Purchase Review: Korres Antiageing Primer + My New Sin

Anything that says "anti aging" usually catches my eye. I had been eyeing the Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Primer for a while now.

I finally asked for a sample of it recently and found out that it had just been reformulated. After using it a few days, I decided that I liked it enough to purchase it.

It says on the tube that it is a powerful treatment and skin-perfecting face primer in one. It instantly fills up wrinkles and provides a very smooth and perfected skin surface ensuring long lasting makeup application. One of the things that I really like about it is that it is silicone free. I think that it really does smooth out my skin. It has kind of a citrusy scent but it dissipates quite quickly.

I also purchased Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin.

It is in the new packaging where it is in a squeeze tube and not the genie bottle. My genie bottle had dried up so I was happy to be able to replace it with the new squeeze tube.

For those who wanted to see the machines that I used to make the wedding announcements, here they are:

This first one is the Big Shot which is a hand crank style machine. I used it to cut out the designs which were used.

This next machine is the big Ellison XL machine. I used this to cut out the 5" x 7" envelopes.

I really love this machine!

*Kat*

A Few FYIs

In the last month, there has been an explosion of spam messages on the blog. We feel quite fortunate that we were able to go over a year with barely any spam. We have changed the comment form to include needing to input a word verification to try to ward off any more spam. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The chat box has also been taken down as a result of many spam messages being left there. It wasn't something that we wanted to take down but it was becoming such a nuisance.

I have been busy gathering up more items to update the blog sale page. Please look for it to be updated in a few days.

I finally finished making 100 wedding announcement cards and envelopes! Just to give you an idea of the work involved, I used a Big Shot machine to cut out the main design components of the card front.

I didn't want to use plain, white envelopes for the announcements so I ended up having to cut out and put together my own envelopes using a pearlized paper. For this I needed to use my Ellison die cut machine.

I think that this has been my best craft investment. I use this machine a lot for making my own envelopes and I use the cake/pie slice die a lot for various centerpieces. It takes 12 slices to make a full cake. I like it because you can use it as both a centerpiece and party favor. The full cake is the centerpiece and each guest at the table can take a slice for their party favor. I have filled the slice with candies.

I am filling in for a vacationing worker but she should be back some time next week. Having finished the wedding announcements and when the worker returns, it means that I will be back to my regular schedule and can be regularly blogging, commenting, etc. again. In the meantime, I am busy planning posts and taking pictures.

ARGRR!!! I've been trying to upload pictures of the two machines that I used but I can't seem to upload it to blogger right now. It's late and I need to get to bed so I give up. I'm sorry that this is a post with no pictures.

Please stay tuned...

*Kat*

Product Review: Mannan Gel Peeling

I have used the B & C Laboratories Mannan Gel Peeling a few times now so I feel good about doing a review on it. 

This is not a peeling gel mask but a facial peeling gel which exfoliates old skin cells. It also contains small mannan scrubs. Exactly what is "mannan"? I didn't know so I looked it up. From Wikipedia, this is what I got: "Mannan is a plant polysaccharide that is a polymer of the sugar mannose." Uh, that really didn't enlighten me any. Another Google search got me this: "A polysaccharide with good water-binding, moisturizing, and antioxidant properties, mannan is an overt immuno-stimulator and natural thickener. emcrk.com/page.php"

With that explanation, I can assume that mannan is a good thing in that it has moisturizing and antioxidant properties.  I use this after I wash my face for the night. It is recommended that you use it twice a week. I usually use one pump but you can use more or less depending on your preference. I first dab it on strategic points on my face and then I gently massage the product in. As you massage the product in, your old skin cells will lift off of your face. Rinse thoroughly when done. After the first use of this, I noticed that my skin was definitely smoother. I then followed up with my regular night time skin care routine. The next morning, my skin still felt soft and smooth.

I do not use the Clarisonic to cleanse my face if I am planning on using the Mannan Gel Peeling that night. I feel that it might be too much on the delicate face skin. Although I can't read the instructions since it is ALL in Japanese, I believe that you are to use this on dry skin and not damp. I've used something similar to this many years ago and it was used on dry skin. The one that I used a long time ago was a Korean brand but I can't remember the name. I liked it but I remember that it was quite expensive at the time. This brand is significantly more gentle on the skin than the Korean brand was.

I haven't had a chance to try it but I think that it would be wonderful to follow up using a My Beauty Diary mask (or any other mask). Since your face has just been exfoliated, I think that it would love soaking up all of the good properties that masks have.

I didn't know how to label this review as I didn't purchase it but I really didn't receive it as a gift. My daughter-in-law bought this since she wanted to do this the night before she took her engagement pictures. (They took their engagement pictures after they got married. They didn't have time to do engagement pictures before the wedding.) She left it behind for me to use. I'm glad that she did because I'm really liking this and will probably purchase it again after I use it up.

*Kat*

Lipstick Adventures Part 3 Purchase Review: Lancome L'Absolu Nu

Sorry that I've been MIA for longer than anticipated. My son and my new daughter-in-law extended their stay by one week. I'm also still busy making their wedding announcements--probably another 50 - 75 to go. I needed to take a break from all of that crafting and catch up on blogging.
Today is my third installment on my lipstick adventures. Lancome L'Absolu Nu in two--yes, not one but two colors! I purchased #346 Rose Veil and #375 Blushed Rose.

The design on the tube is pretty and I like that it has a magnetic catch instead of snapping shut.

One of the problems that I had when I purchased these is that there wasn't any tester samples to check out the colors. Also, the first Macy's that I went to didn't have both colors so I couldn't tell which one I wanted more. My first purchase was Blushed Rose.

On half of my lips

On full lips

I then went to another Macy's a few days or so later and found the Rose Veil. It is a lighter color than the Blushed Rose.

On half of lips

On full lips

If I had a choice at the first store, I think that I would have picked up Rose Veil. Blushed Rose will work well during the fall and winter months since it's a little darker in color.

According to Lancome's website, this lipstick is formulated with Pro-Xylane which restores moisture to the lips for 8 hours.  It is also enriched with enhancing pigments to reveal the radiance of beautifully replenished lips and enhances your natural lip tone in a veil of shiny, translucent color. It sounded exactly like what I was looking for. Of course, I would be eating and drinking in those 8 hours so I wouldn't be able to test that 8 hour claim without getting famished. However, after an hour or so, I felt that the moisturizing properties dissipated.  The feel of it is very similar to Chanel Rouge Coco Shine. The one thing that might be off putting to people, is there is a definite flavor/scent of CHowards Violet Candy. I happen to love violet candy so it doesn't bother me at all. It does almost disappear after a while but there is still a very slight hint.

When I purchased the second lipstick, Macy's was running a GWP promotional so to make the minimum dollar amount, I also purchased a pencil sharpener. The GWP came with a tote bag, which is reversible to a solid lime green color. You could also pick 5 different products from a line up of items. I happened to choose Raspberry Ice Juicy Tube, Color Design Eyeshadow palette, Color Design OH MY! lipstick,  Bright Expert Dark Spot Corrector and Radiance Activator and Renergie Lift Volumetry cream.

All in all, L'Absolu Nu is a nice lipstick but it is on the pricey side, with it being just a couple of dollars less than Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

*Kat*

Wedding Day Manicure

I forgot to post this with my previous Wedding Day FOTD. I did this manicure about a week ago, which was a few days before the actual wedding.

This glittery pink french manicure is actually using the Incoco dry nail polish, which I had first used about a month ago. I am really hard on my nails so my manicures usually last me only a day or two before showing tip wear and/or chipping and peeling. The Incoco system has worked out really great for me since it lasts at least a week. The regular manicure lasted me just about 2 weeks before chipping. As you can see in the picture, even though it's been on me for a week, there really isn't any tip wear or chipping. I have done dishes, cooked, cleaned and scrubbed, even assembled and disassembled the arch for the wedding. It's really amazing to me. You can purchase it online although I made my purchase at a kiosk at Ala Moana Shopping Center.

My nails are quite soft and bend and tear easily. The length which is pictured above, is usually the longest that my nails will grow before tearing off.

NOTE: Today, the day after I took the picture, my middle finger's nail bent and then broke off. It's a good thing that it happened after I took the picture.

*Kat*

Wedding Day Makeup

It was a very exhausting day but everything went very well. It was a beautiful ceremony and a small, intimate reception. We couldn't have asked for more, except for perhaps less wind at the ceremony. My son's in-laws are so down-to-earth and sweet and our new daughter-in-law looked gorgeous.

I thought that I had most of my makeup planned for yesterday but ended up changing it around quite a bit. I was originally going to use my Temptu for my base makeup but after using it in a trial run the day before, I decided to change and use the Hada Labo BB Moist Cream instead. I think that it gave a nicer, more dewy look whereas the Temptu ended up being quite matte.

So here's my makeup lineup:

Base Makeup

Dermablend Professional Cover Cream Concealer
MAC Motif Eyeshadow to set concealer
Hada Labo BB Moist Cream
Cle de Peau Translucent Loose Powder
Coffret D'or Powder Foundation (on nose)
Maquillage Powder Foundation (on spots)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Greed

Eye Makeup

Visee Blossom Eyes BR-5 (peach shadow in middle)
Visee Brilliance Forming Eyes A-1 (Pink shadow upper right corner)
Stila Artist's Inspiration Palette (golightly--taupe brown shadow lower left corner and ebony--upper middle)
K-Palette Real Lasting Liner
Koji Eyelash Curler
Shiseido Mascara Base
Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara and Gokubuto Mascara (on upper eyelashes)
Gokunobi Mascara (on lower lashes)

Cheeks and Lips

NARS Laguna
Lunasol Contrasting Cheeks N 11 Coral Pink
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 57 Aventure

I wore a light pink outfit and it was a morning wedding with a lunch reception which is why I decided to go with a more neutral smokey eye. I really thought that I was going to use NARS Orgasm for my cheek color but I'm really liking my Lunsol blush right now. I had a selection of lip colors to choose from but in the end, decided on Aventure since I really like the color.

I will be spending the rest of the week and weekend taking the new in-laws around. At least we now can really relax and not worry about wedding plans.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

*Kat*

May Brush(es) of the Month

This is just a quick post since I forgot all about doing my brush of the month post for May.

My purchase for this past month was the Borghese Professional Select brush set that was being sold in Costco. It has a selection of 10 of their finest cosmetic face and eye brushes and also comes with a lovely brush roll.

These are the brushes that are included:
#100 Powder Kabuki Brush
#101 Angled Contour Brush
#102 Duo-Fiber Blending Brush
#104 Round Foundation Brush
#105 Concealer Brush
#200 Eye Powder Fluff Brush]
#201 Eyeshadow Brush
#202 Angled Eye Contour Brush
#203 Domed Smudge Brush
#204 Angled Eye/Brow Brush
They have tapered wooden handles and are make with premium natural and synthetic bristles. It cost only $23.99 USD plus tax.

I haven't had a chance to try any of these out yet but a few years ago Costco had sold under the Kirkland label, a Borghese brush set. I had bought that and still use those brushes today.

Sorry that there's only that one picture and no detailed pictures of the brushes. I didn't think that I would be posting at all for the next week and a half as my son has come home to Hawaii to get married. There's still so much to do and some unexpected things have happened since he arrived here on Friday.

Have a lovely week and I'll be back with more posts within the next week or two.

*Kat*

Gift Review: Face Q

In a recent love package from K of cosmeddicted, there was a Face Q mask. I finally got the chance to try it out. The mask that I had received was the Grapeseed + Green Tea mask.

According to Sasa, "Face Q Grape Seed + Green Tea Mask with a unique micro-emulsion technology turns nourishment into micro-emulsion particles that are smaller and easier to penetrate into the skin, improving moisture replenishment. Mask is made from 100% wood pulp with silk, it fit your facial contour perfectly, rapidly infiltrate moisture for the skin, after use your skin with become supple with natural radiance.Formulated with all natural botanical extracts, grape seeds contain powerful proanthocyanidins antioxidant, can prevent the skin from oxidation damage, thus lose luster and flexibility. Grape seed also has synergistic effect with collagen and elastin, making skin a shiny and flexible, and prevent premature wrinkles and skin spots." The mask shape is quite similar to My Beauty Diary Masks but there are a few slight differences. I think that it's a little smaller than MBD and the hole shapes for the nose and mouth are a little different. The Face Q mask is nicely saturated but not overly saturated like some of the MBD masks that I have tried. I also liked that Face Q masks are thinner and more sheer than MBD masks so your natural skin color shows through more. This makes wearing the mask not as scary as when you wear a MBD mask. The mask was very soothing and cool and I kept the mask on for over half an hour with no problems. I find that sometimes with the MBD masks that my skin will start itching or feeling irritated by the mask but I didn't experience that with the Face Q mask. When I removed the Face Q mask, there was a significant amount of product left on my skin that needed to be worked in, very much like MBD. I felt that my skin looked significantly brighter and more clarified. Even when I woke up the next morning, it was still looking nicely hydrated and brightened. I really liked this mask and am thinking of ordering more from Sasa. It might take a while though because I'm supposed to be on a "no buy" but more importantly, there's not much that I'm wanting from Sasa right now and will not make the $75.00 minimum for free shipping. *Kat*