around… October I think.

Lush hand made lip sugar lip scrubs

Mint Julips – Peppermint and chocolate

Sweet Lips – Vanilla and chocolate

These were also a cheap buy at around $6AUD each.

Ingredients are so simple!

Nothing too interesting inside, tight packed sugars with oils.

Pros:

• Smells great
• Some people eat this, some people don’t eat it.  The SA said it’s edible.
• Actually tastes nice ahahahaha.. I’m afraid to eat too much of this though.
• Simple formula
• Scrubs away some dead cells

Cons:

• Doesn’t actually scrub as well as I expected
• Really messy
• Not that easy to get out of the tub and onto the lips.  Need damp fingers.
• Should be better ones out there

Christmas + New(ish) Hauls

Have you started Christmas shopping? Ricky and I have… damn it’s bank breaking!

That’s not even all of it…

 

I thought I would also share a few new things, though I’m so behind that I have stuff from back in Oct/Nov I still haven’t blogged about… oops

A recent little haul from Adambeauty and Ichibankao

I think of it as my Christmas present to myself hehe

Everything here was from Adambeauty apart from the DHC men’s facial foaming wash (for the bf), Visee palettes and Jill Stuart brochures.

TBH I was really worried about my package from Ichibankao.  They say they include the shipping costs with each item, so I would expect at least Registered Post, but they only offer free REGULAR shipping.  Luckily for me my Adambeauty package arrived on the same day so the mail man handed both of them over personally.  Really puts me off because I have to worry whether it will get stolen while sitting in my letter box.

Stocked up on my Heroine Make Long & Curl mascara and Koji pencil liners.  I think on average, the mascara lasts me 1.5-2mth, and liner lasts me around 3 months (only use 3x/wk).  I don’t think I’ll need to repurchase any of these until at least April ^^

Keyring is from Adambeauty.  Loves their accessories.  Always good quality for very cheap price.  That star one was only $4.50USD.

Bloody Tsuya no Mayutama cocoon exfoliators

WTF is with the rave about these useless pieces of rough shits?!

Pros:

• Apparently all natural silk containing sericin

Cons:

• I put it in boiling hot water for 20 minutes and it was still very much hard
• I might as well exfoliate my skin with sand paper
• This shit irritated my skin! And it’s not even chemical!  My skin hardly ever gets irritated..
• It SOOO did not clean anything.. ANYTHING!! FFS
• waste of $7USD.. could have bought something that actually works for a few bucks more

Beauty Foot Peeling Mask

Bought this from Adambeauty for $18USD.  I still haven’t found time to use this.  It also has this super super small tube of L’egere hand/foot cream.  Pretty useless IMO.

Apparently it makes your feet STINK, and PEEL like a reptile, but leaves you with baby feet after  I have to find a week where I won’t see anyone before I use it.. and no.  I WILL NOT POST PICTURES OF BEFORE AND AFTER! WTF that’s disgusting LOL  Sorry to those that are sick enough to want to see it

The highlight of my haul: Visee Glam Nude Eyes Royal Party Collection

On the left: Blond Fur N-7; On the right: Rose Fur N-6

I tried to resist so bad.. but these palettes were both screaming out to me T.T  Ichibankao was the only place I could find it on.  It’s damn pricy at ~$27AUD.  Visee should really only be $22USD at most, but it’s worth it because straight after I bought them – They were out of stock!!! BUAHAHAHAHA MINE!!

The colours are so complicated in this limited edition range.  But I love this palette.

Excuse my scaly yucky skin.  I think I should invest in good hand cream lols

It was so hard to get a good photo of these colours, this is the best I could do on my point & shoot ><

Really pretty rustic rose pink colour, not too red, not too pink, nice and neutral with a bit of bling.  Totally fits in with the theme hehe

I have no colour close to these as of yet

The cream colours in the Visee ranges are continually improving, and the texture of this palette was the most buttery soft I have felt so far.

Visee Glam Nude Eyes Royal Party Collection in Blond Fur N-7

The left pic was as gold as I could get it.  Most of the time it looks like the right- almost taupish for some reason

The gold looks more gold when swatched hehe

TBH I actually liked this palette less than N-6. The colour turns out frosty more easily, and is a lot more neutral than N-6.

Actually both of them swatch very nicely, being very shimmery and metallic, but they appear more frosty on the eyes.  Nevertheless I love these palettes as they are buildable and do look very shimmery despite being slightly frosty.  I have found that with the newer ranges such as Blossom Eyes, the colours become very pretty once I have used into the palette.

I take it all back.  No frosty!! Metallic shimmery goodness with the use of brushes.. teehee ^^

I personally prefer the old sponge applicators, as I think that the brush doesn’t pick up the shadow as well as it should.  I like using my ecotools brushes more with these shadows.

Aube gloss Fruitina in 15 orange

A transparent orange tinted gloss

Got this because it was on sale on Adambeauty for $4.50USD, and I always wanted to try different lip glosses.

Pros:

• lips look pretty and plump for 15 minutes

Cons:

• high gloss = oily lips
• makes my lips flake, dries it out too
• just dislike it in general, will stick to my Castledew VOV ones…

And that ends my post  I shall start with skincare reviews soon.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!