Skin79 miniature BB Cream set review

What they say:

• Super+ Beblesh Balm Triple Functions SPF 25 PA++ 5g
  It is 3 effects functional beblesh balm. By Adenosine and Arbutin ingredients which are effective in whitening, wrinkles improvement cultivate more bright and elastic skin. Intercept ultraviolet rays UV A and B at the same time and protect your skin exposed from the sun more thoroughly. OSMOPUR ingredient of new concept which are mixed sunflower, rice bran, ivy extracts protect skin from various harmful conditions. Phyto Complex ingredient which is good for skin moisturizing and soothing makes your skin always moist and healthy.
  
• Diamond Collection The Prestige Beblesh Balm SPF 25 PA++ 5g
  By Adenosine and Arbutin ingredients which are effective in whitening, wrinkles improvement cultivates more bright and elastic skin. Intercept UVA and UVB at the same time and protect your skin exposed from the sun more thoroughly. Diamond Powder and Jewel Complex Powder of Ruby, Amethyst and Pearl make skin all the more radiant. A patent ingredient containing Natural Complex extract ingredients help improvement and care of skin trouble.
  
• VIP Gold Collection Super+ Beblesh Balm SPF 25 PA++ 5g
  It is 3 effects functional beblesh balm. Abundant nutrition of Gold and Caviar extract cares skin intensively to make shiny, healthy skin.
  
• Diamond Collection Pearl Luminous Beblesh Balm 5g
  It is a trendy pearl BB cream which has a light, moist use feeling and quite brilliant pearl to make a bright revitalizing skin. The built-in brush enhances adhesion, making the skin more clean and glowing through thin and even application.

What I say:

I picked this up along with my O'slee Clear Spa Masks from Cosme-de who, by the way, is fast becoming my favourite online shop for Asian cosmetics as they offer free international shipping with any order! I knew they were gonna be small when I ordered them, but when I actually received them, I was still surprised at how tiny they were. 

I guess $16 to try out 4 BB creams isn't all THAT bad, but I'm pretty sure these would've been given out as free samples in Korea...yes I know I'm not in Korea >__>

MAC eyeshadow used as scale:

Out of the 4 BB cream varieties in the box, 3 have a similar texture and finish -  the Diamond Collection The Prestige; the Whitening Wrinkle Free; and the Whitening Wrinkle Improvement. 

The exception is the Diamond Collection Pearl Luminous Beblesh Blam - this one is much more liquidy in texture, and has fine shimmers in it which could make it double up as a liquid highlighter - imagine NARS Orgasm Illuminator? just with less shimmers and no pigmentation...sorry that's the only thing I could think to compare it with. It's not disco ball, but the shimmers are definitely visible and for that reason, I'm not sure it's entirely suited for every day use.

Ironically, Pearl Luminous was also the one that blended in the best with my skin.

The other 3 BB creams are pretty much the same in texture and finish, I would say the thickest one is the Whitening Wrinkle Improvement with The Prestige being the more liquidy one.

Colour wise, all 4 varieties are yellow based, a change from the usual grey-pink base, and are a smidge too dark for my NC15-20 winter skin. It would be a perfect match for my NC25-30 summer skin.

Coverage is better with the thicker varieties, but I would say all 4 offer a buildable medium coverage.

Finish is dewy.
I can't really speak for its whitening or wrinkle improving claims as I don't think I can go any whiter nor do I have any real wrinkles.

Swatches from left: Pearl Luminous; The Prestige; Whitening Wrinkle Free and Whitening Wrinkle Improvement.

Swatches blended in:

Tilted into the light and you can see the slight colour mismatch.

Swatch of Pearly Luminous - see how the finish is almost slightly frosty?

Damage:
$16 for 4 tubes of 5g each.
Verdict:
It's not a smart buy, if you have easy access to a SKIN79 counter, you could easily swatch all 4 varieties and from there pick up a full sized tube of the one you prefer for probably the same price as you'd pay for these 4 small tubes. Heck you might even be able to score these as free samples T.T
If you don't have access to a SKIN79 counter, this is a good (but expensive?) way of trying out a couple of varieties of BB cream at the same time.

Styli-Style Simply The Best Make-up Remover review

What they say:


Styli-Style brings you “Simply the Best Make up Remover”.  This remover not only removes all types of make up(semi-permanent, waterproof & regular makeup), but it also functions as skin care leaving the skin soft and supple after use, offering two products in one!  Simply the Best Make Up Remover contains Oil of Jojoba which nourishes and moisturizes the skin and helps improve skin suppleness. The product name speaks for itself; you have to try it to believe it!Simply the Best Make Up Remover is packaged in a convenient pump for easy application. 

• It’s skincare & remover in one!
• Ophthalmologically tested
• Removes all types of makeup (regular, waterproof & semi-permanent)!
• Nourishes skin with Jojoba Oil
• Non-greasy, water-based, gel formula
• Mineral Oil Free
• Safe to use with contact lenses

What I say:

With a name like that, I could hardly refuse right? I was just browsing my local Rexalls one day, and came across this make-up remover in their "clearance" section, it then proceeded to win me over with the claims that it would remove waterproof make-up and was a "skincare and remove in one". While I seriously doubt it's that it could really function as a skincare, the fact that it was mineral oil free appealed to me. So the most important question, does it live up to its claims? Without further delays, here are the photos:

From left: BB Cream; Liquid Foundation; Cream Blusher; Powder Blusher; Pencil Liner; Liquid Liner; Waterproof Mascara; Lip Stain; and Eyeshadow.

The remover is between a cream and a gel.

Ta da!!!!

Ingredients list:

It got absolutely everything off!!! Including the infamously hard to remover Covergirl Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara, and yet true to its claims it left my skin soft and smooth.
The product does have this odd smell...I really can't place it, but it's really...chemically xD
Hygiene fanatics can jump aboard because it comes with a pump bottle xD
The way that I use this remover is to pump about 2 pumps onto a cotton cleansing pad and then just to wipe my face with it.
I don't feel any tight feeling after using this remover, but I do try to rinse off my face afterwards with some water because I am paranoid about leaving "make-up remover" on my face, however, I have left my face as is after using the remover for 6-7 hours with no ill effects.
Unfortunately, this product does contain parabens, so for those with allergies, this would be a no no.
I've been using this remover for the past month and it has not broken me out.

Damage:
CAN$4-CAN$9. I got this on clearance at Rexalls for CAN$4.
Verdict:
If you're looking for an easy to use, cheap make-up remover that will completely remove both normal and waterproof make-up, this would be a really great one to try!

Macnunu.com is famous!!!! almost...kinda...sorta....not really...

So I was randomly Googling "Macnunu" today (what do you mean "what for?" don't you ever randomly Google your domain name?), and guess what came up?

Amongst the usual Splogs (spam blogs), there was a hit from the IMATS site. How odd, I thought, so I duly went to check it out and I came across this:

OMG!!!! IMATS featured my blog in their "Media Coverage" section for the Vancouver IMATS!!!!!! Macnunu.com is famous!!!!! Oh! Oh! the fame! the fame! it's getting to my head!!

Thank you, thank you, please take a number and stand in the queue for autographs. Send money, not gifts.

Ok, I'm just being silly but nonetheless, I am a wee bit chuffed with being featured xD.

In case you missed it, here are the links for my 3 part coverage of the Vancouver IMATS:

Part 1 

Part 2 

Part 3

Invisible false lash application + FOTD (kinda)

Miss Watercoloursky recently covered this topic, and Youtube guru Queenie Chan was probably the original inventor of this method of eyelash application.

Read Watercoloursky's post here
Queenie's video:
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I know the video is in Cantonese, but it's pretty self explanatory if you watch it. What it basically involves is instead of sticking the false lashes on TOP of your natural lashes like in traditional application, you stick the false lashes BENEATH your natural lashes.

Like so (eh yeah the one corner wasn't fixed properly...I have really crappy glue T.T) :

You won't be able to apply the false lashes in one single strip, you'll need to cut the strip up into 3 or 4 pieces (I was lazy and only cut my strip into half xD but I wanted to layer it). Apply it to the strip of skin that lies between your eyeball and the lash line. I know that sounds scary, but trust me, I'm a complete lash noob but this felt SO comfortable! I couldn't feel the falsies at all! Once applied properly, it is completely invisible from the outside.
Just remember not to stick it too close to your natural lashes, or you'll be in for some fun when it's time to remove them. I speak from experience.

Nyah nyah nyah! you can't see me!

The opportunity was too hard to pass up so I threw on some eyeshadow...
Just a simple silver and black smokey eye, I highlighted the inner corners with a shimmery white shadow, then dusted Gosh Effect Powder in "Bottle" all over the lid. The result is a blackened teal smokey that shimmers - absolute LOVE! Thanks Chyi!!

Excuse my oiliness:

Sorry no foundation or blusher, I had an allergic reaction the other day, the doctor doesn't really know what was the cause, but my entire face is now covered in what looks like goosebumps.
My skin looks really clear, even if I do say so myself, and I can thank Vitacreme B12 for it!

I don't know why my lighting changes T.T

See what I mean about the goosebumps? I don't know what the allergy was from, I suspect my face wash but I've been using that brand for well over a year now T.T

I leave you with a photo of a really odd creature I found in my house...

Nunu's Kitchen - Braised Quail

Thanks to Sheila for telling me what the proper cooking term is called! If you don't eat quail, you can easily substitute with chicken but of course cooking time would be slightly longer. To ensure maximum taste, I would recommend marinating the quails over night. This recipe is so easy but it tastes like you spent forever in the kitchen!

Braised Quail

You will need:

• Quails - most supermarkets sell them cleaned, but remember to check the inner cavity, remove any organs you find, and clean the neck thoroughly! Remove any loose flaps of skin and visible fat.
• 3 or 4 stalks of spring onion - chopped into half finger lengths
• Ginger - a piece approx 2 finger lengths thick and long, grated/juiced
• 2 tbsp cooking Sake
• 1/2 to 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
• 4 tbsp light Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cloves of Garlic - bottom and skin removed, crushed underneath blade of knife
• 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
• 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Optional 1/2 tsp Chicken Powder

La Methode:

• Wash and pat dry the quail. Squeeze/grate/juice the ginger, reserve the pulp and rub the ginger juice all over the quails.

• Make your marinade; mix together the soy sauce, salt, sugar, sake, chicken powder (if using), and a little bit of the oil - as usual I have no specific measurements, you will never go wrong if you go with your taste buds.
• Pour marinade over the quails, cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 6 hours.

• When quails are ready, oil a wok or non-stick frying pan, and toss in your ginger pulp, crushed garlic and chopped green onions. Put heat to high.

• When the oil begins to bubble, add the quails. Fry the quails until lightly browned on either sides.

• Once the quails are nicely browned, turn heat down to medium. Dissolve the oyster sauce in the remaining marinade and add it all to the pan together with 1/2 cup of water.

• Cover pan with lid and allow ingredients to simmer for approx 10-15 minutes. Flip the quails over once.
• Remove the quails from the pan once they are cooked, turn heat to high and allow the juices in the pan to reduce until you have a nice thick gravy.
• Pour gravy over the quails.
• Eat.

Vitacreme B12 Review

Despite all my love for The Body Shop's Vitamin E cream, I was getting a bit bored with the same old same old, so I whored myself off to Vitacreme B12 after seeing that Cosme-de had a "Buy 2 get $10 off" promo.

Ingredients list:

What they say:

Vitacreme B12 is the first cosmetic cream containing Vitamin B12, an essential component for healthy skin. With deep penetrating capability, Vitacreme B12 helps regenerate, nourish and moisturise your skin. 

Benefits of VITACREME B12

• Stimulates renewal of skin cells
• Hydrates and softens skin tissues 
• Rejuvenates and improves skin elasticity and firmness
• Revitalizes and diminishes age lines and existing wrinkles
• Helps to prevent premature wrinkles
• Repairs and rebalances the skin's natural defense system
• Relieves and soothes chapped skin
• Smoothes or attenuates new or old scars
• Helps prevent peeling after a sunburn
• Can be used as a day cream and/or cosmetic base

What I say:
Firstly, if you glance through the ingredients list, you'll see that corn oil is listed as the second ingredient. That struck me as a little odd because I've never really seen corn oil used in cosmetics before. A search on Cosmeticsdatabase showed that corn oil is ranked as a level 2 low hazard ingredient with cancer, toxicity, and reproductive toxicity as possible concerns.
In addition to corn oil, this product also contains preservatives, a fatty alcohol, parabens and salicylic acid in low amounts. If you are allergic or concerned about putting any of these chemicals onto your skin, you know what to do.
Ok, Chemistry lesson over, now onto what I like about this cream.
I've been using this cream as a day and night moisturiser for the past month, and at first I felt the cream was too greasy and heavy for use as a spring/summer day cream, but as I continued using it, I found that if I spend some time rubbing the cream into my face, it actually absorbs completely with no residue! Instead it leaves my skin very soft, smooth and moisturised.
I've also noticed that the dark marks from old acne marks and the redness from new acne marks have begun to fade! I haven't changed anything in my skin care regime, I still wash my face with Lush cleansers, and use a sheet mask twice a week, the only thing I've added was this cream, so the scar fading effect must be coming from this cream.
I don't know if I can comment as to its wrinkle busting claims because I don't really have any wrinkles (yet!). I have some underneath my eyes, but I don't know if they're real wrinkles or not cos they sometimes just disappear, like after I do a mask. But I haven't gotten any MORE wrinkles so does that mean it works? haha!
I don't use a face primer, so my foundation goes directly on top of this cream. By the end of the day, the foundation around my nose will be a bit patchy, but the rest of my face just looks a bit dewy, not oily. Also this cream seemed to have stopped my Studio Fix Fluid Foundation from oxidising - I remembered it oxidised like crazy last summer!
This cream does have quite a strong distinctive smell, it's not unpleasant, at least not to me, it's almost like a very heavy rose scent? After a month of use, I don't notice the smell much any more.
The one thing I really HATE about this product is the packaging - it comes in a metal tube, very much like an old toothpaste tube. I really don't like metal tubes, I find them hard to get product out of and feel that any moment the tube will leak T.T
I'm a bit OCD so I fold up the tube as I use it xD

The cream is pink!xD

Cream leaves no greasy residue once it's massaged into the skin.

Damage: 
US$28 to US$36 for 50ml. If you go to Cosme-de right now, you can get 2 tubes for $60.
Verdict:
Great for people with dry/combination skin. If you're okay with the ingredients, and willing to spend some time massaging in the cream, the results are really worth it. I love how it has faded my scars, and for that alone I'd repurchase!

On a personal note, and perhaps indirectly related to this post, I'm finding that I've been running around in public with with zero foundation on more and more. I still need to do my eyes, pat on a bit of cream blusher and slap on some lipgloss, but this is seriously a different routine to what I had say 1 year ago. I can honestly say that I feel different. I no longer feel like I have to hide my face from public. My skin is FAR from perfect, but it's the best its ever been and I'm quite happy with it xD. I guess only girls who have gone through bad skin all their life will be able to relate to my feelings.

Rexall lipstick haul - short review and swatches

I just wanted to get lip swatches out for people who might be interested in picking these up at the Rexall 50% off sale which ends tomorrow (18 June 2010), so I'll be forgoing my usual long winded reviews.

Natural lips for comparison:

Vasanti Tinted Lipbalm in Cancun

They say:
A lip conditioner that gives a natural hint of colour. Our tinted lipbalms are loaded with moisturisers, conditioners and natural sunscreens such as: Shea butter, Mango butter, Meadowfoam seed oil, Sunflower oil and Olive oil.


I say:
Smells great! like sweet mangoes! Really moisturising, and gives a nice hint of colour.
Colour is described as "a sheer coral with a touch of pink"
Does, however, contain parabens.
CAN$15 but going for CAN$7.50 right now at Rexall Pharmacies!

Pupa Lip Perfection Natural Shine gloss in 03

They say:
"Gives lips a naturally shiny colour. Exclusive formula with natural active ingredients providing a protective, emollient action. Non sticky."

I say:
Semi-opaque, thicker than MAC gloss, non-sticky, and really moisturising.
Lasts around 4 hours. Does not settle into lip lines.
Slight vanilla smell, no taste.
Paraben free
03 is a bright raspberry-ish shade with no shimmer.
CAN$17 regularly $8.50 right now at the Rexall 50% off sale

Pupa New Chic Brilliant Lipstick in 32

They say:
"Brilliant lipstick, intense colour. Voluminous, extra-luminous lips. Feel-good moisture-rich texture. Perfect coverage. Precise and easy to apply."

I say:
Very unique packaging!! I really like how it has a mirror, that way I don't have to haul out a separate mirror to do touch ups on the go.
Glides on, non-drying.
32 is a gorgeous frosty apricot that reminds me of summer and beaches xD
Contains parabens.
CAN$20 regularly but $10 right now at the Rexall 50% off all lipsticks and glosses sale.

My haul for the last two weeks T.T:

No more lipsticks or glosses for the next year!

Koji Dollywink liquid liner review

I was recently generously gifted with one of these by the lovely Sheila, she is sneaky and I'm getting her back for it xD
Felt tip eyeliners are just one of those greatest beauty inventions of the decade - they give precise control, you can create thick or thin lines by a mere change of pressure, they're much easier and less time consuming than brush tips once you've mastered how to handle them.
Up to a few years ago, they didn't exist, but I believe just about every cosmetics company makes one now.
My liquid liner of choice is L'Oreal's Lineur Intense, I own it in both normal black and carbon black. (btw, normal black is blacker than carbon black -__-) they're relatively cheap at CAN$10-$5, great pigmentation, and they're relatively long lasting with zero peeling or flaking. The tip is thin enough to do the inner corners and the wing, and with a little more pressure, a thicker line for the outer corners.
I've never had an opportunity to try Asian felt-tip liners until now, so I'll only be able to compare this with my L'Oreal liner xD

As with all things Asian, it comes in cute packaging xD

What they say:
Koji Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner has a ultra fine yet flexible point tip, which allow greater precision with a easy to handle eyelining experience. The deep dazzling black can accentuate the glamorous eyes of yours, giving you a more defined look. This eyeliner is waterproof, sweat proof and with the quick dry formula, the eyeliner can stay on for hours without a smudge. Your look will be long wearing and gorgeous even without touch-up. (From Sasa.com)

What I say:
I believe this is a Koji artist collab line? I had to Google to make certain, but apparently Tsubasa Masuwaka is a very famous Japanese model who often models for a Japanese Fashion magazine called Popteen, and she teamed up with Koji to create the Dollywink line. The line is suppose to appeal girls in the Gyaru scene...don't ask me exactly WHAT Gyaru is, I'll probably get it wrong xD
Ah onto the liner itself!

Swatches: Left: L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Black Mica, Middle: L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black, Right: Dollywink in Deep Black

Close up of the tips:

Holy Crap! that is a thin tip!! I thought the the L'Oreal had a pretty thin tip but the Dollywink one makes it look like a club!
The tip of the eyeliner is made up of fine firm hairs - like a calligraphy brush!
Pigmentation is just ok, I would say it's a softer black than L'Oreal's Black Mica and on par with Carbon Black. I like my eyeliners to be super black so I have to go over the line a few times when I'm using this liner.
This liner is great for doing the thin lines close to your lashes and for the outer "wing". It's a lot easier to control than my Lineur Intense, and makes lining my eyes quite fool proof.
Koji claims this liner is sweat and tears proof, so I put it to the test:

Gentle rubbing with a drop of water:

Intense rubbing under running water:

As you can see, it's definitely waterproof! of course it's easily removed by makeup remover xD
I took it out for a test run the other day and after two lacklustre soccer matches and some rolling around, most of the liner was still there, the only exception was that the liner from the inner corner of my eye had pretty much disappeared >__> I used primer but my eyelids secrete industrial strength paint stripper - if only I could bottle it I would make millions.

Damage:
US$12 to $20 available at most online Asian cosmetics stores
Verdict:
Love it! it is so easy to control, gives crisp clean lines, and has great lasting power. I love using this to do cat eyes, it makes doing the a sharp wing SO easy!!
Downsides would be that because this liner has such a thin tip, those who like a more pronounced line will need to go over their lines several times before they'll be able to achieve their desired effect.
I also feel like there's a lot less product in this compared to regular eyeliners - this liner is really really slim, like a Bic pen!
As usual with all Asian products, this would be a bit hard to get hold of for those who live outside Asia or would be really expensive!

Liner in action:

Obligatory FOTD:

A silly moment xD