Month: August 2014

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Hello, Dolly! Babydoll Cheeks/Purple Blush for Warm Undertones

The centerpiece of babydoll cheeks is a cool-toned pink blush–be it hot candy pink or pastel pink. If you have warm/yellow undertones like me, you might have experienced trouble getting those types of colors to show up true to pan. Yellow undertones can cause tones to skew warm and even muddle cool pinks into appearing peachy or brownish.

The solution? Apply a light purple blush beforehand.

Light purple primers and color correctors are used to neutralize sallow skin, so logically light purple blushes do the same thing–just with more pigment. The purple counteracts yellow tones, laying a foundation for colors to show clearly.

For this post, I used Everyday Minerals blush in Anytime, a matte chalky lavender, as a base for Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface, a quintessential pale, babydoll pink.

01 Tarte Dollface and Everday Minerals Anytime Blush
Tarte Dollface and EDM Anytime

EDM Anytime (unfortunately discontinued) is swatched below alongside 3CE Duo Color Face Blush in Creme De Violette (matte, smooth, pigmented) and The Face Shop’s LOVELY ME:EX You Face Blusher in 03 Purple Fantasy (soft, powdery texture with satin finish that looks almost white when built up).

06 3CE Creme De Violette EDM Anytime The Face Shop Lovely Purple
3CE Creme De Violette, EDM Anytime, and The Face Shop 03 Purple Fantasy

Continue reading “Hello, Dolly! Babydoll Cheeks/Purple Blush for Warm Undertones”

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Sulwhas-who? Review of IOPE Air Cushion XP in C23 Cover Beige

When I entered the Amore store, I was intent on getting the Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion. I had read lovely reviews of it (e.g., The RAEviewer, Beautiful Buns) and was interested in a glowy, dewy finish for dry skin.

But once I told the saleswoman what I wanted, she steered me towards the IOPE cushion. The IOPE was moisturizing, she insisted, whereas the Sulwhasoo (and Laneige) were more drying.

And that’s why this is a review of the IOPE Air Cushion XP instead of the Sulwhasoo cushion in No. 23 Medium Beige (see, I told you I was intent on getting the Sulwhasoo).

01 IOPE Air Cushion XP Review Continue reading “Sulwhas-who? Review of IOPE Air Cushion XP in C23 Cover Beige”

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¡Hola, Ole! Review of Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser

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It was love at first touch.

Ole Henriksen’s latest cleanser, Pure Truth Melting Cleanser 3 in 1 Cleansing Gelée ($34 for 4 oz.), starts off as a firm light gel but quickly transforms into a smooth oil as soon as you begin massaging it over your skin. It’s a great option if you like to do a pampering facial massage because your hands could glide for days with this stuff.

I was most impressed with the ease of use and makeup-removing abilities. As a solid gel, it’s far neater than an oil cleanser (no drips on the sink or down your arms!). And even put up against my waterproof eye makeup and cushion foundation, it managed to dissolve them quickly and easily. I did have to use a cotton pad to wipe off mascara and eyeliner that had melted into my lash line and under my eyes but didn’t rinse off with just splashing (I didn’t want to rub that close to my eye).

Continue reading “¡Hola, Ole! Review of Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser”

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Texas Fold ‘Em: Cogit Cats Eye Double Eyelid Tape Review

01 Cogit Cats Eye Double Eyelid Tape Review
Real-life quote from a guy

Renee and I recently majorly hauled at oo35mm in New York’s Chinatown. The quirkiest thing I bought was the Cogit Cats Eye Double Eyelid Tape ($16 for 20 pairs at oo35mm). It’s eyelid tape that comes with eyeliner already printed on. (There’s also a version with the eyeliner in a downturned puppy-dog-eye shape.) Brilliant, yeah?02 Cogit Cats Eye Double Eyelid Tape Review

03 Cogit Cats Eye Double Eyelid Tape Closeup Continue reading “Texas Fold ‘Em: Cogit Cats Eye Double Eyelid Tape Review”

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Just Brows-ing: Brow Gels by Anastasia, Sonia Kashuk, and elf

01 Review Anastasia elf Sonia Kashuk Brow GelsSo I went from using one brow gel exclusively to now owning four. Pictured from left to right:

02 Review Anastasia elf Sonia Kashuk Brow Gels
Shown with flash. Colors appear darker in real life.

Here’s my review and comparison of all four.

Continue reading “Just Brows-ing: Brow Gels by Anastasia, Sonia Kashuk, and elf”

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Perfect Ten REN: REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask Review

01 REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask Review REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask ($55 for 1.7 oz.; also available full-size in the $58 Rediscover Radiance Set) claims to provide effective yet non-irritating exfoliation using four types of fruit acid and papaya enzyme.

It claims that it “reduces the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improves tone, firmness, and radiance” and “works well on post-acne scarring, blemishes, blackheads and sun-damaged skin.” It’s recommended for mature and congested skin (but not for sensitive skin). Continue reading “Perfect Ten REN: REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask Review”

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In the Nude – Maybelline The Nudes Palette

Nudity is one thing that is hard to pull off and is reserved for the perfect few. Except in makeup. Well, let me clarify. Nude colors can be universally appealing for everyone but actually hard for manufacturers to pull off. These colors either come off too dark or as if you’re not wearing anything which is actually not the point of a nude palette.

My eternal obsession is finding the perfect taupe and nude shade. So I squee’ed when the Duane Reade pharmacy across from work marked down Maybelline makeup to 40% off. $6 for a nude palette of 12 colors. Irresistible cheap thrill! My heart went pitter patter.

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Continue reading “In the Nude – Maybelline The Nudes Palette”

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Super Triple Heeeeyyy~! Naruko AMPM Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle Review

01 Naruko ampm Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle ReviewNaruko is a Taiwanese skincare brand headed up by a man named Niuer and focuses a lot on natural and plant-based ingredients. It has various lines targeted at different skincare issues. From Naruko’s AMPM line, I purchased the Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle.

“Super Triple HA” refers to the three forms of hyaluronic acid in the ingredients. Although I think something got lost in translation because the English ingredients list includes sodium hyaluronate twice as well as hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid.

Continue reading “Super Triple Heeeeyyy~! Naruko AMPM Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle Review”

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Butter Me Up – TONYMOLY Wonder Butter Moisture Cream

It looks exactly like butter. You know, the lovely room-temperature tub of goodness that you can just sink your knife into and spread globs all over waffles. Mmmm. I like my butter just a little salted. Well, aside from looking like butter (or margarine in a tub), this lotion is nothing like that. Doesn’t smell like it, doesn’t butter you up like butter. Doesn’t feel like a body butter even!

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I’ll give TonyMoly thumbs up for amazing packaging and lovely scents. But so far I am kind of annoyed at how watered down their products seem to be. I had high expectations for this butter moisture cream to be my go-to. But it’s just a thicker version of a lotion. The texture is very butter-like but when you rub it in, it is not that velvety and luxurious like the image that it conjures. It’s not as moisturizing as other body butters (Boots body butters are out of this world btw). Continue reading “Butter Me Up – TONYMOLY Wonder Butter Moisture Cream”