"The cat is beauty and the beast, a baffling blend, a wicked feast.”
What happens when Renee and I spend a weekend together in NY, mecca for Asian makeup and skincare?
Well . . . THIS happens.
And this:
Continue reading “Happy Haulidays (or How to Blow $$$ on Asian Cosmetics in 2 Days in New York)”
At this point in my life, using pH test strips is the closest thing I’ll get to an adult science fair. It’s strangely gratifying when you successfully match up a test strip to the color guide.
Before I get into my experience using these strips, let me start at the beginning. I had heard vaguely here and there about pH in skincare, such as the pH level a product must be at for optimum efficacy. But only recently did I start learning about the natural pH of skin (it’s slightly acidic) and its importance to the skin’s moisture barrier. Skin & Tonics did a great post explaining this concept. Since I have skin on the drier side, I paid attention and basically agonized for a day over whether my skincare was destroying my moisture barrier.
Anyway, I decided to stop agonizing, bought these paper pH strips, and began testing away!
The Étude House Wonder Pore powder comes in a box of 10 individual packets of yellow-ish powders. Once dissolved in water, it’s used basically as a toner. And killer of “demodexes”!!!!
Continue reading “Wonder Woman – Étude House Wonder Pore Soda Powder”
“$95 for moisturizer?!” you screech. “Are you crazy?!”
Why yes, I am crazy. Crazy for dewy, moist skin.
Before I get into why I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream ($95 for 1.7 fl. oz.) and why I think you can pass on it, let me show you the gorgeous packaging and attention to detail. The outer box and the wraparound insert unfold like a blooming flower. Finally, when you get past all of that, the jar–with the CT logo right side up–reveals itself in all its rose gold and heavy glass splendor.
Continue reading “Worth It? Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Review”
I don’t like chocolate. Not really. Unless it’s in intoxicating cosmetics form like this super delicious-smelling avocado-chocolate face mask from Andalou Naturals. What is is about food-like cosmetics that lures us so? Besides the fact that it won’t make you fat…unless you eat it. But it’s not for eating…just like my sake face mask isn’t for drinking. Side glance.
Continue reading “COCOA Chanel – Andalou Naturals Avo Cocoa Skin Food Mask”
This is a nice mask for when you are hanging out with that motormouth friend and want to watch the last 10 minutes of Family Guy undisturbed. “Hey I know! Let’s do a lip mask!”
Continue reading “Gimme some Lip – Pure Smile Choosy Lip Mask in Herb”
Adding to my collection of 25+ masks are four more in a set. Holidays are a difficult time for me because all these mini sets just siphon all the money out of my wallet. But look at the endless collections and sets and kits! Omfg!
This is a fruit infused mask set from all-natural Korres which is supposed to focus on delivering quick results (quick shot of beauty for date nights or recovery from a night out).
Continue reading “Mask Production – Korres Beauty Shots Ultimate Mask Collection”
Kracie (formerly Kanebo) Wakanka Super Moisturizing Facial Essence is pretty lightweight for being “super moisturizing” and reasonably priced at $30. I was in need of an essence/serum/ treatment between my toner/balancer and my moisturizer so I randomly picked this up and the tester swatch was just the right texture.
Continue reading “Kracie for You – Kracie (formerly Kanebo) Wakanka Super Moisturizing Essence”
At the risk of sounding obvious, don’t use brown-colored skincare. So I haven’t always been so informed about skincare ingredients. Vitamin C is popping up in lots of products nowadays due to its ability to lighten up hyperpigmentation. Turns out that one sign of vitamin C becoming destabilized and losing its efficacy is a deep yellow/orange or light brown color.
I’ve used various products without even realizing that this had happened because the product was discolored from the start and because I didn’t even realize that vitamin C was an ingredient.
Continue reading “Vitamin C You Later: Lessons from Using Vitamin C Skincare”
The saleswoman had me at “ballet.” Chacott for Professionals is a Japanese ballet brand, she explained. Well if it’s good enough for prima ballerinas, surely it’s good enough for little ol’ me.
According to the saleswoman, the Cleansing Water is supposedly comparable to Bioderma but cheaper. I’ve never tried Bioderma, so I can’t speak to that point. However, my skepticism about cleansing waters was borne out when I used Chacott.
Continue reading “Not En Pointe: Chacott Cleansing Water Review”
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