Showing posts with label BB Cream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BB Cream. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

July 2026 Empties

All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

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1. Jiocolor Wispy LashesThese are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. I will say that these are very thin and delicate so while they do glue onto the eyelid fairly easily, they're also easy to bend out of shape or to get lash glue all over the band. So, it's important to be careful and gentle with them. 

2equate Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy almond cookie scent to it. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  
 
3. Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Pure Castile Magic Soap in Peppermint:  They have these 25 fl. oz bottles sold as a two pack in BJ's now so when I saw them at a good deal I decided to jump in and buy them. I essentially only use this to wash my makeup brushes with and it does a fantastic job of getting the makeup off of them and leaving them deep cleaned.
 
4. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask: I like how this is a lightweight gel mask that gave my skin really good hydration without feeling thick or heavy. That said, I did prefer to rinse rather than tissue it off, my skin felt cleaner that way.

5Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Gel: I feel like I've had this aloe gel forever now. I love it for sunburns, irritated skin, insect bites, or even just as a lightweight, refreshing facial moisturizer. This bottle is quite large and lasts a long time. That said, there's a tiny bit of residue at its bottom and due to the design I've given up on getting to it or on cutting the bottle open without injuring myself. I do really love the product itself though.
 
6. Crown Brush Pro C523: This is a really handy little pencil brush that's fantastic for precision work. I love it for highlighting the inner corner, but because it's longer and smaller than typical pencil brushes, it also works fantastic for tight crease work, any sort of blending where precision is  necessary, softening out gel or pencil liner, and softening out any eye shadow placed underneath the eye. Unfortunately my brush is fraying and it's time to replace it. 

7. Crown Brush Pro C510: Just as the brush above, I absolutely love this one as a perfectly sized paddle brush for placing eye shadow directly onto the mobile lid. It has soft edges so it was perfect to add crease color too - not to blend it, but to sort of "reinforce" it since I like to do the crease first and then the lid, so to bring the depth of the color back, I'd use the edges of the brush to add more of the crease color into my socket. Like the brush above, this one is also significantly frayed. 
 
8. Nameless Large Paddle Brush from Crown Brush:  Unfortunately this brush is just getting sparse and falling apart. It's a very densely packed paddle brush which made it perfect for applying a highlight underneath the brow and to act as an "eraser" if my crease eye shadow ever came up to high and into that brow area.
 
9. Bubbi Buffer brush Unfortunately this brush broke off from the ferule. It is a lovely buffer brush - great for any face powder or applying more diffused blush to the cheeks. It's also super soft!
 
10. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: I decided to give this particular shade of the powder a try because, as you know, I love the regular translucent version of this powder - it's very soft, silky, prevents my makeup from creasing, yet looks and feels like skin. I figured perhaps the pink shade would be nice for brightening the under-eye area and also, since my skin tone is a pinkish neutral and foundation can occasionally oxidize orange-y on me, I figured the pink might help neutralize those orange tones a bit. Both were true and I love this shade of the powder as well!

11. PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream I  will say I love the coverage on this BB cream and how smooth it made my skin look. But that said, it oxidized into an orange-y shade on me that was a shade or two darker than my skin. It also unfortunately felt quite heavy in this hot weather. I felt it sitting on my face and it was uncomfortable. 
 
12. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow: As you may have guessed I love me a glowing skin primer and this is no exception. It has a lovely lightweight lotion texture that spreads over the skin easily and gives it a lit-from-within quality that I adore under foundation. That said, I would only use it as a highlight if I was going to wear this alone or without some sort of foundation/powder on top of it because it can make the skin look greasy. 

13. equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy sweet yet tart scent to it. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  
 
14. L'Oreal Paris Eye Defense Eye Cream: I found this to be a nice eye cream that left my eye area generally moisturized, gave my eye skin a nice glow, and works well with makeup over it. It has a nice texture that feels lightweight yet hydrating. 

15. Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer in 95: Personally I think this concealer is ok - it's thin and blends out nicely. But that said, I felt like I went through this quickly and had to use quite a lot to get the coverage I was after. Additionally, I felt like every time I set this with powder that it had a tendency to either move around or disappear where I felt like, again, it wasn't giving me the kind of coverage I wanted. 
 
16.  Veleasha Lashes in Sunny T-4: These are a really cute spiky lash, which I tend to like because I feel like they make my eyes look larger. I know for some folks these lashes might seem dramatic but to me they're on the smaller side, I almost wish they were larger - meaning just longer with bigger spikes. My only issue is that the lash bands are thick and plastic-y so it takes them a while before they bend to the shape of the eye nicely. 
 
17. Shik Baby soap with bur-marigold extract: This a really gentle soap  that doesn't aggravate my eczema. I found it to be quite gentle, it has a nice smell, and I like the way it leaves my skin feeling soft and silky 
 
18. Pyunkang Yul Calming Mask Pack: This sheet mask is really nice and thick, it's clearly nice quality. This left my skin feeling hydrated, plump, smooth, and glowing initially after removal. It felt very soft and rejuvenated the next day as well. 
 
19. bubbi Dome brush: This brush isn't necessarily broken per se. But it sheds so aggressively every time I use it that I am left picking off all the bristles that end up on my face which takes forever and is an absolute sensory nightmare for me so I would rather just get rid of it entirely.
 
20. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Hydrating Water Gel Mask: They are not kidding when they call this mask hydrating - not only did it leave my skin plump, juicy, and glowing but there was so much serum in here that I had enough for my neck, chest, and upper arms. That plump, hydrated feeling lasted well into the next day as well. 
 
21. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: This has been my favorite sunscreen to date and, as always, I'm sad to have used it up. Especially since I bought this jumbo tube of it. I was hoping that Teso Life would start carrying the jumbo tubes but alas, it was a one time lucky thing.
 
22. Colourpop Watermelon Sugar Fresh Kiss Glossy Lip Balm: I feel like the premise of the gloss balm sounds good - a lightweight, hydrating gloss with a sheer tint? One that comes in lots of yummy flavors. Sounds like a great product! Except it doesn't hydrate much due to it being a lightweight, thin gloss that wears off quite quickly. I truly wish they would bring back the Lippie Crayons because those were my favorite tinted lip balm ever and alas, they are gone. 
 
23. CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Foundation in 205 Ivory: I really enjoyed this foundation. It was a good shade match for me, it feels hydrating going on and has a nice, healthy, luminous finish to it. I like that it's a medium to full coverage too and is easy to blend. Overall I'm sad to have run out of it. I felt like it lasted me a long time too. I've had the bottle since January and while I wasn't using it daily, I'd say around 6 months of continuous use isn't too bad.   
  
24. Dove deep moisture body wash: As I always say, I really love these creamy body washes for use as an alternative to shave gel. I find that they last me much longer, provide my razor with a nice smooth glide, and leave my skin feeling hydrated and irritation-free after shaving. 
 
25equate Cherry Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub I love how gritty this scrub is. This has an absolutely delicious cherry scent to it! I think the scent of this might be one of my favorites, if not my very favorite from the scrub lineup. The only issue I have with it is that it tends to stain my right palm red- because that's the hand I used to apply this. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  
  
26. berkley jensen Baby Wipes x90: I got the unscented version this time because the day I went to purchase the wipes, the green tea ones were all the way in the back and I couldn't reach them. These still work fantastic for wiping dust off surfaces, for removing makeup swatches from my hands, for wiping down my powder makeup when it gets messy, and they even work as makeup remover wipes in a pinch. I love that these come in big packs too so they last quite a while.
  
27. Secret Powder Fresh 24 Hr Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant: Personally, I think this is a great baseline deodorant. I still do get sweaty with it on if I do something more physically intensive like vacuuming in the heat and, frankly, if it's super humid I will sweat through this. Otherwise it works just fine, keeps me smelling and feeling fresh. I like the solid sticks because they don't irritate my pit skin and they don't sting on freshly shaved armpits either. 
 
28esfolio Hyaluronic Acid With Peach Cleansing Foam: This is a really nice, gently hydrating, foaming cleanser. I really liked the texture of it, it left my skin feeling soft and refreshed after rinsing it off. My skin wasn't dry or tight at all. It also has a yummy peachy scent that I enjoyed. 
 
Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the sheet masks, which were gifts from a friend and the Colourpop Glossy Lip Balm which I received for testing. All opinions are my own. 

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

BB Cream Review: Missha M Perfect Cover B.B Cream

Today's review is for the Missha M Perfect Cover B.B Cream in No. 13

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AvailabilityThis retails anywhere from $10-12 for 20 mL and $15 - $26 for 50 mL (1.69 fl. oz.) and can be purchased at target.com, walmart.com, nordstrom.com and potentially also some of their physical store locations along with amazon.com and misshasus.com

Would I buy this again? Yes. 

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?
Let's quote from misshaus.com, shall we?
Combine skincare and makeup in one easy step for flawless skin with M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++. M Perfect is a BB cream that offers medium to high coverage, all while keeping makeup light and providing UV protection with lasting moisture.
The lightweight BB cream brightens, evens, soothes, and covers discoloration and imperfections of the skin. Recommended for all skin types.

Does this come in any other shade than the one pictured above?
This only comes in seven shades; which is alright but they can stand to do better than that. There aren't any super light or super deep options.

What's the coverage/consistency like?
I would say this is a hydrating cream texture with a buildable, medium to full coverage and a natural radiant finish.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
Once again, according to misshaus.com:
Hyaluronic acid/Ceramide: Keeps your skin moisturized and supple
Rosemary leaf extract/Chamomile flower extract: Helps soothe the skin 
 
Is this scented?
This has a very faint, fresh, clean, soapy scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?
Pros:
-Consistency is really smooth, easy to blend and apply
-Has a pinkish undertone which is a rare find
-Lightweight
- Wears well all day
- Natural radiant finish looks like skin, not makeup 
-Perfect shade match for me 

Cons:
- can feel a bit heavy in hot, humid weather

I've been using this as my "day off" makeup because I like to have a bit of a tint on due to having to shave my face because of my PCOS. I just feel more confident going on with a bit of a tint on. I really like this product because in addition to coverage, it also gives my skin added hydration. The shade match on this is actually so perfect that my skin merely looks perfected, it doesn't look like I'm wearing makeup when this settles in, which is fantastic.

What do I use to apply the product?
I apply this with  my fingers.

I feel as though this review is pretty thorough but please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I bought this myself.

Sunday, May 3, 2026

April 2026 Arrivals

Ok folks! I'm back to replenishing on things that I'm running out of and buying mostly just necessities.

1. Milani StayPut Eyeshadow Primer Longwear Eyeshadow Base in Universal: I've run out of my eyeshadow primer and since it's a product I swear by and have heard good things about this one, I decided to give it a try.

2. Organic Kitchen Pistachio Mafia Polishing Face Scrub: I'm running low on my current jar of this so I decided to go ahead and replenish on it.

3. Green Pharmacy Rose Water and Almond Oil Facial Toner: Since my current toner is also running low, I decided to pick this one up because it's inexpensive, smells nice, keeps my skin soft, and honestly I like it well enough to keep repurchasing it. 

4. timeless Skin Care Squalane Oil 100% Pure: Since unfortunately my bottle of The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane fell and most of it spilled out, thus causing me some heartbreak, I decided to try out a new squalane oil. Frankly, since The Ordinary keeps going up in price and it was less pricey for me to purchase a 2 oz. bottle of this oil instead, I decided to get it and see how I'd like it.

5. Missha M B.B. Boomer Primer: The name of this product doesn't really say much regarding what this is but in short, it's a glowy primer. I really like glow boosting primers because they make my skin look healthy and luminous so I figured I'd give this one a try. 

6. Missha Perfect Cover B.B. Cream: I'm running low on both my tubes of bb cream and like to wear it when I'm not doing a full face. It has been an absolute age since I last used Missha and it seems like they've released a lighter shade so I decided I'd try it again.

7. L'Oreal Paris true match Super Blendable Foundation in C 0.5 Cool Light: I am running low on my current foundation and wanted to replenish. I decided to give this a try because there are more shades in it than the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup and have been really liking it so far. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself. All opinions are my own. 

Monday, September 2, 2024

August 2024 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! I'm back to replenishing on things that I'm running out of and buying mostly just necessities.

1. Isehan Kiss Me Sunkiller Perfect Water Essence Alcohol Free SPF 50+ PA++++ x2: I'm running low on my sunscreen and needed to replenish, since these were on sale if you purchase two, I decided to just go for it.

2. PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream: I'm also running low on my BB cream so I picked this one up to try.

3. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: An old favorite is back, I stopped purchasing this because the Milani one is less expensive, but since my drugstore was out, I decided to pick this up for nostalgia's sake. 

4. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I'm running out of my squalane oil as well and since this is an absolute must-have for my skincare collection, I've replenished it as well. 

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

BB Cream Review: PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream

Today's review is for the PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream

AvailabilityAlright so... I purchased this at my local pharmacy for something like $13.99 for 30 mL and I cannot find any reputable-seeming retailers online, especially ones that sell to the US. 

Would I buy this again? Honestly while I love the product, I don't think it's a good shade match for me, so no. 

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?
Let's quote from prorance.kr, shall we?
Triple functional cosmetics for whitening/wrinkle correction/sunscreen (SPF30, PA+++)
For Resilient, Lively Skin
Product Description
1. The BB cream that applies smoothly with a crisp finish for firmer skin.
2. Naturally covers the skin flaws for a clean and radiant skin tone.
3. Contains the concentrated golden snail essence extracted from the mucus of golden snails to help with healthier, moisturized skin.
4. Contains the French rose extracts and American walnut oil to leave your skin resilient with the work of wrinkle-correcting adenosine for vitality and liveliness.
Effect
- Helps with skin whitening and wrinkle correction.
- Protects the skin from UV rays (SPF30, PA+++).


Does this come in any other shade than the one pictured above?
This only comes in one shade. 😭(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

What's the coverage/consistency like?
I would say this is a hydrating cream texture with a buildable, medium to full coverage and a natural radiant finish.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
Snail Secretion Filtrate: Helps hydrate skin, has anti-inflammatory properties, helps boost collagen production, brightens skin, and helps smooth skin texture.
Glycerin: Helps attract moisture to the skin.
Niacinamide: Has pore-diminishing, sebum-regulating, anti-inflammatory, and skin brightening properties.
Adenosine: Has anti-inflammatory properties and helps restore skin's moisture barrier.
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil: Has antioxidant properties.
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil: Has astringent and hydrating properties.
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract: Has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties.
Tocopherol: Vitamin E, acts as an antioxidant on the skin and helps preserve the product.

Is this scented?
This has a very faint, floral scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?
Pros:
-Consistency is really smooth, easy to blend and apply
-Has a pinkish undertone which is a rare find
-Lightweight
- Wears well all day
- Natural radiant finish looks like skin, not makeup 

Cons:
- color is a bit off, it oxidizes orangey on my skin-tone
- can feel a bit heavy in hot, humid weather
-claims it has SPF30 but isn't labeled as such which makes me feel suspicious

I've been using this as my "day off" makeup because I like to have a bit of a tint on due to having to shave my face due to my PCOS. I just feel more confident going on with a bit of a tint on. I really like this product because in addition to coverage, it also gives my skin added hydration.

What do I use to apply the product?
I apply this with  my fingers.

I feel as though this review is pretty thorough but please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I bought this myself.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

BB Cream Review: MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Intensive BB Cream SPF 50+ PA+++

Today's review is for the MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair BB Cream SPF 50+ PA+++ in Fair #21

AvailabilityThis retails at around $14 for 50 mL (1.76 fl. oz.) and can be purchased at amazon.com, yesstyle.com, and stylevana.com.

Would I buy this again? Possibly.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?
Let's quote from yesstyle.com, shall we?
Formulated with 35% snail slime, this hypoallergenic BB cream is reinforced with a broad spectrum of SPF 50+ and PA+++ sun protection. With a buildable coverage, it significantly blurs blemishes while correcting uneven skin tone to give skin a hydrating glow. Free from parabens and artificial fragrances. Suitable for sensitive skin.
A featherlight BB cream helps correct uneven skin tone while blurring the appearance of blemishes.
Infused with 35% snail extract to moisturize your skin for a hydrated glow.
Features SPF50+ PA+++ sun protection to protect delicate skin.
The hypoallergenic formula is free from paraben and artificial fragrance, suitable for sensitive skin.
About brand: MIZON
Created by dedicated researchers from Korea's top cosmetics companies, Mizon is famous for its snail mucin-based skin care products that are now among the brand's consistent bestsellers. Established by the Nabion R&D Company in 2000, Mizon offers makeup, skin, body and hair care lines backed by extensively-researched, high quality formulations. Among its most popular products are the Pore Refine Deep Cleansing Foam, All-in-One Snail Repair Cream and Water Volume Aqua Gel Cream. All Mizon products are manufactured in Korea. YesStyle is an authorized retailer of Mizon.

Does this come in any other shade than the one pictured above?
This comes in 4 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?
I would say this is a hydrating cream with a buildable, medium to full coverage and a radiant finish.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
Snail Secretion Filtrate: Helps hydrate skin, has anti-inflammatory properties, helps boost collagen production, brightens skin, and helps smooth skin texture.
Glycerin: Helps attract moisture to the skin.
Niacinamide: Has pore-diminishing, sebum-regulating, anti-inflammatory and skin brightening properties.
Tocopherol: Vitamin E, acts as an antioxidant on the skin and helps preserve the product.

Is this scented?
This has a very faint, paint-like scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?
Pros:
-Consistency is really smooth, easy to blend and apply
-Lightweight
- Wears well all day
- Natural radiant finish looks like skin, not makeup 
Cons:
- color is a bit off, ever-so-slightly yellowish for my skin-tone
- can feel a bit heavy in hot, humid weather
I've been using this as my "day off" makeup because I like to have a bit of a tint on due to having to shave my face due to my PCOS. I just feel more confident going on with a bit of a tint on. I really like this product because in addition to coverage, it also gives my skin added hydration and sun protection so I feel that it has multiple benefits as its name suggests.  

What do I use to apply the product?
I apply this with  my fingers.

I feel as though this review is pretty thorough but please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I bought this myself.

Saturday, March 5, 2022

BB Cream Review: PACIFICA Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream

Today's review is for the PACIFICA Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream in Shade 11.

AvailabilityThis retails at $16 and is available at target.com and ulta.com with potentially their physical store locations (I would call to make sure) along with pacificabeauty.com and vitacost.com.

Would I buy this? No.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?
Let's quote from pacificabeauty.com, shall we?
Think sheer moisturizing tint with benefits. A true multitasking miracle that hydrates, primes, illuminates, and perfects, leaving a sheer bare skin finish. Specialized mineral pigments that instantly adjust to your skin shade allow one color to work for many. The sheer application can be built up for just the right amount of coverage, while helping diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines, and uneven tone.
Great worn alone if a natural look is what you want.
Ingredients We Love
Floral stem cells
Coconut water
Hyaluronic acid
Available in 3 shades: Light (Shade 11), Medium (Shade 6), & Dark (Shade 3)
Formulated without talc, parabens, phthalates or mineral oil

Does this come in any other shade than the one pictured above?
This comes in 3 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?
I would say this has a light to medium, buildable coverage with a soft, slightly dewy finish.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
Floral Stem Cells: Protect against sun damage and can help prevent wrinkles.
Hyaluronic Acid: Is able to hold 1000x its weight in water, helping to hydrate the skin.
Coconut Water: Contains Vitamin B2, B3 (niacinamide), and Vitamin C; also contains hydrating properties.
 
Is this scented?
This has a faint paint-like scent mixed with a faint floral scent that reminds me of lilacs.

What has my experience with the product been like?
Pros:
-Consistency is really smooth, easy to blend and apply
-Feels very lightweight
-Nice, buildable coverage
- Very natural finish, looks like healthy skin
Cons:
- EXTREMELY limited shade range
- oxidizes (I can personally disguise this with concealer and powder but if I was wearing the product on its own, that would be an issue).
Honestly I wish this didn't oxidize because if it was either available in a slightly more fair, pinker shade or just didn't oxidize to be a bit orange on me I genuinely think I would love it and think it was the perfect sheer but buildable product to throw on to even out your skin-tone. I'm also shocked that despite being a BB cream this has no SPF in it.

What do I use to apply the product?
I apply this with  my e.l.f. Total Face Sponge.

I feel as though this review is pretty thorough but please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation to mention it on this blog.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Best of 2018 - Favorites

Hey folksickles. The moment when I award my favoritism to the products I used in 2018 that I would hands down buy again and recommend or buy for a friend. Are we ready or are we ready? I will say that I don't have photos of the products here because many of them I've used up and thrown away but... there's always Google and in the instance that I've reviewed a product, the product name will be clickable and you can take a gander at the review.
Image result for best of 2018
1.  e.l.f. Total Face Palette in Beautifully Bare - My wife gave me this for Christmas on account of it being too light for her and you know, me being ghostly it would probably work for me. Well it does and I LOVE it so much, I have been using this literally every. single. day. that I've worn makeup since I've received it. When she gave me it she'd just swatched it lightly but at this point I've completely used up both the highlighter and the bronzer and have hit pan on one of the blushes. I'm also using this as my makeup mirror as the compact I was using before broke. 

2. Femme Fatale Shadow Stair - This is an absolutely GORGEOUS soft, understated polish with a twist and I have to say I love that. It looks like a nice gray but has this beautiful pink shift and soft silver glitter particles. It makes me feel like I'm wearing a neutral yet getting away with having a bright on. Overall it's just a really beautiful, unique shade of nail polish and I like it a lot. I'm so sad that I'm all out of it!

3. Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator- This moisturizer has such a wonderful texture, which, I've noticed, happens to be my #1 deciding factor in whether or not I like a moisturizer, followed closely by scent. The reason I like this so much is because it's a very lightweight gel-cream that hydrates like a much more intense, heavy product. Now as someone with dry skin that, if I was to put a rich moisturizer on it pulls a "hey just so you know, we're not absorbing this, it's going to sit on top of the skin and feel like a sticky blanket of grossness" this is perfection. It hydrates so well given the aloe water it contains and it's "watermill" technology - it repairs the skin's natural moisture barrier and helps it to cycle moisture - hence the 72 hour claim. Truth be told I haven't been using it long enough to say that the watermill technology works for me but what I can say is that because it feels so good to put it on, I look forward to putting it on at night - I used a moisturizer with SPF for the daytime. Now, because of my OCD-ish habits, I will do my night-time skincare routine 99% of the time regardless of if I'm looking forward to it or not... but honestly looking forward helps. Also... I mean because it's not summer I have yet to get a sunburn... and obviously even in the summer I try and avoid being burned and becoming a target for skin cancer... HOWEVER, this feels so nice when applied that it's recommended for burns and I bet you it will help and feel really soothing on your burned skin. Allegedly it can be applied on top of makeup but I haven't tried, part of me fears it'll break down the makeup. 

4.  Korres Mango Lip Butter - This isn't the first time this has hit the favorites section but it just feels so good to apply that I can't help but want to add it again. The texture is silky and moisturizing yet lightweight and I like the slight hint of color it gives me. I wish they didn't discontinue this shade as I'd absolutely get it again.

5. Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate - I've been using a sample of a far pricier moisturizing serum before I got to this and let me tell you - this makes a far more noticeable difference. It feels extremely refreshing when applied and hydrates without being heavy. I absolutely love the way it feels when it's being applied and the way it makes my skin feel. 

6. Nature Republic by Flower Jeju Jam Balm Tangerine Honey - This lip balm is incredible! It smells delicious - as the name implies - like tangerines and honey plus it leaves my lips super hydrated and pillowy soft. It's an absolute pleasure to use - I like to put this one on before bed.

7. Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil - I've really been loving this oil lately and have been recommending it to nearly everyone that asks for a good moisturizer/serum product. Personally I like to mix this in with my serum and apply it that way. It leaves my skin glowing and baby smooth. Plus the price point is super approachable. I absolutely adore it!

8. Formula X For Sephora Latte Run Cupcakes and Cashmere Nail Color - An absolutely gorgeous wear anywhere, anytime nude polish. I feel like this makes my nails look so polished and great for absolutely any occasion.

9. Essie Nail Polish in Romper Room - Similar to the nail polish above, this is perfect for any occasion. A beautiful soft, whisper pink.

10.  Absolute Sailor Moon Blanket: You can pick one up here. I bought this on Look Human which I have to tell you, has some pretty gosh darn awesome merch, so if you want a blanket but this design isn't up your alley, there's plenty of others. This isn't a cheap blanket and I believe I bought the larger size option. That said, these blankets are fantastic, they're mega cuddly and don't get matted or gross after you wash them. They're lightweight. I like to snuggle up in mine to watch movies or to read but you could also snuggle up with a cup of tea or... it's just a really nice snuggly blanket and it's Sailor Moon so like... what's not to love. It brings me such comfort. :D This blanker will never NOT be in yearly favorites because it's just so great and worth every penny I paid for it!!!!

11.  Guerlain Lingerie De Peau BB Cream: This is super pricey but so worth it. I took this to Puerto Rico with me back in 2015 because I wanted something lightweight and hydrating but that would also have good coverage. I wasn't expecting much because in any case, this is still a BB cream so I wasn't expecting it to hold up too much in the heat and humidity and what really blew me away was that it did. That in and of itself is amazing, this covers well but feels lightweight, is hydrating, and gives the skin a gorgeous glow. Another thing that just keeps making it into favorites because of how good it is. It's all the things I've mentioned and it gives almost full-coverage too so my skin always looks fantastic.

12. One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm - I love this product so much because it's not just labeled "multi-tasking" it ACTUALLY PERFORMS all its tasks so well. The main thing to note with it is to use as little as humanly possible - like a rice grain as a moisturizer or lip balm (well, a bit less for the lips) or about two rice grains to remove makeup with - anything more than that and it feels heavy and gross. The good news is this will last forever given how little you need! I'm sure it functions well as a split end mender or cuticle balm but I haven't used it for either of those things. It also smells absolutely incredible - like orange pound cake! Yum! Plus it's completely organic so you can feel good about smothering yourself with it although... I would avoid smothering because you just need so little!

13. Bath & Body Works Scented Candle in Hot Cocoa & Cream - I just adore this candle for cold and/or rainy weather - it's so cozy! It smells like really good quality hot chocolate with just a hint of salt topped with whipped cream. Perfect for the chilly season!

14. Inglot 353M:  I use this so often I think it's kind of unfair to it to not get a shoutout. My favorite matte highlight for the brow-bone, utter perfection. I love it so much, I've had it for years and I still haven't hit pan (this remains accurate).

15. Takaokaya Shizouka Houji-Cha: I absolutely adore this hoji tea, it's very cozy - a roasty, almost caramel-like green tea. I love hoji any time of year but I feel that its characteristics fit autumn and winter really well.

16. Odacite Gl+L Green Tea and Lemongrass Radiance Effect Serum - This serum smells absolutely incredible and leaves my skin with a beautiful glow.

17. Trader Joe's Salted Caramel Flavored Hot Cocoa - Friends, this stuff is INCREDIBLE! It tastes so good - you can taste the salted caramel and hot chocolate notes individually, it's got a nice thickness to it - even if you just use water to make it.  I drank a lot of this when I was feeling under the weather and it made me feel infinitely better. I love it so much, in fact, that I bought  a second tub of it. :)

18. Ito En Oi Ocha Hojicha Tea - I've raved about my deep love of Hojicha tea in the past and that hasn't changed. This tea has a very roasty flavor to it, almost honey-like, which I adore.

19. Juvia's Place Palettes - There's no particular palette and the ones in the above photo are all the palettes I own. I just got into Juvia's Place during Black Friday in 2018 as I've been hearing so many good things about the quality and pigmentation of these palettes. Reviews will be up most likely in the spring as I'm very back-logged with all the reviews I've intended to do - all the looks I'll put up using these palettes were done in December. That said, these are absolutely AMAZING and I was so happy to play with them. I found that using them really brought back the creativity and overall fun I used to have with color when I first started wearing makeup and I'm happy to be back in that place of play and wonder.

16.  Eylure x Jasmine Brown Lashes in Jaybee - These are beautiful lashes that manage to be fluttery, flirty, a bit wispy, spiky, and voluminous all at once. I received a lot of compliments when I wore them and just absolutely adore them!

17. Sephora Collection Black Magic Makeup Remover Cloths - This is very similar in action to the Makeup Eraser but I actually prefer this because it's slightly less expensive (for a pack of 2, no less) and feels so cuddly on the face and eye area, it's like nuzzling a teddy bear that removes your makeup. What's fantastic about both of them is they actually remove long-lasting liquid lip products very easily with minimal pulling or tugging, leaving your lips feeling soft and comfortable.

19. Foreo: So my Clarisonic finally died and I bought a Foreo Luna Go model to replace it. Holy heck folks - this cleanses just as well, is far more gentle (I got the one for sensitive skin), and doesn't have to be charged as often; nor does it need replacement parts! A good investment!

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I paid for all these items with the exception of the Guerlain, Clinique, Indie Lee, and One Love Organics products which were provided free for testing purposes. The e.l.f. palette was a holiday gift from my wife. Some of the Juvia's Place palettes were Christmas gifts from my wife. Each individual palette review states which were gifts and which I bought myself. The Odacite was a sample.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

BB Cream Review: Urban Decay Naked Skin Illuminating Beauty Balm

Urban Decay Naked Skin Illuminating Beauty Balm
Availability: This item has been discontinued.

Would I buy this?: No.

What is a BB cream? 
I have been doing research on Youtube (mainly BubzBeauty's videos) and others' blogs (I don't remember who, exactly) and this is what I've come up with: BB creams, also known as beauty balms, blemish balms, or beblesh balms were invented in Germany and were given to patients who've had laser surgery in order to help heal their scars or other blemishes while providing tinted coverage. I also understand that the word "beblesh" is just a poorly translated form of the very familiar "blemish." I had a Chinese friend and on our many trips to Chinatown, starting about 4 years ago, I always noticed "whitening" creams of all sorts. The BB cream is nothing new and I don't quite understand why it's only becoming popular/catching on now. We had a discussion about this at my makeup school and came to the consensus that the Western market is probably more interested in the blemish coverage/healing properties than the whitening of the BB creams, not all of which have whitening properties. I want to mention that since I will now be reviewing "Western" or "US-Market" BB creams - they're not all formulated with blemish-healing abilities, so be sure to read the packaging claims and ingredients. 

What is this particular balm? What is it supposed to do?
According to Sephora.com here are its benefits:
What it is:
A five-in-one, illuminating beauty balm that minimizes flaws and supports firmer skin in eight weeks. 
What it is formulated to do: 
- Lends skin a tighter appearance and blurs flaws 
- Leaves a radiant finish 
Urban Decay’s oil-free, silky-smooth formula delivers hydration and supports firmer skin—instantly priming makeup so that it goes on smoothly. This beauty balm pampers skin as it evens skintone, protects against sunlight with SPF 20, and light-diffusing spheres give skin a retouched look, minimizing the appearance of pores, lines, wrinkles, and redness. Pepha®-Protect shields skin cells against daily stress, while Vitasource™ and dGlyage® support elasticity and blur the appearance of wrinkles. 
What else you need to know:
This illuminating shade is formulated with champagne-colored pearls that give skin a gorgeous, radiant look. 
Research results:
In a clinical study of 30 participants, immediately after use: 
- 65% of participants’ complexion looked significantly improved 
- 59% of participants’ skin looked lifted. 
- 68% of participants’ skin hydration improved significantly 
In a clinical study of 30 participants, after 8 weeks of use: 
- 93% of participants had significantly firmer, more lifted skin 
- 90% had significantly more radiant skin 
- 84% had a significant improvement in fine lines* 
*Based on subjective analysis

Does this come in any other shades than the one pictured above?
This only comes in one shade :I

What's the coverage/consistency like?
The coverage is nearly non-existent and can be built up to be more on the light side. It does have a visible glowing/sparkly property to it that makes skin look healthy and lit-from-within. Consistency wise, it feels like a very lightweight gel-like primer. I love its texture and how it feels like you're not wearing any makeup at all. 

What makes this different from a regular foundation or tinted moisturizer? Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
So here goes, again copied from Sephora.com and edited to be easy to read:
- Vitasource™ and dGlyage®: Firm the appearance of skin, support elasticity, and fight wrinkles. 
- Pepha®-Protect (derived from watermelon extract): Protects skin cells against daily stress. 
- Light-diffusing Spheres: Create a professionally-retouched appearance

Is this scented?
This has a minty scent that's combined with something sweet, something that reminds me of Thai iced coffee - which isn't helpful because it contains a lot of spices. Cardamom perhaps? Not too sure. So think minty Thai iced coffee. I thought I wouldn't like it because it's mint, but I kind of like it. 

What has my experience with the product been like?
I'll address the "what it's supposed to do parts" first:
In a clinical study of 30 participants, immediately after use: 
- 65% of participants’ complexion looked significantly improved - I wouldn't use the word "significantly"
- 59% of participants’ skin looked lifted. - No, but other than being chubby, my skin doesn't droop from aging-related causes.
- 68% of participants’ skin hydration improved significantly - yes
In a clinical study of 30 participants, after 8 weeks of use: 
- 93% of participants had significantly firmer, more lifted skin - again, not quite an issue for me
- 90% had significantly more radiant skin - yes
- 84% had a significant improvement in fine lines - this ain't me, so no comment there.
This particular one, I use as a primer only because I know it doesn't have coverage in it. It does a really good job of holding my makeup in place throughout the day, smoothing out the texture of my skin, being hydrating, and feeling really lightweight.

What do I use to apply the product?
For quick application, I simply use my fingers to apply this.

I feel like this review is as thorough as it gets but please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation to mention it here on this blog.