Using My Stash February - June 2015

It's been so long since I last did a "Using My Stash" post! I'm pretty sure that there might have been more items used but I couldn't find the containers.

Skincare

Skincare items is what I used up the most.

Rodan + Fields Reverse Line Deep Exfoliating Wash, Toner and Skin Lightening Treatment. I gave this line a good run and it didn't do what I wanted it to do, which was to remove freckles and dark spots.

Kose Hyaluronic Face Lotion. I'm not extremely particular about my face lotions as long as they are moisturizing. This one worked well and I believe isn't too expensive. I have several different face lotions in my stash that I need to use so I don't believe that I'll be making any purchases in the near future.

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream. I used this as an extra lotion. I really liked it and it was quite inexpensive. Since summer with high humidity has hit, I will not be using an extra moisture lotion for a while. I will most likely pick this up again but I have to admit that I have other heavier moisturizers in my stash that I need to use.

Naive Facial Cleansing Foam. I love Naive cleansers! I have several others as backup in my stash.

DHC Q10 Face Cream. It's a nice cream. Not sure if I'll repurchase as it didn't stand out as compared to other face creams that I have.

Nature Republic Argan 20 Mask Sheet. I have so many masks in my stash to use that I don't have to buy any for a long, long time. This was a nice mask to use and I think that I do have more in my stash.

Makeup

Bare Minerals BareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation. This is my HG foundation! I really love it. I think that I am almost done with a 2nd bottle.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre. This is a moisturizer and primer in one. I was using it mainly as a primer and really liked it. I am currently using it as only a moisturizer and it works very nicely that way too. A little goes a long way and although I have only recently started using a 2nd tube, I think that I need to buy another one to put into my stash.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This is another HG product for me. This tube took me a whole year to use up so I was thinking of replacing it with a smaller tube, thinking that I will be using fresher product even though it's more cost effective to buy the larger tube. I happened to find the larger tube in my stash as well as a smaller tube so I'm set for over a year.

K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner 24h. This has also been a HG product for me. I have a number of these in my stash. I was recently given a Dolly Wink eyeliner. It works exactly the same as K-Palette but I think that the tip is a little narrower so I like the way it lines my eyelids.

Sunscreen

Hada-Labo UV Whitening Emulsion is one of my HG products. I love Japanese brand sunscreens as it doesn't feel or smell like sunscreen. It also has high SPF, which I like. I have many of these in my stash.

Brush Cleansers

Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner. I like to use this everyday. This new formulation is great in that it cleans the brushes well and is so quick drying. Brushes stayed damp when using the old formulation.

Daiso Puff and Sponge Detergent is my all-time favorite for deep washing my brushes on a weekly basis. Or at least I try to wash them on a weekly basis. Very inexpensive and effective as a brush cleanser.

Not very many items considering that this is for 5 months. I still have so many items in my stash that need to be used and loved. It is slowly whittling down though and I'm happy that I've been doing this.

*Kat*

2014 Favorites

I don't think that I've done a yearly favorites post before. I decided to base mine on products that I either purchased or received and used in 2014. There are many items that are a standard item in my routine and I've used them for years. I didn't want to include those. There really aren't too many especially since, as I mentioned before, 2014 ended up being a crazy year for me so I just didn't do much shopping other than to replace loved items. This also was a reason why I wasn't motiviated to blog--nothing new to talk about. 

So onto my favorites:

Tony Moly 7 Days Tatoo Eyebrow

You can read my review here. It has become a staple item that I can't live without. Although I'm debating (and have been for years but am scared) getting it permanently tattooed, I will probably still keep this in my stash to use.

K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner 24h WP

Although I have mentioned this eyeliner as being my HG before, I have always used the black eyeliner. At the beginning of the year, I decided that black was a bit harsh to use to line my lower lash line so I decided to purchase this in brown. It's not that easy to find it in brown but I managed to do so. I also purchased more while I was in Japan in November. What I found interesting was that I recently read a blog post by K of Cosmeddicted who wrote that she started using a brown eyeliner because she felt black was too harsh. 

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

This was recommended by a friend who tried it and liked it. I'm so glad that she did. I found that it worked really well for me. While I don't think that my lashes got thicker, it did lengthen quite a bit and some bare spots did fill in. I know that I had taken pictures and had planned to do a blog post on it but never did. I will be using it again but have taken a break for a while. When I do start using a lash enhancing product again, I'l be using Latisse. It was given to me by Mai, who had won or received it from her doctor's office. She is very cautious with her eyes so she doesn't want to use it. I'm the lucky person who gets to.

Daiso Mascara

I just wrote about this mascara and you can read about it here. Even though I only started using it from the end of November, it has already become a favorite of mine. Mai loves it too.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre

This is used a lot by makeup artists as a primer. It can also be used as a moisturizer. I use it as a primer and really like it. I don't like primers that feel like it has a lot of silicone in it. It makes my face feel like it's itching, although there is no adverse reaction.

bareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

You can read my review here. I first reviewed it back in July and I'm still using the original bottle that I purchased. It is just about reaching the end so I bought a replacement. Sephora just released a similar type of foundation under their own brand. I tried it but it doesn't feel the same as the bareMinerals. 

Makana Academy Brand Blush

Back in October, Mai took me to Makana Academy to get a facial done for my birthday. After we were done, I was browsing in the lobby and found a shelf with various makeup that was being cleared out. I was told that they were in the process of moving so they wanted to lighten their load. It was very reasonably priced so I picked up this blush along with a some eyeshadow palettes. I must say that this is one of the best blushes that I have used in a long time. I had been reaching for it everyday until I needed to try another blush that was given to me.

Sparkle Collagen Peptide Supplement

I really need to do a blog post on this because I am duly impressed. When I went to Japan, I was fortunate enough to meet up with Yu Ming of Beauty-Box Online. I love her blog and when I had last looked, she had been selling a variety of different products from her online store. Apparently, she discontinued it but along with her husband, developed their own collagen supplement and named it Sparkle. She was so generous and gave me a tub to try. I will definitely do a blog post on it but just so you know, I am currently on my third tub. In the meantime, if this intrigues you, you can check out the Sparkle website here. No, I am not affiliated with them in any way. Just a satisfied customer and think of Yu Ming as a dear friend.

Did you discover anything new in 2014 that has become a favorite?

*Kat*

Purchase Review: bareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

How many people have tried and used bareMinerals Original foundation before? I was using and loving it up until about 8 years or so ago. I loved the powder formulation that was light on the skin and yet provided good coverage. I really felt like my skin could breathe and I liked the fact that it didn't feel like I had makeup on. The only real problem that I had with it was finding the right color for me. I ended up having to mix two different colors, which is pretty normal for me anyway. Then the inevitable happened, age and along with it, slightly drier skin which brought out some fine lines. I found that applying powder would make my skin appear drier than it was and being that the original foundation is a mineral powder, I couldn't make it work for me any more.

Fast forward to 2014...bareMinerals has come out with a new foundation! A liquid foundation which is said to be a tone-correcting mineral foundation AND a brightening serum all packaged into one formulation. I knew that it was something that I needed to try.

At first I was going to just get a sample to try at home because I had read mixed reviews on it but I ended up just purchasing it instead. When I got color matched by the SA in Sephora, I was a bit apprehensive at first because I initially thought that the fomulation felt very oily but then I realized that it wasn't oily but had a soft, silky feel to it. After application, it doesn't dry to a powdery finish and I felt that it's actually quite hydrating. I was also very impressed by the fact that the color match is just about perfect!

bareMinerals has a foundation brush that is to be used with this foundation but the SA at Sephora didn't use it to apply the foundation and he told me that any brush that will buff well will work. I have the Urban Decay foundation brush and he said that it would work very well.

Here I am bare faced. Not even my skin care has been applied yet.

Foundation applied to half of my face.

Finished FOTD. Thanks to the flash and SPF, I look quite a bit white.

For me, when I first finish my makeup, my face always looks a little whiter until after an hour or so. When it does settle in, the color match is just about perfect.  I have found that this foundation doesn't provide good full coverage so I need to conceal all of my larger dark spots as well as provide a little better coverage under my eyes. For this FOTD, I used Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer.

I will also use a foundation under my eyes instead of concealer and two that I've found work very well in providing good coverage are Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #5 (thanks to a blogger who gave it to me) and DHC Q10 Base Makeup in Natural Ocher 02.

I always apply a shade slightly lighter than my foundation because I want under my eyes to be brighter.

I took this picture the day before these pictures here but this is after 8 hours of wear.

I had read some reviews say that it wasn't long lasting but it wears very well for me. I am totally loving this foundations. It's light enough to wear during the summer, and this summer has been rather hot and humid compared to the last couple of years. It covers well enough although I still do conceal, but then again, I always have to conceal the darker spots. I haven't had a foundation that I have liked this much in a long time. It's especially appealing because the color match is so good. 

The Sephora SA that helped me was really good. I have usually come across SA/MUAs that automatically reach for the yellow undertones because I am Asian. I used to be more pink toned but have recently discovered that my undertones have changed to be neutral. This SA totally understood that and I was matched with the color that I thought would match me. It's 08 Bare Beige, which is under the neutral tone category.

Has anyone else tried this foundation and what are your thoughts on it?

*Kat*

Drugstore Foundation Binge/Purchase Review

Right after I posted about wanting to make 2013 another "Use My Stash" year, I went out on a drugstore binge and purchased mainly foundations. I had mentioned in the blog in 2012 that I have been duly impressed by a variety of drugstore products and felt that the various drugstore lines have stepped up, making more quality products.

Foundation has been my color nemesis. I must have a really odd skin tone because I know that I definitely do not fall into the "typical" asian coloring of yellow/warm. I actually have more of a pink skin tone but not truly pink either. Neutral would seem like it would fit me the best and yet I do seem to have problems in that category as well. Whenever I wear something made for more yellow skin tones, I either turn into a very sallow coloring, turn orange or look like I'm wearing dirt. Whenever I wear something for pink tones, often it's way too pink or it makes me look a little too white. In actuality though, the pink tones seem to best suited since it definitely helps to brighten my face and not make me look sallow and sick. I have found that more neutral tones sometimes make me look ashy gray.

My go to foundations for 2012 were from the Bourjois line and Kate BB Cream gel. For both, the colors worked best with my skin tone--definitely not perfect but quite close. I also use a foundation from Clarins, which is great for drier weather.

Deciding to branch out, I first purchased Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation. I was looking for something a little more moisturizing since the weather has gotten quite a bit cooler here. I first bought #60 Natural Beige but thought it was too light so I purchased #100 Natural Tan.

While I liked the formulation of the foundation, it just didn't work out. The foundations were nice and moisturizing, to the point where I would have to blot around my nose after 6 or 7 hours of wear, something that I haven't had to do in years. I didn't mind though. The worst thing about both of these colors is that they turned orange on me. I also didn't like that it didn't have a pump dispenser. The foundation is a bit runny so it was difficult to get a little bit of product out of the bottle as it just quickly poured out.

Next I tried out L'Oreal True Match Lumi, Healthy Luminous Makeup in C3 Creamy Natural.

I thought that the color looked like it would work out pretty good but at first it was way too light. The formulation was okay, a little less moisturizing than Healthy Skin but again after several hours of wearing it, it started to turn orange on me. I did like the pump dispenser.

I then thought that I would try something that I haven't tried in long time, powder foundation. I don't like matte finishes because it tends to make my skin look drier by bringing out fine lines. I noticed a new Bare Minerals foundation called READY Foundation. It's a powder but supposed to be hydrating. I first picked up a color that I used to use but found it was way too light. I then discovered that these foundations run light so you need to go with a darker color. I got color matched to Golden Tan.

I was quite skeptical and it turns out I was right. It's too dark and also turns me orange. I didn't use this long enough to form a proper opinion on the formulation. I'm hoping that I can return this to Sephora, although I've had it for a while.

By this point I had told myself that it was enough. I had spent close to what I would have spent on one good quality foundation and felt satisfied that I tried but didn't succeed and would stick with what I have been using. Then I spotted Wet N  Wild's new Coverall Cream Foundation. It was only $3.99 so I decided to do one last purchase.

I got it in 817 Light-Medium. It is supposed to provide sheer to medium coverage and isn't supposed to be heavy, chalky or dull. It has a semi-matte finish that is luminous. Here's the description on the back:

I couldn't get a good picture of the ingredients because of the curve of the tube. It's definitely not moisturizing like the other two foundations and I have to make sure to moisturize well before using it. I think that it would work better in the warmer months.

I was a bit worried that the color of it would be really pink on me. Here you can see how peachy pink it is compared to the other two.

Fortunately, it doesn't come out as pink as I thought it would. In fact, the color comes out to a very good match on me.

Here it is on half my face:

As you can see, it's slightly lighter than my normal skin tone.

Full face:

After more than 7 hours and no touching up:

As with all foundations, it does oxidize on me but very slightly and it oxidizes to a good color match for my skin tone! There is some SPF in it--SPF 15 so there is a slight whitish cast when taking flash photography, which makes it look lighter than my neck. Here I've taken a no-flash picture to show how well it matches my skin tone.

 

I'm very happy with this foundation and it's only $3.99! I have found it only at one store so I'm hoping that the other stores start stocking it. It has long-wearing power for me and it brightens my complexion as well as matches it quite nicely. I don't really have sensitive skin but so far, I haven't had any negative reactions to it. I have to admit that I'm only on my 2nd day of use.

I have done some other drugstore purchases but will save that for another post since this one has gotten to be much longer than anticipated.

Kat's Daily Routine

Morning:

Note: Kat is a Noevir consultant so all skincare products is Noevir unless otherwise noted.


Wash face with face cleanser from 99 line
Face Lotion (505 line)
Albion Exage White Shooting Spots
Moisturizer (105 line)
Protecting Skin Cream
Raysela Face Protection UV
Eye cream
Shiseido Maquillage Moisture Cream Foundation
Time Balm concealer
Shiseido Maquillage Moisture Finish Powdery Foundation
Covergirl Eyebrow Pencil
Bare Minerals Eyebrow Powder
MAC and Shiseido Maquillage Eyeshadow Base
Duo Eyelash Glue
MAC and Shiseido Maquillage Eyeshadows
MUFE Aqua Eyes Eyeliner
Bobbi Brown Eyeliner Gel
Talika Eyelash Lipocils
MAC Blush
Shiseido Maquillage Glossy Perfect Lip Rouge
Set with Caudalie Eau De Beaute Beauty Elixer


Night:


Remove makeup with Neutrogena Makeup Remover cleansing towelettes
Deep Cleansing Massage Gel
Wash face with face cleanser using Clarisonic Brush
Face Lotion
L’Occitane Fabulous Serum
Philosophy Miracle Worker
Moisturizer
Protecting Skin Cream
Eye cream
Time Balm concealer
Shiseido Maquillage Eyeshadow Base
Duo Eyelash Glue


The Albion Exage White Shooting Spots is supposed to lighten the dark spots on your skin. Kat has been using it for a long time and it hasn’t worked. Will definitely not buy it again.


Why the Duo Eyelash Glue? Kat has the typical asian mono lid so she uses the glue to create the fold or double lid. She has noticed that using the Shiseido Maquillage eyeshadow base helps to create the fold without it being obvious. She has tried a Japanese brand of eyelid glue but it didn’t work.


Kat will soon run out of the Caudalie Beauty Elixer and wants to try the Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System. Sephora has just started to carry the Amore Pacific line in stores but ran out very quickly. Hopefully it gets replenished soon. Otherwise, she will have to pick it up at Neiman Marcus.