Half Year Disappointments

I've been meaning to do this post for a while now but kept on blogging about other things. There really isn't too much since I did an earlier tag post Don't Believe The Hype, which was basically the same thing for me.

This, of course, is my own personal opinion and what is a disappointment for me could be a thumbs up for you.

Hair Products:

Fekkai Shampoo and Conditioner--Technician Color Care

I thought that this would work well on my hair since it's color treated. This was probably the worst of the lot. When I would rinse out my hair, my hair felt really brittle and like straw. I really felt like my hair was a bird nest. Not only that, I really detested the scent. The shampoo was okay since it was sweet and lightly scented but the conditioner was much more strongly scented and it smelt like Passion Orange/Guava and I do not like those fruits. YUCK!

Fekkai Shampoo and Conditioner--Protein Rx Repairative

While this wasn't as bad as the Technician Color Care, the shampoo still made my hair feel like it was straw when rinsing out. The conditioner was okay. The thing that I didn't like was that after I dried my hair, it wasn't silky soft but it felt like I had applied styling products. Also, by the next day, my hair was feeling and looking oily so I would have to wash it. This meant that I was needing to wash my hair everyday.

Shiseido Tsubaki Golden Repair Shampoo

Unfortunately, when I rinse the shampoo out of my hair, it would also feel a bit like straw. I love the conditioner though and the hair mask is wonderful!

Skin Care:

Mandom Barrier Repair Baby Moist Serum and Essence

I'm glad that I didn't purchase the full line of this. I found that when I used this at night, the next morning there was excess oil sitting on my skin, like it wasn't absorbed into the skin. I couldn't read the ingredient list but when I applied the essence, it seemed to me that I could smell alcohol in it. I try to use as little alcohol-based products on my face since it can be quite drying. Not something that aging skin needs.

Neutrogena Ageless Essentials Continuous Hydration Eye Cream

I don't have anything bad to say about this product. I really don't have an opinion on it at all. I didn't feel that it did anything. If I don't think that it's doing something good, I won't purchase it again.

Makeup:

SunPlay Skin Aqua Moisture BB Cream

I really, really wanted to like this product. It felt good on and I thought that it was nicely moisturizing and hydrating. The only thing is that it is way too light for me. I tried to make it work by using a darker foundation color but it still didn't quite work out. It's really unfortunate!

MAC Plush Lash Mascara

This came highly recommended but it absolutely didn't work for me at all. It didn't curl my lashes. Although I was told by the MAC MUA that it wouldn't uncurl my lashes, it did. It also flaked on me.

Shiseido Eyelash Curler

I had read that many bloggers like this eyelash curler but it didn't work for me. Shu Uemura works the best so far. The Shiseido eyelash curler is more curved than the Shu Uemura so it's not a good "fit" for my eyes.

That's my 1st half of 2010 disappointments. Sorry it's almost a month late.

*Kat*

Review: Pretty & Cute Shopping Experience and Product Review

I recently placed an order with Pretty & Cute, an online store. I had read about this store from Fuzkitte's blog and Jenn's blog, From Head To Toe. Pretty & Cute sells a lot of the Lioele brand products and one of the items that I really like is the Beyond Solution BB Cream. They are really nice and my order was sent out very quickly.

I received my order the other day and this is what I got:

I ordered fringe holders, Lioele Blooming Volume & Curling Mascara, Lioele Blooming Pop, Koji #71 Eyelash Curler and Mirror. I received the other items as gifts--a cell phone screen cleaner and some sample bb creams. The mirror was a promotional item sponsored through From Head To Toe.

I'm sure that most beauty bloggers know (and use) the Dariya Fringe Holders. I have several and every morning hubby laughs at me wearing it. On Pretty & Cute I saw these really cute bow-shaped fringe holders so I ordered 2 of each color so that I'd have a pair.

The red ones remind me of Hello Kitty. LOL! These are really cute but because the bow is plastic, it's not as pliable as the Dariya. They still work quite well though and I am happy with it. Plus, hubby didn't laugh at me this morning.

The Lioele Blooming Volume & Curling Mascara was something that I actually decided to try out for Mai. She's been looking for a replacement of a mascara that got discontinued--Covergirl? Sorry, I can't remember the brand but it was a drugstore brand. She said that it was the best mascara because it curled her lashes without having to use an eyelash curler and it didn't really flake. She's been trying all of these other mascaras recently but hasn't found "the one" yet. I also used to use a Maybelline mascara called "Sky High Curls" that I really liked because it curled my eyelashes without and eyelash curler but that has been discontinued too.

I think that Mai is going to like the Lioele mascara! It actually did help to curl my eyelashes after applying several coats. My lashes are poker straight and I need a mascara base to keep my lashes from uncurling when I apply non-waterproof mascara. It definitely doesn't hold curls well. For my eyelashes to curl with this mascara, it is amazing to me. Of course, I didn't get curls like when I use an eyelash curler but it still curled decently. This mascara also did not flake on me and it removes easily with my Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes. I don't think that it is extremely volumizing but it did volumize my eyelashes, again, after several coats.

Interesting brush shape.

No mascara

With mascara

Can you see my curled eyelashes?

I also tried curling my eyelashes with the Koji #71 eyelash curler that I purchased and applied this mascara without any mascara base. While my lashes did uncurl a slight bit, it still stayed curled so I think that this mascara is really good. I didn't take any pictures of this because I just did a quick curl with the Koji curler. I actually didn't even really play around with the curler much so I can't even do a review on it yet.

The last item is the Lioele Blooming Pop. This product is, according to Pretty & Cute's website, a "soft and moisture absorbing milk lotion without stickiness". It supposed to give you a transparent glow, which doesn't rub off easily. You can use it on your lips as well as on your cheeks as a blush. I got it in Pinky Tint because I think that it's the lightest color available. It comes in a little jar and has an applicator like a nail polish applicator. It has a really nice "cherry" scent to it as well as a slight sweet cherry flavor. It's quite pleasant to me. It definitely doesn't feel sticky and does have a slight moisturizing feel to it. My only real complaint with it is that the lid in which the brush is attached to is the same width as the bottle, which is a bit fat and the length of the brush is short so when applying it to your lips, you can't really see what you're doing unless you angle your face towards the mirror.

I have used it only on my lips because Jenn on From Head To Toe reviewed it and said that it gave her a long lasting tint to her lips. I often eat off my lip color so I was hoping that this would help. As you can see, it give my lips decent color--actually, it's a bit brighter than I like but it's okay. I applied it over my lip balm and I also applied my regular lipstick over the Blooming Pop. To give it a real test, I ate a breakfast burrito, which takes my lipstick away very easily. After eating the breakfast burrito, my lipstick was gone but the Pinky Tint color was still there. It lasted me all the way until lunchtime so I decided to eat greasy pizza. To my surprise, it did fade a little but it was still there.

Naked lips--only Bobbi Brown lip balm on.

My lips are actually pretty dark on it's own.

With the Blooming Pop on, no lipstick

Overall, I think that this has good lasting power to it. It's a nice product but not one that I must have.

*Kat*

UDPP Challenge

I recently did a review on Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. In that review I said that I really liked the product but really wanted to see how well it would hold up on a hot, humid day. Well, that day was yesterday. It got up to around 88 degrees F (31C), it was quite humid and I was miserable.

So here's how I started the day off:

And this is how I ended the day:

Amazing isn't it? I did no touching up at all and this was at least 15 hours after I took the first picture! My eyelids look as fresh as when I first started off the day. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the rest of my face.  UDPP has passed this challenge with flying colors! It's a big thumbs up.

*Kat*

Perfect Eyebrows Article

I'm not sure how many bloggers this request was sent out to. I wasn't going to post about it but one article interested me and I thought that perhaps it might of interest to some others.

Perfect Eyebrows--How to Get Hollywood's Best Arches was an interesting article to me since I have had the ugliest eyebrows since I was born. This article is from Elle.com and they do have some other articles that may be of interest to all.

Note: I am not affiliated with Elle.com in any way nor did I get any kind of compensation for doing this.

*Kat*

Review: Canmake Loose Cheek

In my recent order from A Pop of Kawaii was something else that seemed very interesting to me. I decided to buy and try Canmake Loose Cheek, which is a loose cheek powder. I know that Canmake is a drugstore brand and is quite inexpensive. I've read mixed reviews on this line. Personally, I think that it might be a hit and miss with the eyeshadows but the rest of the product line might be okay. I already have the shading powder and really like it. The color of the Loose Cheek that I bought is [01] Baby Pink.

Although the jar that it comes in feels like a cheap plastic, it is still quite cute. I love the design on top with the small crystal insert. I kind of gives that Jill Stuart feel to it. Since the plastic is clear, the cute powder puff topped with a sweet pink bow shows through and that makes it even sweeter. I think that everything about how it is presented is so cute!

When you take the powder puff out, there is a plastic sifter divider in which you dispense the powder from. It reminds me of Bare Minerals. I like to apply my blush with a brush so I won't be using the cute powder puff. I find it a little difficult to shake out the powder and have it stay in the container so that I can swirl my brush so I have ended up tapping it out into the lid.

The powder has a nice, soft feel to it when you apply it. It blends on very easily, is nicely pigmented--enough to get a nice coloring without over doing it. You can apply more for more color.

No blush

With blush

I was really impressed by this product. It's good quality and inexpensive. I'm thinking of purchasing another color or two. I feel like I've been really lucky lately in my purchases. I've been liking just about all of the items that I've purchased.

*Kat*

Review: Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift W BB Cream--Slightly Pic Heavy

Last week I received an order that I placed with A Pop of Kawaii. I was truly impressed because I got notice on Tuesday that my order was shipped out and I received it on Thursday! Japan to Hawaii only 2 days, EMS shipping! Of course everything was packed perfectly. Thanks Nic Nic and Kuni!

One of the items that I had been eyeing for a long time was the Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift W BB Cream. I have mentioned that I think that I found my HG BB cream for now, which is the Lioele Beyond Solution BB cream but I can't help but want to try more.

It comes in a pretty tube. It says that it contains silk essence, collagen and hyaluronic acids, with SPF 23. This BB cream is supposed to be moisturizing so it is geared more for those with dry skin and/or mature skin. From this point on, I will be kind of going back and forth a bit but I wanted to show it on its own as well as compared with Lioele.

As you can see, it is much lighter than Lioele Beyond Solution. Some people have said that it's yellow based and that may be but I also think that it has a pink tinge to it and is just much lighter than Lioele.

This kind of worried me but when I blended it into my skin, it actually blends in a little more nicely than the Lioele. (Note: This is swatched on my arm and my arm is much, much darker than my face.) It seemed to me that the Freshel adjusts to match your skin tone.

The Freshel has a much lighter consistency than the Lioele. With the Lioele, I use less product since it has a thicker consistency. If I apply too much it becomes almost cakey on me. Since the Freshel has a lighther consistency, the coverage isn't as great. The great thing though is that you can layer more on for more coverage. However, even then it is probably a medium-light coverage at best.

Scary face that has been prepped and primed for BB cream application

With Freshel BB Cream on left side only

With Lioele BB Cream on left side only

It has a very moisturizing feel to it and it doesn't dry out so it is probably best to set this with powder if you are going to use this alone. The consistency of it actually feels like when I wear the Maquillage Moisture Cream Foundation. There is absolutey no scent to this BB cream.

On Friday, I applied the Maquillage Moisture Cream Foundation over the Freshel BB cream. It was actually a pretty humid day. At around the 10 hour mark, I ended up touching up with the foundation just a light bit, which is normal when I wear just the foundation. Since both the BB cream and the cream foundation are moist creams, it was actually too heavy, especially in the humid weather. I think that it will be great for winter when it's much colder, especially in the colder weather areas. I could feel that I had product on my face and I don't like it when I can feel that I'm wearing makeup. Otherwise, I think that BB cream held up quite well and really did not oxidize on me.

Finished FOTD w/Maquillage foundation

After more than 12 hours

Today I decided to try the Freshel BB cream with the Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation. Even though it's a moisturizing foundation, I find that it has a very light feel to it so for me, it's a much better "summer" foundation.

Today it was quite hot with it being 86 - 87 degrees F in my house (approximately 30 degrees C). I also vacuumed and did some other house cleaning activities and worked up a good sweat (yuck!). I did need to touch up my nose with powder foundation since I had been rubbing my nose throughout the day. Despite the humidity, I think that the BB cream with the Bobbi Brown foundation held up very well. I don't think that there was any oxidization and maybe the coverage may have faded a bit but I believe that it was probably because I worked up a sweat. At the end of the day, there is a feel of makeup being on my face but then again, I believe it's due to the humidity. For the most part of the day, I didn't have that feeling.

Finished FOTD w/Bobbi Brown foundation

After more than 12 hours

I really like the Freshel Moist Lift W BB Cream. It is quite moist and remains so for as long as you have it on. I like the way that it blends in to my skin tone color and matches up quite nicely. I wish that it had heavier coverage but that is just my personal preference. I think that this BB cream will work much better once the lazy, hazy (hot and humid) days of summer is over. I still think that Lioele is my #1 BB cream with Freshel coming in at a close 2nd.

*Kat*

Review: Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact Illuminance

I think that Jill Stuart cosmetics are packaged so prettily and is very feminine. It has interested me very much for a while but I just couldn't justify the price tag. Luckily, Jill Stuart's blush was the other item I was able to get from the recent Lotus Palace Blog Sale.

While the case is plastic, it looks like glass and is quite pretty. It comes with an attached retractible blush brush, in which the knob of the latch has a pink crystal. It's so sweet!

It is a mirrored compact. This is Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact Illuminance 102 Gold Illuminance. There are 4 different colors in the compact, which I'm sure that you can use separately. Unfortunately, I am too lazy to carefully use only one color so I swirled my brush over all of the colors. I found the attached brush to be a little too stiff for my preference so I used my own brush, which is a MAC angled blush brush. The attached Jill Stuart brush will be convenient to use for touch ups, if necessary.

The blush powder is of a nice consistency with good color pigmentation. You don't need to use a whole of lot powder to get a nice color. I found that the first time I tried it, I swirled the brush and picked up too much powder and got clown cheeks.

No blush

With blush

I'm really glad that I was able to score this compact. I have to admit that this is the first time in my life that I have so many blushes in my possession at one time. I used to have only one blush, which I used until it was gone and then buy another one. I'll soon be reviewing another blush from an order that I just received.

*Kat*

Lotus Palace Shoutout and Review: Lunasol Contrasting Cheeks

I was fortunate enough to FINALLY get into Lotus Palace's Blog Sale. Every time she posts a blog sale, I happen to miss out on it because I'm too late. She has really awesome blog sales. My package arrived yesterday and it was so cutely packed. She even included a few extra goodies for me. Thanks so much Kathi! If you get a chance to catch her future blog sales, I recommend her! She packages things so nicely and is really quick to ship things out. Her items are also in awesome condition.

The two items that I purchased were blushes. Today I want to review the Lunasol blush. I purchased Lunasol Contrast Cheeks in Coral Pink. The Lunasol Contrasting Cheeks collection is actually sold separately--there is the compact case and the blush refill that fits into the case. I was able to get a fantastic deal for both the case and the blush refill. The great thing about this is that if I decide that I want to use a different color or I run out of the Coral Pink, I can purchase just the refill.

I love the Lunasol line of eyeshadows because the colors are well pigmented. The same goes for the blush--it is nicely pigmented. You can make it sheer or go darker.

No blush

Sheer application of blush

Today, I went for a more sheer look. I absolutely love this color. The blush powder has a nice feel to it. I do not have sensitive skin but there have been times where some blush powders give me a kind of prickly feel. I did not experience this at all.

Two of the goodies that she included was from a brand I never heard of before. It's Alverde. I believe that they advertise themselves as a natural cosmetics line. She sent me a lipstick and a twist up cream blush. Both are in really cute cardboard containers.

The lipstick color is Rose Dream and the blush is Rose Love. The containers are decorated with a rose print and there is a scent of roses in the products. It's not a heavy scent at all, very nicely scented. The liptstick is nice a creamy and the color isn't heavy at all. It's a really nice light pink and it does have a very faint taste of roses (like the way it smells). I didn't get a chance to test the blush but I'm sure that I will like it as well. These two colors are perfect for me.

*Kat*

Review: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion + Mezaik

As I mentioned a couple of posts back, I received a surprise package from an awesome blogger. One of the items in that package was Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (UDPP) in Sin. Prior to receiving this item, I had read many reviews of this product. I have been quite satisfied with my MAC Paintbox in Painterly and my eyeshadow base/primer so I didn't feel the need to purchase the UDPP.  I know that you've all seen many reviews of this product so please bear with me.

It comes in a cute bottle, kind of a champagne color. I'm assuming it's because Sin is considered a shimmering champagne color.

It has a doefoot applicator. I found that the doefoot applicator holds a lot of primer so when I applied it to my eyelids, there was just way too much for my liking. I found that by dabbing it onto my hand then picking it up with my MAC 212 brush, I could apply just the right amount to my eyelids. You need to let it dry before you start applying your eyeshadow. It does dry quite quickly.

My poor hand obviously needs some heavy-duty moisturizing lotion.

As I've mentioned before, I use the Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber on my eyelids. I love this product but one of the things you need to be careful of is not to let any creams touch the fiber because it will then lose it's "stick" power. So when I applied the MAC Painterly, I had to apply it above and below the stretch fiber. When I first played around with the UDPP, I noticed that it dried very quickly and didn't seem to have any type of greasy, filmy feel to it. I got brave and tried it over my entire eyelid, including over the stretch fiber to see what would happen. Amazingly, it doesn't affect the Mezaik stretch fiber!

Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber

With the UDPP on over entire eyelid, including the stretch fiber

I'm really happy with this result!

The UDPP is a great primer since it doesn't affect the stretch fiber. It also really helps with my eyeshadow application. It comes out quite smooth and gives my eye makeup longevity. I haven't experienced any creasing with it and I often wear my makeup for well over 12 hours. I normally rarely do any touching up, even if I sometimes look a bit ragged toward the end of my day. So far with the UDPP, it seems that my makeup still looks quite as fresh as when I first applied it. It's starting to heat up here in Hawaii so we'll see how well it holds up under our summer humidity.

Thanks my dear friend...you know who you are. I probably would have never tried this if it weren't for your lovely gift.

*Kat*