Review: Maybelline Full N' Soft Waterproof Mascara in Very Black

As you all know, every 3 months, I toss my old mascara and go to the store to buy a new one. I've been trying different kinds in my search for a really good one (called the HG mascara, aka "holy grail", although I wouldn't like to use that term for realz).

Thus, I watched one of Michelle Phan's old YouTube videos on drugstore mascaras that were really good, and decided to try out this one - Maybelline's Full N' Soft Waterproof Mascara in Very Black.

I bought it at Kroger for around $5. What a steal!

After unpackaging.

Comparison to The Colossal Cat Eyes Waterproof in Glam Black

Comparison to The Colossal Cat Eyes Waterproof in Glam Black

As you can see, the Full N' Soft has the traditional mascara wand that you have to wipe off the sides in order to not have too much clumping on the brush. It has a full mascara brush, as opposed to the Colossal Cat Eyes Waterproof, which has more of a curved, thin wand.


Here is the Ingredients list, according to Drugstore.com:

Petroleum Distillates, C8 9 Isoparaffin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera) Wax, Water (Aqua), Synthetic Beeswax, Allyl Stearate/VA Copolymer, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera), Propylene Carbonate, Polyvinyl Laurate, Silica, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Methylparaben, Isoceteth 20, Lecithin, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl/Methacrylate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, 2 Oleamido 1,3 Octadecanediol, Simethicone, Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, May Contain (+/-):, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Carmine (CI 75470) (Carmine), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens) (Chromium Oxide Green), CI 77299 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide)

I'm definitely not an expert on mascara ingredients, but I do see a lot of polymers and beeswax-derived ingredients that provide for both lengthening and waterproof properties. There are also a bunch of preservatives in the form of parabens, which is actually a good idea, especially for mascara, which contacts the outside air and eyes very frequently. It is especially important for mascaras in general to have preservatives, or else one may get eye infections due to bacteria accumulation or eye styes (which I have gotten!).

I usually look for a mascara with the following properties:

• Doesn't irritate my eyes with contact lenses
• Truly waterproof
• No clumping
• Holds a curl well
• Long-lasting
• Adds volume and length to my lashes

In other words, my puny Asian eyelashes need a lot of help. Lolz.

The Full N' Soft line is one of the older lines produced by Maybelline. It has been around for quite awhile as a favorite. So, after 3 months of use, what did I think of this mascara?

Pros:

• Waterproof for real - no kidding, I needed a lot of makeup remover in order to remove it properly, and even afterward I had to wash my face in the shower before it would completely come off (in bits).
• Long-lasting - did not come off of my eyes all day
• Did not irritate my eyes, even with contact lenses in all day (12+ hours)
• Added volume and length to my lashes

Cons:

• Clumping - unless I wiped off the brush very well, I would get random clumps on the brush that I would have to otherwise brush out using a wand brush.
• Did not hold a curl - my lashes went from curved up to drooping daisies within a period of about 1 hour

Bottom line, I think this mascara did a pretty good job. The clumping issue can be fixed with a conscious user and the curl issue is definitely not a problem for those who have naturally curled eyelashes. I'll still look for another mascara to try, but in the meantime this is a good one to use.

Review: Wen By Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner in Sweet Almond Mint

Photo source
FTC: I bought this product from a MyGlam bag purchase. I am not paid to do a review on it.

Source: Got from MyGlam glam bag a long time ago (sample size, 2 oz).


This is supposed to be a "Cleansing Conditioner" -aka taking the place of a shampoo and a conditioner.


Ingredients list (from Sephora):

Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vegetable Oil (Olus Oil), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Menthol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal.C960

There have been lots of rave reviews made on this product. People like it because it doesn't have parabens, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, triclosan, and sulfates. This is because of the hyped "natural" movement - the thought that organic, non-GMO, un-adulterated products are better.

Overall? Not really worth it. My opinion is, that this product is overhyped.

When I first used this product, I realized I needed a lot of this product in order to cover all of my hair (which has grown pretty long by now). It's as much conditioner as I use on a daily basis.

Pros:
Smelled nice
Good ingredients (sulfate-free, paraben free, etc)

Cons:
Made my hair all oily

Really expensive ($32 for 16 oz)
Kind of frizzed up my hair

Overall, I think that it is a product that doesn't work for me, since it doesn't really "clean" my hair, despite the name of the product. I think that it is really better to use a shampoo and a conditioner, which serve different functions separately. Plus, this is super expensive (Price on Sephora is crazy, $32 for 16 oz). I could get Tresemme conditioner (which works better, esp for co-washes) at $4 for 32 oz. Thus that's 16X more expensive!! I could get basically 3 years' worth of conditioner in Tresemme conditioners for perhaps 2-3 months' worth of Wen conditioner.

Bottom line? I will not purchase the full-size product.

Review: AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Creme

Photo source

FTC: I received a sample of this product from a DHC catalogue awhile ago. I'm not compensated for reviewing!

All righty, now that we're done with that FTC stuff, onto the actual review!

Of course, following the "natural" movement of the current world (at least of the Western world, as far as I know), this product is advertised as:

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens

- Sulfates 

- Synthetic Dyes

- Petrochemicals

- Phthalates

- GMOs

- Triclosan

At least this is what Sephora states.

AmorePacific is an Asian beauty company. It seems like in recent years, there has been a huge trend toward including more Asian cosmetic and skincare brands into the Western hemisphere's repertoire of popularly sold products in brick-and-mortar establishments. In other words, they've become more popular.

According to Sephora, the ingredients list includes:

-Bamboo Sap: Increases cellular turnover and regeneration, improving skin thickness and radiance.
-Aqua Sponge Complex™: Stimulates Hyaluronic acid production improving skin's ability to hold water, preventing dehydration.
-Ginger Root Extract: Stimulates microcirculation in the skin, resulting in a more radiant complexion.
-9 Essential Amino Acids: Revitalizes and hydrates the skin, increasing radiance and vitality. 

Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Phyllostachis Bambusoides, Hydrolyzed Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Theanine, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Kaempferol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Stearyl Behenate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethiconol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyisobutene, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Peg-15 Pentaerythrityl Tetra(Laureth-6 Carboxylate), Phytantriol, Poloxamer 407, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Caffeine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

Oh my goodness, that's a long list!

A cursory glance at this list includes things such as:

• Alcohol - helps solublize other ingredients to help them become more easily be absorbed by the skin
• A bunch of flower extracts and oils - for nourishing and "natural" effects
• Caffeine - for decreasing puffiness (anti-inflammatory effects?)

I personally don't know how much of a gimmick many of these ingredients are if they want to actually penetrate the skin and stimulate hyaluronic acid production. The rule is that chemicals have to be 500 Daltons or smaller in order to penetrate into the dermis. (Source) I haven't looked up the size of these molecules but this is the general consensus. A long list of ingredients may look like a lot (after all, the thought is more "natural" ingredients, more benefits!) but the effects of the actual effective penetrance of the ingredients and their chemical interactions (e.g. one ingredient interfering with another from being effective) are not always known.

Anyway, I tried this product for a couple of days, and here is what I've found:

Pros:

• Really rich creme for face
• Good for night time
• Didn't make me break out
• Really nourishing to skin

Cons:

• Really expensive ($150 for 1.7 oz on Sephora.com)

As much as I think this product is actually effective, I won't be purchasing the full-sized version of this product. Why, with $150, I could buy enough skincare products to last me years!!!

Review: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Source
FTC: I received this product as a gift from a dear friend. I am not compensated for any reviews.

I normally don't review hair care products, but I figured this product was quite special so I decided that it was totally worth its own post.

A few months ago, one of my closest friends told me his hair stylist (well, rather, the person who gives him haircuts 2x/year) recommended this product to him, and he found it to be a great product. I thought... "whattt???" Well, the thing is, my friend really likes to keep his self-care routine as simple as possible, and for a moment, I pigeon-holed him as one of those men who doesn't do much for self-care apart from the bare minimum... and that this was quite the exception. And then I thought, "I spend $3 for shampoo, whereas you got a $16 shampoo (for half the size I get, Tresemme Shampoo). What is going on?"

Well... sometime a few months later, I received a surprise care package in the mail... and one of the things inside was this!

I've used this product for awhile and thus, I decided to review it, both out of curiosity as well as courtesy to high-end shampoos.

According to Drugstore.com, here are the ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Oleamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Oil (Peppermint), Melaleuca Altemifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil (Tea Tree), Linoleamide DEA, Cocamide DEA, Bisamino PEG/PPG 41/3 Aminoethyl PG Propyl Dimethicone, Hedychium Coronarium Extract (White Ginger), PEG 12 Dimethicone, Bisamino PEG/PPG 41/3 Aminoethyl PG Propyl Dimethicone/Algae Extract, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract (Henna), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract (Jojoba), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract (Rosemary), PEG 12 Dimethicone, Lavandula Angustifola Oil (Lavendar), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil (Wheat), Panthenol, Glycol Stearate, Polyquaternium 7, Tetrasodium EDTA, PEG 150 Distearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Limonene, Citric Acid, Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090) (CI 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)

An initial alarm came up in my head: sodium lauryl sulfate, a detergent usually added to cleansing products for its "bubbling" effects. Despite the fact that it is a FDA-approved ingredient, it is known for its abrasive nature on the body. Uh-oh. I was especially concerned about it because SLS was listed as the second ingredient in the ingredients list, which was alarming because ingredient lists are listed in order of concentration (first ingredient has the highest percentage by volume of the total product, second ingredient has the second highest percentage, etc). What was I doing?

On the other hand, there are many other special ingredients that are in this product that I haven't seen in many other shampoo products. peppermint oil, tea tree oil (a disinfecting agent), jojoba and lavender oils, as well as others (more common) such as aloe vera extract, protecting dimethicone, a bunch of colorings, EDTA, and preservatives. Interesting.

Well, even though this was the case, I decided to try it anyway because of the rave reviews from my friend and his hair stylist.

What did I think?

• Very cleansing - got rid of a bunch gunk in my hair, stripping the sebum and other accumulated products without problem
• Smelled very disinfecting - the tea tree oil was very prominent

Cons:

• The tea tree oil was extremely powerful and burned my eyes when I put it on my hair on the top of my forehead.
• Made me break out along my hairline (although this may have also been because I was using this product during high-stress times with exam seasons, even though everything else in my routine was kept ibid.)
• Price - seriously, $24 for 16.9 fl oz? (My friend bought it at $16 for 16.9 fl oz though) I know it's a high-end shampoo, but I think that some may feel that the special ingredients are worth the price, while others don't.

Bottom line, I think this is a good shampoo for those who really want to disinfect their hair. As for me, a simple shampoo with nourishing ingredients without SLS is sufficient. As a poor med student, this was an interesting sensation to try, but I don't think I'll be purchasing this for myself anytime in the near future.

The Sunscreen Project, Part 34: Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15

Source
FTC: I am not paid for this review.

I obtained this product awhile ago from I-don't-remember-where. However, I will describe it. "Simple Skincare" is a brand that focuses on gentle skincare products. The price of the products is comparable to those of Neutrogena and other drugstore brands. This brand is sold at most drugstores I've been to, as well as Kroger, Target, Randall's, etc.

I decided on a whim to try this product, for it seemed quite innocent and natural. I decided to use it during my recent trip to Cali.

Ingredients: 

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (sunscreen), Ensulizole (sunscreen), Octisalate (sunscreen)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glycol Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Stearamide AMP, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Methylisothiazolinone

A cursory glance reveals that this product is a chemical sunscreen, aka one that uses chemical barriers (active ingredients that react with the skin to create a chemical barrier after application) rather than a physical barrier, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Well, what did I think of this product?

Pros:

• Blended in very well with my skin
• Did not break me out
• Felt light and moisturizing
• Did not clog my pores
• Did not feel sticky/cakey
• Even though is a chemical sunscreen with avobenzone, which could be a potentially reactive ingredient, it is paired with octisalate for stabilization
• Provides both UVA and UVB ray coverage
• Decent price - $12 for 4.2 fl oz

Cons:

• Low SPF - 15 is below the FDA suggestion of SPF 30
• The avobenzone actually burned my face while I was in Cali, but that was probably because my skin was still adjusting to the relatively more arid environment, along with flight dehydration :(

Bottom line, this is a great sunscreen that I would recommend for people who live outside of the Sun Belt. I think it feels great, works very well, and is affordable. Living in the Sun Belt, however, I cannot use this product on a daily basis without worrying whether I have enough protection or not. Slathering on extra layers will not "add on" SPF value; it will simply be SPF 15.

Thus, onward with more sunscreens!

Would you rather tag: Part 2

1. Would you rather lose all your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks and lip glosses, or lose all of your palettes and eye shadows?

All of my palettes and eyeshadows. The basics are the mascaras, eyeliners, and lip glosses fo sho.

2. Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

Chop off all of my hair. The thought of having hair that trails beyond my height....

3. Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?

Corals - for warm-toned skins.

4. If you had £1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?

I think 1,000 pounds is about $1500. I'd spend it, well, frankly, first on medical school. Perhaps $1000 on medical school. Then $300 on clothes, and $200 on skincare products and perhaps some makeup.

5. Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner or eyeliner as lipstick?-

This is weird. Probably eyeliner as lipstick.

6. Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

Sephora hands down. More than 1 brand to choose from.

7. Would you rather only use one eye shadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

One lip color. I'm not that picky about lip color. Just neutral is ok.

8. Would you rather wear winter clothes in the summer or summer clothes in winter?

Lolz, in Houston, summer is winter and winter is summer. Frankly I don't think it matters.

9. Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

Bright nails. I just look Goth in dark nails (believe me, I've tried)

10. Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?

Lip. There are a ton of lip products and I haven't even expanded into that line. But I still like my MUFE waterproof eyeliners.

11. Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

Ponytail. I don't like messy.

12. Would you rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lip gloss?

Paint my nails. Honestly they're just an accessory that take for me to do right.

13. Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or Sharpie them in everyday?

Sharpie them in! Lolz.

14. Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?

Nail polish fo sho

The Sunscreen Project, Part 33: Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Sunscreen

Photo link
FTC: I am not compensated for this review. I received a sample of this from Sephora.

This is the third BB cream I received a sample of from Sephora that auspicious day.

Ingredients:

-Ensulizole 2% 

-Octinoxate 7.4% 

-Titanium Dioxide 7.2%

Water, Dimethicone, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Silica, Xylitol, Peg-6, Peg-32, Peg/Ppg-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Thiotaurine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Arginine Hcl, Ononis Spinosa Root Extract, Sodium Pca, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Ppg-17, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aminomethyl Propanol, Aluminum Distearate, Isostearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Trisodium Edta, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Talc, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Alumina, Polysilicone-2, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polybutylene Glycol/Ppg-9/1 Copolymer, Bht, Syzygium Jambos Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.

What can I say? I've liked the Urban Environment Series offered by Shiseido for quite awhile. The textures of all of the products are quite sheer, light coverage, and do not make me feel like my pores are being caked.

Pros:

• Light, sheer coverage
• Shade 1 (medium) blended nicely for my skin tone
• Did not break me out
• SPF 35 - higher than FDA suggestion of SPF 30

Cons:

• Incomplete UVA ray coverage - Titanium dioxide does not provide full protection
• Good UVB ray coverage - ensulizole and octinoxate provide good coverage
• Didn't really seem to "lighten" my skin though it was hydrating for my skin
• Very high price: $33 for 1.1 fl oz
• Question - they offer this BB cream in 2 shades, Medium and Dark. Where's Light?

Bottom line, I don't think the UV ray coverage problems is worth forking over the $30 for this tiny tube of BB cream.

Summer Makeup Tag!

   

Most Worn Summer Tag!

1) Most worn nail polish: Revlon (various colors, esp. red)
2) Most worn scent: None (don't wear perfume)
3) Most worn hair product: Goodie hairbands (brown + black)
4) Most worn bag: Nine West Pink Handbag
5) Most worn shoes: Reebok sneakers, Dr Scholl's flats
6) Most worn accessory: Necklaces (various ones)
7) Most worn clothing item: Black skinny jeans from Forever 21
8) Most worn foundation: None (don't wear perfume)
9) Most worn blush/bronzer: None (don't wear blush/bronzer)
10) Most worn lip product: Estee Lauder Pop Lips gloss
11) Most worn mascara: Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes, Waterproof, Classic Black
12) Most worn eyeshadow: Estee Lauder Neutral Chocolate Quad

Review: Aveeno Skin relief Moisturizing Lotion w/ Soothing Oat Essence

FTC: I received a free sample of this product from my school. I am not paid to do reviews on it.

During a health fair hosted by my school last semester, I received a deluxe-sized sample of this product.

Nice of schools to provide samples of skincare products, right? :) (TY!)
Anyway, I didn't really get around to reviewing this product till quite a bit later, when I was rotating through many other products.

Aveeno is quite famous for its soothing, nourishing, sensitive skin-friendly products. I've reviewed another Aveeno lotion in the past - the Daily Moisturizing Lotion:

FTC: I bought this product with my own money. I am not paid to do reviews on it.

As always, here first is the ingredients list:

Ingredients (Drugstore.com):


Active Ingredients: Dimethicone (1.3%) (Skin Protectant)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Benzyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Steareth 20, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Chloride


A cursory glance at the ingredients list shows that there are a bunch of oat-derived products, which are meant to be soothing. The dimethicone is used as a skin protectant in many products, ranging from lotions to powders for the face to even sunscreen. Petrolatum, cetyl alcohol (a fatty alcohol), and shea butter are also present.


What I also found interesting was that it wasn't very different in constitution from Aveeno's Daily Moisturizing Lotion, which I previously reviewed. Here's its ingredients list for comparison (source):


Active Ingredients: Dimethicone

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oat Flour (Avena Sativa), Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride

As you can see, there definitely are more ingredients in the lotion with oat extracts, including some additional oat derivatives, glycerin, petrolatum, etc. If one were allergic to any of these additional ingredients, one should probably look into trying the original Daily Moisturizing Lotion instead of the one with additional oat extracts.


Here is what I've found:

Pros:

• Very soothing, hypoallergenic (to my skin)
• Great as an eye cream (can double as an eye cream)
• Didn't make me break out
• Non-greasy
• Similar formulation to other Aveeno products w/ oats and dimethicone
• Decent price ($7.51 for 12 oz on Drugstore website)

Neutrals: None

Cons: None

I've got to say that I really do like this product. I feel that this product works the same way as the Daily Moisturizing Lotion. I would recommend this product to people of all skin types for moisturization.

Photo source: 1

Tag: Would you rather... (Beauty/lifestyle edition)

1.) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?

Palettes/eyeshadows. Eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and lipgloss are the basics!

2.) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

If I could regrow it back, probably chop off all my hair. After all, never hurts to try something new right?

3.) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?

Coral.

4.) If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?

Uh... neither? Spend on med school tuition? But if I had to pick, clothes.

5.) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?

Yikes... probably eyeliner as lipstick. Black lips for a Halloween costume?

6.) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

Sephora. So many varieties of brands and good skincare stuffs!

7.) Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

Lip color. Don't really care much for that.

8.) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

Lolz, I live in the deep south; it gets to around 80 deg in December. It doesn't matter!

9.) Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

Probably dark nails. Neon colors would be too distracting.

10.) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?

Eye - if I had to. I'd rather not get lip cancer from not wearing chapstick.

11.) Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

Ponytail.

12.) Would your rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?

Never paint nails again. Need some moisture for lips!

13.) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?

For practical purposes, if I could grow my eyebrows back? Probably the shaving.

14.) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?

Nail polish, hands down.

The end.

Review: Sibu Buckthorn Exfoliating Scrub

FTC: I received a sample of this product for free. I am not paid for reviews on it.

Back in February of 2012, I did a review on Sibu Beauty's Hydrating Serum and Night Cream (click here for the reviews).

However, as of late, I got a Sibu Exfoliating Scrub sample as well, which I tried and will review here.

The ingredients, according to the Sibu Beauty website, are:


Water, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Seed Powder, SD Alcohol 40-B, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Phosphate, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Seedcake, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Levulinate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Phytate, p-Anisic Acid, Orange and Lemon Essential Oils Paraben-FREE and Cruelty-FREE


I've got to say the first try was pretty interesting.
Pros:
-Exfoliates well (or rather, scientifically, "desquamated" my skin well)
-Made my skin feel very smooth afterward
-Did not clog my pores
-Nice ingredients - "paraben-free, cruelty-free"

Cons:
-The exfoliating apricot shells were a bit harsh - might not work for people with sensitive skin
-Pretty expensive - $19.95 for 3.3 oz, on the website

Overall, what do I think? It works out pretty well. I didn't see any "marvelous" effects with this product versus St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I think they work just about the same, and St. Ives scrub is $4.50 for 6 oz (according to drugstore.com). So basically you get about 9x the product with St. Ives and the same effect!

Would I buy the full-sized version of this product? Probably not. Mostly because of the price. And because the apricot shells (that is, the seed powder) is a bit harsh.

Source: 1

Beauty Blogger/Skincare Blogger "Guru" Tag

 

 QUESTIONS: 
1.How many hours a week do you spend writing posts?

Usually ~2 hours. or 1 hr.

2. Are you a spender or a saver?

It depends - if it's something I really need, like skincare product, then spend. If it's less necessary, definitely save.

3. When is it easiest for you to write posts?

It depends on when I get an idea for a post or usually when I finish a product and have a definite opinion about it. 

Or after I read a schlew of articles from somewhere and learn more about stuff.

Especially when there isn't too much work to do in school! (Block breaks)

4.What makes sitting and writing these posts comfortable for you?

Listening to music and having an idea, I guess?

5.What's your worst makeup/ hair habit?

Probably not getting enough sleep, although that seems to be more of a general thing. Perhaps rushing with my makeup and skincare - just slathering on the sunscreen, then not waiting, and then just rather forcefully putting on concealer, makeup, etc.

6. One quote that you wish the world would live by?

Actually there are several quotes.
To med school: "Stop being so frikin' competitive! It doesn't need to be a competition like this. We need to work together to save people. And people need to be more humble. Seriously."

To life: "It isn't meant to be this hard."


“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” 
― Marilyn Monroe



7. How long do you spend getting ready everyday?

Depends. If I'm in a hurry, 10-15 min, and that includes making breakfast (but not eating it). If I have more time, 30 min.

8. Your favourite blog post on another blog?

I don't have a really favorite blog post, but more like a blog post series. It's John Su's series on inorganic vs organic sunscreens.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5


9. A blogger that you subscribe to who deserves more subscribers than he/she has?

John Su on TripleHelixian! He is an awesome writer who aspires to be a dermatologist. He's amazing.

10.One thing your excited about this year year?

A fresh new start so that I can work hard, and succeed, move forward, with my faith, my studies, being a better person, everything.

11.Your most awkward writing moment?

Hmm... Most awkward might be when I was writing during a break in class and a boy came up to me and sarcastically started asking if I had a "beauty blog". I felt kind of embarrassed, due to the tone he conveyed his message in.

12.How long does it take you to prep for a post?

I don't really know... none really. Sometimes I'll jot down ideas but for the most part I just think of them randomly. Or if I have a product review I just do it then and there.

13. Are you wearing pants(jeans/skirt) right now or are you actually wearing pajama bottoms? 

Gym shorts and a tank top?

14.What are you most proud of in your life?

Perhaps for trying to be a better Christian, trying to be a better person, trying to work hard, knowing that I fail but trying to correct myself, trying to improve myself. That's more of my mantra though, not about my overweening pride (aka "hubris") in general.

Reviews: Acure Cleansing Gel Facial Cleanser + Brightening Facial Scrub

  
FTC: I received samples of these products for free. I am not paid to do reviews on them.

I was fortunate enough to receive samples of these products from Whole Foods during a random shopping journey there awhile ago.

Ingredients:

Cleansing Gel:
Organic Curoxidant™ Superfruit Blend (Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Calendula oficinalis (Calendula), Organic Matricaria recutita (Chamomile), Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Aspalanthus linearis (Rooibos) , Lauryl Glucoside (vegetable derived), Decyl Glucoside (sugar soap), Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Olea europaea (Olive Oil), Organic Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor), Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Citrus Limon (Lemon) Essential Oil, Citric Acid

Brightening Facial Scrub:
Organic Curoxidant Blend (Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Fair Trade Certified Organic Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos)), Organic Calendula officinalis (Calendula), Organic Matricaria recutita (Chamomile), Organic Aloe Barbensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, French Green Clay, Organic Lemon Peel Granules, Saponified Organic Cocos nucifera (Coconut Oil), Cellulose Gum (Vegetable), Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Olea europaea (Olive Oil), Organic Ascophyllum nodosum (Sea Kelp), Theobromo Cacao (Cocoa) Powder, Organic Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor), Chlorophyll, Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), Carageenan, Argania spinosa (Argan) Stem Cells, Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Essential Oil Blend of Salvia officinalis (Sage) and Mentha spicata (Spearmint)

Now here are the reviews:

Cleansing Gel:
Pros:

• Really good at cleansing
• Lots of nice, fancy ingredients
• Did not make me break out (despite having lots of oils)
• Paraben-free, sulfate-free, vegan, cruelty-free
• "natural formulas" - according to the label (although technically everything is made from chemicals and is therefore somehow "natural" in some way - the exact line b/w natural and artificial can be vague in some senses)

Cons:

• Price ($14.99 for 4 oz)

Brightening Facial Scrub:

Pros:

• Really good at getting off dead skin cells (exfoliating, or, more properly, desquamating)
• Lots of nice, fancy ingredients
• Did not make me break out (despite having lots of oils)
• Paraben-free, sulfate-free, vegan, cruelty-free
• "natural formulas" - according to the label (although technically everything is made from chemicals and is therefore somehow "natural" in some way - the exact line b/w natural and artificial can be vague in some senses)

Cons:

• Price ($14.99 for 4 oz)

Would I buy the full-sized versions of these products? Probably, if I had lots of $$. But I don't so I don't think I will at this time. But these were definitely nice products!!!


Sources: 1 / 2