Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Daiso Japan Beauty Haul

Let's Be Frank

Review: Benefit's Lollitint

Review: Models Prefer Eyeshadow Quad in Hook Me Up

Essence Trend Edition Beauty Beats (Girl on Tour with Justin Bieber)

Review: Indeed Laboratories Pepta-bright

Lust Have It! October 2013

Review: L'Oréal Super Liner Perfect Slim

Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Sunday, 3 August 2014

Daiso Japan Beauty Haul

I've never really ventured into Asian cosmetics even though I'm quite Asian myself.
Perhaps, it could be the associated unfamiliarity and how there is a slight degree of difficulty to accessing such products.

Fortunately, ever since I became acquainted with Daiso Japan, I've proceeded a step forward in engaging with Asian beauty products.

For those who haven't heard of this amazing Japanese discount retailer,  Daiso Japan sells various items including stationary, beauty products, toys, personal care items, kitchenware, manchester, apparel and cleaning products - all for $2.80. Yes, under three dollars each.

Since the expansion of these stores throughout Sydney, I was able to visit one and produce a worthy haul!

 (The haulage)

I've been meaning to try their eyebrow pencils (more like eyebrows pens) after hearing my peers used them.
There are different varieties present but I settled on two "brands" based on their appeal.


Daiso Japan Eye Brow Pencils (various)
The shades came in black, dark brown and brown. I settled on dark brown and brown even though my  hair colour is black because through experience, I believed these shades would provide the most natural look on me.


Each of the eyebrow pencils selected had a spoolie brush attached at the end. Additionally, they all encompassed a twist mechanism, allowing the lead to surface out.

The first two eyebrow pencils (0.3 g) shown have a triangular shaped lead which allowed for more accurate and precise defining. These pencils had the brush side labelled so you don't get confused which side is which when they are both capped on.

The third eyebrow pencil (hot pink pen) (0.22 g) isn't labelled as the aforementioned pencils. However, the lead is of a circular-oval shape, allowing you to "make the inner corner thick and outer corner thin with this spin pencil lead" (quoted from packaging).

(swatches: dark brown, brown, dark brown (pink pen))

When swatched on my arm, these pens appeared to be hard and quite the opposite of creamy - I couldn't get much pigmentation from them. However when I applied them to my eyebrows, it was easier to work with; I really liked how naturally defined my eyebrows look. These Korean-made eyebrows pencils don't need to be sharpened as they encompass the twist up mechanism. 
For $2.80, these pens aren't too bad and I would probably repurchase these again, if I was on a budget. I would recommend these pens for those who already have full brows and want that minor touch of definition.


Daiso Japan Cotton Puffs (2 x 90 pieces)
I love these to death. I stopped buying the Aldi or Coles makeup rounds ever since I discovered these. Super-soft, lint-free square puffs that are effective for removing my makeup, at only $2.80 for 180 pieces (2 x 90 pieces), I don't think there's a better offer than that. Will forever repurchase!
(Made in China).


Daiso Japan Vitamin C Cleansing Tissue (35 sheets)
These have a citrus scent upon using them, but after a while, the scent fades away. I really liked the material the sheets are composed of, they're soft and durable - exactly what I look for in a cleansing wipe. The cleansing "tissues" perform adequately well in removing my makeup. I would definitely repurchase these considering the performance and how cheap they are compared to other brands. These are made in Korea.

Daiso Japan Detergent for Puff and Sponge (80 mL)
Finally a Japanese product to showcase. This is my HG brush cleaner girls! I've heard so much about this "brush cleaner" on the blogosphere and after scouring around, I finally found them! They're quite low in stock in the stores I visited; I'm sure word got around how effective they are! I only dispense a small amount in warm water and it gets my brushes clean after a good soak. I would forever repurchase this! The only complaint I would make is the amount of product in the bottle - the bottle doesn't appear to be completely filled up.

Daiso Japan Pore Care Pack (4 pieces)
My first experience with pore strips was with Biorè. Boy, that was quite a satisfying experience! I don't really need to use pore strips that often but I made a purchase because, c'mon, for $2.80 I would like to gain the sick pleasure of ripping my nose off. Jokes aside (a bad one indeed), these charcoal based strips work just as well as the Biorè ones, so if you're looking for a cheaper alternative, give these a shot! 
(Made in Korea).

There's a lot more going on at Daiso Japan in regards to beauty products. I'm definitely going back to have a look and purchase a few more items to play with. 
Once again, Daiso Japan sells "everything $2.80, everyday".

Friday, 14 February 2014

Let's Be Frank

I'm going to be unclose and personal with you.

I think you need to "Get naked. Get Dirty. Get Rough. Get Clean" and most importantly, have a good time! Life's too short to be worrisome about your unflattering bits. 

Need some assistance? No worries, bring in my new acquaintance, Frank (say hi!).

(coconut & grape seed variant - green label)

Summer's partially about flaunting those sexy bikini bods, one has been strategically working on for months. I may not have the ideal physique but I'm one step closer to summer-ready skin thanks to this Frank Body coffee scrub.


Currently there are two variants of the coffee scrub available on the Frank Body website (frankbody.com), original ($14.95/200g bag) and the coconut & grapeseed ($17.95/200g bag).
The packaging is a resealable, paper bag.


I purchased the coconut & grape seed variant, which claims to
- target cellulite, stretch marks, psoriasis, varicose veins, eczema and acne with roasted, ground arabica coffee beans
- moisturise, tone and repair the skin with grape seed oil
- hydrate the skin and tend to imperfections with coconut oil
- gently smooth lumps and bumps with coconut flakes, brown sugar, jojoba beads and sea salt
- work wonders from the outside in with the added vitamins and minerals.

A lot of claims said, I was very excited to try the product out.

The product is a dry type of scrub; I used two fistfuls of the product (for entire body). Fresh from the shower and while in it, I massaged the scrub in circular motions, concentrating on the problem areas. For coffee lovers, the scent will send you in pure bliss; I admit, on the days I use Frank, my showers have been much more enjoyable (indulging in that lovely coffee aroma!). It is recommended to leave the scrub on to dry for 5-10 minutes.


After washing the scrub off, my skin felt so soft, smooth and well exfoliated, a feeling I've never encountered before. Believe me, I've had my fair share of body scrubs. Since I have combination skin, I used a body wash after to remove the excess oil (as recommended for combo-oily skin types). In the instance of not using a body wash, there will be a slight oily finish to the skin and a lingering scent of coffee (yum!).

I do believe using Frank on a weekly basis yielded improvements in the texture and appearance of my skin. The whole experience is personally pure luxury.
I highly recommend this product for those who seek a great moisturising and exfoliating body scrub, additionally, those who seek an experience like no other!

Aussie residents can purchase Frank Body scrubs from the website and get free shipping to their door!

So what are you waiting for?
Get naked.
Get dirty.
Get rough.
Get clean.

Monday, 6 January 2014

Review: Benefit's Lollitint

Benefit's newest addition to the tint family, Lollitint (purchased in my 2nd Benefit haul) couldn't arrive at a more perfect time. Pantone has announced Radiant Orchid as the colour of 2014! Yay, for being right on trend Benefit! Lollitint is  described as a candy-orchid tint for the lips and cheeks (sounds so dreamy!).

(can't resist that! Image off benefitcosmetics.com)

(love the cute packaging!)

Unscrewing the lid you get a nail polish applicator to transfer the product onto the cheeks and lips.
The product itself is of a milky nature similar to the consistency of Benefit's Posietint. After applying the thin layer to my cheeks, I blend everything in immediately with my fingers and the result is sheer (lilac/pink) yet buildable to an intense purple/fuschia shade.
The product blends in seamlessly on the cheeks in comparison to Benefit's Benetint. The tint is surprisingly very wearable and would look beautiful on all skin tones.
Application on the lips however, is a bit disappointing. I did not achieve a even stain and had to apply many layers, which is expected as I don't fare well with lip stains. Additionally, my lips looked dried out - not a pretty sight!
Despite the negative attributes, wear time was quite good depending on the base. Over a BB cream base, the stain lasts around 8 hours. Over bare cheeks, I presume the wear time would be greater.



(swatches in daylight: single layer and blended out)

(Hello! Lollitint on my cheeks and lips)

Overall I love this product more than Benetint! If you found Posietint to be too light for your liking you might enjoy Lollitint. Additionally, if you've enjoyed using Benefit's Hervana you might also like Lollitint. The aforementioned stain could easily be the liquid version of Hervana - a great pairing if you ask me!

Lollitint retails for $30 (12.5 mL/0.42 fl. oz.) on the Benefit website and is available in Australia sometime NEXT MONTH at the usual Benefit cosmetics stockists.

So, beauties will you be embracing the new year with Benefit's Lollitint? I mean, for the prettiest (flirtiest) flush that's right in season (BANG ON TREND), why not?

Saturday, 21 December 2013

Review: Models Prefer Eyeshadow Quad in Hook Me Up

Anybody remember this song?


Because that's the song that played in my head the moment I picked up the Models Prefer Eyeshadow Quad in Hook Me Up.
I picked this up on sale for under $5 (half price!) at Priceline a few weeks backpartially because they reminded me of the Wet n Wild eyeshadow palettes, with the suggested use embossed into the product. For my benefit, they take the guesswork out of things - eyeshadow application for beginners like myself have been made a whole lot easier!



The eyeshadow quad features four shimmer shades - a champagne base, a gold lid shade, a purple-maroon crease shade with a pink sheen (gorgeous shade!) and a bronze corner shade.
Pigmentation is quite decent; the crease shade is noted to have poorer pigmentation than the other shades, albeit the problem can be fixed with applying them in a wet nature and building the colour up.
The shades are velvety but not creamy as other products plus they aren't chalky either.
I really adore the shade combination provided; the shades compliment my brown eyes quite beautifully.
The packaging is one aspect which I really dislike - it's what I expected from a brand as such, cheap plastic packaging that would easily break at the "hinge". Additionally, I found it difficult to open the quad without incurring damage to my nail polish.

Wear time without a primer underneath - 2-3 hours, by the fourth hour I noticed a bit of fading.



Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the product, considering I only paid $5 for them. It's not a bad product; I would suggest this quad to beginners in makeup and to those looking for something more affordable (but if you're looking for something that would give you more bang for your buck check out this palette.)

The product is made in China.

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Essence Trend Edition Beauty Beats (Girl on Tour with Justin Bieber)

Limited (trend) edition with Justin Bieber thrown in the mix? You've got yourself a winner.
Just...kidding. I honestly have a love/hate relationship with the beibs.
However, I just couldn't pass up on these newly released edition from one of my favourite brands Essence featuring the boy/man himself.

Would you look at that?!

(courtesy of Essence)

I headed to the Priceline at Parramatta Westfields last week to find a freshly set up stand and picked up the following items:


(Left to right: 01 Groupie At Heart blush, 03 As Long As You Love Me eyeshadow, 01 Groupie At Heart and 03 I'm Backstage lipglosses)



Essence 01 Groupie At Heart blush ($4.25 AUD)
This has got to be one of my favourite products Essence has brought out. I love the embossed "boyfriend" all over the blush - looks really pretty in real life. The colour is of a rose-pink which at first I thought was matte but when swatched, there is a really flattering associated silver sheen. The texture is so velvety soft and pigmentation is surprisingly good for such a cheap product. This blush is much more superior to the blushes previously released from Essence. Perfect for "beliebers" and those seeking that natural flushed cheeks easily acquire after singing your lungs out at a concert (e.g. a Justin Bieber concert!). I highly recommend this blush - it'll make a lovely stocking filler too!



Essence 03 As Long As You Love Me eyeshadow ($2.85 AUD)
Would you look at that price? Cheaper than your cup of coffee.
This eyeshadow was not as velvet and pigmented as the blush but it comes close and is certainly buildable. I actually think the sheerness of it is perfect for younger girls! It's not chalky like other cheap eyeshadows. This eyeshadow does have a bit of fall out, nevertheless, it's another great stocking filler!

Essence 01 Groupie At Heart lipgloss ($3.50 AUD)
A gorgeous pinkish-red with a hint of coral that is perfect for summer. These are like the Essence Stay With Me lipglosses (mentioned here) which have great pigmentation and leaves a subtle stain on the lips. I love these lipglosses; very excited to see these on display.

Essence 03 I'm Backstage lipgloss ($3.50 AUD)
What a strange colour for a lipgloss! (one of the reasons why I purchased it). This gloss is like the former yet it comes out clear with a slight glittery blue tinge. Bored of your average clear gloss? Try this one instead!

(Left to right swatches : 01 Groupie At Heart blush, 03 As Long As You Love Me eyeshadow, 01 Groupie At Heart and 03 I'm Backstage lipglosses)

I'm loving this trend edition, it is perfect for the Justin Bieber fanatic and those looking for super affordable yet decent quality makeup!

For more information on the other products in this trend edition, click here.

All of the Essence products mentioned in this post are made in Poland.
To see if your Priceline store is stocking this trend edition, please refer to Essence Australia's Facebook.

Saturday, 23 November 2013

Review: Indeed Laboratories Pepta-bright

I'm finally back from my month-long absence.
Studying, exams, personal dramas and indulging in comfort food were certainly part of the equation.
I'm so glad to be liberated from my studies (for a while); definitely looking forward to engaging in more of my favourite leisure activities like cooking, hanging out with dear loved ones and SHOPPING.

On the topic of shopping, I am guilty of spending way too much this month.
As usual, I couldn't resist the pre-Christmas sales. I had to get my hands on those limited edition, released-around-Christmas beauty gifts and pressies for the special people in my life.

One unrelated purchase was a relatively new skincare product, Indeed Laboratories (Indeed Labs) Pepta-brightpurchased from Priceline (now available!) at an introductory price.
Now, I've heard of Indeed Labs' Hydraluron (earlier released product) but I wasn't interested in it much as hydration wasn't a main skincare concern of mine.

(white packaging/tube - sorry about the lighting!)

Pepta-bright is an "ultra-concentrated cream-serum" that helps to
1. Even skin tone
2. Reduce and lighten hyperpigmentation
3. prevent, treat and diminish dark spots
4. Restore luminosity and radiance to the skin
5. Prevent photoaging
6. Stimulate cell turnover
7. Maintain skin's hydration

Points 1. 2. and 3. is what I'm currently looking for in a skincare product. I'm still relatively young (early twenties), so I didn't want to use anything too harsh on my skin. After reading Caroline Hirons' review and others from younger bloggers like myself, I gave it a shot.

So yesterday, straight after cleansing, I applied the serum all over my face, minus the eye area, then topped it off with my current moisturiser. The smell was unpleasant but I didn't really mind. I went to bed and woke up four hours later to cram in a bit of studying before my exams.
Before I even observed my face after waking up, I could feel some inflammation happening under the nose area and a bit on my cheeks. The area under nose and my left cheek were covered in clusters of papules (no whiteheads) that left my skin irritated and dry. This was my first time having such an adverse reaction to a skincare product. I am actually a frequent user of relatively harsh products e.g. contains salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, so I wasn't expecting a reaction like this.

Fast forward to the next day (that's today!) and my skin has well improved after I continued with my regular skin routine and skipped Pepta-bright altogether. Papules have shrunk and hardly noticeable (some gone) but my skin around the nose and cheeks area is still dry.
There are a few factors to consider why this didn't work for me, but I won't be trying the serum again. Better safe than sorry!

Lesson learned: a product that works for another might not (unfortunately) work for you! I'm a bit letdown by the "results" but don't let that stop you from trying this product out if you're interested.

There is a lack of reviews reporting on adverse reactions, so here's my one!
If you have sensitive or "young" skin, I'll be cautious.
Product is made in Canada if you're wondering.
You can pick up Indeed Laboratories  Pepta-bright from Priceline for $27.99 during the promotional period.

I hope you found this review helpful.
Have a beautiful day everyone!

Update: After consulting with Priceline's customer service, I was told to return the product for a full refund. The product was deemed "faulty" and was to be returned to the company (or so I was told).

Friday, 25 October 2013

Lust Have It! October 2013

Wow, what a busy month.
I actually celebrated my 21st birthday just last week, even though it was nothing big because of the bombardment of assignments and exams.

A few days ago, when I headed out the door (hello uni!)  I actually bumped into the postman.
As usual, he handed me my post and I was so surprised to find it was my Lust Have It! box!
What a refreshing change to the box, I'm a fan!






October 2013's box is a 'Spring Race Carnival Edition'. I'm not heading to the carnival any soon but I'm very curious to see how these products can help one hitting the races.


(swatch: Le Tan Wash Off Instant Looking Tan in Bronze)

1. Le Tan Wash Off Instant Looking Tan in Bronze (40 g)
Unfortunately, I don't use any tanning products but I'll be sure to pass this on to someone who might enjoy it more than I will. Aside from that, I think this is great if you're experimenting with tanning products or just want a temporary fix!



2. INIKA Mineral Eyeshadow in Platinum 12 (Full sized 1.2 g, RRP $25)
Initially, I was quite intimidated by the nature of the eyeshadow - it's one of those loose powder ones. I've actually never used these before but I'm quite excited - it's a lovely sparkly pale silver shade that can easily be an all over body shimmer! I'm loving the fact these can be used on the most sensitive of eyes (perfect for me!); it looks absolutely stunning on the eyelids. I pulled off the seal to get a closer look at the product (that's why it's a bit messy).

3. Paula's Choice Oil Blotting Papers
There's quite a lot of sheets here. Blotting papers are always handy for me especially midday or after a stressful situation! I'm eager to use these to compare them to other brands I've used.

4. evo Ritual Salvation Care Shampoo and Conditioner (50 mL each)
How cute are these bottles! Definitely caught my eye there. I don't have coloured hair but I do have weak, brittle hair which makes these useful.

(swatch: Smitten Whipped Tinted Mousse Moisturiser in Cappuccino)

5. Smitten Whipped Tinted Mousse Moisturiser in Cappuccino
I've never heard of this brand and I'm not sure what the size of this is. It's actually labelled as a foundation and moisturiser, instead of being a 'tinted' moisturiser. The shade is a bit too dark for me so I'll be passing this on to someone else. I love the whipped mousse texture and the matte finish but unfortunately, not the fragrance - not pleasant.

6. Princess Skincare Hyaluronic Acid Mask (Full sized, RRP $25)
This is one expensive mask! Skeptical of the price, I checked this out online and it actually retails more!
Perfect mask for my mum; I'll be sure to pass this onto her as she can really benefit from the reduction of fine lines and boost of firmness and elasticity.

Overall, this box did not disappoint. I liked the contents even though I don't plan on using all of them.
You've got a bit of value, diversity and nothing was deemed 'useless'! My favourite item would have to be the INIKA eyeshadow; so gorgeous and versatile! There's also the inclusion of vouchers to use including one for the tanning spray and for a purchase on The Iconic.

So, what did you think of this month's box? Have you received yours yet?
If you haven't, you can sign up here for their monthly beauty box that retails for $19.95.
You can use the code Herdays to get $5 off your first box!

Have a beautiful day everyone!
And for those tackling assignments, exams and stress (or any hardships), wishing you the best of luck!

(This box was provided for my consideration.)

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Review: L'Oréal Super Liner Perfect Slim

"Slim felt tip eyeliner, precise & intense line"


There have been increasingly more days where I'm in the mood to sport a more natural look. Why, may you ask? My friends have been telling me that I have a 'cake face' on and that has prompted me to revisit the 'barely there' look.

On the release of L'Oréal's new eyeliner - Super Liner Perfect Slim liquid eyeliner, I purchased a stick in the shade Intense Black, as it claims to produce a very thin line which is of course, great for a minimal makeup look.

I've always been a fan of L'Oréal's products, so I was expecting this eyeliner to be of high efficacy.

The eyeliner features a stiff 0.4 mm tip which produced a thin, precise, solid matte line. I love how there is a matte surface where I naturally hold the pen (gripping area) - perfect for beginners; makes it so easy to hold (you have total control)! There's certainly good pigmentation with the ink; much more pigmented than the Maybelline Master Precise liquid liner (view swatches below). Lasting power is also a positive attribute of this product. 

In my experience, I had no trouble with working with my right eye but with my left eye, I found it a bit difficult to emulate the same perfect eye. Drawing wings was much easier with this eyeliner; the thin tip can actually help create a more defined look.

(Top to bottom: Rimmel Glam' Eyes professional liquid linerMaybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner and L'Oréal Super Liner Perfect Slim)

Wearing L'Oréal's eyeliner on my left eye (as viewed) Vs. no eyeliner eye (right)

Overall, I really like this eyeliner; you can achieve a subtle look and it is easily buildable to a more dramatic eye. Great for beginners, those opting for more definition in their winged eyeliner looks and those who prefer felt-tip liners.

L'Oréal's Super Liner Perfect Slim liquid eyeliner can be found at stockists of L'Oréal cosmetics such as Priceline for $24.45.

I hope you found this review helpful!
Have a beautiful day everyone!

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