LIPSTICK | Makeup Revolution Iconic Matte Nude Revolution in Lust

I was mostly intrigued by the rose gold packaging, which is "similar" to the Charlotte Tillbury one that's like 6 times the price

I thought Lust would be a more neutral color, but it's kind of a bright pink coral

Korean style - applied to middle only

Full lip 

Not super drying for a matte lipstick, if the colors are more wearable I'd buy more

Not sure if you see the brightness in the photo as it makes my face a bit washed out. It is a bit neon in my opinion, but the lipstick seems really long wearing. I wiped off some while eating and it was still present towards the end of the day. 

Price

$5 for 0.11 oz 

Purchase at Ulta here

DRY SHAMPOO | Orlando Pita Revive

If anyone likes shopping at Costco, you probably have seen this.

I purchased this several months ago for $15 for the 5 oz /142 g and a 1.8 oz / 51 g

I actually quite like this. Although it looks gray at first, it brushes out quite nicely on my dark roots. The scent is pretty refreshing, not particularly pleasant but not weird.

My hair looks really fresh and not gross when I use a decent amount

I noticed the trick to using dry shampoo is really using enough to absorb all the oils, esp if you have an oily scalp like me.

If you're in the market for a dry shampoo, I do recommend this one, but I think Bastiste is just as good (maybe better according to my roommate, who claims this one is a bit sticky - which I don't notice) and slightly cheaper. I always love a travel size dry shampoo though 

The brand Orlando Pita is also available at Ulta, but obviously Costco is slightly cheaper.

I also tried their volume shampoo and heat protectant treatment, and a leave in conditioner (see photos below), all of which are pretty decent. I am not blown away by this brand but I will probably use it all up.

LIPSTICK | Estee Lauder Pure Color Love lipstick in 100 Blase Buff

I actually don't know if I've ever purchased something from Estee Lauder, but I have a soft spot for lipsticks that are interesting looking

I really like the shape of these but the formula isn't super creamy. Worth swatching at Ulta

I'm not really a nude lip person but I've been buying more natural looking lipsticks so I can give it to someone if I decide I have too many lipsticks one day. :)

Bonus: It smells like vanilla

FOUNDATION | Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

Pros

Lightweight

Natural looking

Less messy than the traditional sifter

Cons

Not "full coverage"

Not drying

Price

$36 for 0.247 oz/ 7 g

Verdict

I was really looking forward to trying this after MissGlamorazzi raved about it a few years back, but never did because I'm not really a powder foundation girl. Before Christmas, Tarte had a really good deal for $59 where you get like 6 full size products, and I got this in that deal. I was a bit concerned  because Fair Honey looks a bit orange, but when I put it on it matched my skin pretty well.

Repurchase?

Maybe

Would I recommend it?

Yes

MASCARA | Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Waterproof

Pros

Natural looking

Not clumpy

Cons

Not super volumnizing

Easily stains your eyelids

Price

$21 for 0.24 oz / 7 ml

Verdict

I'm not particularly taken with any high end mascaras, but this one seems to have good reviews so I was excited to try it. Upon application I wasn't disappointed, but my thin, long lashes could use the extra oomph that volumnizing mascaras offer. The packaging is cute ish but I've seen the purple jacket come loose in stores with the testers, so idk how sturdy they are. 

For some reason the brush (the way it's shaped or something) makes it really easy to stain your eyelids, so it could get a little messy

Had I not gotten this with a deal via Tarte, I probably would return this.

Repurchase?

No.

Would I recommend it?

If you like natural looking mascaras

MASCARA | Lancome Grandiose Waterproof

Verdict

I remember being really impressed by the washable version, but this one seems ok, I got it in the summer kit from Sephora. Not sure if it's super pigmented or what, it smudges more on my undereye than any other mascara I own.

 I still prefer my Maybelline Lash Sensational waterproof (review here). 

Price

$32 for 0.35 oz

See the washable review here

Would I repurchase?

No. 

Would I recommend it?

Sure.

LIP GLOSS | Too Faced Sweet Peach lip gloss in Peach-sicle

Ok I may or may not be buying way too many lip products. Idk why it's hard for me to resist compared to other products

Cute sticker but it's not well stuck on the wand

Verdict

I was really excited about this lip gloss (along with the eyeshadow palette) since it's a new release. But the quality of the lip gloss is really mediocre. Granted, I'm not into lip gloss as I once was, but this isn't very shiny, doesn't apply evenly and the peach fragrance is WAY too artificial.

Price

$19 for 0.14 / 4 ml

Not that I would ever use up a lip gloss anyway, but 4 ml seems less than your typical lip gloss (I wanna say they're usually 8-10 ml)

Would I recommend it?

No.

Would I repurchase?

No.

I won't be swatching the palette (or eyeshadow palettes in general) as Temptalia (link here) does an amazing job. I will say that the peach fragrance is a bit disappointing, it's very artificial :/ I was expecting fresh peaches.

LIQUID LIP | NYX Lingerie liquid lipstick in Exotic

I've finally caught onto the liquid lip trend. The ColourPop ones don't impress me as much, but I have been looking at drugstore options

Maybelline Touch of Spice | NYX Lingerie in Exotic

Pros

Dries quickly

Long lasting

Inexpensive

Cons

Applicator doesn't pick up a lot of product

Need 2 coats to be opaque

Price

$7 for 0.13 oz (about 4 g)

Verdict

Even though the applicator is weird, it never crossed my mind to return this. My roommate complimented me on this lippie, so I've been wearing it quite often. Since Touch of Spice is so similar, I'll probably use Touch of Spice after I run out of this. I'd love to try other formulas in this color - the Kat Von D Lolita I and II seem similar but a bit too brown?

Repurchase?

The formula is nice, but the applicator is too hard to use.

Would I recommend it?

The price point is good if you can get around the applicator

BROWS | Battle of the Taupes

I've been on somewhat of a brow kick lately since brows are trending right now, so I tried 4 taupes

ColourPop eyebrow pencil - the texture is the creamiest of the bunch, but also seems to fade more quickly. The writing's already rubbed off, the quality of their print on packaging is definitely questionable, my liquid lipstick was the same way

Anastasia Brow Wiz - the most well known eyebrow product, I told my close friends about it and they all love it now too. The pencil is a bit harder than the ColourPop, but for brows you don't want color pigmented too fast anyway

NYX Micro brow pencil - mildly disappointed in this, it's very hard to get color and it's more red than a ash brown (as you can see in the swatch below). It tries to copy the ABH packaging but the quality is not up to par

E.L.F. brow pencil - I saw this at Target and thought, why not. Surprisingly I've been reaching for this one over the other ones (over the ABH only bc I want to save it for special occasions). I would recommend this to people who don't want to spend a lot on eyebrows, because it actually seems pretty good to me. The only thing is the pencil is thicker than the others so it may be lacking in precision if you're trying to draw on your brows. 

Personally, I just fill in the sparse areas and kind of draw on the front to make it fuller, so I don't need strong definition in a brow pencil. I'm not that great at eyebrows so I'll spare you guys the embarrassing photos of my less than groomed brows 

Color Comparison

ColourPop | Anastasia | NYX | E.L.F.

You can tell the ColourPop and NYX are a bit redder

Don't know about you guys but I like these kind of brow pencils w the spoolie that can help you blend out the color if it's too harsh. The bigger spoolie (like the E.L.F. one) is a bit more prickly, and the comb looking things are kind of hard too.

In conclusion, I would recommend the Anastasia if you can afford it, or the E.L.F. if you don't care about your eyebrows that much (:

One thing I don't like about the ColourPop is the pencil breaks even if you just twist up the teensiest bit too much

"EMPTIES" | Japonesque Lash Curler

If you see the clear spaces near where you put your fingers - that's where the extra pads are stored!

Pros

Good for inner lashes

Cons

Not as long lasting? Lasted 1-2 years

Price

$12

Verdict

Just thought I'd share this product before I throw it away

I purchased the Japonesque Precision Lash Curler from Amazon over 3 years ago as part of an add-on order. I didn't really start using it until 1-2 years ago when I started wearing more mascara, since my Shiseido lash curler (detailed comparison w NARS here) doesn't curl some of my inner corner lashes. Up until recently it was fine until I noticed the plastic upper part was bending and looked like it might be falling off. I guess this is why curlers are usually metal, but it worked well while it lasted.

Shiseido has a mini curler like this as well except it looks like a typical curler just smaller, maybe I'll try that next

Repurchase?

No.

Would I recommend it?

If you see a good deal on it, it's worth a try!

REVIEW | Clarisonic Mia - after 5 years

Hi beauties

To preface this post, I know I made a post in 2011 and totally fell off the wagon in updates. I think sometimes I slip into the comfort of using something so often and forget to blog about it bc it's not new to me anymore. However, this is a pretty comprehensive update bc I've owned the same Mia for over 5 years.

In these 5 years, I've repurchased countless brush heads (preferably when they were on sale)

Used brush head vs New btw - even when the brushed dries it never looks the same before it was new.

Tries the FOREO Luna and the Luna Mini (which I kept)

As well as different types of brush heads, and a Konjac sponge.

Here are my thoughts:

Pros

Gently exfoliates very effectively

Makes the skin FEEL really clean

Easy to use

Low maintenance - 1 minute a day

Neutral

Works better with more fluid cleansers

Cons

Expensive to change brush heads every 3-6 months

Could be too harsh if you have uber sensitive skin, but there are many brush head options

Price

Mia: $129

Mia 2: $169

Mia Fit: $219

Replacement brush heads: $27 each or $44 for 2 (or $81 for 4 at Ulta, but it's all 1 type of brush)

Sephora and Ulta often has deals on these with a combination of their best selling skin care, so definitely look for that.

Verdict

After owning mine for over 5 years and trying other cleansing devices on the way. I have to say that Clarisonic Mia is still my favorite. In my 10 month study abroad trip, I didn't bring it with me, and my skin noticeably looked less radiant with bigger pores (it also didn't help that Beijing was heavily polluted, and I didn't exfoliate routinely).

Recently I tried weaning off the Mia because the brush heads are simply too expensive. They're supposed to be replaced every 3 months but I do it every 6 months (since I now use it every other night). 

I unsuccessfully did this for the past 6 months (trying out the FOREO Luna Mini and Konjac sponge, liquid exfoliators and supposedly gentle, natural exfoliators) and finally repurchased the brush heads last week after seeing how flaky my skin is and how bad my blackheads on my nose are. I don't routinely exfoliate my skin bc sometimes work gets busy or I start getting too comfortable with having little to no acne. But I often do it when I notice flakes or if my skin just feel congested. So the Mia is the ultimate fit for my lazy personality. Now that my skin is better but more sensitive, I can't use it as frequently as I used to. But I love this to gently exfoliate, remove flakes from my skin and make my skin just feel super clean.

My favorite cleanser to use with this is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Medicated cleanser, it makes my face feel so clean. But it is a bit harsh if you don't have acne or oily skin.

A lot of people like the Philosophy Purity and I've used up an entire 24 oz bottle, but I'm still not sure I get it... I mean, it's good I guess?

If you have a favorite cleanser to use with it, please let me know (: I'd love to try it

Repurchase?

Without a doubt. If I lost mine I'd repurchase a color I like (:

In 2011 they didn't have all the cute colors they have now.

Would I recommend it?

This is definitely an investment in skincare. You may be able to get the Mia for less than $100 if you go to Nordstrom Rack or shop online, but the brush heads is how they get you. I tried the Target $17 brush head (which is not even that much cheaper) and it FELL OUT before the full 1 minute even ended. 

If you are considering the Mia, also consider the costs of the brush heads, which could be $44 to $81 a year (depending on if you buy them in sets or alone, on sale, etc.)

EMPTIES REVIEW | The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner

You can't tell anymore, but there is usually a white sediment that settles on the bottom (corn starch, I think) that you shake in with the toner to make it more mattifying. This does make my skin matte looking initially but I don't think it helps with oil control.

Contains tea tree oil, witch hazel, lemon tree oil

Pros

Refreshing

Seems to help clean pores

Can be used on bug bites

Cons

Contains alcohol

Kind of drying

Doesn't help with oil control

Price

$14 for 8.4 oz / 250 ml

Verdict

Rating: B

I've had this for a very long time and finally used it up. It's kind of a just there product, not bad but not groundbreaking. I use it on days when I am breaking out or when my skin feels clogged since it feels so refreshing on the skin. I stopped using it for a while to try other things but would keep going back, eventually just to use it up. I used this on mosquito bites on the rare occasion that I had any, and it works really well, my skin barely itched.

Acne wise, it didn't seem to help in particular, but it's an ok product to keep in your skincare routine if you're not using toner. Considering this product has been around for quite some time, it must sell pretty well for the company to keep making it.

Repurchase?

Possibly.

Would I recommend it?

Worth a try but it's not a miracle product

REVIEW | Lancome Juicy Shaker in Freedom of Peach

Peachy pink color, right up my ally

As you can tell, my lips have been looking dry lately

Pros

Moisturizing

Nice shine

Adorable packaging

Cushion applicator is very soft

Cons

Color kind of settles unevenly in lip lines

VERY sheer

Have to shake before application

Price

$21 for 0.22 oz / 6.5 ml

Verdict

Rating: B-

There are darker colors in this line but I don't think it'll look great creased/settled in my lip lines. I was pretty excited about this lip product but it's kind of just meh. I will keep it because the packaging is so adorable, but it's nothing to run out and get. It also doesn't have a fruity scent like you'd expect with all the fruit inspired names (but it doesn't smell bad, which is good). 

It is moisturizing, so I guess I can use it as a daytime lip balm.

Repurchase?

No.

Would I recommend it?

If you're into moisturizing lip oils with a slight tint.

REVIEW | First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF40

Pros

Absorbs quickly

Semi matte finish

A little seems to go a long way

Mineral (not chemical) sunscreen

Minimizes pores a bit (or at least, doesn't make them look worse)

Cons

White cast initially

SPF 40 (lasts 6.67hrs)

Not moisturizing

Easily confused with the cream if you have both (see above)

Price

$30 for 2 oz / 56.7 g

Verdict

I purchased this sunscreen per Raeview's recommendation. I like that it's easily absorbed into the skin, but if you didn't moisturize your skin well the night before, this can be a bit drying after you put it on, so the "moisturizer" part of it probably only applies to oily-skinned gals. 

I once grabbed the cream instead of the sunscreen by accident (because they look SO SIMILAR, see above) and applied it - I noticed if you layer the moisturizer underneath, the sunscreen itself balls up. Surprising, considering I used the Ultra Repair Cream (review here) from the same line. 

I also noticed this isn't an ideal base for liquid foundation. I tried using the Make Up For Ever Face and Body (review soon) and it seems to accentuate the dry textures on my face. (Mind you, the MUFE Face and Body isn't supposed to be a drying/oil controlling foundation). I also tried the Laneige BB Cushion (review here) and it seems to do the same thing. 

I reach for this almost everyday that I'm not wearing makeup - despite its misgivings. But I think $30 is a bit expensive when you can get mineral sunscreens for cheaper, and I don't like that I have to apply more sunscreen or powder sunscreen at the 6 hour mark to avoid sunspots (where I am in California, the sun is basically up 7am to 7 or 8pm, so a 6.67hr wear of sunscreen is not going to cut it). Luckily, I noticed that the Shiseido SPF 36 powder seems to layer well on top of this after blotting.

Repurchase?

No.

Would I recommend it?

If you don't mind the price or touching up your sunscreen, yes.