Rocaille Writes

This was bound to happen: I had resisted all the Shu offers and discount codes I'd been getting in my inbox for a looong time, and then a 20% off and free shipping offer hit, and I resisted no more. Those mailing lists and promotional newsletters will be the death of me!

I'd previously never tried anything from Shu Uemura, a beloved Japanese brand now under the L'Oreal companies umbrella. It doesn't help that to my knowledge, there are no counters anywhere in the US, the product distribution and availability is much different than that in the Asian countries, and online swatches are rather scarce. But with all the raves from my trusted beauty blogging friends, I decided to just go for it - and armed with a coupon code, ordered three little bits and bobs, including the Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine in PK 331, described as 'fresh pink - cool undertone' ($30 for 3.4 g/ 0.11 oz).

The lipstick is packaged in a somewhat futuristic, silver bullet-shaped tube that has a surprising weight to it. The shade can be easily seen through the clear plastic lid for easy morning grabbing, and there's an additional label with a shade name on the bottom (although I *hate* the Asian color coding system, I don't have the memory for all the numbers, people! Gimme actual WORDS!).

Through what I assume to be pure luck, I settled on a wearable pink shade that I don't already have a dupe for in my lipstick drawer (How. Is. That. Possible!). In the bullet, PK 331 is a neutral, clear medium-depth pink with very fine silver and magenta shimmer. To my eye, it has some slight yellow/rose tones to it, especially compared to something like Revlon Superlustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink (which, in turn, is not even that cool/ blue-toned when compared to something like Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Shalimar). On my pale cool pink lips though, PK 331 swatches as a pretty spot-on My Lips But Better Shade - it evens out some of the more purple/mauve tones but overall leans a lot cooler and more pastel baby pink (as in, it seems to have more of a white base) than in the bullet.

L-R: Shu Uemura Supreme Shine in PK 331, Revlon Superlustrous Shine in Kissable Pink, L'Oreal Caresse in Blushing Sequin (all three lipsticks swiped 4-5 times), Chanel Rouge Allure in Conquise (2 swipes) to show differences in pigmentation

The pigmentation is sheer but buildable, and the finish definitely on the glossy side. The lipstick has a good glide but doesn't slip and slide on the lips. The silver and violet magenta shimmers catch the light prettily, and sit rather weightlessly on the lips; they definitely do not feel gritty. The formula doesn't sink into vertical lip lines too much, but unfortunately catches and collects on any dry bits, so some exfoliation is required prior to application. The glossy finish wears off slightly after 2-3 hours, but the color remains until I have to eat something, and the lipstick doesn't leave my lips feeling dry or tight. There's no taste (huge plus!) and a very, very faint fruity scent to it - so faint in fact that I'd classify this as unscented.

Ingredients: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Isoeicosane, Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Stearyl Heptanoate, Synthetic Beeswax, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Microcristallina Cera, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Aqua, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Alumina, Dimethicone, BHT, Ectoin, Tin Oxide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octedecanediol, Benzyl Benzoate, Methicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Parfum [+/- Mica, CI 77891, CI 45410, CI 15850, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 453080, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 15985, CI 75470]

Overall, I really enjoy wearing Shu's Rouge Unlimited Shine lipstick formula - and I come to enjoy it even more the more I wear it. What I first considered a borderline Barbie shade translates as a comfortable light wash of pink over the lips that can be touched up on the go without a mirror. It beautifies! While the price point is definitely a bit high, I'm glad that I decided to give Shu Uemura lipsticks a try.

Have you tried the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine formula? What are your favorite products from Shu?

The mere sight of TATCHA products on my bathroom shelf is enough to bring me the feeling of deep contentment - which is only further intensified when it comes to applying them on my face. There is no other brand that does its packaging better than TATCHA, and opening a package brings about a similar level of visual stimulation to an art exhibit; or possibly even higher, because it's also a tactile and olofactory experience. I love it. Despite my usual cynicism, I think there must be something right in this world after all if products like TATCHA's are designed, manufactured, and enjoyed by thousands of women, no?

It's no surprise then that I was beyond excited to be able not only to try and review two more products from the range (click here for my review of TATCHA One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil and Rice Enzyme Powder, which I'm still using, and here for the TATCHA Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask), but also to give them away to one lucky reader! But more on that at the bottom of the post (yes, I know you're all frantically scrolling down right now...); first let's see how I've been getting on with TATCHA Gold Camellia Beauty Oil* ($95 for 30ml/ 1.01 oz) and Gold Camellia Nourishing Lipbalm* ($36 for 8g/0.28 oz).

The GOLD Camellia Beauty Oil comes in a sturdy glass bottle, embellished with a purple ombre design. The oil is dispensed through an elegant pipette with a press down button - a bit of an upgrade from the usual rubber. TATCHA describes it as 'a light and rich beauty oil for face, hair and body. Infused Licorice Extract gently calms skin, while young Bamboo and Green Tea fragrances offer transport to a Kyoto countryside. Camellia Oil and Squalane nourish skin and seal in moisture, while 24-karat gold flake gives skin a sensual glow.'

The Gold Camellia Beauty Oil is possibly the lightest and most easily absorbed oil I've ever tried, while still remaining moisturizing and nourishing for the skin. Camellia oil, rich in Vitamin E as well as other antioxidants, is a Japanese carrier oil expelled from the seeds of camellia sinesis tea plant (not to be confused with tea tree essential oil, or Tsubaki oil, pressed from seeds of camellia japonica), and it's been traditionally used by Japan's Oshima Island farm girls, and later geishas, to nourish the skin and hair. It's a lot less viscuous than my Clarins Blue Orchid Facial Treatment Oil, and takes less time to sink in, thus making it better suited for the hot New York summer, and even appropriate to use in the daytime on my combination acne-prone skin.

I've been using the Camellia Beauty Oil for the past four weeks every night and some days in the morning in place of a moisturizer, and my skin is now soft, hydrated and plump, and my skintone more even. I also wanted to test how moisturizing this light oil really was on my skin, so for a while I used it just on its own, without layering a serum underneath - and my skin remained hydrated without any dry patches. I take a couple drops onto my fingers, briefly rub my palms together, and press the oil onto my face, breathing in the sweet, slightly lemony green tea fragrance. Even after a couple hours I can tell my skin is still nourished, but not greasy or tacky, and it seems to calm down the redness in my face - and absolutely does not clog pores or cause any breakouts, in fact I believe it speeds up the healing of any blemishes. I haven't tested it fully on my body or my hair, because I think it's too precious, but I can tell you that whatever is left on my hands after applying it to my face is instantly sucked in without any residue. The skin on my hands is very dry and eczema-prone, so if the skin on your face is more on the dry side, I'd recommend layering the Camellia Beauty Oil with a moisturizer.

The GOLD Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm is packaged in a simple glass pot, and comes with a single gold leaf square delicately placed on the surface of the balm. TATCHA suggests scooping out a bit of the lip balm with a touch of the golf leaf, which then dissolves on the lips for a soft, gold gleam. The gold leaf is actually the only thing I have a slight issue with in both the Nourishing Lip Balm and the Beauty Oil; when I try to crush it between my fingertips it just balls up and disappears somewhere - so I don't entirely see the point, apart from it looking beautifully luxurious in the product. But I can live with that!

As far as the balm itself, it has an interesting, smooth oil gel texture that spreads easily on the lips, and a light scent similar to that of the Beauty Oil. It feels a lot thinner and less waxy than my long-standing favorites like Nuxe Reve de Miel or Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair. Because of that, it absorbs much quicker into the lips and doesn't leave a thick layer on the skin like the other two can. For this reason, I find the TATCHA Gold Camellia Lip Balm a fantastic product for daytime and a great step in prepping for lipstick application, but not moisturizing enough on my Sahara-dry lips overnight - I think my lips just need that extra coat of balm to stay put through the night!

As you can tell, I've been very much enjoying both the Gold Camellia Beauty Oil and the Nourishing Lipbalm, and thanks to the generosity of the beautiful ladies at TATCHA, I have a set of these products to give away to one lucky reader. The giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 (please obtain parental permission if you're under 18), and you can enter by using the Rafflecopter widget below. I will contact the winner via email a week from now and ship the prize out as soon as possible. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from TATCHA for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!

Here's the promised update on my Project Make A Dent! If you're new to this idea, the Project's aim is to make a focused effort to use certain make-up items from your collection and well, put a dent in them, whilst not depriving yourself from enjoying the rest of your stash. The idea was originated by Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog (here's her latest update) and lots of other bloggers are participating as well - if you want to join in, you can use #projectmakeadent hashtag on Twitter for extra motivation from fellow participants!

Here's what my selected make-up products looked like when I started my Project in January 2014 (click here for the original post with product names etc., and here for my First Progress Check in March):

And here's the progress at a half year mark:

This is kind of like playing the 'Spot the difference' game. So, how many differences are there?

Yes, I've finally used up two items! My faithful bottle of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation has bit the dust, and the stub of Annabelle Smudgeliner in Rich Chocolate is beyond sharpening - which is a good thing, because I'm pretty sure the formula dried out and hardened from when I first purchased this. You can also see I've been using the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Soft Coral quite regularly... while sort of neglecting the NYX Tea Rose. What you can't really see from the progress photo is that I've been using the NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink a lot - and I mean, a LOT - but this thing might just be immortal. I've also used some of the Annabelle Vanilla Chilla eyeshadow and the NYX Powder Blush in Angel here and there, but not as often as the other items.

I've also decided to swap out the already finished items for some new ones, and so we have Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in Intensity 1, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner Pencil mini in Whiskey, and Gosh Waterproof Eyeliner in Black Ink entering the challenge - here's a group shot with the current usage on these items. You obviously can't see from the Estee Lauder foundation tube, but I'm estimating that it's slightly less than half way down. I originally wanted to include Face Atelier Ultra Foundation as my base for the Project, but you guys, I tried and I can't - it's way too heavy and greasy for my skin, and in New York's summer heat and humidity, it's just awful. So Double Wear Light it is; the shade is a bit too dark for me, so I guess summer would be the optimal time to try and use it up.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with my progress and I'm looking forward to finishing more items I've chosen for the Project - well, maybe not the blushes, ha. I think this quarter I was a bit easier on myself as far as forcing myself to use my selected products, so I've managed to tame some of the make-up boredom I was experiencing earlier. I now do wish however that I included more products in the Project from the start, so I could rotate them more; but maybe then nothing would actually get finished? Who knows.

Have you used up any make-up items recently? Do you intend to repurchase them, replace with something else, or are you just trying to downsize?

Beauté's Liqui-Gel Stains are one of these products that were hyped up through the roof a couple years ago, and then they kind of mysteriously disappeared from the beauty scene, never to be mentioned again. Which is probably why, when I enthusiastically grabbed the neon orange tube of Flouron at a sample sale, a friend I was with probably thought I was mentally unstable - and my excited cries of 'No, no, but it swatches differently!' were met with a somewhat puzzled stare and a shrug.

But yeah, I really don't know why nobody talks about these anymore, because the Beauté Liqui-Gel Stain for Cheeks & Lips in Flouron ($29 for 3g) is pure awesome.'A uniquely textured highly pigmented liquid/gel hybrid, The Liqui-Gel Stain for Cheeks and Lips allows for perfect blendability before setting and lasting hours. Easily buildable the Liqui-Gel Stain allows the sheerest whisper of color or a nearly opaque flush to either cheeks or lips'(description from the brand's website). Beauté (not to be confused with Le Metier de Beauté!), a niche Canadian make-up brand, is admittedly not the easiest to get hold of in the US, but it can be purchased via the brand's website or online at Urban Outfitters - and while you're there, check out their fantastic Korean beauty section!

Back to the product: packaged in a simple, hefty plastic tube with a doe foot applicator, Beauté's Liqui-Gel formula doesn't look any different than a regular lip & cheek stain. The consistency though is a pretty spot-on mix of liquid and gel - thicker than fluid The Body Shop's Lip & Cheek Stain, but thinner than jelly theBalm's Stainiac Hint of Tint For Cheeks and Lips. Beauté's stain has a bit of an old-school make-up smell to it, but once it sets on the lips, there's no lingering scent or taste.

The shade Flouron, which appears to be a highlighter orange shade in the tube, actually swatches as a beautifully neon pinky coral, and as it dries down, sets to an even pinkier hue on my cool-toned lips. The formula gives plenty of time to evenly distribute the product on the lips before it sets, and the Liqui-Gel doesn't sink into vertical lip lines or exaggerate dry patches - a feat virtually unheard of for a lip stain. The creamy liquid does set to a matte finish, but it remains comfortable on the lips, and wears like iron. While I can't say the stain actively moisturizes my lips, it doesn't really dry them out either. On the cheeks, it applies equally easily (although go easy on the amount of product, it's bright!) and gives a pretty, fresh flush of color.

Compared to other bright coral/ warm pink lip shades in my collection, the Beauté's Flouron is definitely the most vibrant. The neon orange bullet of Giorgio Armani's Rouge d'Armani Sheers in 301 swatches as a more muted and truer orange shade, while both L'Oreal Colour Caresse lipstick in Blushing Sequin and Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist are pinkier and cooler. I have a pretty large collection of bright warm pinks, but nothing comes close to Flouron! For a glossier finish, it pairs great with Essence Stay With Me Long Lasting Lipgloss in Candy Bar.

L-R: Beauté Liqui-Gel Stain in Fluoron, Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheers in Coral 301, L'Oreal Colour Caresse in Blushing Sequin, Covergirl Jumbo Bloss Balm in Watermelon Twist

I'm pretty smitten with this Liqui-Gel Stain; I haven't tried that many stain formulas (since usually they're terribly drying on my lips) but the Beauté's version might just be my favorite so far. It's a must-have product for long, lazy summer days: feels lightweight and non-sticky, stays put, and the shade looks stunning on both fair and sunkissed skin.

Do you reach for lip & cheek stains more often in the summer? What are your favorite formulas?

Remember my Spring Beauty Wishlist? It has ebbed and flowed since its creation; I've changed my mind about getting some things (By Terry Rouge Terrybly), bought but haven't yet tried others (Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Pads, Shu Uemura Eyeshadow), tried and disliked one (Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil), and finally got and fallen in love with a couple (NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, and the hero of today's review: Shiseido eyeshadow trio in Nude). But I'm really sticking to it, right?

I was probably the most excited about trying Shiseido's Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in BE213 Nude ($33 for 3g/ 0.1 oz) because my beauty blogging friend Liz kindly offerred to send it to me after reading the aforementioned Wishlist post. The thoughtfulness of bloggy friends and readers is what truly makes the blogging world go round. Thank you Liz!!!

The Nude trio comes in a lightweight but rather sturdy compact with a mirror and two applicators - one sponge tip, one brush. I never actually use those free applicators, but can't bring myself to toss them - because maybe they'll come in handy in an emergency (what, like a flood? An earthquake?) My mind, 'tis not sensible. The three eyeshadows within the compact, ranging from the darkest on the left to the lightest on the right (have you guys noticed that in 95% of eyeshadow palettes, the order of light to dark is always the other way round? Isn't that interesting? Well, maybe not...) all have the same soft, luminous satin finish - I find the name 'Luminizing Satin Eye Color' pretty accurate. Mind you, this is diffrent than a shimmer/pearl finish, which I hope the swatches below are able to convey - all three Shiseido shades have that subtle, effortless, glowy feel. They're all nicely pigmented, but not as intense as more metallic or pure matte eyeshadows in my collection - I believe they're meant to have a slightly sheerer, 'wash of color' feel to them. All three apply, blend and last without a fault.

You can stop reading now if that's enough information for you; but I know most of you guys are here for the nitty-gritty of texture and shade depth. Since this trio seems like such a basic, boring neutral, I've wanted to compare it to similar shades from my stash and see if I could find any dupes.

Clockwise from the top: Darkest shade in Shiseido Nude trio, Yaby Antique, Fyrinnae Feisty Fennec Fox, MAC Patina, Wet n'Wild Crease shade from Walking on Eggshells

Swatched in the same order as above.

The closest I could get to the darkest shade (I'd call that a dark golden beige maybe, swatched on the far left) was MAC's Patina, Frost finish Eye Shadow (second from the right) - although Patina is slightly pinkier, cooler grey than Shiseido's golden yellow tone. Yaby's Antique (second from the left) is way more olive green and more metallic gold - you can clearly see here the difference between a true shimmery/pearl finish and Shiseido's glowy satin I mentioned earlier. Patina actually has quite a similar finish to Shiseido's, but Shiseido's formula is softer and smoother to the touch. Something like the Wet n'Wild Crease shade from the Walking on Eggshells trio (far right) is darker, much warmer, and more shimmery.

L-R: Too Faced Nude Beach, Middle shade in Shiseido Nude Trio, Fyrinnae Moon Child, MAC All That Glitters

L-R: Middle Shiseido shade, Too Faced Nude Beach, MAC All That Glitters, Fyrinnae Moon Child

For the middle light golden peach shade (far left), MAC comes the closest again with All That Glitters, Veluxe Pearl finish (middle right), although All That Glitters is warmer, deeper and more of a pearl finish. Too Faced Nude Beach (middle left), although not too far off in the pan, is much lighter, pinkier and more metallic. Fyrinnae Moon Child (far right) is deeper, pinkier and more shimmery.

Clockwise: Shiseido Lightest Shade, Rouge Bunny Rouge Unforgettable Oriole, MAC Soft Force, MAC Ricepaper, Fyrinnae Nijiro

Swatched in the same order as above.

And lastly for the lightest white gold shade, again MAC's Soft Force, Veluxe Pearl finish (LE, middle) seems the closest - it's just a touch deeper and more shimmery, and again, the texture of MAC's shadow is drier and harder than Shiseido's. My beloved Rouge Bunny Rouge Unforgettable Oriole (second left) is a touch cooler/pinkier and more pearlized, while both MAC Ricepaper, Frost finish (second right) and Fyrinnae's Nijiro (far right) are darker and more yellow - Ricepaper is more pearly in finish, and Nijiro more shimmery, with flecks of pink and blue visible in the sunlight.

As you can tell from the swatch fest, I do have a few eyeshadows that come pretty close to Shiseido's Nude trio - but they're not quite dupes. I also find the texture of the trio superior to my MAC shades, and the finish more refined, which is why I continue to reach for the Shiseido compact and gladly pack it as my sole eyeshadow option for shorter trips. In the face shots, I'm wearing all three shades in the standard placement: light peach on the lid, dark beige to define the crease and lower lashline, white gold in the inner corner. The overall effect is subtle, luminous definition - but what reads as subtle on my fair skin would probably entirely disappear on medium to deep skin tones, so keep that in mind. Overall, I really enjoy the formula of this trio - and I'll definitely check out more of Shiseido's eyeshadows in the future.

Have you tried any eyeshadows from Shiseido? What are your favorites?

It's getting hot in here! It's also getting pretty muggy, and sticky, and gross - welcome to summer in New York City. Not gonna lie, compare to the mild, rainy climate of the Pacific North West, NYC has been sort of screwing my skin up: the harsh winter turns it into a dry mess, the humidity kicks my oil production into another gear and causes eczema flare-ups, the sun burns my fair complexion in 15 minutes flat, and the air pollution... I guess it's just freaking me out.

So when I was offered an opportunity to test and review the Radical Skincare Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum* ($190 for 1 fl oz/ 30 ml, available on radicalskincare.com, while the older version of this product, called Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum, is also available on sephora.com, dermstore.com, Barney's and SpaceNK), I thought it'd be a great product to accomodate the changes in my skin's needs. The concept behind Radical's new product is 'one serum for all skin types, all ages, all ethnic origins to fight the 16 causes of aging once and for all'. Sounds pretty neat, right?

And there's lots of cool science stuff to back it up: my press release goes on to enumerate all 16 causes of aging, which Lionel de Benetti, Radical's Scientific Advisor, established during his cosmetics research. I'm just going to mention a couple that may not come to mind automatically, and which are also factors even younger skins often struggle with, like poor hydration, pigmentation disorders, cell inflammation, weak lipid barrier, and poor nutrition. The Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum uses 13 different active ingredients, including two hexapeptides, which work in synergy to fight all the causes of aging for optimized results. The active ingredients are backed up by Radical's Trylacel Technology for a maximum anti-aging protection and skin repair in a stable formula.

The Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum claims to increase hydration, improve skin's permeability for better absorption of other skincare products, diminish fine lines & wrinkles, improve skin's firmness, tone and clarity, and provide broad spectrum antioxidant protection. Now, these are some seriously high claims to fill, and right off the bat, I honestly can't evaluate some of these on my 27 year old skin without conducting all sorts of lab tests that I have no business pretending to know about. But I can still tell you about my experience using the serum once a day in the morning for over a month.

The texture of Radical's serum is somewhere between a gel and a lotion, with a good slip for easier application and not an overly strong clean floral fragrance that dissipates after a couple minutes. The smooth, thin and blendable texture is partly thanks to some silicones in the formula (so I don't recommend trying to rub the serum into the skin - I like patting it in), which also help the product to absorb quickly with no sticky residue and a soft, glowy satin finish, which is why I find it perfect to use in the mornings before doing my make-up. I quite like that the packaging has this handy locking pump mechanism, but I wish there was a 'window' on the side of the bottle to see how much remaining product I still have.

After over a month of testing the Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum, my skin seems softer, plumper, more even and hydrated. The serum doesn't clog my pores but it also doesn't keep my skin clearer - which isn't its purpose anyway. I don't have very many fine lines to begin with, but it keeps some dehydration lines on my forehead and around my mouth at bay. I only use one pump of the serum each time to cover my entire face and neck, and I'd say it's definitely hydrating enough even on its own for my combination skin in the summer, thanks to hyaluronic acid and some lovely carrier oils in the formula (desert date, rice bran, sweet almond, jojoba) but in the winter, or for dryer skin types, I'd definitely recommend using it in conjunction with a good moisturizer.

The most surprising result I've achieved while using the Radical Skincare Serum is how much more even and calm my sensitive skin has become. I regularly suffer from redness (broken capillaries around my nose, irritation from products/environment, generally pink skintone) as well as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks, freckles and some weird, red/purple splotches mostly on my forehead. After incorporating the serum into my routine, I find my skin looks a lot less red and doesn't get as irritated during cleansing, the weird splotches are almost gone, and my acne scars seem to be fading faster.

Overall, I really enjoy using Radical's Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid anti-aging product, especially those with sensitive skin who can't use more irritating active ingredients like retinol or AHAs. However, I personally find the price point a bit prohibitive; I understand that good quality, active skincare can't really be cheap as chips, but at this stage in my life, I can't afford to repurchase this product, though it's a truly luxurious serum if you can fit it into your budget.

City folk - are you concerned about aging factors like air pollution? Do you use products with antioxidant protection in your skincare routine?

Disclaimer: The product marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received from Radical Skincare for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!

Another beauty blogging pals inspired acquisition - I'd been lemming these Canmake Cream Cheek blushes for months (around $10-12 on eBay), so when Jenni from Life and Lens of Beauty offered to pick up some Asian make-up bits and smuggle them in her suitcase for me, I was pretty ecstatic. On that note: 1) Blogging is such a solitary hobby that I often forget people actually read me, and I'm always beyond surprised to learn some people read me in faraway places, like... Hong Kong!, 2) Jenni was incredibly generous and brought a LOT of things for me to try, including candy *evil cackle*, 3) As a result, expect a slew of Asian beauty product reviews - also because Kar Yi showed me around Asian beauty stores in Flushing, Queens, and inevitably, shopping ensued.

Now that we have the most random intro in the history of blogging out of the way, let's focus on the jellies. The main reason I really wanted to try these Canmake cream blushes (besides the adorable dinky packaging; note that the silver motif on the lid and the shape of the clasp are different on the two shades) was the formula/finish: a squishy, shimmer-free jelly. Now, the Canmake Cream Cheek blushes come in two shade ranges: regular (labelled with numbers only) and clear (labelled as CL + number). I have two shades from the Clear range to show you: CL03, Clear Orange and CL04, Clear Pink Joy - I suspect the finish on the blushes from the regular range differs, but I haven't personally tried any.

Apart from the product name and the shade, I have no idea what the labels say about the product - but if you speak Japanese, feel free to pitch in. The blush compacts are small and made of lightweight clear plastic - they do feel slightly flimsy, so I wouldn't bash them around too much for fear of breaking the hinges or something, but I do like that you can easily see the shade within, and the size is very portable.

Now, I understand that if you've never tried any make-up or nail polishes with a jelly finish, it may sound pretty confusing. Jelly shades are vibrant, clear, transparent colors with a glossy or glowy finish - they go on the skin slightly sheer but provide a bright pop of color. What I mean by 'clear' is that there's no white base mixed into these, and formula allows for both a light veil of color, or can be layered for more opacity and shade depth. I hope that the comparison swatches below show the difference more clearly! *pun not intended*

L-R: Canmake CL03 swatched heavily and blended out, Canmake CL04 heavy & blended out

In terms of texture, Canmake Cream Cheek blushes are quite a solid gel/cream in the pan, but melt when rubbed with the fingers and transfer on the skin very easily. Both shades I have are very blendable; my favorite application method is to pick up some product with my fingers, dot it on the skin, and then blend out with a small stippling brush. The finish is dewy, but the blush doesn't feel heavy or sticky on the skin, and lasts all day on me without losing its pretty glow.

Clear Orange CL03 is a somewhat reddish orange on me, or what I'd call a ruddy peach. The tone is quite similar to Face Atelier Facade in Arabesque, although the latter is more muted (due to the white base), and the finish differs significantly as well - the Facades are a smooth matte formula. As you can see, both Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine and NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink are lighter, and achieve the glowy finish by the addition of shimmer particles: gold in Lush Nectarine's case, white pearl for Plaza Pink.

L-R: Canmake Cream Cheek CL03, Face Atelier Facade in Arabesque, Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine, NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink

Clear Pink Joy CL04 is a medium warm pink. I pulled out my most vibrant pink blushes to compare the shades, but both Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Flushed and NYX Powder Blush in Pinky are definitely cooler, with Pinky leaning almost lavender - and both have some of that white base. Stila Convertible Color in Blushing is significantly more muted and leans mauve, and sits heavier on the skin than the Canmake formula.

L-R: Canmake Cream Cheek in CL04, NYC Powder Blush in Pinky, Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Flushed, Stila Convertible Color in Blushing

Here are the two Canmake Cream Cheek blushes swatched on my cheeks. The lighting in both photos is a bit different, but I hope that you can see that Clear Orange gives a warm, peachy hue to my skin, while Clear Pink Joy has that naturally flushed look to it that compliments my cool skintone rather well, if I dare say so myself. I do think that both shades are very wearable, and should suit a wide range of complexions - the undertones are very well balanced and pull neither too warm or too cool. I'm wearing Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation in both photos, and the blue lashline experiment on the left was done with Fyrinnae London Mod eyeshadow and Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liner in Electric.

So yes, I'm slightly obsessed with these Canmake cream blushes, and now I really want the red shade, Clear Red Heart. My blogging pals were right - they're fabulous, and the jelly finish, while quite popular in Japan, is very hard to procure among the Western brands. For more swatches and raves about Canmake Clear blushes, check out Driveller Kate's review here, and Haru at Rouge Deluxe swatches them here. Have you tried these, or any other Canmake products?

I know, I know, by now Revlon Matte Balms are old news - but it takes me a while to decide whether to jump or not on a particular product bandwagon. I mentioned a couple months back, while extolling the orangy red virtues of OPI Red Lights Ahead... Where? nail polish, that was interested in trying a similar shade on my lips, even though warm reds rarely look good on my skintone. So yeah, I really went there - instead of trying an orange red, I actually decided to try a pure bright orange in a matte formula: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in the shade Audacious ($8.99 for 0.09 oz/ 2.5g). Because I'm not a lipstick wuss. Also, I figured that if it was a complete shade fail, at least it'd been at a drugstore price point.

But a fail it's definitely not - in fact, it's pretty fantastic, and I'm just slightly obsessed with Audacious. Gimme all the ORANGE! I think the reason this looks so audaciously bright (har har) on my fair cool skin is the shade's white base, which gives it a more neon appearance. Muted, brown-based oranges on me? A complete flop. Vibrant, white-based or clear almost fluorescent orange shades? Sign me up.

Compared to my other orangey lip products, Revlon's Audacious is the most decidedly orange - Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheers in 301 gives just a hint of peachy orange on the lips, recently reviewed Beaute Liqui-gel Stain in Flouron is a lot more pink (and neon!), while Chanel Rouge Allure in Conquise has a more muted, rosey quality. Beaute's Flouron is the only other matte in this line-up, but because of its creamy gel stain formula, it sinks into the lips and wears a lot more closely than Revlon's heavier, more traditional matte lipstick formula; as you can see in the arm swatch, the textures are quite a bit different.

L-R: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Audacious, Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheers in 301, Beaute Liqui-Gel Stain in Flouron, Chanel Rouge Allure in Conquise

Speaking of textures, I usually detest mattes and try to avoid them in my lip products, but the Colorburst Mattes are surprisingly quite good. They're even more matte in finish than Givenchy Le Rouge, another matte-ish lipstick I tolerate; I'd say Revlon walks the line between very matte and chalky, but manages to stay on the good, wearable side. The matte finish aside, the Revlon's Balm has a creamy feel with a lot of slip (no dragging!) for easy application, and after a couple minutes seems to set a bit on the lips, which means no accidental color migration and good longevity. There's quite a bit of a refreshing mint scent to the product, which makes it tingle very slightly for a couple minutes after application - a welcome bonus in the summer heat.

Similarly to their Kissable Balm Stains (which are another favorite of mine), the Matte Balm wears very comfortably on the lips, and while it's not moisturizing enough on its own on my dry lips, it doesn't suck out all the moisture either. I would however recommend prepping your lips before applying the Matte Balm (exfoliating, a thin layer of lip balm), as it seems to go a little patchy around dry flakes or other areas that are still healing. But I think Audacious is worth the extra effort - I just really love this shade, and taking the size of my lip product collection into account, it's quite a surprising discovery.

Are you loving the orange lip trend as well? What are your orange lip favorites?

You know how everyone bitches about their make-up melting, smudging and smearing all over in the summer heat and humidity? I never used to get that; sure, I'd slightly adjust my products for summer, opting for easier, more lightweight formulas and brighter shades, but I wasn't terribly bothered. Yeah... and then I moved to New York - and now I really get it. So here's a quick rundown of make-up bits I've been using recently, with a very simple look at the end, in case you're looking for some everyday summer face inspiration.

First off, base products. I don't think I've ever reviewed Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Make-up ($37 for 1 oz) on the blog (the shade I have is Intensity 1; I would have preferred to have 0.5, but 1 works in the summer), and I had actually neglected it for a long time - which is a shame, because it's a beautiful base for summer. The coverage is definitely on the light side, but can be built up to medium - though I prefer to do a thin layer all over the face and then spot conceal my scars/blemishes. When used over a more emollient moisturizer, it blends out seamlessly with a buffing brush, and retains quite a dewy finish, without pooling in the pores or fine lines. And you guys, this thing lasts - I sure do get a little shiny/sweaty in my T-zone as the day goes on, but Double Wear Light never goes patchy or slides off the face, which I consider a big accomplishment.

Also previously not mentioned on the blog, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly ($29 for 0.22 oz) is my weapon of choice for masking any imperfections. It's seriously pigmented, and long-lasting; it blends out very easily when applied on the skin, but after a moment, sets and doesn't move around, which is especially important for concealing blemishes. My preferred application method is to apply a bit on the back of my hand, and then use a separate brush to pick up product and dot it around the face, which I then blend out with my fingers for a thin, invisible layer - a bit labor-intense process, but I find that applying it on the face straight from the wand globs on way too much product. To be perfectly honest, for my under eye area I still prefer to use the Bobbi Brown Corrector - but the NARS will do in a pinch. In terms of shade selection, Chantilly, the lightest shade in the range, looks very, very fair in the tube - though it does oxidize a bit darker on the skin and matches my skintone quite well in the end.

As you can see, no primers included in the line-up, however I do experiment with face primers here and there, and sometimes even spritz my face with Skindinavia No More Shine Make-up Finish (reviewed here) - but I don't find those added products do anything in making my base last any longer. The only primer I reach for every time I do my make-up is NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - my eyeshadows never crease when I use it, and my eye make-up stays intact for an entire day.

Speaking of eyes, I have less patience for elaborate eyeshadow looks in the summer - and I also like a bit of color. Enter some waterproof eyeliner pencils; my long-standing favorites are NYX Slide-ons (reviewed and swatched here) as well as Sephora Contour Eye Pencils 12HR Wear (reviewed and swatched here). Most often, I use them to line my upper lashline for a subtle cat eye, but I also enjoy using the darker shades to tightline, or wearing the lighter shades in the bottom waterline. In the face shots below, I attempted a gradient flick with NYX Esmeralda on the inner half and Sephora Surfer Babe on the outer part, with some matte shadows on the lid for more definition - but overall, I keep things very quick and easy.

Now, I've been experiencing more mascara fails recently than I care to admit - one big drawback of having long lashes (and not a lot of lid space) is that my mascara-ed lashes now touch my brow bone, and most mascaras transfer within the first 15 minutes of doing my make-up. Which is why I busted out a deluxe sample tube of Anastasia Lash Genius Clear Waterproof Topcoat($21 for 0.19 oz)- I didn't really have high hopes for this, but you guys, it's pretty brilliant. The brush on the Lash Genius is a standard wiry type with lots of bristles, which makes distributing the product on top of mascara a breeze, and there's no weird residue or globs visible on the lashes - it looks like it's not even there. Oh, but it works - no browbone transfer, no smudging, no flaking, and at the end of the day, it comes off easily with a cleansing oil. Big thumbs up!

For lips and cheeks, I honestly switch things up a lot, but I thought I'd show you some products I haven't featured in a while. Inglot AMC Cream Blush no. 88 ($12 for 5.5g/ 0.19 oz) is always my go-to in the summer: the neutral rosey brown hue goes well with both warm and cool-toned looks, and the satin/matte finish stays put thoughout the day. And you guys know I love bright shades on the lips: the Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon in Red Sunrise (reviewed here) claims to be waterproof, and I have to admit that it does wear quite well throughout the day, but not as long as Beaute's Liqui-Gel Stain in Flouron (VERY recently reviewed here, lol), or other lip stains in my collection. But in the end, I don't really mind reapplying lip products, so I rotate my choices daily.

Here's what these products look like on the face: I also used the pencil end of Revlon Brow Fantasy through my brows (rant here), and set my T-zone with Make Up For Ever HD Powder. Very simple, but with some fun, brighter colors. If you're interested to see which staple products I was using in my last everyday summer make-up routine, click here.

How do you switch up your make-up routine for the summer? Do you reach for more waterproof and long-lasting formulas, or use different shades?

If there was one stellar example of a product that was launched from nothingness into the spotlight by a beauty blogger, it would be the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift & Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm ($63 for 100ml, available on feelunique.com with free worldwide delivery), recommended so often and for so long by Caroline Hirons that I did absolutely cave myself, even if it meant ordering from the UK. This post also offers a glimpse into my crazy hoarding habits: I believe I orderded this two years ago during Christmas, which I was spending in Poland, and then when it didn't arrive in time to be packed for our return trip to the US, I picked it up a year later and took it home - at which point I still didn't crack it open, because I had other things that needed finishing. But now... at long last... it's all mine to enjoy!!!

First off, a rant - I really dislike the packaging. I believe the design has been slightly altered since I got my pot, but it doesn't change the fact that using it is simply a pain in the backside. Sure, it looks luxurious with the double layer of plastic and has a nice heft to it; which would also make it a nightmare to travel with. But more than that, the product is a BALM - and surprise surprise, balms melt in warm weather - and then the oil seeps in between the layers of plastic, kind of ruining the luxurious effect. The product also comes with a plastic stopper/lid which I can never properly fit onto the opening of the tub, causing the oils gathered on top to ooze out the sides; oh, and I also CANNOT screw on the lid properly. I don't believe it's just a sudden deteroriation in my motor skills, although husband claims my dexterity only extends to being able to walk straight on a sidewalk and chew gum at the same time... anyway, eff that stupid jar. I hate it.

I'm only putting up with the idiotic packaging because the product inside is so LOVELY. The texture of the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm is soft and very smooth - a lot smoother than the other cleansing balm I'd been using, the Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe (although this brand actually managed to figure their packaging out). It melts and spreads on the skin very easily, and even more importantly, when removed with my standard hot cloth, leaves absolutely no residue, just soft, clean, nourished skin. I can tell the Emma Hardie balm is much easier to remove and lighter than the Elemental Herbology even when I rinse my oiled palms under the tap - it just comes off right away, which balm/oil products rarely do in contact with water. For this reason, I think the Moringa Cleansing Balm would be a great gateway cleansing balm for a balm cleansers' beginner.

I mainly use the Emma Hardie balm as my second cleanser on make-up wearing days; I prefer to first remove the slap with a cleansing oil and then nourish the skin with the Emma Hardie; I also use it as an only cleanser on make-up free days, or in the mornings. I absolutely do not find it too rich or heavy for morning use; in fact, I think it leaves my skin refreshed and prepped for make-up application. I actually disregard the instructions, which tell you to emulsify the product with water in your hands before applying - I just go straight in with the balm on a dry face, massage it in, concentrating on congested areas, and then remove with a damp hot cloth. Voila!

One other important thing to mention is that the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm smells absolutely divine - like jasmin and mandarin oranges, which makes the cleansing process so much more enjoyable. There's quite a lot of essential oils in this formula, and even though citrus essential oils often irritate my sensitive skin, I have no issues with the product, and get very minimal redness when I cleanse with it - more so from the hot water and facial massage than the actual balm.

So yes, I'm happily joining the gazillion other beauty bloggers who rave about the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm - it's just really, really good. I do wish it was easier to get hold of outside of the UK, and the price point was lower - but I can't help loving it. Definitely worth the splurge (although knowing myself, I'll try something cheaper/ more easily accessible once I'm finished with my jar - which won't be for a long time, hopefully).

Have you tried this cult cleansing balm? What is your current favorite cleanser?

Liquid lipsticks seem to be all the rage these days - I still remember the first liquid lipstick I've ever tried, and actually wore to my middle school prom at the tender age of 15. It was a rusty brown Avon number that I nicked from my mum, and the shade was so, so wrong on me, but I felt all grown-up and glamorous applying it. Oh the memories...

So when the liquid lipstick trend rolled back towards the end of last year, I thought that a) I must be getting on in years if I can already observe recurring beauty trends, b) it's quite cool to see brands release new products, but I don't really care if my lipstick is solid, or liquid, or gaseous - although that last one would be kind of awesome. That being said, when I received an email offer from Beauty.com for a free sample of Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Peony ($21 for 0.4 oz) with a purchase, I didn't exactly resist taking advantage of it.

The deluxe sample comes in a smaller version of the full-size packaging, which is a squeezy tube with a sponge tip applicator, much like the Clarins Lip Perfector glosses. There are five little holes in the applicator, wherein the product oozes out - I find it quite easy to control the amount this way, although the packaging gets quite messy in the process; definitely not an OCD-approved design. There's some raspberry candy (Mamba fruit chews?) type of scent to the product, but it doesn't linger too long on the lips.

The actual formula of the Too Faced Melted lipstick isn't very thick and it feels quite creamy with a bit of slip, and very little stickiness. It applies easily and evenly on the lips, and it has a standard cream finish right off the bat, just like your regular lipstick would have. So far so good.

My issues with this liquid lipstick start as soon as I'm done applying. I simply find the texture of Too Faced Melted really, really unflattering on the lips. While I can get an even layer of product that doesn't cling to dry patches too badly, the lipstick just sits heavily on the lips, exaggerating every little lip line I have, and some that I didn't even know existed - I hope you can see this in the close-up shot (and please excuse the upper lip peach fuzz). I actually find this texture very similar to the cheaper than chips NYX Round lipsticks that I now wish I'd never purchased.

In terms of wear, the Too Faced Melted Lipstick lasts okay when left alone, but drinking or, heavens forbid, an actual meal, obliterates it within minutes - again, pretty much exactly what you could expect from any mediocre lipstick. It also does not wear comfortably; my lips start feeling tight and dry pretty much right away, and are in a state of an absolute mess when I finally can't stand it no more and decide to remove the dastardly thing from my face. Why so dry?!

The shade I have (Melted Peony) also doesn't help the texture issue. On my arm, it swatches nicely enough along some of my My Lips But Better nude pink shades - it's not as brown but still quite warm, and it has a pretty vibrancy to it. On my lips however, the white base in this shade becomes a lot more apparent, and to my eyes, looks borderline pornstar pink. It's almost that universally abhorred concealer lip, just in light pink instead of beige.

L-R: Too Faced Melted Peony, NYX Tea Rose, Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up, Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

I really wish cosmetic companies spent more time perfecting their textures and bringing out truly innovative products, instead of just going with a new gimmicky format - look, it's melted! Yeah, that's also what happens to any old lipstick if you leave it in a really hot space, Too Faced. I'm sorry, but melting a lipstick is definitely not enough to hold my attention these days. NEXT!

Have you tried any of the new liquid lipstick formulas? Are they all same old, same old, or have you found some favorites?

PS. In case you're (still) interested in giving the Too Faced Meltedlipstick formula a try, there's currently a promo on Sephora for a free Melted Peony mini with $25 purchase - the code is LIPMINI.

Just a quickie today; as you may know from a previous post, I'd recently become a very happy hoarder of various Asian sheet masks *gives the squishy packets a quick hug*. However, I realize that just hoarding isn't very helpful for you guys, so I've decided to start using them, and give you a quick rundown of my thoughts, organized per brand. First off: Etude House.

The Collagen Essence Mask (under $2 per mask, 0.67 fl. oz/20 ml of essence, on eBay or Amazon + shipping) is a firming mask, and the ingredients include glycerin, hydrolyzed collagen, rosemary leaf extract, hyaluronic acid, soothing betaine and antioxidant arginine.Unfortunately, this mask also contains alcohol - and if your skin is sensitive, you can definitely feel some stinging after application. It has a pleasant, slightly sharp floral scent, and enough essence in the pouch to last two applications. Both of the Etude House masks are made of quite thin but resistant paper and come without the plastic backing, but are easy to smooth over the face - I just find that the shape of the nose area definitely does not fit my rather pronounced nose :)

Anyway, the Collagen Essence Mask was not my favorite: it didn't seem all that moisturizing, felt a bit uncomfortable on because of the stinging, and my skin felt incredibly sticky after I removed it, and the stickiness would not go away; so much so that I ended up washing it off after about an hour. Interestingly enough, Etude House makes two more Collagen sheet masks: one in the Moistfull (sic!) range, and one in the Alphabet range, which the White Pearl mask is also a part of.

The White Pearl Sheet Mask from the I Need You!/ Alphabet range (under $2 per mask, usually sold in three packs on eBay) is brightening, and contains pearl extract, arginine, glycerin and natural extracts of Indian lotus and Chinese plum. This mask had a fresh soapy scent to it, and it was satured enough for me to able to use it twice - although the second time it started drying out a bit as I was wearing it. Now, I definitely noticed some results after using the White Pearl mask: my face felt cool, soothed and hydrated, and it calmed down redness and irritation, making my skin look more even. For the price, I give it a big thumbs up - and now I really want to try other masks in the Alphabet line, because really - how cute! Elder Flower, Fig and Mango sound especially appealing :)

Have you tried any sheet masks from Etude House? What are your favorites, and where do you usually order yours from?

Yeah yeah, I know - six dollars is kind of a random price. Why not good ol' five bucks? Because, my dear smartypants, kindly observe that there's some sort of beauty product pricing policy in place that makes brands always charge just a little bit over $5; like maybe in our make-up obsessed minds, $5.99 is actually close to five bucks, so we happily spend the extra $1?! I don't know - I don't make the rules. Under six dollars it is. So, in no particular order:

1. INM Out The Door Fast Drying Topcoat ($4.95 for 0.5 fl. oz/15 ml) I've used Seche Vite, I've used Sally Hansen, Essie, OPI - I really tried my fair share, and Out The Door is the only one I've repurchased. Mostly, because it's inexpensive and works just as well as the rest - and gets gloopy slightly less quickly than the others. I could always find it in Bartell's Drugs in WA, but haven't tracked it down yet in NY; you could always order online, especially that Amazon has some giant sizes of this for much less per ounce.

2. Epic Blend Hemp Lip Balm in Coconut* ($3.49 for 0.15 oz /4.2g) I hadn't used stick lip balms in a while, but they're an absolute make-up bag essential - and you can't go wrong with the mineral oil- and paraben-free Epic Blend Lip Balms. I was sent the entire range of 12 balms to try, and from the three varieties they offer (Hemp, Vegan and More Moisture) the Hemp ones were my favorite, especially the Coconut and Vanilla scents - yum. I find that the Hemp range applies easily on the lips but has a slightly heavier consistency than the Vegan and More Moisture balms, which makes them last better on my dry lips. My mom's favorite was the More Moisture Lip Balm in Grape, which she liked for its lightweight, non greasy feel.

3. Essence Stay With Me Long Lasting Lip Gloss in Candy Bar ($2.99 for 0.13 fl. oz/ 4 ml, swatched and reviewed here). I still really, really like this lip gloss, and Candy Bar is such a beautiful coral shade. It's almost hard to believe that you can make such a great gloss for such a low price - and I actually can't believe how come they don't come in a huge variety of shades... I'm actually slightly worried that it's no longer available on Ulta's website - has anyone heard any rumors?

4. Fyrinnae Eye Shadow Minis ($2.25 per sample 1/3tsp, my notes on pressing and swatches here). Did I mention that not all my inexpensive finds are from the drugstore? Because sometimes you need to go on a quest to find the really good ones - well, not really a quest, more like just shopping online. I've pressed my Fyrinnae loose eyeshadow samples into these dinky pans, and now I use them every time I do my make-up: their neutrals are so unique, the brights wonderfully complex, and the glitters... Oh, the glitters.

5. Yaby Eyeshadow Refills ($3.15 for 3g). Speaking of dinky eyeshadow pans, I also really enjoy using my Yaby eyeshadows in Antique and Pottery, swatched and reviewed here. So if you have an aversion to pressing pigments and can't deal with the little jars of Fyrinnae shadows, these Yaby ones are another great option - and they also have a good variety of neutral mattes.

6. Orly Mani Mini Nail Polishes ($3 for 0.18 fl. oz/5.7 ml). It seems like that these nail polish minis from Orly may not be the easiest to get hold of, but if you see some, grab a shade or two - they're the regular awesome Orly formula, just in a smaller size bottle that you may hope to actually use up in your lifetime. My most used shades are the rose gold Rage, a China Glaze Ruby Pumps dupe called Star Spangled, and a pastel mint Gumdrop. If only more nail polish brands jumped on board the mini size train!

7. Wet n'Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios ($2.99 for 0.12 oz) Nope, no inexpensive finds round-up can be complete without some Wet n'Wild eyeshadow love. I've depotted mine into a handy-dandy magnetized palette that makes them even easier to use, and as you can see from the state of these pans, they're well loved. Seriously, if you don't have the budget to buy shadows from high-end brands, these are very, very good for the price, and come in a wide range of neutral and bright shades in shimmery and matte finishes. I still remember the thrill of tracking down their Limited Editions...

8. NYX Powder Blushes ($5 for 0.14 oz/4g; Mauve is the shade pictured in the first photo). My NYX blush swatchathon is still one of my most popular posts on the blog, and we all know why: NYX Powder Blushes are a drugstore classic. You know, sometimes you get caught up in the product hype and later regret buying multiple shades of something, but I've never regretted building my collection of NYX blushes - I still reach for them all the time.

9. EcoTools Flat Eyeliner Brush ($5.29 ea; it seems the new version of this brush on EcoTools website has a different shape, but you should still be able to find the older one as well). This was the first EcoTools brush I ever bought, and it started my love for the brand; I always have at least a couple of their brushes in my everyday rotation. This is a very straightfoward brush, but I find the bristles just right for defining my eyebrows or lining my lashline with powders. I believe I've had mine for close to five years now, and it's still just as good as the day I bought it.

10. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($5.99 ea) Finishing strong with the tools, you guys. I've devoted a whole post to my review and demo of this bright orange sponge, so I won't repeat myself too much, apart from reiterating that you need it - and after trying the famous Beautyblender, I confirm that there's no reason to shell out nearly four times the price for one (also, my BB sponge still leaks that neon pink dye! Grrrr). The Real Techniques sponge is perfect for making higher coverage foundations blend seamlessly into the skin. It also looks fun :)

If you still can't get enough of these inexpensive beauty finds, you can check out my Top 10 Drugstore Make-up Favorites - there are some repeat products, but I've tried to avoid too much overlap. What are your favorite beauty buys for under six bucks?

*Disclaimer: Product marked with an asterix (*) is a PR sample I received free of charge for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as press samples. Thank you for reading!

You've probably figured it all out by now: I live for peach shades on cheeks and lips. Not that I don't like a fresh pink on the cheek, or a vampy red lip - but peaches, you can never go wrong. Summer, winter, day wear, evening wear; when in doubt, go for the peach. So please excuse me while I revel in the cuteness of the newest peach in my stash, The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Pastel Cushion Blusher in 02 Coral Cushion (~$6 for 0.17 oz/5g).

How adorable is this packaging?! Yes, a mini fluffy powder puff instantly makes a product that much more exciting. As you can see, the blush comes in a cardboard box with a puff resting on a little plastic film insert, which I removed to avoid the glare in photos. As adorable as the puff might be, I don't actually use it to apply the blush - I prefer the precision of a cheek brush, and disliked the idea of getting the puff dirty, but it's definitely an option when you're on the go.

Now, as for the 'cushion' part: The Face Shop Pastel Cushion Blusher is just a standard, pressed powder blush, nothing like the currently popular BB Cushion compacts - which, if you've never heard of them, are liquid foundations in a compact equipped with a saturated sponge that you press down with an applicator sponge to dispense the product. So the name of The Face Shop blush is definitely quite misleading; it seems that the brand is simply trying to take advantage of the 'cushion' trend to sell more.

Clockwise, starting with The Face Shop Coral Cushion Blusher: NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, Laura Mercier Lotus Pink, NYX Powder Blush in Peach, Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine

In terms of the Pastel Cushion formula, the blush feels smooth and silky in the pan and it's quite tightly packed/ doesn't kick up any powder. There's a slight fragrance to it in the packaging, but it doesn't linger on the skin. It blends evenly on the cheeks, doesn't emphasize any texture, and lasts quite well on me - although mind you, most powders as well as creams wear fine on my cheeks.

L-R: The Face Shop Coral Cushion, NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, Laura Mercier Lotus Pink, NYX Powder Blush in Peach, Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine

My gripe with The Face Shop Cushion Blusher is the level of pigmentation; the Coral Cushion is very, very sheer, and what appears to be a medium depth pinky peach shade in the pan swatches as a very light peach on the skin - the above swatch was about five layers of the product. It barely shows up even on my fair skin, and requires a lot of building up on the cheeks, although the final result is in fact a subtle, luminous flush that instantly brightens up the face. In the pan, Coral Cushion has some fine pearl running through the powder, but on the skin it has a glowy satin finish.

Base: Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long-Wearing Foundation in Porcelain (discontinued) set with MUFE HD Powder, Eyes: Clinique Chubby Stick in Ample Amber on the lid with Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost on the inner corners and lower lashline, Benefit BadGal mascara, Lips: Essence Stay With Me Lip Gloss in Candy Bar

All in all, I wouldn't exactly recommend you run out and buy The Face Shop Pastel Cushion Blushers - from reading other reviews online, it seems that all shades are very light and sheer. I quite enjoy using the Coral Cushion when I have some time to faff around with multiple layers, but I think for darker skintones, it could merely serve as a very subtle highlight. Have you tried any make-up from The Face Shop? What are your thoughts on the whole 'cushion' trend?

To be honest, this post is probably useful for just about no one, since the star of this Rouge Bunny Rouge-inspired eye look is a Japanese Limited Edition Kosé Visée feat. SmackyGlam eyeshadow quad that's no longer available - no, not even on eBay. I could of course extrapolate and say that today's post is about taking inspiration from current trends and recreating a make-up look with what you already have without needing to purchase anything new; blah blah blah. I don't know. I had numerous ideas on how to feature this look, but in the end it boils down to this: I very much like the Rouge Bunny Rouge Summer 2014 look, called Chance. I also very much enjoy using the Visée BR-7 Bitter Brown quad, which was a gift from the one and only Belly. So, here are the two together. I hope you like.

A simple make-up look featuring a cobalt blue eyeliner in an otherwise neutral color palette makes me a very happy camper. Cobalt blue (or ultramarine, however you prefer to call that) is my favorite color; and as a bonus, it looks good on my fair cool skintone, AND makes my dark brown eyes stand out. The hint of vibrant blue paired with gleaming golden browns is a perfect summer eye combination.

Here's what I picked from my stash to recreate the Rouge Bunny Rouge Chance: for the eyes, I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige as a base and inner corner highlight, the golden brown from the Visée Bitter Brown quad on the lid, blended up into the crease and along the lower lashline, the dark shimmery brown smudged along the upper lashline.

I lined my upper waterline and inner corner with the Sephora Nano Eyeliner pencil in Azur Blue, and applied Benefit BadGal Lash mascara in black. On the cheeks, I'm wearing Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer and bareMinerals Ready Blush in The One, on my lips I have the Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. The base is my standard Estee Lauder Double Wear Light set with MUFE HD Powder.

L-R: Four shades in the Visée Bitter Brown quad, Sephora Nano Eyeliner Pencil in Azur Blue, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige, bareMinerals Ready Blush in The One, Revlon Peach Parfait Lip Butter

Even though I have not used all the shades in the Visée Bitter Brown in this look, I'll still offer up my thoughts on the formula, and my general usage of the quad. All four of these eyeshadows can be called shimmery, however each has a different finish: the pinky white is a mostly gold glitter (with some silver, light blue and baby pink flecks as well), the peach is shimmery with small flecks of golden glitter, the golden brown has a regular pearl/frost finish, while the dark brown is almost a satin. The textural variety in the Bitter Brown quad allows for some more interesting but still neutral looks, and the formula of the shadows is smooth, creamy and pigmented. If you like glitter and shimmer on the eyes, the Bitter Brown quad is perfect - although even for a shimmerphile like me, using all four at the same time without any mattes is a bit of an overkill.

What has been your favorite look this summer? Have you ever tried any eyeshadows from Visée?

The last you've seen my nails, I (and they) were literally at the breaking point; first, I noticed tiny little cracks at the sides of my thumb, index and middle fingers, then there were bigger cracks, annoyingly starting to catch in my hair and on every item of clothing, and then one day, I was opening a tricky cupboard and SNAP! One of my nails completely broke off, and I'm not gonna lie, it did really hurt - and not just my vanity.

I'm not exactly sure what did my nails in this time: in the past, my nails would break a lot from doing housework (soaking in water), but since a big eczema flare-up on my hands a couple years ago, I don't touch any dishes or damp sponges without my trusty rubber gloves. My mom thinks the breakage comes from wearing nail polish all the time, even though I always, always apply nail strenghtener as my base coat. I think that maybe my attempts at an almond shape, coupled with the length of my nails at the time, caused them to be more fragile over time. At any rate, the opportunity to road test the new TRIND Keratin Treatment for Nails* ($45.95 for 2 x 0.3 fl. oz/ 9 ml) could not have come at a better time - so thank you, Trind!

The Keratin Treatment is a duo of Keratin Nail Restorer and Keratin Nail Protector (also available separately) in a handy little kit:'With the Trind Keratin Nail Treatment kit we provide a chemical free solution for thin, brittle and chipped nails. It is a mild solution that treats the most sensitive nails that have been damaged by wearing artificial nails or from the use of medicines or other environmental influences.' (from the brand's website)

The Keratin Nail Restorer, which is the first step of the treatment, is a baby pink-tinged thin gel you apply directly on the nails, and wait for it to absorb/dry before the next step. The Nail Restorer is quite a watery product with a pleasant fresh scent that reminds me of a serum for your nails - it hydrates the nails and strenghtens with the keratin, and it can be reapplied as often as needed on bare nails. In fact, Trind recommends using the Restorer daily, sealing it in with the Protector, and then removing everything and repeating the process the next day, however my favorite way of using the Keratin Nail Restorer was to apply it at bedtime, and then again before doing a weekly manicure.

The second step, the Keratin Nail Protector, is more like your standard nail strenghtener; it aims to seal in the moisture from the Nail Restorer and protect your nails against damage. I've used it both on its own (it goes on clear and gives the nails a nice glossy sheen) and as a base coat for my nail polish.

I've been testing the TRIND Keratin Treatment Kit for two months now, and I'm happy to say that my nails are back to their regular strong selves - no breakage in sight! Since I started using the system, I haven't experienced any new cracks on the sides of my nails, and I've also had less peeling on the tips as well. I can't say that I've noticed my nails getting any thicker, but my nails are naturally quite thick, strong and not very flexible (kind of like claws - you get the picture).

While I can definitely say that the Keratin Nail Protector stops any discoloration or stains from nail polishes, it unfortunately does not protect from mild peeling on the surface on the nails that I always get from wearing glitter nail polishes - but I honestly haven't found anything that does. In terms of how the Trind kit fares compared to OPI Nail Envy and Nail Tek Hydration Therapy III, my other strenghteners of choice, I feel that the Trind duo keeps my nails more hydrated than both, thus preventing painful breakage. I've used the kit both with Trind Caring Colors as well as nail polishes from other brands, and the results are pretty much the same.

Along the Keratin Treatment, I also received a bottle of Trind's Extra Mild Nail Polish Remover* ($9 for 4.23 fl. oz/ 125 ml). Its gentle formula feels more moisturizing than my regular green OPI nail polish remover and removes cream and shimmer formulas without a problem, but it's definitely not strong enough to tackle glitter, which is expected in an acetone-free formula. While I like this remover, I'm not as impressed with it as with the Keratin Treatment.

All in all, I think the TRIND Keratin Treatment for Nails is a very effective strenghtener, although I do wish the price point wasn't as high - especially as the bottles only contain 0.3 fl. oz/9 ml of product versus the usual 0.5 fl. oz/15 ml. What is your favorite nail treatment? Do you use it as base coat or only wear it on manicure breaks?

*Disclaimer: The products marked with an asterix (*) are press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!

I haven't had the best of luck with eyebrow pencils lately: the oft-recommended drugstore option, Revlon Brow Fantasy duo, turned out to be quite a major let down, and when I decided to give the high-end Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brow a go, I disliked the shade and how scratchy it felt on the skin. Looking back though, maybe I should have given it another chance, because welcome to my current rotation, the hardest of hard eyebrow pencils - the Shu Uemura Hard Formula 9 in the shade Seal Brown 02 ($23 for 4g/ 0.14 oz). Have you heard the raves about this one way back in the day and always been curious? Yeah, me too.

The Shu Hard Formula 9 Eyebrow Pencils are long pencils made of wood with a simple clear plastic cap - the design certainly does not look very luxurious, but I don't mind. I vaguely remember some claims that these have to be sharpened a certain way at Shu counters, but a) no Shu counters in the US, b) it came sharpened just like any other pencil in the world, c) I don't see how special sharpening would change the performace, and really, who has time for that?

The Hard Formula 9 pencil is also the singular worst swatching product I have ever had the displeasure to use. I'm sorry you can't see anything in the arm swatch - I really tried, so much so that I actually scratched my skin pretty bad in the process and had a scab to show for it. To be perfectly honest, at this point I was ready to throw in the towel and I frantically started to look for my online invoice to return the bastard to the make-up torture chamber that it clearly came from. But! something urged me to still try it on my actual eyebrows, and boy I'm glad I did.

When used through the brows, the Shu Uemura Hard Formula pencil doesn't necessarily glide on the skin, but it does transfer color quite easily, both on the more and the less bushy areas. Because the formula of this pencil is so, so firm, it's easier to control and draw in the shape with more precision, which is especially nice for the arches and tails of my brows. When the pencil is sharpened to a nice point, you can also draw in very fine lines to mimick the actual brow hairs - and the pencil looks pretty much invisible, unlike the Revlon duo. I also find that the hard consistency of the Shu brow pencil translated into better longevity; while creamier pencils tend to slip and slide and fade more throughout the day, the waxy feel of Hard Formula 9 really does not budge.

L-R: Shu Uemura Seal Brown, Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde, Annabelle So Foxy Eyeshadow (dupe for MAC Charcoal Brown which I sometimes use as an eyebrow powder. Also, poor inner arm)

Ingredients: Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Cera Microcristallina/ Micocrystalline Wax, Candelilla Cera/ Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Carnauba/ Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Rhus Succedanea/ Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil [+/- May Contain: Mica, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499/ Iron Oxides, CI 77891/ Titanium Dioxide].

As for the shade Seal Brown, it's a very ashy, cool-toned brown that's a touch lighter than the color of my brow hairs, which is exactly what I was aiming for. While the warmer tones in Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde matched my hair quite well when I had it foiled, my natural hair color at the roots is darker and more ashy, and Shu's Seal Brown blends in much better now.

Looking majorly unimpressed here, but you can see not only my brows, but also my 'ombre' (root grow-out) situation.

I really enjoy using the Hard Formula 9 Seal Brown pencil - it's a great staple brow product to have on hand, and the pencil goes down so slowly that I can see it lasting for years to come. However, I find that when I'm in a hurry, the process of filling in with this firm pencil can get a bit time-consuming - so now, I'm on the hunt for something quick & easy; maybe the new Benefit Gimme Brow gel? Have you tried the famous Shu Eyebrow Pencil? What's your favorite brow product to use when you're pressed for time?

A couple months ago, Missha, a Korean skincare and make-up brand most renowned for their BB creams, opened its first store in the US in the New York Flushing area. I had the pleasure of shopping in the store with Kar Yi, and was happy not only to find the entire Missha range with testers, but also many other popular Asian brands: My Scheming, HABA, My Beauty Diary, Dollywink and more. Another bonus of shopping in store was that the sales associates were very generous with free samples, and as I was interested in trying the Missha Time Revolution range, they provided me with enough packets to sample the range over the course of 3-4 weeks.

I was mostly interested in trying the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence ($49 for 150ml), which is the brand's version of the vastly popular, and painfully expensive at $105 per 2.5 oz bottle, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. There's no way I'd spend over $100 to try the SK-II, which is why I've been looking into options from other brands, like the IOPE Bio Essence, The Nature Republic The First Number One Essence, or this one from Missha. All of these clear watery toner/serum products are formulated with high percentages of different yeast ferment filtrates, and promise to enhance the skin's hydration, firmness, radiance and tone. Missha's First Treatment Essence contains 80% of proprietary fermented yeast concentrate called Fissione, rich in B Vitamines, as well as Niacinamide (Vitamin B3).

I received seven foil packets of the First Treatment Essence, and found that I was able to get 3-4 uses out of each, as you only need 5-6 drops for the entire face. I've been using the Missha Essence in place of my regular hydrating toner both in the morning and at night. After nearly a month of sampling the essence, I found that my skin feels nicely hydrated and supple, and the serums I layer over the essence absorb a lot better into my skin. In fact, what I liked the most about the Time Revolution Essence, is that it absorbs immediately into the skin without any product feel - just like water, only more moisturizing. Since Asian 'essences' are a cross between toners and serums, I think they're a fantastic option for oily skin types, or to use in the summer; they feel extremely lightweight, yet still give your skin a nourishing boost.

In the morning, I've been layering the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair New Science Activator Ampoule ($49 for 50ml) over the First Treatment Essence - I know it sounds very counterintuitive as the ampoule is meant to be mostly an overnight treatment, but you can in fact use it day and/or night, and I'll get to my reasons for doing so in a moment. I was excited to learn the Night Ampoule contains a lot of probiotics: fermented Bifida, Lactobaccilus and Lactococcus, as well as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and a whole host of natural plant extracts, and promises to moisturize, energize, repair, improve elasticity and even out skintone.

The first few times, I applied the Time Revolution Ampoule at night, and woke up to my skin feeling quite hydrated and plump, but unfortunately, not very even in tone or texture, which is why I returned to using my Murad hydroquinone serum at night, and started using the ampoule in the mornings. After testing it for nearly a month, I have to say that it doesn't work well with my skin; while I can see that my skin remains quite hydrated, I've unfortunately started experiencing a lot more redness and sensitivity in my skin as the weeks went on. I've also been noticing a lot more clogged pores, but I can't pinpoint that down to just this product - my skin has just been a lot more oily recently, probably due to the hot and humid weather. What I do like about the Ampoule is that it's quite a liquidy gel consistency, and it absorbs quickly into the skin with no residue, although it does feel a bit tacky - but once you layer a moisturizer over it, the sticky feeling is gone.

I'm not completely head over heels for the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence or the Night Repair Ampoule, although I quite enjoyed using the Essence; I just haven't seen enough of a result to rush out and buy the full bottle - at least not without trying the IOPE Essence first. If you're interested in sampling the range, the Missha website offers a small Time Revolution kit with both the Essence and the Ampoule for $19 - very reasonable, and the minis should last you a couple months as you only need a few drops of each product. Have you tried any skincare products from Missha? Are you interested in trying any of the Asian essences?

Like many of you, I've been watching the YouTube beauty community for even longer than I've been blogging, which is over five years now. I've seen YouTube videos morph from poorly-lit phone camera clips shot in one's bedroom to professionally produced and edited short movies with sophisticated backgrounds and props, just as I've seen blogs go from simple online diaries with shaky shots and ernest ramblings to elaborate websites with magazine-style spreads and sentences fully resembling ad copy. That's the way of things: I know it, you know it, I've written about it before.

What I haven't written about before is the YouTube and blog celebrity culture that's quickly expanding beyond my wildest imagination. It's a lot more apparent on YouTube, where you can watch hundreds of vlogs from conventions like VidCon, BeautyCon or IMATS, in which half-crazed teens and pre-teens wait for hours in a line to catch a glimpse of their favorite vlogger, and who scream and cry with abandon when the moment comes. On Instagram and Twitter, fans fight for who can have the right to claim the first comment, or the first like. Young girls and boys follow their guru's every step, every word, every recommendation. Yes, my dear readers - YouTubers and beauty bloggers are veritable celebrities these days.

And I'm really not a fan of this new celebrity culture. Granted, that's something deeply ingrained in my personality; I've just never been much of a fan of anything or anyone (well, maybe with the exception of Spice Girls in elementary school), and the older I get, the more wicked pleasure I get from doing the exact opposite of what's currently trending. But I absolutely don't mind that there are people out there who enjoy being part of the fan club, and get some happiness and excitement from following their idol, of which I'm reminded every night, when I can hear cheers through our windows from people gathered around the actors' entrance at a Broadway theatre opposite our apartment building. What I do mind is the inherent hypocrisy of being part of the YouTube celebrity culture in particular.

Bloggers and vloggers are respected and trusted by the virtue of being just regular folk, exactly like you and me, only passionate to share their lives with other people out there. They're not royalty, they're not multimillionaires, they're not with the glamorous crowd. They're your everyman, or everywoman, and since they're just like you, they've become a good friend - someone to catch up with and spend some time every day, someone to listen to and someone to take advice from, someone who loves you and wants you to be happy. Right?

Wrong. These days, the assumption that popular bloggers and vloggers are just like you couldn't be further from the truth. Their lives have ceased to be normal the moment they stepped on that stage to wave to thousands of ecstatic fans, the moment they got a manager, the moment they sat on a plane to Ibiza/Dubai/Los Angeles to take part in a brand's newest ad campaign, the moment they're sent expensive gifts just to consider endorsing a certain product. Again, I don't begrudge any of their success or their life choices, just like it doesn't bother me which Hollywood couple just got a divorce, or how much Tom Cruise has spent on his mansion. It's just something that goes on somewhere in the world, and I'm so far removed from it that it's not even a part of my 'normal' life.

So while I do understand that celebrities, be it YouTube or otherwise, are not just like you and me and really are not my friends, I'm really not sure the teenage crowd is even remotely aware of the fact. It struck me especially hard recently as I was watching a successful YouTuber's fashion and beauty video for back to school. Really, doesn't it seem odd to take tips on how to get ready for school from someone who's been out of school for probably over five years now, earns her own very good money, and uses the video as an opportunity to promote a certain brand?

But that's not even the gist of it - it's the skewed image of reality that these bloggers and vloggers picture in their videos and blog posts. The reality in which you need a 20-minute make-up and hair routine to get ready for high school, the reality in which you do a full Kim Kardashian contouring and false lash application for a movie date with your boyfriend, the reality in which your morning consists of pressing a button on a Keurig to make a cup of coffee in your spotless expensive kitchen, prancing around in cute pjs and taking at least an hour to get ready for a brunch with friends. I'm sorry, but it is not MY reality, or even the reality of 98% of people out there, including these innocent kids watching on their laptop screens, pinning for the day they're all grown up and perfect like their idols.

You may say that watching YouTube videos and reading blog posts is pure escapism, it's just a way to forget about your own troubled life for a little while, to feast your eyes on things that are flawless, happy, and beautiful, and just right. But coming from bloggers and vloggers who used to be just like you, I feel that the line between reality and make belief is especially blurry, and maybe even invisible to the ever younger audiences.

I don't know - maybe not. Maybe I'm just getting old, and I find the 'things the kids are up to these days' increasingly annoying. What really gets me going is being told by a successful, popular, fully made-up adult businesswoman pulling cutesy faces and pretending to be awkward but adorable at the same time that it's a-okay to be 'a weirdo' like she is - just be yourself! I guess I find it especially infuriating to be fed such trivial bullshit in a phony, saccharine, fakely friendly fashion. Or maybe I've just outgrown YouTube?

MOAR sheet masks! Mask sheets! Shask meets! Yay! I know, so much enthusiasm - but they're really fun to try, and even though my skin's been going through a pretty rough patch lately, I still like to pamper it with a soothing, cooling mask once or twice a week. This fortnight, I've been trying two masks from the Korean brand Nature Republic, which focuses on natural ingredients: their Snail Therapy Mask Sheet ($17 for 5 masks on Korea Depart) and the Given by Nature Charcoal Mask Sheet ($6 for 5 masks on Korea Depart).

From what I understand, both of these masks have actually been discontinued, but you can still get them online. The Snail Therapy Mask Sheet has been replaced with the Snail Solution 1,000 Hydrogel Mask Sheet, reviewed by my friend Kar Yi here (the gist of her review is that she enjoyed it, but didn't notice enough results to justify the higher price tag of $6 per mask). So my review is for the older version, but I'm still hoping it can be somewhat useful.

Now, snail mucus filtrate has been one of the most popular ingredients in Korea for a couple years now. The alleged benefits of snail secretion in skincare include moisturization, skin renewal and regeneration, thanks to significant amounts of allantoin, collagen, elastin and glycolic acid in the secretion. I don't really buy into snail slime as a wonder ingredient a whole lot, but still it was nice to try out. The Nature Republic Snail Therapy mask is a generously sized paper mask, saturated in a thick, and dare I say, somewhat slimy essence. I had some issues fitting the mask on my nose, but thanks to the tacky feel of the essence, the mask stuck to my face really well, even when I was moving around the kitchen cooking and doing the dishes (yeah, I like to multitask). The mask felt cooling but a little tingly on my skin, and had a pleasant fresh scent. When I removed it after about 20-30 minutes, my skin looked hydrated and plump, but also quite red and aggravated, and the surface of my skin felt very, very sticky. I tried patting the rest of the essence in, which resulted in my hands also getting very tacky - I've waited for about 15 minutes, hoping for the sticky residue to absorb, but no such luck, so in the end I had to just rinse it off. I wasn't able to reuse this mask, which is just as well; I really didn't care for this one.

The Given By Nature Charcoal Mask is meant to mattify oily skin and balance out moisture levels. The key ingredients in this one are charcoal powder, grapefruit extract, green tea and peach tree leaf extracts. Unfortunately, alcohol is actually listed above all of these lovely natural ingredients, and you know I'm not a fan. In spite of that, I really, really enjoyed this mask. The paper on this was thinner and more see-through but still resilient, and the fit over the eyes/nose area was rather good. The essence itself had very little scent and was a lot thinner and more watery in consistency than all of the other sheet masks I've tried so far. The mask felt very refreshing and cooling on the skin, although once I removed it, my face felt warm; I'm guessing this was caused by the alcohol. After removing the mask, my skin was definitely less red and more even, and my breakouts and scars looked less noticeable. My face felt hydrated and soothed, and the remaining essence absorbed well with little residue and no tacky feeling - a huge plus! I wouldn't say my face looked mattified after using the Charcoal Mask (it still had that moisturized glow from the essence) but overall, I'd say it's a great mask for oily/combination skin, as it feels more lightweight and absorbs better than many other sheet masks.

And there you have it! After my first experience with Nature Republic sheet masks, I'm definitely curious to try a couple more next time I visit their store. Have you tried anything from Nature Republic? If so, what are your favorite products from the brand? I have two more skincare products from them that I'm currently testing - look out for my reviews in the upcoming weeks.

Fresh MLBB Pink: Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine in PK 331

TATCHA Gold Camellia Beauty Oil and Nourishing Lip Balm Review & Giveaway!

Project Make A Dent #1: Second Progress Check

Cult Classics: Beauté Liqui-Gel Stain in Flouron

Effortless Eyes: Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in Nude

Summer Glow in the City: Radical Skincare Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum

Japanese Jellies: Canmake Cream Cheek Blushes in CL03 and CL04

Loving the Orange Lip: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Audacious

My Summer-Proof Make-up Routine

Cult Classics: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Underwhelmed: Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Peony

Korean Sheet Masks: Etude House Collagen Essence & White Pearl

Top 10 Beauty Products Under $6

Pastel Peach: The Face Shop Coral Cushion Blusher

Recreating the Rouge Bunny Rouge Summer Look with Visée Bitter Brown Quad

At the Breaking Point: TRIND Keratin Treatment for Nails

Cult Classics: Shu Uemura Hard Formula 9 Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown

Sampling the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence and Night Repair Ampoule

YouTube Celebrity Culture: Why I'm Not a Fan

Korean Sheet Masks: Nature Republic Snail Therapy & Charcoal