Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Apologies for being away for so long! I've got some exciting news, but I'm keeping my cards close to my chest right now. All will be revealed very soon!

I ordered Bourjois's Healthy Mix Foundation about a month ago from ASOS, as the last time I used proper foundation was about 5 years ago, and I felt like moving away from BB cream (Yes, I've been a devotee of BB cream and tinted moisturiser for that long). I wasn't looking for something that would give super-thick coverage, so after doing my research online, and seeing that this range was going for cheapies online, I decided to give this a shot. 

The Claim:

Bourjois Healthy Mix claims to give 70% more radiance and flawless complexion for up to 16 hours! How awesome is that?

The glide-on formula contains elements of apricot, melon, apple and ginger, which claim to provide radiance, hydration, anti-oxidants and energy. All very impressive! I couldn't wait to try it out. 

The Test:

I used this for about one and a half weeks, over a primer. My intention was to find out if the foundation would last for a whopping 16 hours, all the while fulfilling the radiant-complexion-in-a-tube claim.

 

What I loved:

The foundation smells gorgeous. Fruity and sweet, I had to take a good whiff of it before applying it to my face. Sadly, it doesn't really last once the foundation is applied, but it really does have a good consistency, and glides on smoothly. It isn't too thick, which is nice, because foundation has a nasty habit of settling into fine lines and flaws on skin. 

I got this in Shade 52 Vanilla, which is just nice for my slightly tanned complexion. I felt that it gave good coverage, and evened out the discolouration from the veins (and things). As you can see from the picture above, using Bourjois Healthy Mix virtually erased the blue veins that are clearly visible on my bare skin. Furthermore, I think the fruit essence does some good for the skin, because I noticed a visible brightening and radiant effect on my skin after use. Sadly, this did not persist after I removed the foundation, but my skin did become a little smoother over the course of the week.

What I didn't:

It didn't last for 16 hours. :( 

I found that on average, the foundation would wipe off easily, especially when I used oil blotters or facial tissue. I didn't use any face powder to set the foundation, because I find it too "made up". Furthermore, I was a bit miffed that it claimed to stay for 16 hours, because the radiant effect did wear off after a couple of hours.

Overall, I would recommend this product, because using it does give a radiant complexion, if only for a couple of hours. Coverage is good, and isn't too heavy. Maybe it would be better suited for girls with normal to dry skin, as it doesn't seem to have so much staying power for people with combination to oily skin like me.

 

Review: Belif Hydra Sebum Control Essence

I received a 10ml sample of this in the January edition of Bellabox, and was pretty excited to try it, because with combination skin, my T-zone tends to get a little shiny by the time the end of the work day rolls around. This is combined with the additional problem that the air-conditioning in my office dries my skin, especially the bits that are a little dry. 

Problems!

Enter Belif Hydra Sebum Control Essence. Belif claims to be "the most truthful cosmetic brand", that aims to deliver true quality and true value to consumers. The brand has formulated a range of beauty products that aim to give you the sought-after gift of beautiful skin.

 

The Claim:

Hydra sebum controls the release of excess sebum and oil in your skin, making the pores smaller and leaving your skin feeling dry on the outside but soft and moisturised on the outside.

The Test: 

So, I tried this for a week only on my T-zone, while going about my daily routine (which involves lots of air-conditioning). I used it in-between toner and moisturiser, at the start of the day.

What I loved: 

The formulation, by far. I liked the consistency, which was light and non-sticky, but not watery (see the cute sphere if forms? Almost like gel, but less slippy). It was absorbed easily into my skin, and didn't leave a greasy residue either. I was pretty pleased when I found out what goes into these things - citrus unshiu to control sebum, and green clay, which removes sebum and waste in pores. 

Another great thing about this is that a little goes a long way. The essence spreads easily, and not much is needed (less than a full pump) to cover the T-zone.

And of course, it doesn't smell half bad either. Fresh, clean and herbal, is the way I'd describe it. Lovely :3

At the end of the day, I felt that my T-zone was a little bit less oily than normal, and there was less of that tell-tale shiny skin that can make my nose look like some kind of bright beacon T_T This product reduces sebum by 20%, so not a whole lot, but enough to see a difference.

What I didn't:

It's a little on the pricey side. 50ml retails for S$57, which makes it S$1.14 for 1ml. That's pretty hefty, no matter which way you slice it. After a week, I noticed that the spots where I applied the essence were a little drier and flakier than normal. I asked for matt skin, not dry skin! So, points off for that, because it meant I had to use moisturiser to heal the dry bits, but then my skin would get oily because of the moisturiser and... well, you get it.

Furthermore, there's (allegedly) only a 20% reduction in sebum, and for that price, I think there are definitely better products out there. 

For example, these!

I like blotting papers because they're handy, and sop up excess oil on spots where you need it. Unlike a cream or essence, which can easily get everywhere, blotting papers are easy to control because they only go where you want them to, and there's no need to faff around with lotions and potions. Sometimes, the simplest things are the best ^~^

The Belif Hydra Sebum Control Essence retails at S$57 for 50ml at Bellabox, and the Belif store is open for business at B1-64, Wisma Atria.

Ever used Belif before? Or keen to try it? 

Review: Korres Lip Butters

I got these Korres Lip butters a while ago off ASOS. These retail for an arm and a leg (ok, well, S$20 or so) in Singapore, so I jumped at the chance to get these when they went on sale! I got them in Wild Rose and Quince (both of which sounded really nice ^~^). 

The Claim: 

"Korres is an organic brand that has developed an effective range of natural skin and bodycare. The brand seeks inspiration from their natural environment, sourcing their essential fruit oils and herbal infusions locally. Their extensive knowledge and experimentation with textures paved the way for their extensive skin and bodycare collection.

Korres Lip Butters are buttery lip balms with a shiny tinted finish, and contain a combination of shea butter and rice wax for deep hydration and softness."

All of that goodness sounded great, and Korres products have been getting glowing reviews in the press, so I decided to take the plunge.

Wild Rose is a deep cherry pink, a mid-red, if you will, that adds a pop of colour for cherry-stained lips, while Quince is a lighter, berry-toned pink.

 

Ingredients list

 Sturdy cardboard boxes that are printed on both sides (sadly, can't read Greek!)

No-frills, colourful packaging

 The lip butters are packed in plastic pots with a pronounced lip around the edge, which look like this - unique, huh?

 

Hygienic plastic lids that pop over the pots

 

Wild Rose is on the left, Quince is on the right (both taken in natural light)

What I loved:

This is a lovely product. Vibrant colour, good brand ethos, and pared-down, sturdy packaging. Wild Rose applied smoothly, and the formula was moisturising enough to leave the part of my hand that I swatched silky smooth for the rest of the day. The scent was lovely - made me want to sniff the pots all day!

Lip butters don't have the staying power that lipsticks or lipstains may have, so the creaminess and the glossiness provided by these were a nice touch. Plus, it also felt nice knowing that I was using something that was created with care. 

Not being a fan of dark, matte lips, these worked nicely because the colours were sheer, but just tinted enough to give a hint of colour. Wild Rose looks a bit scary and vampish in the pot, but once applied it lightens up to a nice sheer red, while Quince stays closer to the colour of the lid, achieving a nice pink-y, coral-y shade.

What I didn't:

While Wild Rose applied smooth, Quince was full of odd, gritty things that made the formula look a bit choppy (if you look in the second to last photo, you'll see the consistency of the product in the pot). It didn't really affect the swatch, but I did experience a bit of uneven-ess in the formula when I applied Quince to my lips. 

As nice as the packaging is, I can't help but point out that sticking your lip product in a pot makes for messy work - application can be a little cumbersome, because you've either got to get your fingers dirty, or rummage about for a lip brush. Coupled with their lack of staying power, it basically means that these lip butters aren't as portable / convenient as their makers might like you to think. :(

Another small sort-of quibble - Quince turned out to be more coral than berry in my swatch, and I can't imagine why! Though I personally do like corals more than berry, so it was a blessing in disguise!

All in all, these are definitely worth a try. Although if you're (like me) a bit picky over the look and feel of your products, it might be worth dropping by the bricks and mortar shop first to have a play around with the goods before deciding.

Korres is located in Singapore at #B2-34, ION Orchard,  2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. You can like their Facebook page here! For the month of February, Korres is offering a 20% discount off your total bill when you purchase any 2 items. See here:

Hope that everyone's having a good week! Have you ever tried Korres products before? What did you think?

Haul + Review: Benefit Georgia and Posietint + Swatches

Recently I got my hands on Benefit's Posietint and (the now-discontinued) Georgia from an online seller. The whole shebang came brand new and packed, albeit a little precariously, in a medium-sized envelope. 

See what I mean? A little bit dog-eared, but since the contents were safe and sound, no harm done. When I got the package undone, this was what I received: 

The seller kindly gave me a free green tea mask in addition to my purchases. Result! 

Posietint 

Benefit claims that Posietint is a "poppy-pink tinted lip and cheek stain", that provides a "kiss of see-through" colour to "brighten cheeks & lips". Its "liquid-gel formula blends to just-picked perfection on all complexions and lasts for hours". 

The description sounded lovely enough to me, so I decided to give it a whirl. I already use Benefit Benetint (and have some UK drugstore alternative as well) - the consistency of which I love - so I figured this might be a pinker version of that. 

What I loved: 

It definitely lends a pinker, cuter pop of colour to the skin (although I didn't really get the poppy reference - I always thought poppies were red), and thankfully it is translucent enough to stand out just right on both tan and dark skin. 

I tried this out on the back of my hand, which was suitably tanner thanks to a week out in the sunshine and it still stood out, which was great because on tanned Asian skin, lighter blushes - especially those loaded with more glitter than pigment - tend to just disappear into the skin. So this was great for that. Plus, it lends a flushed look that is more natural and less severe than Benetint.

 

What I didn't love: 

The consistency. The Posietint formula seems gloopier than Benetint. Where Benetint has a light, watery consistency, Posietint has a thicker, more opaque look to it. Perhaps it has to do with the pink colour pigments, but it applied almost opaque on my hand (as seen in the above photos). 

I think the consistency might be its one drawback though, and should be applied by make-up novices with care, as gloopy make-up tends to apply unevenly, giving that quite awful racing stripe look.That said, I feel that I should give Posietint one more chance, because it is equally likely that the product dried unevenly when I paused to take the above photos. 

Nevertheless, Posietint is good as a base for creating a denser, pink cheeked look, or on its own for a natural, healthy flush. If applied with care, the result can be good!

 

Georgia

Georgia was discontinued by Benefit in early 2011 due to (I assume) poor sales. To be honest, I never dallied very long by Georgia at the Benefit counters when choosing blushers. This was purely because there were so many other options on offer - Coralista, Sugarbomb, Bella Bamba... amongst the myriad shades and concoctions, Georgia very easily got ignored. 

The funny thing with Benefit is that they call all their blusher-type things "face powders", which is suitably ambiguous. This includes bronzers (Hoola, Dallas), blushes (Coralista, Sugarbomb), and those that are neither (Georgia, and at a push, Dandelion). In fact, you'd probably be forgiven for getting one or the other confused. 

As you can see from the swatches above, Georgia is warm-toned, peachy in colour, and would do perfectly as a finishing/pressed face powder. 

What I loved: 

It's a lovely colour, and applies nicely to give good coverage all over the face. I like how it's just a little bit pigmented, and I felt that it evened out my skin tone and giving me just a little bit of a healthy glow - peachy, almost - pun intended!

What I didn't love: 

The packaging. Benefit face powders are all packaged in these little square cardboard boxes and come with the characteristic little square brushes. These are great for blushers, where you need to pack on colour for a small area - the brushes work excellently to pick up and transfer colour where it is needed. However, using the same brush (and surface area) on the whole face severely limits application. I switched the square brush out for a normal retractable brush (mine is from the Body Shop), and the powder went on like a dream. 

Do you use Benefit products? Which ones are your favourites?

Review: EOS Sugar Candy Pink

I wanted to share this post, because I recently acquired a pair of circle lenses from a place called Kawayii Lens Shop (no relation to Kawayi Beauty Salon, from a few posts ago). I got a couple of pairs of lens about a month ago when I was in KL with my parents. Of these, I was most excited about the EOS Sugar Candy Pink contact lenses, because I've always wanted a pair of pink lenses, but up till recently, only plano (0 degree) pink lenses were available.

Sugar Candy Pink Color Contact Lenses

Product Specification:

Brand: EOS
Place of Origin : South Korea
Material: 2-HEMA
Water Content : 38%
Center Thickness: 0.05mm
Diameter: 14.5mm
Base: 8.8mm
Duration: 6 months Disposable

These lenses come prettily packaged like so:








Even got a free contact lens case! Which was lucky, because I wanted to throw out a few of my older lens cases ^~^ I can't remember what possessed me to call the lens "Pink Sakura" when I was labelling them, but I had already stuck the label on once I found out, and didn't want to fiddle with the tiny labels again, so I left it, hehe :P

Right, slightly creepy photos coming up - get ready!


Right lens in.


Both lenses in.

Enlargement effect: The enlargement effect is really pretty good, due to the thick limbal ring around the lens. It defines the eye and makes it 'pop', which means that it looks good with make-up, but might be a little too intimidating if you're intending to go au naturale. That said, it really gives you a wide-awake look, as shown in the picture above. Even without eyelid glue or make-up, the lens makes the eye look so much bigger!

Comfort: Good for long hours of wear. The first time I wore this pair of lens, I went ahead and wore it for more than 12 hours straight - without eye drops. The lens are comfortable, and don't irritate the eye, even in air conditioned / windy environments. The only time I experienced a little bit of irritation was when a speck of dust got caught in my eye while I was wearing the lens.

Colour: The pink is a true baby pink - blue-toned, almost lavender in some lights, especially when combined with dark brown eyes (like mine!). I've tried purple contact lenses in the past, and those tend to look unnatural and slightly odd when placed against brown eyes. The pink lenses, however, blend nicely with dark brown eyes and give a subtle pinkish tinge in natural light, that shows up much more starkly when photos are taken with flash.

The following photos aren't with full make-up, just eyeliner and eyelid stickers, all taken without flash in natural light:








These are taken with flash, at night, with full make-up - eyeliner, eyeshadow, fake lashes, the whole shebang.








What do you think? Are these lens better with makeup, or without? :3

Eki did a video on these lens a while ago, too! I understand that these can be bought at the Kawayii Lens facebook page, or at Color Lens World, if anyone is interested!

NOTD: Kawayi Beauty

I don't often get my nails done, because I either tend to leave them bare, or use one of my mother's many bottles of nail polish to give them a quick lick of nail paint. So naturally I'm more than happy to let my nails get looked at by a professional. On a friend's recommendation, I recently went to a place called Kawayi Beauty, which has an outlet in town.

The deal that I got included an express manicure, fitting of full-tip nails, polish, and 5 pieces of acrylic nail art. As I've never had fake nails or gotten nail art done before, I was pretty psyched.



The salon didn't look too bad, and I was ushered to a bench directly opposite the red easy chairs (pictured) to have a seat. There were red easy chairs free, but the girl who did my express manicure asked me to sit on the bench the whole time. I was a little confused, because apparently they only let customers who do a full mani pedi sit on the easy chairs. Nevertheless, I pressed on.

The girl discouraged me from doing the full-tip nails, even though I wanted to get it as it was part of the package, and kept on pushing me to do a Gelish manicure or acrylic nails. In the end, it came to a point where I just gave up on insisting that she give me what was stated in the package and asked her to do the mani on my own nails.

I chose bows for my nail art, hoping that said bows would look something like this:

Anyway, here's the finished product:



Hurriedly taken because I was heading out for an event. I think it's safe to say that the quality of the mani wasn't all that, and that I can say with some certainty that I won't be revisiting that salon. However, the mani was cute, until everything started to peel off, less than a week after I got it done. In the end, I just washed everything off and redid my nails by myself (with Etude House's PK013 polish, which, by the by, is gorgeous).

Have you ever had a less-than-ideal salon experience? Feel free to share in the comments!

Kawayi Beauty is located at Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road #05-47 Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213.