Tuesday, July 14, 2009

My Eczema Patches, Part 2

Thanks for the all the encouragement, everyone. I'm glad my patches are healing too. Here are the reviews for the products that worked for me. I'm sorry it it has taken me so long to make this post, it took me longer than I expected. Most of the products can be found in drugstores, except for prescriptions which you can get from your doctor. I honestly don't think it's necessary to spend on expensive creams for you to treat your eczema. Unless it's on your face, which requires more maintenance, all you need is a treatment cream (if it's serious), moisturizer, and a lot of self-control.

These products are used to treat eczema present on the body. For facial eczema, I recommend Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate. See my review on it here.




I. Treatments

1. Topicort Gel, Desoximetasone 0.05%


Topicort is a prescription medication. I use the gel version as it absorbs better than the cream.

The active ingredient is desoximetasone, which is a corticosteroid that's designed treat to eczema, dermatitis, allergies, and rashes. It works by reducing the swelling, itching and redness that can occur in these types of conditions. To use, apply a thin layer of the medication onto the affected area and gently rub it in. Apply moisturizer afterwards if needed. Remember to wash your hands before and after using this product, as corticosteroids are highly-comedogenic and not recommended to be used on the face, especially if you're acne-prone. Avoid covering the affected area with bandage or wrap unless directed to do so by your doctor. You should see visible results within 3 days.

Topicort gel is very awesome. As you can see, I'm running low on this medication, and I may have to call in for another script. I managed to squeeze out 1-week's worth of product of what's left in the tube. You only need a miniscule amount as it spreads well and effectively relieves you of any sort of itch. I have used the cream-version in the past (for that sunscreen incident, I mentioned), but I find that the gel works much better. It's no coincidence that I see a difference in a few days. The medication is highly potent, and that's probably why you can only get it with prescription.

As with any corticosteroid (which includes hydrocortisone), I experienced some skin thinning and more sensitivity to heat and light in the areas I applied them to. You can see in the photos that although the patches have healed, they're darker pigmented than the rest of my body. This is not a real problem for me since it'll only be temporary and the skin area will revert back to its normal pigment once it's completely healed and normalized. Eczema patches shouldn't cause life-long scars unless you scratch yourself like a nut. Only pigmentation, as far as I know.

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Topicort comes in these formulations:
Gel 0.05% (which I currently use), Cream 0.25%, Cream 0.05% (which I used in the past), and Ointment 0.05%




2. Diprosalic Pommade


Diprosalic is only available by prescription in the US and Canada, though I heard you can get this over-the-counter in other countries.

The active ingredients are betamethasone and salicylic acid. Betamethasone is another synthetic steriod that helps reduce inflammation. It belongs in the same class as desoximetasone (the active ingredient in Topicort, mentioned above) among corticosteriods. Salicylic acid is a keratolytic which breaks down keratin, a protein that forms part of the skin structure. You may be familiar with it in your acne medications.

In conditions such as chronic eczema, psoriasis, and keratosis pilaris, excessive amounts of keratin in skin cells causes these cells to harden, making the skin become thickened, bumpy, and scaly. This not only makes the skin itchy and inflamed, but also reduces the efficacy of anti-inflammatory medications that aren't able to penetrate through the rough, thickened surface. This is probably the main reason why many people experience unimpressive results from topical anti-inflammatory medications.

Salicylic acid helps to slough off the hard, scaly surface of these areas, improving the appearance of skin cells, and thereby reducing the inflammation that's been brought upon by the build-up of dead skin cells. Salicylic acid also helps with the penetration of betamethasone (the other active ingredient in Diprosalic), making it more effective than if the corticosteroid were to be applied alone. The combination of these two, an anti-inflammatory and a chemical exfoliant, makes it an effective treatment for dry, scaly, inflammatory skin disorders.

Diprosalic comes as an ointment and a lotion for scalp application. The tube I got says 'pommade,' which is the French version for the ointment.

I personally think Topicort works better in treating my eczema than Diprosalic. I find that with continuous use of Diprosalic, my patches become irritated due to the added salicylic acid. I think that Diprosalic would be ideal in the initial stages in the treatment for eczema when you have scaly, crusty skin. For the late stages when the skin has softened, I'd suggest something milder. Diprosalic would be excellent, though, if you have keratosis pilaris, a condition characterized by rough bumps on the skin due to excessive keratin.

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Please note that in the photos I took yesterday, I was using only Topicort, and it has made a dramatic improvement even without an added exfoliant. I'm sensitive to salicylic acid in general, and my skin is already thin enough so I had no problem with having the medication absorb through my rough patches. However, if you're having trouble with anti-inflammatories and have used these with no avail, you can look into these types of formulations but please do so with caution. I personally don't advise using anti-inflammatory medications with chemical exfoliants since they can be harsh and can make things worse. I think that all types of exfoliants should be avoided altogether, and you'd get better results with a more potent formula than one with SA which can make you irritated and itch more. If you're gentle to your skin, it'll heal a lot faster.

[Edit: This just came to mind, but I seriously hope no one's thinking of making their own Diprosalic by adding salicylic acid from their acne medication to their anti-itch cream. Don't be foolish. I'm sure the SA concentration is a trace amount compared to the steroid, practically speaking, since eczema is a sensitive skin disorder. You'll only hurt yourself if you exfoliate, and I can say this from experience.]



3. Cortizone-10, 1% Hydrocortisone


Cortizone-10 is a drugstore brand. You can find it anywhere in the US for around $6 depending on the size and the formula.

I can't find this anywhere in my apartment, but I use this for maintenance purposes when my eczema isn't so serious. It's not as potent as the other two, Topicort being the most potent in my experience, so I would suggest using this only if your eczema is mild. If you think hydrocortisone isn't cutting it, you may have to move up and use a pharmaceutical-grade medication like Topicort or Diprosalic. Hydrocortisone only comes in 1% concentrations if sold over-the-counter.

Rating: 3.8/5.0




II. Moisturizers

1. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream


I have the version for Dry, Sensitive skin. There's another one for Normal, Combination skin. Cetaphil Cream for Dry, Sensitive Skin is probably my favorite body moisturizer. I was introduced to it in 2005 when I had an allergic reaction to something that I forgot. I've used other body moisturizers but I always come back to this one since I liked the results. It's a thick cream that absorbs easily into your skin and doesn't leave a sticky finish or weird film. It keeps me moisturized longer than other creams I've tried, and it's completely fragrance free, which I'm grateful for. It's affordable at $11 for a 16 oz tub, and it lasted me for a good 8 months. I'm running low on this too, so I'll have to move on with the Cerave when I use this up.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

I've already hitted pan, and I'm only a handful of scoops away from using it all. Great stuff.

Hitting pan on Cetaphil Cream




2. Cerave Moisturizing Cream

The Cerave Moisturizing Cream was the second moisturizer that was introduced to me by my derm. The finish is more matte than Cetaphil. Cetaphil is more emollient than Cerave which why I prefer Cetaphil over Cerave as a body moisturizer. I find that I have to reapply more often with Cerave than I do with Cetaphil. Both tubs are the same size but Cerave is a little more expensive since it contains specialized ingredients like ceramide. Cerave contains no petralatum if you're sensitive to that stuff. But if you're ok with it and just want a good moisturizing cream, then go for the Cetaphil.

Rating: 4.0/5.0



3. Korres Guava Body Butter


I got the Korres Guava Body Butter along with the Showergel as a set that also came with the Guava lip butter. All of these, in all honesty, are mediocre moisturizing products. In terms of elegance and pleasure-of-use, the Korres products are more pleasurable to the senses since they have an awesomely sweet, natural fragrance. Other than that, I don't think the Body Butter is moisturizing enough for me. I had to re-apply every hour. The Body Butter does indeed absorb into the skin well, makes skin soft & smooth to the touch, but it doesn't keep it that way for long if you suffer from severe dryness like I do. I'm trying to finish the rest of the bottle as a light body lotion during the day.

Rating: 3.7/5.0




III. Body Washes

1. Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash


The Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash is just a basic, moisturizing body wash that's mild, soap-free, dermatologist-tested, hypo-allergenic, with a neutral fragrance. I'm not crazy about so-called "neutral" fragrance, it smells pretty strong to me, but I suppose I have a sensitive nose. I don't have any problems with this body wash other than the fragrance, since it smells awfully strong and off-putting to me on some days (this can be a surprise for someone who's used to products that're fragrance-free). It contains 1/4 moisturizing cream, and it doesn't cause me to have back-acne. The extra moisture boost helps with the dryness of my skin. I have two large 24-oz bottles of these to finish, but if anything, I would opt for the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser since it's more moisturizing and totally fragrance-free.

Rating: 3.9/5.0



2. Cerave Hydrating Cleanser


The Cerave Hydrating Cleanser was introduced to me the same time the Cerave Moisturizing Cream was. The Hydrating Cleanser is a clear gel that doesn't bubble at all since it contains no soap. It's very hydrating and super gentle. It's a little expensive for a drugstore cleanser, and using it as a body wash isn't economical, but it's a good all-over cleanser for when the skin's become highly intolerant.

Rating: 4.0/5.0



3. Korres Guava Showergel


I'm using the Korres Guava Showergel as my current bodywash since my skin has healed quite a bit. It's not as gentle or moisturizing as the Dove or the Cerave, but it smells nice. It could be a little drying when I'm particularly dry. Again, I'm only trying to finish the bottle. After I'm through, I'll continue using drugstore products for my body since I find the cheaper stuff gives me just as good, if not better, results as those from department stores. I generally use drugstore on my body and high-end on my face, however.

Rating: 3.7/5.0




IV. Facial Treatment

Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate


I use Clarins Skin Beauty Concentrate whenever my facial skin is reactive or irritated. I've been using it for the past year and it's worked wonders for me. Doesn't clog my pores, instantly reduces irritation and almost all redness by the next morning. I will continue to re-purchase it as I'm satisfied with the results. You can read my review on it here.

Rating: 4.5/5.0



Well, that's all, I hope the reviews has helped any eczema sufferers looking for products to treat their eczema. There are many products out there, these are just ones I've tried, so it doesn't mean they're the best since I didn't actively search for any of these products, except for the Clarins and Korres.

You can practically use any kind of moisturizer, just be sure it's gentle and non-irritating. For body wash, a moisturizing, soap-free body wash could help, nothing exfoliating whatsoever. I wouldn't even recommend using a pouff, I use just my hands and that's enough for when I'm hyper-sensitive.

Again, I think the most important thing is hydration and self-control. Avoid scratching and getting the affected area wet. Moisturize well. Keep yourself busy with things you enjoy (like blogging for example, or tv -- in my case, anime), and before you know it, those patches will slowly disappear on their own (and faster if you use treatment). It's no good that you scratch and complain afterwards, if you want to be better than you are now, then you gotta change something, right. :P

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My Eczema Patches, Part 1

Since so many bloggers have been posting about their eczema, I'll contribute as well. I keep mentioning about my eczema patches, here and on other people's comment pages, so it shouldn't be anything new. I've been having these same patches for 3 years now, they seem to come and go depending on the products I use and the environment; they get worse when the air is drier.

I've broken down the series into two. Part 1 will contain background information and photos. Part 2 will be for the product reviews.

In this post, I'll have close-up photos of the eczema patches on my elbows and neck. The photos are rather graphic, so I don't suggest you reading further if you're in the middle of a meal or have a weak stomach. I'll also have pics of how my skin is currently doing right now, after 1-week's worth of treatment.



I. Background

As I mentioned in the intro, I've been having these patches for nearly 3 years. I've been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis by my derm in late-2006, I remembered. (I'm not going to talk about the other stuff I've seen him for in years prior to this. I'm just full of problems. ). The products he's prescribed to me work pretty well, and I gotta say that it's mainly my fault for not taking care of my skin. I become lazy and careless, so the patches come back after a while if I forget to moisturize well or use harsh, drying products.

Eczema is just a bad skin rash brought on by severe dryness. Characeristics include: redness, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, swelling, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. It's often been confused with psoriasis, which looks similar, but treatment for psoriasis is quite the opposite for eczema: you actually get better results if you dry up psoriasis, while with eczema hydration is key.

Eczema is a chronic skin disease that has no cure, but there are short-term drug therapy available from prescription and over-the-counter. I have come to realize this, that eczema is an on-going skin problem, but what I can do is reduce/moderate the symptoms by using gentle but effective products. (It's the same with acne, you can treat it with a good skin regimen; a balanced diet helps too.) Some products don't work well for me however, though they're supposed to be good for eczema sufferers, i.e. chamomille oil, lavender oil, Egyptian Magic. Everyone's skin is different, whatever works for me may not for you, and vice versa, whatever may not work on my skin may do wonderfully on yours.

I'd suggest seeing a dermatologist for a skin examination if you're really suffering from chronic atopic eczema. The advice he provides is solely for you, and it's based on the knowledge of your skin history, skin-type, current skin condition, other medical conditions, drugs you're taking, topical or oral, and other factors. I don't think anyone's authorized to say what is good/not-so-good for your skin unless they're a licensed physician. If you're really curious about a product, look over the ingredients and ask your doctor. My skin has gotten a lot better overall from seeing my derm and being more attentive to the needs of my skin.



II. Photos

Old Photos
Here are photos of my eczema patches taken months ago. One was taken in May, and the others in June. Scroll further down for July photos. Sorry that I don't any proper before and after photos from the treatment. I forget to, and it's not something that I particularly enjoy taking pictures of.

May 2009
Right elbow

As you can see, my skin is dry everywhere, but for the most part, pretty smooth. I have almost little-to-no body hair :D The hairs on my body are quite thin, so I don't shave my legs often. But as a trade-off for having smooth skin and little body hair, anything and everything drips easily down my skin. (I had to underscore that cos it's become a nuisance for me.) Water, serums, oils, soaps; they all drip down to my elbows. Which is probably why my eczema patches never seem to heal. I wear arm bands to fix this problem, but they only help a little. I have to careful of the way I wash my hands and face, to avoid getting my elbows wet. As for the patch on my neck, I'm not sure how it got there in the first place. I think it was from a combination of allergy, dryness, itchy clothes, clothing tags, and my unforgiveable but unconscious urge to scratch.

I've stopped scratching quite a bit, and these photos were taken when my eczema isn't at its worst. I wasn't scratching when these photos were taken. This is just from extreme dryness. These photos are just to show you how my eczema patches generally look most of the time.

Also, another trade-off for having smooth, almost hairless skin is having physically thin, delicate, fragile, sensitive skin. I get allergic reactions easily, I think the last one I had was on my forearms with avobenzone. It was really bad, to say the least. I don't think I can tolerate chemical sunscreens in general, I'm currently on the search for the perfect all-physical sunscreen right now, but I'll save that for another post.

June 2009
Both elbows

Close-up of right elbow

Close-up of left elbow

Back of neck


New photos
Here are pics of my current condition. This was taken after 1-week's worth of treatment (I lost my medication for a while, and I suffered. I won't stray again!), and were taken earlier today. I think the patches are healing really well, I'm happy. The boyfriend noticed it too :D

July 2009
Both elbows

Close-up of right elbow

Close-up left elbow

Back of neck

Both elbows are a lot less red and irritated. No crustiness or swelling. My neck is doing better too. I'll continue with this treatment. I've just been lazy all these months, but I really need to get myself back together before school starts. I want to look good when I come back.



Tomorrow, I'll post mini reviews for the products that work for me. I'm getting sorta tired of typing, so I'll end this post here. I think people generally favor short, frequent posts than long, gigantic ones, no? Stay tuned.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Pen Collecting, another hobby of mine.

Today, I'm going to talk about pens. Such a boring topic, but if you're a pen addict like me, or into school supplies or what-have-you, then read on.

Haul from Jet Pens

[Edit: Wow, I made such a long post, I guess I got carried away haha]


I. Background & Resources

Background
Before I delved into the beauty & fashion world, I was the typical geek in the back of the school-room with thick glasses, small frame, quiet & shy disposition demeanor personality (I'm a moron, but you know what I mean), and weird hand-me-down clothes. I used to collect wooden pencils in elementary school, and I remember having a box full of 100+ pencils that I bought from book fairs and the pencil vending machine in the library. It was quite a deal for me, since back then we didn't had the means to spend on unnecessary things like toys, clothes, or cute pencils; we had just immigrated to the States, so we had to be mindful of our spending. I didn't mind having hand-me-down/homemade clothes, or having few toys, as I was content with I what I had, and I was a happy, cheerful kid back then; I was a wonderful child, as quoted by my parents :D Life was simple and there was nothing to complain about. Although I was baby of the family, I wasn't too spoiled, in fact I was pretty obedient and well-disciplined. It wasn't until high school that I started being rebellious, but that's just a part of growing up.

New pencil bag
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I started collecting writing utensils since I was a kid, and have always had this thing for them. I've lost the majority of my collection from moving several times, and had stopped collecting pens for a while. For the past few months, I've been searching around for a new pencil bag to replace my old Cinnamaroll one that was ruined with a busted ink pen. It wasn't even my pen! I searched around Etsy and other stationary shops, and they all were too small. I figured the pouch should be at least 7 inches (17.78 cm) long to hold regular pen and mechanical pencils.

The Pen Addict
So I was browsing around for a pencil pouch, and came across a blog dedicated to pens: The Pen Addict. I love his blog, and through him I discovered other pen/pencil addicts like myself. His reviews are very helpful, so it helps readers make educated purchases on the the vast variety of pen options out there. There's just too many to try! He's narrowed down and listed his Top 5's, and I ordered I few off from that last as I was curious. I gotta say, he has great taste in pens! I'll provide quick reviews for the ones I purchased later on in this post.

Jet Pens
Through The Pen Addict, I was introduced to Jet Pens, a webstore selling Japanese pens! Awesome. They stock up on the latest and hottest pens and pencils. They also carry pencil pouches by Japanese brands. I ordered one, and I'm likely to order a few more since I'm so happy with it :D I definitely recommend Jet Pens if you're interested in Japanese pens and have no access to them near your place. The prices are a little higher than the standard American pen, but the quality is much better. You don't have to be a pen addict to invest in Japanese pens, I think if all you want is a good pen that doesn't bleed or smear, or your handwriting is atrocious with whatever you write with, then paying the extra buck is worth it. I'm of the latter, as my handwriting is tiny. My professors really hate my writing: "Er, let's take out the magnifying glass, shall we?" Haha :D It's not -that- small, gosh.



II. Photos & Reviews

1. Kutsuwa Edwin Duo Side Pocket Pencil Pouch
First, is the pencil pouch, which was the main part of the order. The Kutsuwa Edwin Duo Side Pencil Pouch features a double-zipper main compartment, a zipper sub-compartment, and 2 side pockets with velcro fixtures. I think the design looks similar to the popular Marc Jacobs Zipper Clutch :D The fabric is durable canvas, I think, and will probably last me a long time. The color is navy blue, but it came out tealish in my photos. It's a great pencil bag! It was difficult to choose between this and all the others, but I'm very satisfied with my purchase. See Jetpens for better photos.

Top view of the Edwin pouch


2. Pilot Dr. Grip G-Spec Shaker Mechanical Pencils - Flash Series
I got the Dr. Grip G-Spec Shaker Mechanical Pencils in white and pink. White is my favorite color, and pink was just too cute.

Dr. Grip mechanical pencils were specially designed to relieve writing stress and fatigue. They're ideal for people who suffer hand or joint problems like arthritis or carpal tunnel, and have been commended by the Arthritis Foundation with the "Commendation of Easy-of-Use" award. I think their products are perfect for people with hitchhiker's thumbs, as I have those types of thumbs, and Dr. Grip is my favorite line of mechanical pencils! No swelling or discomfort whatsoever after hours of writing. If I do experience any discomfort, it's the slightest, and Dr. Grip is the only mechanical pencil that does that for me. It may be a little bulky for some people, as the barrel is pretty wide, but it's the best pencil I've come across so far.

The G-Spec series, or Center of Gravity series, is designed with perfect weight distribution for more comfortable, balanced writing. It has an extra layer of comfort grip to further reduce writing stress, and the point comes in 0.5mm or 0.7mm. I got the 0.5mm since I write small. The pencil has a Shaker function in which you can shake the pencil to extend the lead. Great idea, if you ask me, more time on tests.

Here's a video demonstration:

JetPens.com TV: How Shaker Pencils Work


I really like the look of these pencils, and the extra comfort grip is a nice cushion for my hitchhiker's thumb. I still have to get used with the center-weight, but it surely is comfortable to write with. G-spec series is only available in Japan at the moment.

3. Pentel Slicci 0.30mm Gel Ink Pens in Black
I ordered 3 of the Pencil Slicci 0.30mm Black Gel Ink Pens. It looked so neat, and it was one of 'The Pen Addict''s favorite pens. It is indeed a very nice pen! Probably the best gel pen I've tried so far, I'm that impressed. It writes very smooth and doesn't smear or bleed. The point is very fine, and goes well with my handwriting. I'll definitely have to stock up in other colors.

4. Pilot Spotliter 2 Broad/Twin Tip Highlighter
I picked up 3 colors of the Pilot Spotliter 2 Broad-Twin Tip Highlihter. This also had good reviews by 'The Pen Addict.' The highlighter is the size of your average pen-highlighter but the Spotlighter comes with dual tip: one with the regular slanted tip, the other a fine-point tip for underlining or boxing. I like these highlighters, the colors came out nicely. They're not neon and blinding, but just bright enough to be noticeable. They don't bleed too much if you let your ink dry first.

5. Uni-ball Signo DX 0.38mm Gel Pens

(Oops, I forgot to take photos of these pens. This was taken from Jetpens.com)

The Uni-ball Signo DX 0.38mm Gel Pens Variety Pack is currently out-of-stock on Jetpens right now, but they will be restocking on them soon as the Signo DX series is a very popular pen among pen enthusiasts. The pack includes 8 colors: black, blue, red, violet, light blue, pink, orange, and green. The pens write pretty well, pretty smooth, and the point is fine. I think I like the Pentel Slicci more has the point is finer at 0.30mm, whereas the Signo DX is 0.38mm. The Slicci writes smoother as well. If you scroll down, you'll see that I was having trouble with the pink Signo-DX. The boyfriend fixed that problem for me, just doodled a bit to make the ink flow haha



III. Handwriting Test

Here are pics of my handwriting with my new pens.

Pentel Slicci 0.30mm
Pilot Spotlighters

Uni-ball Signo DX 0.38mm
Dr. Grip G-Spec 0.5mm Mechnical Pencil




IV. Closing


Overall, I'm happy with everything I got, it's been years since I splurged on pens, and years since I've bought a new pencil pouch (the Cinnamaroll one was a gift). I'll definitely be purchasing from Jetpens again, and hopefully I won't lose any of my pens this time, since that tends to happen. I get asked to borrow pens, but they often forget to return them.

I'll end this post with a pic I took yesterday, just to make sure you haven't forgotten what I look like haha My brows are a mess, but I'm too lazy to do anything about them. My cheeks were blushing from the heat. My glasses are butterfly-shaped to compliment my oblong face. They're 'ok,' I think only Liv Taylor can pull off butterfly-shaped frames. I look kinda stern with these glasses on. Oh well. :S


Have a great weekend!
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Friday, July 10, 2009

RAOK from RougeDeluxe: Tim-Tam and lots of Kit-Kats!

Last week, I received an RAOK package from Iris of RougeDeluxe. It contained chocolates and biscuits, but what's more, skincare samples and a sample of Guerlain powder that I was curious about. She sent the Kit-kats and Tim-Tams cos I was curious about them, and she even remembered a comment I made about my lemming for the Guerlain compact. Iris is the sweetest, most awesome person ever! xD I love her blog to bits, she keeps us English-speakers up-to-date with the latest scoop in Japanese beauty. She does cover a little of Korean items every now a then, but her main focus is Japanese. She's stationed in Singapore, so it took about 1.5 wks for the parcel to arrive here in Louisiana. When I opened the package, I was surprised with how much she packed in there! Everything's gone now. (Thank you so much, Iris! I'm getting you back for this, but the stuff hasn't arrived here yet. As soon as it does, it's going to get shipped to Singapore :D)

RAOK Package from RougeDeluxe



Tim-Tams
First, let's start the biscuits: Arnott's Tim-Tams. Tim-Tams are a very popular snack in Australia, I believe. Each bar is composed for 2 layers of malted chocolate biscuit with a light cream chocolate filling, and the whole piece is coated with a thin layer of chocolate. Ah, so much chocolate! You'll definitely need to down these with a glass of milk or something. It's very rich. I heard about them from a Youtuber, CommunityChannel. She's an Australian-born Vietnamese chick. She's hilarious, go check her out!

Arnott's Tim-Tams



Kit-Kats
Now for the Kit-Kats! I got 6 unique flavors of Kit-Kats. I'll give a short review of each, and tell you which ones are my faves.

Kit-Kat flavors in this batch:
  • Strawberry: I like this one alot. One of my faves so far. The strawberry flavor isn't overpowered by the chocolate, which I like.
  • Jasmine Green Tea: This one is an odd-ball. It tastes so unique. The first bite had a rather strong taste, but I soon got accustomed to the flavor with subsequent bites. It's good, but it's something to get used to.
  • Cookies+: It's good, I'm satisfied with it. It's not particularly outstanding however, since I don't remember anything unique about it haha
  • Tiramisu: This one is -so- sweet. I had to grab a cup of milk after the first bite. It's good, but a bit too much for my tastebuds.
  • Lemon Vinegar: This is my favorite of all! It's a strange combo, but it's really yummy. It's not too sweet, it's paletteable and the lemon gives it extra tart.
  • Matcha Green Tea: I can't read the text, but I think I liked this one too. It's herbal-ly I think? (I only know the other one is Jasmine Tea cos I used to drink a lot of Jasmine tea when I was little.) Someone romanize the text for me, please?

    [Edit: It's Matcha Green Tea! Thanks, Iris!]

Kit-Kats: Strawberry & Jasmine Green Tea

KitKats: Cookies+, Tiramisu (× 2), Lemon Vinegar (× 2), Matcha Green Tea



Samples
I also got skincare and makeup samples. I actually don't have any sheet masks in my possession, although I should be doing hydrating masks regularly since I have dry skin. I sometimes am in denial that I have dry skin, I mean, I didn't realize it until I was officially labeled under the dry, sensitive skin-type early this year by my derm. I'm too lazy to do masks, honestly, but maybe I'll give these a try.

Sidenote: I still have the Caudalie Cream Mask to finish too, and I only used it once ever since I got it. The fragrance from that mask is pretty strong, which is one of the main reasons I haven't been using it.

Garnier Pure Self-Heating & Lightening Peel-Off Masks, Aqua Sherbet Gel-Cream

AC Clinic skincare samples, Guerlain Pearly White Powder Foundation sample

Yay, I got a sample of the Guerlain powder foundation! I was lemming for the original Pearly foundation for a while now. I wonder what's the difference between the two. I think the compacts are pretty popular in Japan, since the foundation creates a flawless finish with no cakiness. The coverage is light, I heard, but the powder performs well for what it is. I've yet to try it myself. I like powder foundations for their convenience, but I'm really starting to believe that liquid and cream foundations are better for me. Still, powder is good for everyday and for school, when I have little time in the mornings. Anyway, I'll post a review on the Guerlain powder soon enough.

Guerlain Powder Foundation sample in #01, the back lists other color options.

Inside the pamphlet, descriptions and whatnot.



Blogger has a habit of degrading the quality of my pics! I know it's to be expected, but I didn't know they'll pixelate them that much. Oh well. Tomorrow I'm going to make a post of another one of my hobbies: pen collecting! I'm such a dork :D
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Nail Polish Stash (Part 3)

This is going to be my last nail polish post for a while, I'm sure everyone's getting tired of seeing polish posts by now xD These are the new additions to my collection, and I acquired them back in May, with exception of Chanel Blue Satin, which I received from Sassy J'Adore in June.

Please refer to these posts for the rest of my collection: Part 1, Part 2.

Another online shop
I purchased these from Trans Design. The price is comparable to 8ty8 and Head2Toe, all 3 are already discounted (OPI: $4.99 vs $8.99 in salons) but Trans Design has a better selection of colors. They even have hard-to-find ones like OPI My Private Jet, which I've been wanting to get my hands on for over a year, and now I finally have it thanks to Trans Design. They carry lots of other nail supplies like nail wheels and cuticle sticks. I'm too lazy to take pics of the rest of my haul from Trans Design, but I really recommend this webstore. They ship from the States, instead of Hong Kong, which both 8ty8 and Head2Toe are based in, so the shipping costs and waiting period are pretty reasonable. Yay, no more waiting for 2 weeks for nail polishes! And not having to worry about customs; you're actually not allowed to ship nail polishes via airmail overseas :P Anyway, I'm glad I found another webstore I can get polishes from at a good price, thank you Makeupalley!

Photos
This is the third installment of my 'Nail Polish Stash' series. I have no intention of purchasing any more polish for awhile. I currently have 66 unique nail polishes, or 72 if you count base/top coats/thinners. I have too much nail stuff that I haven't used, so this collection should be on a stand-still until I finish at least 1 bottle. :P

A. Pinks (1)
  1. OPI Argenteeny Pinkini
  2. OPI Aphrodite's Pink Nightie
  3. OPI A Dozen of Rosas
  4. OPI Japanese Rose Garden

B. Pinks (2)
  1. OPI Tijuana Dance?
  2. OPI Princesses Rule!
  3. China Glaze Sex on the Beach
  4. Essie Innocent

C. Cools
  1. OPI My Private Jet
  2. OPI You Don't Know Jacques!
  3. OPI Louvre Me, Louvre Me Not
  4. OPI Parlez Vous OPI?
  5. Chanel Blue Satin
OPI France Collection
Sorry for the blurry pics xD This haul was intended to stock up on pinks since I hardly have any of those, and grabbing a few from OPI's France Collection that's been sold out everywhere. 8ty8 and Head2Toe no longer carries the France Collection since they sold out so quickly. The OPI France Collection was introduced last Fall, and it became a huge hit with popular shades like You Don't Know Jacques (a neutral grey-brown), Parlez-vous OPI (a cool lavender), and Louvre Me, Louvre Me Not (an eggplant color, a must-have for purple lovers). I got Japanese Rose Garden cos I liked the name, and it seemed to be a pretty lilac (has more pink than Parlez-vous OPI, thus more wearable). I think it's been discontinued. Again, hooray for Trans Design! They carry long-discontinued shades. I use a polish thinner like Nail Tek Extend or Seche Restore if I find the polish thicker than I like. But overall, Trans Design gets a big thumbs up!
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Nail Polish Swatches

Hiii! Sorry, sorry. I seem to have disappeared for a bit from the Blogger world. I don't have much of an excuse this time, I've just been too lazy to make any posts xD It's the weather. I become more and more lethargic as the temperature goes up. I'm definitely a winter person. I need to catch up on all the blog posts I missed. If you've been following me on Twitter, you might've seen little updates every now and then. Let's see what I've been up to for the past 3 weeks:

- Father's Day, had an allergic reaction from peanuts. My sister added them to the dessert. Was miserable for a few days, my neck was so swollen.
- Few days later, had another allergic reaction, this time from cashews. Miserable & frustrated in a funny way.
- Discovered Cosme.net, got hooked to this website. It's like a Japanese MakeupAlley!
- Indulged in music, j-dramas, anime, and video games. Currently watching Rurouni Kenshin.
- Shopped for school supplies, bought a wallet, discovered HG cleanser and toner.
- Spent quality time with the boyfriend, which was nice.
- Started setting up my blog sale: INNERCHILD × SHOP

That's all, I think. I'm so lazy :D Anyway, here are the nail swatches as promised. I actually made these swatches like a month ago, but was too lazy to make a post about it. I think I'm going to lose all my readers if I keep this up. I'll try to update more often, sorry everyone xD

Nail Swatches




Click on the images for a better look. I don't think these photos are very helpful (I really need a macro lens) but I hope the swatches are helpful somewhat. If you're curious about anything, color comparison and whatnot, just ask.

I. Pinks & Reds
  1. OPI Strawberry Margarita
  2. Canmake #91
  3. Canmake #93
  4. OPI Princesses Rule!
  5. OPI Tijuana Dance?
  6. OPI Aphrodite's Pink Nightie
  7. OPI Argenteeny Pinkini
  8. China Glaze Sex on the Beach
  9. OPI Dozen of Rosas
  10. OPI Japanese Rose Garden
  11. Creative Nail Design Scorch
  12. OPI Didgeridoo Your Nails?
  13. Paul's Select Just Right Red
  14. Zoya Valentina
  15. OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress
  16. OPI An Affair in Red Square
  17. China Glaze Ruby Pumps
  18. OPI Pretty at the Premiere
  19. Zoya Divincia
  20. Wet n' Wild Deep Wine



II. Blues, Greens, Purples
  1. OPI Parlez Vous OPI?
  2. OPI Louvre Me, Louvre Me Not
  3. OPI Ink
  4. OPI Designer Series Glamour
  5. OPI Designer Series Fantasy
  6. OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue!
  7. MAC Naughty Nautical
  8. China Glaze Up All Night
  9. Zoya Indigo
  10. OPI Blue My Mind
  11. Zoya Tart
  12. China Glaze Aqua Baby
  13. China Glaze Kaleidoscope Him Out!
  14. China Glaze For Audrey
  15. Nocti Nip Tuck
  16. China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise
  17. China Glaze Outta Bounds
  18. Sinful Colors San Francisco
  19. MAC Bubbly Beige
  20. Zoya Creamy



III. Neutrals, Greys, Blacks
  1. OPI Hollywood Blonde
  2. Canmake #5
  3. Zoya Bailey
  4. Essie Secret Affair
  5. Essie Mademoiselle
  6. OPI Bubble Bath
  7. OPI Passion
  8. OPI Infatuation
  9. Essie Innocent
  10. Paul & Joe #5 Teacup
  11. China Glaze Fairy Dust
  12. OPI Moon Over Mumbai
  13. China Glaze Recycle
  14. Creative Nail Design Hyde in the Dark
  15. Zoya Freja
  16. Wet n' Wild Black Diamonds
  17. Zoya Raven
  18. Sinful Colors Black on Black
  19. OPI My Private Jet
  20. OPI You Don't Know Jacques!



IV. Chanel Blue SatinThe photo is at a weird angle, but I think it shows the colors pretty well. As you can see, Chanel Blue Satin is the darkest navy blue I have yet. It has a grey base, so the color isn't has vibrant as my other navy blue polishes. The color is darker and more dull than Zoya Indigo. Zoya Indigo has more multi-colored shimmers, which makes it more interesting; Blue Satin only has navy shimmers. As sidenote: MAC Naughty Nautical is similar to China Glaze Up All Night. Since MAC Naughty Nautical is a a limited edition polish, China Glaze Up All Night would be a good substitute. I find that MAC polishes chip easily, so if anything, I would opt for the China Glaze. Anyway, sorry Chanel, I think OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue still remains as my all-time favorite navy polish so far. It's just perfect for me.

For more comparison pics, please see this post.



Of course, I didn't include my white polishes, those won't show up on the nail wheels at all. I'll post up Part 3 of my nail collection to compliment this post (I've already posted Parts 1 & 2). I acquired a few more polishes since then, and I think it'll be more helpful if I keep things together. Then I'll be done with nail polish posts for a while.
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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Prizes from Sassy J'Adore's Contest: Chanel Blue Satin & Miss Dior Cherie EDT; NOTD: First French Manicure

Ah, sorry for the lack of posts this week. I've been busy with other activities in the outside world, and have been rather pensive and angsty from recent weird/random events that have occured over the past week (why all at once, eh?), and for the upcoming Father's Day family get-together that's being held later today. I'm not looking forward to it, but I hope all goes well.

On Thursday, I think it was, I received a package in the mail from Sassy J'Adore. I won her contest! She got me some yummy extras too :D (Thanks for the prizes, J'Adore!! I haven't gotten the chance to try the nail polish yet, but I'll do swatches later. Yay, my first Chanel np! Also, thanks for the extras, the candies are long gone now!) I did my nails last night, my first french manicure. It was a lame attempt haha But at least I tried; I'm trying to look polished for this evening. Nail polish swatches will be coming up in a later post.

Package from J'Adore, her handwriting is so pretty.
Mine look like Poe's, really sharp and scary, not girly at all.


The back. She packaged it very well, so neat and everything.
I need more practice with wrapping gifts!



Contest prizes

J'Adore was hosting a giveaway the other week, and she asked us to post which nail polish brand is our favorite and why. Mine is naturally OPI, cos of their quality and enormous color range. Essie has no chance against OPI, seriously; they're completely made up of neutrals shades! How many light pinks does a person need xD Zoya comes really close, I love the jelly finish, but they dry up too fast in my experience. I'll have to buy polish thinners for the Zoya polishes I have in the future. I'm willing to branch out to more brands, like Lippmann and Fingerpaints, but I think I'm happy with what I have for now. No more nail polishes for me! Unless it's something entirely different from my stash. The candies were really yummy btw. Need more Muscat gummies, stat!

What's inside: Miss Dior Cherie EDT sample, Dove Chocolate Bar
Revlon Superlustrous Lipgloss (Nude Lustre), Chanel Nail Polish (Blue Satin)
Kasugai Muscat Gummy Candies

Close-up on Chanel Blue Satin. Omg, so beautiful.



Navy blue polish fanatic

I was so excited when I won the contest. First of all, it's been a while since I won something; second, it'll be my first Chanel polish; and third, navy blue is my signature nail polish color! I'm like head over heels about navy blue polish. I don't know why, I think it looks nice. It compliments my skintone. I have a small family of navy blue polish right now, my favorite being OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue from their India collection in 2008. It's a navy blue with shimmer, you can clearly see that it's blue in most lightings, it's not too dark where it appears black. But it's not as light as OPI Blue My Mind, it certainly has more depth. As AllLacqueredUp has said, it's perfect.

But I'm curious how Chanel Blue Satin compares to OPI Yoga-ta-Get This Blue. I didn't get to make swatches yet, but it'll be fun and exicting (for me at least) to see which I'll favor more. Stay tuned for swatches!

Navy blue polish family photo, from L-to-R:
Zoya Tart, OPI Blue My Mind, OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue, Chanel Blue Satin
MAC Naughty Nauticals, China Glaze Up All Night, Zoya Indigo

Check out all the navy blues! Eye candy!

Oops, forgot about this one: OPI Fantasy for their Designer Series



My first french manicure

Last night, I tried to do a french manicure for a change. I decided to wait on Chanel Blue Satin cos I don't think dark/wild/non-neutral colors would be appropriate for Father's Day. I needed something understated that would make me look polished for the family get-together, and I don't want people to be distracted with my vampy nails. The French is going to have to come off afterwards though, since I did a horrible job (I don't feel like re-doing it). It looks ok from afar. I just hope nobody comes up close and analyses it. I added the rhinestones just for fun (I noticed one of my rhinestones fell off just now :\) and they're off-center by accident. I'm a total noob! Anyway, I hope they won't chip on me like crazy. I never had a french done before.

I took photos of my right hand this time cos I always seem to do everything better with my left hand! So left hand painted and did the french manicure on my right hand better than the other way around (You got it?) It was a total disaster with the left hand, I had to do a lot of clean up.

French mani on natural nails.
OPI Passion (a favorite) and OPI Alpin Snow were used.



Well, that's all for this post. I ordered some things from Adambeauty and Ichibankao few days ago, those should be coming in next week. I got some more skincare. I gave my Kanebo Freeplus a rest cos I think one of them (the toner and/or emulsion) were clogging my pores a little. I also got a new whitening product since my skin can't seem to get along with the P&J Whitening Serum. The Laniege Star White cream has been out months ago (I miss it). I still have the Laneige Star White Emulsion, but I don't like it as much, it doesn't absorb as well as the cream. Lately I've been using samples of Dr.Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel that I got from Imomoko. My skin seems to like it; feels comfortable even in this heat, and hasn't broken me out yet. It's supposed to be a very popular moisturizer in Japan. I'm just using this to hold out before I get my new daytime moisturizer from Ichibankao.

Also, I wish everyone a happy Father's Day; I hope you're having a pleasant time on this special holiday. I don't care much for Christmas (I'm not Christian), but for certain holidays like birthdays, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, they mean a great deal to me. I'm going to get ready now. Have a good one :)

EDIT: Indeed, I contradicted myself. I said I wasn't looking forward to the get-together, but I say Father's Day means a lot to me. It does, but it saddens me that the relationship between me and the family (or certain characters, actually) have gotten distant over the past few years. We are a big family. Some people I get along with, some not (i.e. distant relatives and some in-laws). But I'm very close with my immediate family. I love my daddy (& mommy) so much. :)
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

My Brush Collection + Reviews

Here are my makeup brushes. Some of them are missing/misplaced, I'm not sure where they are. Not pictured are my Shiseido Concealer brush, NARS Smudge Brush, Benefit Angled Brush, MAC 182 Kabuki Brush, and MAC 316 Retractable Lip Brush. There won't be pictures but I'll review them.

Brushes in place

Close-up of the brushes. Don't they look happy in their little slots ^^





Break down on the brushes...

A. FACE BRUSHES


Shiseido Powder Brush
I think the Shiseido Powder Brush is -the- best brush for powders, pressed or loose. It picks up loose powder very well so it doesn't create a mess (or at least minimizes the possibility). It's not scatchy at all, unlike the MAC 182 Kabuki Brush. It's made of squirel hair so it's softer and more gentle than horse or goat hair. It doesn't shed, it's still soft after so many washes. I'm so glad I did the research on MUA and purchased this brush! It's hard to find, I had to phone order this from Nordstrom, and even they had to call a few shops to see if it's still available. This brush is sold out in most places, so if you happen to come across it, I suggest you snatch right away. I highly recommend this brush.

MAC 187 Dual-Fibre Brush
The MAC 187 Dual-Fibre Brush, aka 'skunk' brush, is a staple among MUA-ers. It deposits a light dusting of powder on the skin, which is useful for pigmented blushes. It could also be used to blend foundation onto the skin to produce an airbrushed effect. I don't use it as a foundation brush, as I find the bristles too flimsy for that purpose, but as a blush brush, it's certainly a must-have for any makeup hobbyist. One gripe that I have with this brush is that the head circumference is a tad too big (it covers the majority of one side of my face; I have a small face ^^), so I have trouble applying blush on only my cheeks if I just sweep it right away. The way I use this is to first stipple a tiny amount of blush on my cheeks, then blend in a circular or ovular motion. This way I can avoid over-application on the blush and the color won't spread terribly allover the side of my face, instead of just my cheeks.

Lancome Foundation Brush
The Lancome Foundation brush is what I use to apply liquid/cream foundation, it's a lot easier and faster than using fingertips. I prefer the Lancome Foundation brush over the MAC 190 as bristles are softer and the handle makes it easier to hold. I purchased this when I tried out Lancome's Cream Foundation; the color match was totally wrong, and the foundation was too heavy, but at least I was happy with the brush. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good foundation brush.

MAC 190 Foundation Brush
The MAC 190 Foundation Brush was probably one of my first MAC brushes. I used this when I was trying out MAC's foundations years ago. As with Lancome, I didn't like their foundation but the brush came out ok. I've switched to using the Lancome as my usual foundation brush, but I still use the 190 as a backup when I forget to wash my Lancome brush the night before.

MAC 182 Kabuki Brush (Not pictured)
I purchased the MAC 182 Kabuki Brush years ago, before I ever knew what buffer brushes were for. I mainly bought it cos it's called a kabuki, and I thought it was neat that MAC knew something of the Japanese dance-theatre. This was way before I was into MUA, silly me. This brush is used to buff on pressed powders, or brush off excess powder on the face. I wash this brush probably once every two weeks, it takes 2 days to completely dry. So I searched for an alternative, more travel-friendly brush, which was the Shiseido Powder Brush. The Shiseido is far superior to the 182 in my opinion, in quality and convenience. It's also pricier, but I think the difference is well worth it. The bristles of the Shiseido are a lot softer as well. If you're looking for a good brush to apply pressed powders, the Shiseido would be a better investment as it's useful for both pressed and loose powders; the 182 doesn't pick up loose powder well in my experience.




B. EYE BRUSHES


MAC 219 Pencil Brush
I use the MAC 219 Pencil Brush to apply eyeshadow along the lower lash line and to highlight the inner corners of my eyes. It could also be used for crease work or blending along the outer 'V,' but I usually use the MAC 239 or NARS Smudge Brush for that purpose. I don't think the brush head is small enough to make a good enough line for lining the lower lash line, it sometimes creates a mess if I'm not careful. I suppose I still need more practice with this brush, but right now I don't consider this brush a must-have. Just an accessory if anything.

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
The MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush is used to apply eyeshadow on the eyelids. The bristles are densely packed, and the head is rounded and short, so it's perfect for packing on color. "Packing" means to lightly pat on powder eyeshadow to a preferred opacity. It's a nice brush, I've been having for years now and it hasn't shed. I just wish the bristles were softer and the head only slightly bigger. There are cheaper alternatives to this brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk Small Shader Brush as recommended by Karlasugar, or the Gosh Flat Eyeshadow Brush as recommened by Arora.

MAC 217 Blending Brush
I use the MAC 217 Blending Brush the most when I apply eyeshadow. It deposits a sheer wash of color with just one sweep, which I prefer since I like my shadows light and well-blended. I think this blending brush is a must-have for anyone with small or monolid eyes. I had the MAC 224 Blending Brush, but the bristle-head was too big so it made a messy blur of the shadows on my lids. A cheaper alternative would be the Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush as recommended by Karlasugar. Also, I heard that this brush would be excellent to blend concealer on the undereyes. I've yet to try this, but Karlasugar and Holly Ann-aeRee both use an eyeshadow blending brush for their concealer. I'll give it a try sometime.

MAC 263 Small Angled Brush
As a side note, I refer to the 263 as the "small" angled brush relative to the 266, which is slightly wider. There's also the 208 which is even smaller than the 263, and there's the 269 (discontinued) which is wider than the 266. So in terms of brush width the order would be like this, from smallest to largest:
208 < 263 < 266 < 269.

    Order of MAC Angled Brushes in terms of width
  • 208 - extra small
  • 263 - small
  • 266 - medium
  • 269 - large (discontinued)
Check out Enkore Makeup's video for reviews on these brushes.

I bought the MAC 263 Small Angled Brush to try out when M mentioned it in one of her videos. It's supposed to better than the MAC 266 in creating a thin line with a gel or cream eyeliner. You can see a comparison of the 263 vs. 266 on Karlasugar's post here. In my experience, I do think the 263 would be a better eyelining brush if you have small eyes like me. If not, the 266 would be suitable brush if you have medium-sized eyes.

MAC 266 Medium Angled Brush
The MAC 266 Medium Angled Brush was one of my first brush purchases along with the MAC 190. I think I had 2 of these at some point, then I swapped away the second one for more makeup. This brush is useful for lining the eye with gel/cream liner or wet when used with eyeshadow. I used to use the 266 for my brows, but I've switched to the Anastasia one. I also think the 263 is better in giving me a sharper line, so I don't use this as often anymore.

MAC 231 Small Shader Brush
I bought the MAC 231 Small Shader Brush due to the many raves on MUA. I was having trouble with the 266 in lining the inner half of my eye, I always seem to mess up in that area the most. The 231 did better than the 266 in creating a fine line. I haven't been lining my eyes lately with gel-cream liners (I've been using pencil), so I cannot say how the 231 compares to the 263 yet. But I can say that the 231 is a more versatile brush as it can be used to spread emollient products on the lids evenly. I sometimes use the this to apply my lid primer, be it the Benefit Lemon-Aid or the Bare Escentuals Lid Primer. Or cream eyeshadows such as the Paul & Joe eyeglosses. I switch back and forth between the MAC 242 and the 231, but that's besides the point.

NARS #15 Smudge Brush (Not pictured)
I bought the NARS Smudge Brush recently to finally fulfill my 1-yr lemming for it when I saw Arora use it one of her videos on YT. The bristles are densely packed into a small, flat rounded head, so it's useful for smudging eyeliner to create a softer line. MAC came out with something similar this year, I believe it's the 214 Short Shader Brush? I'm not sure, but I'm satisfied with the Nars Smudge Brush. I don't like having harsh eyeliner lines, so the NARS Smudge Brush helps to make my makeup look more natural.




C. MIXED BRUSHES


MAC 242 Shader Brush
I bought the MAC 242 Shader Brush cos of the many raves on MUA and YT, I heard this brush is a smaller version of the 252 which offers more control. I use this brush to apply concealer (small spots), primers, and both cream and powder eyeshadows. It's a very versatile brush. If I were to ever pick only 3 brushes for eye makeup, the 242 would be one of them.

MAC 252 Larger Shader Brush
One of my very, very first MAC purchases. I bought the MAC 252 Larger Shader Brush back when they didn't have a concealer brush. The MAC makeup artist used the 252 to apply concealer to cover my acne marks (hyperpigmentation marks leftover from previous breakouts), and it did well so I bought it. The 242 isn't as soft as the 252 so it doesn't blend the concealer as well, in my experience. This brush can also be used to apply a wash of color on the lids, which can useful when you're in a hurry as this covers the entire lids with just one sweep. I have 3 concealer brushes (the Shiseido concealer, the MAC 242, and this one, the MAC 252) and I use the 252 the most since it's easier and faster to use.

Shiseido Concealer Brush (Not pictured)
I bought the Shiseido Concealer Brush from Nordstrom when I ordered the Shiseido Powder Brush. I wanted a separate concealer brush for just my undeyes as the 252 was too large and the 242 was not quite soft enough (though it -is- a good brush, I guess I was being picky xP) This brush does indeed perform well in applying concealer on the undereyes. It's a good brush, but not a necessary item in my stash.

MAC 318 Retractable Lip Brush
I have two of these, one for lipglosses and one for lipsticks. The MAC 318 Retractable Lip Brush is an alright lip brush, the metal handle retracts like that of a telescope. The bristles are firmer than what I would like in a lip brush, and the head is rather small, which is useful for blending lipliner and precise application of lipsticks. But for me, I just wish it was softer and bigger, both the brush and the handle. The handle tends to loosen and doesn't stay in place when I use it (it retracts backwards). It has good reviews on MUA, but I'm not happy with it, so I'm looking for a better lip brush.

Anastasia Duo Eyebrow/Spoolie Brush
I really like the Anastasia Eyebrow Brush as it's so soft. I got this when I purchased her All About Browse Kit from Sephora. I get more color control with this brush than the Benefit Angled brush, or any of the MAC Angled brushes. The spoolie is useful for removing excess powder on the brows. I really like this brush, and I'd recommend it.

Benefit Hard Angled Brush (Not pictured)
I bought the Benefit Hard Angled Brush cos Makeup Bag was raving about it. As the name implies, the bristles are very stiff and hard. I don't like it. Neither for my brows or eyelining. It's too rigid and it hurts to use. Sorry, Benefit. :\




Hm, I had the MAC 168 Contouring Brush last year but I swapped it away for more makeup haha. I was going to order it again from MAC's F&F sale that's going on right now, but I don't usually contour! Oh well. What's contouring for, anyway? xP

Well, that's all for my brush reviews. I hope it's useful for anyone considering investing in makeup brushes. My reviews were pretty vague, so if you have any questions or doubts, ask away. And oh, I just had this thought: why am I displaying my brush collection if I haven't shown you what I can do with them yet? xD I'll try to do an EOTD soon, I just need to figure out how to take close-up pics with this camera. The trick is to use a mirror, right?

I keep forgetting to mention this, but I really want to thank all of you who wished me well and were concerned on how I was doing the other week. I was deeply depressed. Me and my boyfriend broke up and my dad fell unconscious (we don't know why, but we suspect it's just from fatique/exhaustion--he's 74). But he's doing ok now, thankfully, and me and my boyfriend got back together again. It's funny, isn't it? I think we understand each other more now. I feel our bond has become stronger. I was told by a friend that relationships are dynamic, I think I can understand what he meant now.
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Brush Roll from Yumeko

A while back, my brush roll from Yumeko arrived, my heart leapt at the time. I ordered from Batch #4, and I've been waiting for months to get my hands on one. These rolls sell like hotcakes, like they're gone within an hour! Lucky for me, I got the last Rilakkuma from the batch. This post is pic-heavy, more than usual. I guess I was so excited from getting my first Rilakkuma item ^^

Package from Yumeko with deco stickers!



What's inside...

Rilakkuma brush roll, eyeshadow palette gift, candies

See, my brush roll is wrapped with LOVE. Literally!

The brush roll laid out

Close-up on the interior.
This reminds of Autumn and my mother.
Her favorite season is Autumn :) Oh, did I ever mentioned I'm an apple freak?

With the flap in place


Ok, I have a predicament. I accidentally unfastened the belt the wrong way, so the buckle fell off. How are you supposed to tie it back on? I'm really clueless on this, this reminds me of the time when we dressed for flag football in highschool, the buckles are the same, I should've learned how to fasten D-belts then! Is there a YT tutorial somewhere for this? How can something so simple be so hard...

Someone please help me re-fasten the buckle ;_;





I got a blue eyeshadow palette as a gift from Yumeko. Thanks, Yumeko! I don't have any blue eyeshadow, so this'll be useful for me. I used this palette in my cosplay look; I shaded my eyebrows blue! It's a little sparkly though, so I'll have to find a matte blue shadow for the anime convention, sparkly brows calls for too much attention.

La Pensée eyeshadow palette (#03) and Japanese candies

Close up on the palette, the colors would be perfect for a blue smokey look

Back label with diagram and pointers.
I'll give it a try some day (I'm sorta scared of smokey looks actually)

Swatches
Really shimmering and pretty!


The candies were really good! They're herbally and natural-tasting. I think the one with the illustrations is green tea. I can't remember how the other one was, I ate it so quick. I suppose it was minty? It has a refreshing taste. I like 'em, they're more interesting that the sweets I'm used to. I would like to try more neat Japanese candies like these. Also, I love ume (plum) candies. I had 2 bagfuls the last time I was in Little Tokyo, but they're all gone now. Maybe I'll order some online hehe

Japanese candies are the bomb





Wow, that's quite a post for just one brush roll :S But I love the brush roll, is all I'm saying. The fabric quality, print selection, and craftsmanship is brilliant! Thank you, Yumeko! I hope to see more of your work soon! If you haven't already, go check out her blog sale, Tezaiku. She also makes laptop covers, scurnchies, pouches, and eco-bags. They sell out rather quickly, so grab them when you can. Keep in mind that Yumeko is currently living in Japan, so if you're really looking forward to her next batch, check up on Blogger during the wake hours in Japan. I think I ordered this around 4am CST 9__9

I'll post my brush collection and my reviews on them in another post, cos it became entirely too long when I joined it with this one. Stay tuned :)
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My Entry for Eki's Cosplay Contest

Here's my entry for Eki's cosplay contest. The idea is to dress up as your favorite animated or video game character; the key is to make yourself look like an illustration. Well, I love anime and video games, I've always wanted to cosplay, so I -had- to join this contest! This is my first time cosplaying, so I have no idea how to pose and eveyrthing. Oh well, it was fun. Guess who's my character: she has blue hair, red eyes, and operates a giant mecha. Read more to find out! xD



It's Rei Ayanami (綾波 レイ)!


She's one of the main characters in the Evangelion series. Her character is enigmatic and mysterious, showing little to no emotion. It's implied in the series that she's not even human. You can read more about her on her Wiki page here. If you haven't watched Evangelion, go watch it! It's a classic. It's a little depressing but I love it. There's so much symbolism and meaning in this series. I was referring to this anime in this previous post. What the story is trying to say is that it's for you to decide on your own self-worth, not how the world determines it. You can read the Wiki articles or watch the series, I recommend it. (But I don't think it's suitable for young children, it goes into a lot of deep stuff and shows some explicit scenes. Maybe 18+. I read that the director/or the like commented that you probably won't "get" the anime if you're normal. "Normal" people wouldn't understand what's it like to be completely hopeless. And I agree.)

I chose her school uniform costume cos it's the easiest and the cheapest. I ordered it on eBay from a seller in China. The outfit I got is an XS, which is the smallest size, and it's still a little loose on me. I'll have to make alterations in the future.


I was planning to have the wig trimmed Friday, but my stylist told me to come back another day. (?!) So the hair doesn't look like Rei's pageboy hairstyle. I'll have to get the hair done in the future too.

So what's up with the future? I'm planning to go to a big anime convention in Dallas to see my favorite Japanese band, Do As Infinity! It's in September, so I have plenty of time to make any changes to my outfit. I am so excited and happy that they're back together again. If you're a DAI fan or planning to go to AnimeFest during the Labor Day holiday, let me know! I love DAI, zomg. haha


Anyway, without any further ado, here's my costume.

Me as Rei Ayanami.


The obligatory "PEACE SIGN" pic xD

Well, that's all. Those poses are so weird. What was I doing with the ribbon? xD Anyway, I didn't get to do eyelid tape or false lashes. I'm too lazy and don't have much time. I did this look fairly quickly. Hope you liked it ^^

EDIT: Oh no I forgot to take pics of my makeup. I'll edit with that later. ><;

EDIT: Here's what I used.

Face makeup

  • Lunasol Water Cream Foundation (YO02)
  • Paul & Joe Loose Powder (Transparent)
  • MAC Powder Blush (Well Dressed)
  • Kat von D Tattoo Concealer (#1 Light)
  • MUFE Lift Concealer (#3)

Eye makeup

  • Bare Escentuals Eyelid Primer
  • Majorlorca Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara
  • MUFE Aqua Eyes Eyeliner (1L)
  • MAC Starflash Eyeshadow (Smokes & Diamonds)
  • MAC Starflash Eyeshadow (Grand Entrance)

Lip products

  • Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss (#04 Baby Petal)
  • Lunasol Full Glamour Lipstick S (#21 Sugar Pink)
  • Laura Mercier Lip Silk


Actually, I think I forgot to use the MUFE eyeliner. Oh well xP

I colored my eyes red in Photoshop! But it doesn't show up in Blogger. All that for nothing...

Also, I used blue eyeshadow for my brows (did you noticed?) Hehe :P Forgot to include that in the pics, sorry. Yumeko gave it to me. I'll make a post about it later.


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