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*

Review: MBD LE Hello Kitty Mask

Ever since I had read about there being limited edition Hello Kitty My Beauty Diary masks, I had been on the lookout to buy it. I recently found out that it was being sold only in Taiwan, which is the reason why I hadn't been seeing it on my usual online stores.

The masks come in two formulations, Strawberry Milk and Honey Strawberry. I decided to go with the Honey Strawberry since honey helps to moisturize while the strawberry helps to brighten. The Strawberry Milk is supposed to whiten and brighten. Each box contains 10 masks and there are three different package designs, so you get 3 sets of each design plus one extra. I'm not sure if the 1 extra is the same in every box. They are so cute that I don't want to use it.

I did used one mask the other night and here is my thoughts on it. It is your typical MBD mask as far as the size and shape of the mask. Like all of the other masks, it is saturated very well. The scent of this is really pleasant, a lightly sweet scent. I kept the mask on for about half an hour and as I usually do, I massage, pat and work the remainder of the essence into my skin and going down my neck. This took quite a bit of work! I think that the honey makes it stickier and tackier than the other MBD masks that I've used. It took a long time to work it in and I even rubbed it onto my arms! What I didn't care for was how my skin felt sticky even after it had dried. When I woke up the next morning I was glad that my skin wasn't still sticky. It was very moisturizing but I didn't really notice a brightening effect.

While it wasn't the best MBD mask that I have used, I'm glad that I was able to get it--even just as a collector's item. I'm thinking of perhaps trying to get the Strawberry Milk mask to see how that is. For your info, I bought 2 boxes on ebay.

*Kat*

Review: Stila Artist's Inspiration Palette and NARS Orgasm Lust Lip and Cheek Set + EOTD

I recently ordered online from Sephora two limited edition sets. The Stila set was a Special of the Week and the NARS set is just a limited edition item. I went into my local Sephora and they didn't have it instore, which is why I ended up purchasing it online. They are now available instore.

I decided to do an EOTD using these sets.

Products used:

MAC Samoa Silk (orange shade)
Stila Artist's Inspiration Palette--golightly, dapple and ebony
The colors in the palette are as follows: Top, from left to right--fluorescent green, ebony, electric pink (cheek color) and Bottom, from left to right--golightly, dapple, kitten
NARS Orgasm
K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner

I forgot to include this in the picture but I started off by using UDPP in Eden. I had tried it with Sin the day before but everything came out too shimmery.
Samoa Silk was used over entire contour area. dapple applied on inner eye from lashline to crease. golightly applied from just over middle of eye from lashline and blended upward and side to side above creaseline, right into the socket area. ebony was applied on the outer eyelid in "v" shape. I also used it to line the outer half of lower lashline. Blend everything to make sure that there are no significant color lines. Orgasm was used on brow bone as a highlighter. Line upper lashline and lower outer half of lashline with K-Palette eyeliner. That's it! Very simple.

I liked this Stila palette. The shadows are nicely pigmented, medium-soft and easy to apply and blend. Very much unlike the other palette sets that came out earlier, which I still have to review.

The NARS Orgasm Lust Lip and Cheek set was something that I decided to get since they are mini-sized items. The cheek set has Orgasm and Laguna and both contain .008 oz/2.5 g of product. The full-sized duo contains a total of .35 oz (the Sephora website says it's a limited edition item) and the full-sized blush contains .16 oz of product. I was a bit hesitant at first to try Orgasm because the description says that it has shimmer in it and I try to stay away from shimmer. Since this was a mini set, I decided that I don't mind spending some money on it and if I don't like it then I'm not stuck with a full-sized blush. Now I totally understand why this is a cult favorite! I love Orgasm! (hehe, that sounds a bit kinky!) It applies on very nicely, not overly pigmented that you have to go with a light hand. It really does give a nice flush of color and isn't so overly shimmery that I don't mind it at all. Teamed together with Laguna, it's a nice travel palette since it's small and has bronzer and blush in one. I will have to go and look at the limited edition full-sized product and decide if I want it. I really, really don't need any more blush though.

As for Orgasm lip gloss--I like the NARS lipglosses since they are not overly sticky, except for one that I tried recently. I can't remember which one it was--maybe Strawberry Fields? Anyway, this one was sooo super sticky that it felt like a sticker. Orgasm doesn't feel that way but I think that the color is just a wee bit too light for me. My lips are quite pigmented so this color kind of pales out my lips.

I've decided that I love being able to buy minis of products that I want to try out. If it turns out to be something that I love, I can buy it in a regular size.

Sorry that I haven't replied to comments made. It's been kind of busy on my end. I'll try to catch up soon.

*Kat*

Review: Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack

This was given to me by my friends who went to Korea. This wasn't with the gift pack that they had originally given me so it wasn't included in that picture.

Ingredient list for those who are interested

The last line says that it is recommended to keep this product refrigerated during the summer

I have recently been using My Beauty Diary masks where the product is on an actual paper type of cutout mask. This strawberry yogurt pack reminds me of the masks that I am familiar with where you apply it on and let it sit on your skin.

Directions: Apply after cleansing and toning. Evenly spread quarter-sized amount on your face. Massage it in until the little red particles dissipate. Leave it on your skin for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water. Use it once or twice a week. It is best to store it in a ventilated, cool place.

It is very pleasantly strawberry scented which isn't strong or over powering. It feels really nice, smooth and cool on your skin. Unlike old-fashioned masks, it isn't thick and opaque at all. It's actually quite sheer so it's not so startling to family members if you are sitting around with it on. After rinising it off, my skin felt very smooth and hydrated. I actually used it in the morning and did my makeup afterwards. Even after I washed my face off that night, some 15 hours later, my skin still felt really nice and smooth. I really like this face mask. This will probably be on my Korea wish list for when my friends travel to Korea again. (They actually just came back yesterday but I didn't have a wish list for them this time.)

*Kat*

Omiyage (gifts) and Mask Product Review

After I wrote my review on SkinFood Peach Sake BB Cream, Shihoco from Pladge Blogspot commented on how she'd like to try a BB cream that smelled sweet like in my review. Knowing that I wasn't going to be using this BB cream again because it was too drying on my skin, I asked her if she wanted it. It would be so wasteful to just have it sit in my cabinet and not be used. It really is a lovely BB cream, I just wish that it was more moisturizing. So I sent her the SkinFood BB cream and the Etude House BB cream, along with a few other items that I wasn't using.

In return, she sent me some wonderful things! I received 2 boxes of Kose Clear Turn White Masks--one with collagen and one with Vitamin C. Both of these have also have 12 different extracts to help whiten and smooth your skin. The round puff is to do face massage. It seems very interesting to me. There was also a beautiful black scrunchie, Hi-Chu candy, a pack of Japanese cookies--yes, I already ate a pack--YUMMM!, Japanese chili pepper powder, which is from her region in Japan and Visee Blooming Eyes PU-2.  I was so happy to receive all of these things!

Sorry, my kitten wanted in on the picture.

I mentioned this before but her name is

Hime chan, which means Princess. She

really is a princess--she even loves

being in pictures and wants to try beauty products.

Yesterday I was really sick and had a horrible headache. I was going to put an ice pack on my forehead but I decided to use the face mask instead. The last time I had used a different face mask, it was quite cooling so I was hoping that there would be the same cooling effect. I decided to open and use the Collagen face mask. This was at around 11:30 a.m.

The face mask was very saturated but it doesn't drip at all. I think that I have a smaller-sized face but after some minor adjustments, it fit well. It felt very nice and did have a slight cooling effect. Since I wasn't feeling well, I lay down and actually dozed off with it on. After approximately 20 minutes, I pulled it off and there was quite a bit of product left on my face, which I patted in and worked into my skin. My skin looked much brighter and smooth. It also actually helped to ease my headache to the point that it was nearly gone. Later on in the evening, oh around 10:30 p.m. or so, I looked in the mirror and my face still looked really nicely hydrated and happy.

Thank you Shihoco san!

*Kat*