Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Clio Twisturn Waterproof Turnliner, Clio Gelpresso Pencil Gel Liner, & Clio Fresh Lip & Eye Remover swatches and review

I've been whining for ever for a green liquid liner. I don't know why no one seems to make a decent green liquid liner!! And before anyone mentions the Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners, I actually own two of those but the formula seems to burn the skin around my eyes T.T Whyyyyy MUFE??!! Whyyy must I be allergic to everything you make??!!
But good things always happen to those who whine!! Yumeko happened upon an advert for Clio's Twisturn Waterproof Turnliner, I begged her shamelessly for a CP and in no time the liners were making their way to me! Fanks Capy for braving epileptic fit inducing Gmarket for us! *insert confetti pedobear*
Korean popstar Lee Hyori is the brand's ambassador. Here is hilarious and long advert for the Twisturn liner.
I don't know if they were a GWP (Gift-With-Purchase) or just free samples from the seller, but each Twisturn liner came with a mini Clio Gelpresso Pencil Gel Liner and a mini Clio Fresh Lip &Eye Remover. I think we paid around $11 for the liner on Gmarket and they are $16 on Ebay.
The Twisturn liners come in 8 different shades, Urban Black (black), Club Black (grey/black with silver sparkles), Night Purple (purple), Stage Navey (navy), Urban Khaki (green), Star Silver (silver), Star Gold (gold), and Brown Earth (brown). I ended up getting Urban Khaki, Stage Navey and Night Purple.
Swatches!
Stage Navey:
Night Purple:
Urban Khaki:
Pros: 
  • Cheap compared to the MUFE Aqua Liners;
  • Brush tip is easy to use;
  • Shimmery metallic finish;
  • Longlasting, waterproof with no smudging or peeling;
  • Does not irritate my eyes like the MUFE liners do; and
  • It comes in green (yes that is a pro in my books);
Cons:
  • Colour difference not really noticeable on the eye;
  • Clicking mechanism quite shoddy - either nothing comes out or a whole blob of product comes out;
  • Not opaque in one swipe; and
  • A bit hard to find for those outside of Asia.
Gelpresso Pencil Gel Liner in 01 Beige Shine:
I quite like this Gelpresso pencil!!! It is perfect for the water-line and for highlighting inner corners. The fact that it is self-sharpening is also a huge plus in my books as it means I won't need to lug a sharpener with me.

Clio Fresh Lip & Eye Remover:
This is a bi-phase makeup remover much like Lancome's Bi-Facil. It removed my eye makeup quite effortlessly and did not leave the eye area overly greasy or dried out. I personally found I did not have to rinse after using this remover. Will definitely hoard these for use during trips!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Review & Clinique Service As You Like It

When Clinique invited me check out their newly renovated counter at The Bay, downtown Vancouver, I spied with my little eye, the new Chubby Stick Intense!
I cackled gleefully when I discovered that they had generously included 4 of them in my goody bag!
If you were disappointed with the original Chubby Stick due to its lack of pigmentation then the new Intense line is perfect for you! Featuring 8 new shades, the new Intense line combines the original moisturising formula with an extra pop of colour.
I found these to be much longer wearing than the original Chubby Sticks, on average 4-5 hours, with the darker colours lasting even longer and fading gradually to a stain.
I much prefer the formula of Chubby Sticks over Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balms. These feel creamier, smoother and more moisturising, and all without Revlon awful peppermint scent and taste!
The new Chubby Stick Intense are CAN$19 each and available now at Clinique counters.
Onto swatches!
Curviest Caramel:
Heftiest Hibiscus:
Mightiest Maraschino:
Broadest Berry:
Yeah, I have no idea what is up with those names either.

Oh and if you do happen to be at the Clinique counter in downtown Vancouver, make sure to check out their new Clinique Service As You Like It!
Developed with the customer in mind, simply pop on one of Clinique's complementary bracelets in the corresponding colour and you'll get the exact type of service you want. Whether you wish to browse alone at your own leisure (pink bracelet), you are pressed for time and need express service (white bracelet) or you have all the time in the world for a full consultation (green bracelet), what you want is what you'll get. I'm personally all about the pink bracelet as I am quite an anti-social shopper haha!
While I was at the counter, I noticed how self-service friendly the new layout is, testers are laid out and easily accessible, products are clearly labelled with their function and price and they even have these iPad where you can get a nifty printed list of recommended products for your skin woes. Quite often shoppers feel too intimidated to ask to see or test out a product, so being able to take a product off the shelf yourself without a pushy assistant breathing down your neck is definitely an improvement!


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Mèreadesso skincare review

I was very kindly sent a set of Mèreadesso skincare a while back by their lovely PR, and after using their products for the last 3 months I am ready to write my review!

Mèreadesso is higher end Canadian brand developed by former cosmetics executive Linda Stephenson. Linda has worked at top cosmetics brands such as Estee Lauder, MAC, and Mary Kay for over 2 decades.
A jet setting career and a busy family life meant that Linda no longer had the time to put 16 different products on her face so she put her Chemistry and Botany degrees to use and set out to develop a one step program which would address all our skin's needs.
For the past 3 months I have put their Face + Neck Cleanser and All-In-One Moisturiser through vigorous testing in hot and dry Kona, and cold and humid Vancouver, and the products have really endeared themselves to me.
 Mèreadesso Face + Neck Cleanser
"A non-foaming all-in-one makeup remover, mask, scrub and toner that will even conquer waterproof mascara.
The globally sourced ingredient blend includes botanical extracts and vitamins. Effective as a deep cleanser but gentle enough for use around the eye area. After rinsing, your face will be free of residue and perfectly prepped for our All-In-One Moisturizer. Comes with a specially designed cleansing cloth (to be used with cleanser every time) in a reusable plastic pouch that’s great for holding everything from the cleanser to makeup brushes."
Damage: $45 for 120ml
Nunu sez: This is a non-foaming, cleansing milk type cleanser. I found it to be very gentle on my skin and left my face feeling very soft and smooth instead of dry and stripped of all moisture. During Winter, my face usually feels quite tight after cleansing but this product left my skin slightly moisturised which is quite unheard of for a cleanser.
I like that the product is house in a handy air tight pump bottle, it disperses easily and there's no more fumbling with flip caps!
I really like the micro-fibre cloth included with the cleanser! It exfoliates and removes any residual makeup that the cleanser doesn't remove. Looky how it performed against lipstick, waterproof eyeliner, waterproof mascara and foundation!

Mèreadesso All-In-One Moisturiser
"A single-step solution for your face and neck full of incentive to toss every other moisturizer, toner, serum, primer, day cream, night cream and eye cream you own. Talk about minimizing packaging.
This lightweight gel-lotion’s globally sourced ingredients include 16 botanical extracts, 8 minerals and enzymes and over 20 antioxidants. Easy to apply, quick to absorb and impossible to give up because the longer you use it, the less you’ll need it."
Damage: $120 for 50ml
Nunu sez:  This was only moisturiser I took with me to Hawaii. Yep, no toners, no eyecream, no specialised serums, just this one moisturiser because I really wanted put its claims of being an "all-in-one" to the test.
Well whaddaya know. My skin is brighter, redness has been reduced, and I swear my pores are tighter. I don't really have any wrinkles to speak of so I can't really attest to whether or not it does anything for wrinkles.
The formula is light, non-greasy, and fast absorbing with a runny gel-like texture. Unfortunately there is SPF so you will need to layer it with a sunscreen. Like the cleanser, it also comes in a vacuum pump.
Whilst this moisturiser alone was enough for the Summer months, now that Winter has come and indoor heating is on full blast I need something richer for the evenings, however, I've continued to use this as my day moisturiser as it really saves me time in the mornings when I am always in a rush.
There's only two cons of this moisturiser is the smell and the price. To me the smell came off as being very "green" and "earthy". It's not the most pleasant smelling moisturiser out there but I got used to the scent over time. The price is a bit harder to get over but the 50ml bottle has lasted me well over 3 months with continuous daily use and the time saved and the results are quite worth it.
At the moment Mèreadesso is only available for purchase online at Mèreadesso.com. Also available is the Beautiful Body Balm ($54 for 200ml) and the Lip Treats which come in clear and tinted ($28 for 2 sticks of 1.2g each.