Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Stash

Urban Decay used to occupy Bobbi Brown's space in Rustan's Makati many moons ago. I remember being drawn to and at the same time intimidated by that counter during my tweens. Not too far away was Kanebo's counter, which my mother frequented. While waiting for her, I would pass by Urban Decay, but never went too close, wondering what sort of rocker chick would buy and wear their makeup. Fast forward a decade and few more years, I learned that Urban Decay set itself apart from other brands by coming up with unusual colors never before seen during the 90s. What started out as a company churning out 10 lipsticks and 12 nail enamels in the U.S. is now a well-known name all over the world.

Its star products include their eyeshadows and selection of eyeliners. Being on my unfinished quest for the perfect, smudge-free pencil liner, I knew no one was stopping me from trying at least one of Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil. It didn't matter how long, or whether it will be phased-out (in fact there is now a 2nd-generation eye pencil released in the form of Glide-on Shadow Pencil). I've seen the great color swatches, read about countless smudge-free promises, and the pencil form of it. (Thank you, S and F, for going through high and low to get this for me.)

Urban Decay's eyeliner pencils are widely regarded as one of the best in the industry. I may not agree so easily.

The body is the color of the shade for easy reference. The cap is made of aluminum. I like the analog font of "24/7."

It's made in Germany (wonder why most eye pencils are?) with 1.2g of product.

Unused, in its clean stubby-point glory.

Stash is a dark mossy green blended with gold. Still, the green base and gold stand distinct of each other. It applies so beautifully as if the gold is run over the green separately. The line is drawn over three to four times in the above swatch. I was really hoping that this would stand my lids without smudging, having read about people who had no other pencil eyeliner work for them except this one. Sadly, with or without Urban Decay's Primer Potion, this smudged onto my under eye area and resulted to panda eyes. The wear was longer with the Primer Potion on, though. However, it still smudged on me after a good three hours. Needless to say, lids that can withstand most eye pencils should not miss UD's pencils. They apply easily without tugging on the eye area. The formula is creamy and the colors are to die for; way more dimensional and unique than Make Up Forever's Aqua Liners (which smudged on me too).

The ingredients: above and below pictures.

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes

On to more Simple products, today I am reviewing Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes. Sometimes it is tedious to remove makeup with cleansing oil after a tiring day. What could be the most convenient form a makeup remover can take than a disposable towel?

This went great as a makeup remover for light makeup. I used it mainly before hitting the gym to remove all traces of makeup and grime on the face in a jiffy. (I feel like sweat and makeup mixed together can clog pores; it is always better to exercise with a clean, makeup-free face.) I can't say it is a complete cleanser on its own, but it can take the place of cleansing oil or cold cream, or any first step one uses as a makeup remover in dual-phase cleansing. 

In the packaging it says that it's free of alcohol, oil, perfume, and color. The ingredient list found in the picture above includes cetearyl alcohol and parabens, common irritants found in many beauty products. Sensitive to hypersensitive skins most likely would react to these ingredients, as I inevitably have. I found my skin reddish, dehydrated, and uncomfortable after using this product. This is to to take account my extremely reactive skin type. However, I laud its cleansing abilities and would recommend this to people with normal skin who are looking for a convenient product to remove their makeup, or simply to just refresh their faces with.

Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser

Simple is a British skincare brand that has been around for more than half a century. In the brand's website, it expounds more on the "kind" ingredients used on all Simple products. I first heard of this brand from Yumeko's blog, when she featured this moisturizer many moons ago. Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser was declared the eye cream that bested out other department store brands in a blind test conducted by a British magazine.
I was immediately drawn to the packaging when I saw this at Boots in Oxford. The clean, streamlined design was inviting and seemed to promote a gentle nature to its product formulation.

The bottle boasts of skin-friendly ingredients that are free of harsh chemicals. Although it is not marketed such, Simple strikes as a brand that caters to sensitive skin.

Above is a dollop of the moisturizer. It's a white liquid that is quite thick but still runny in texture. I bought this face moisturizer with the intention of using it as an under eye cream. It took some patting for this to absorb into the eye area because of its liquid-y nature. 
In eye creams, I try to look for products that address my foremost concerns: dryness and dark under eye circles. After testing the Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser out for over a month, I had to conclude that it did nothing for both my eye area problems. My dark circles were obviously darker than when I was using my staple eye cream (Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Eye Contour Cream). Neither did it moisturize my under eye area. In fact, I felt that it dried out that area a bit. I do remember cetyl stearyl alcohol (a known irritant, but commonly found in skincare products) listed as one of the ingredients on the box.

 

I do like the design of the bottle though. I found it to be fuss-free without sacrificing on functionality. The hard plastic screw cap is made of good material. The small hole where the product is squeezed out of is a good way to keep it sanitized. 

Failing as an eye cream, I dared not test this out as a face moisturizer. It is not wasted though, for I am now using this as a body lotion and I must say, it is working wonderfully well! It delivers just the right moisture level and does not leave a greasy film. Having said that, I wouldn't be purchasing this again just to use on the body though.

Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Night Gelly

Naruko's Night Gelly series has gained popularity as an overnight mask/moisturizer. There are other kinds of Naruko Night Gellies with hydrating, whitening, or firming functions. The Narcissus is an anti-aging range targeting all skin types. 

It comes in a simple sturdy box. Since it is a homegrown Taiwanese brand, it is introduced mainly in Traditional Chinese text. I've only put my trust in Japanese, French, and lately, Korean skincare, but after reading up on Taiwan's Naruko created by famous beauty guru Niu-er, it came across as a solid brand that put a premium on extensive research and safe efficacy. After using the Narcissus Total Defense Night Gelly for over a month, I can understand why it is such a widely accepted product despite its young presence in the beauty industry.

Welcoming the Night Gelly. I could see the lavender print that would form part of a recycled box.  This inner side of the carton is smoother than the outer part.

The product comes in a generous 60ml jar. This is a welcome change as I usually get 30ml, at most 50ml of moisturizer with other brands. The violet jar is quite heavy on its own, and I like the luxurious feel of it. The label has smooth edges and sticks properly too. The font also goes well with the brand. The reason why I'm marveling at these small details is because even though Naruko rivals many department store brands in terms of product quality and packaging, it is also easy on the pocket.

Introduced as an overnight mask, it works wonders as an evening moisturizer for me. I haven't found the need to conduct my bi-weekly sheet mask routine since using this product. 

There's a white round plastic lid separating the product from the screw cap cover. 

The translucent mask is thick and gooey at first touch like jelly paste indeed, but I would recommend a big dollop for the entire face as it applies light and watery. There are a few things I require in a basic moisturizer for my sensitive, oily skin type. One is for it to moisturize my skin without drying it out or oiling it up more than necessary. The Narcissus Total Defense Night Gelly provides me with effective balanced moisturizing. I wake up with skin that feels smooth and looks even, without breakouts caused by the product. I would mention that I also apply serum and specific treatment products prior to this Night Gelly (I will review them in a separate post). This Night Gelly seals those products in properly, additionally providing excellent hydration on its own. This is the virtue of Night Gelly. Hydrated skin looks naturally more plump and well-rested.  I could definitely see the less-than-desirable difference in the morning on times I skip this product. It's an indispensable finishing skin care step for my nighttime routine.

It comes with a a white spatula. I like the size and curves of this one.

Application insrtuctions in Chinese.

 Ingredients list.

Maximizing product life: how to transform your Naruko carton.

Ta-da!

Lunasol Blooming Eyes 04 Red Gradation

During the height of my Lunasol mania, I found in my stash three out of five palettes released from the Blooming Eyes/Layer Bloom Eyes collection from many seasons ago. This was a rare occasion for I do not believe in hoarding many colors of the same style. Suffice it to say I was in a foggy state of mind when I also bought Lunasol Blooming Eyes in Red Gradation. 

I dare say I do not entirely regret it. Aside from the usual mention of the top-notch accessories included (two dual-ended brush/sponge tips and a generously-sized mirror), these four rose-toned shadows could be my surprise favorite of the Blooming Eyes lot. Clockwise from the upper left is a pale white pink highlighter, followed by a muted rosy pink with a smidgen of brown, below that a dark eggplant with evident pink bases, and the star color to its left, a pink shade with just a touch of red and gold. 

Here they are in their silky glory. Pink/red eyeshadows are easy to overdo which result in rabbit eyes or worse, a seeming allergic reaction (at least that is what I discovered on my yellow Asian skin tone). The key is to apply in small quantities at a time and stop when the colors appear flattering. 

Swatched above, in darker light. These aren't as chalky as the Purple Gradation, or the Orange Gradation.They are also more pigmented. I believe the subtle golden flecks give an advantageous dimension to the shadows and make them more alluring. Overall, I found this rose palette to be worth a second look.

E.L.F Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara

In my search for a cheap clear mascara for eyebrow use, I chanced across E.L.F. Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara. Many good words have been said about this clear eyebrow and eyelash duo.

I think because for its very cheap $1 tag in the U.S., this has won the hearts of many. It's a great multi-purpose product that tackles both lash and brow in one tube. This dual-ended design also makes makeup application more sanitary as sometimes the clear mascara can change color (because of mixing with other makeup) and stain over time, especially if used for the brows. You can see this happening in the picture above on the left side (eyebrow side). 
The brushes are extremely hard and stiff and can definitely hurt the delicate area around the eyes, if you are not careful. But I find that it did a good job in setting my eyebrows and coating my lashes. I bought this for around $3 here in Manila, and though it is way more expensive than U.S. retail price I thought it worth a buy since I've never seen any brand come up with a 2-in-1 clear mascara. This is what I really like about the product. 
However, after over a month of usage, it started to smell different. I am not sure whether I got an old product that was near its expiration, but I find one month pretty fast for a clear mascara to surrender. This product is made in China too, so I would be more wary. After some more sniffing, I decided it was a bad kind of funky smell. Sadly, I had to cut short the affair and off to the trash it went. 
If stiff bristles and a short expiry date are not an issue for mascaras, you will find that this product really does set the eyebrows and coat the lashes well, and I would definitely recommend this product on those points.

Rose & Co. Sweet Vanilla Salve

Rose & Co. is a British apothecary known for balms and salves. I picked this Sweet Vanilla Salve with Beeswax and Honey at Boots during my trip to Oxford. 

It comes in a round tin 20g container reverberating a vintage feel. 

It will take forever to finish as there is quite a lot of product in the container. This salve is supposed to be used on the lips. It smells like sweet honey which is my cup of tea. It doesn't sink into the lips but leaves an obvious film which I find quite uncomfortable. Even for an evening balm, it is too troublesome to sleep with a lip balm/salve that is thick and floating on the lips. To its credit, I did wake up with smooth lips in the morning. 

If you don't mind thick lip balms, I would recommend this product because it really does its job of softening and moisturizing the lips. Also, be aware that some people are allergic or irritable to cera alba (beeswax), as I recently found myself to be in a patch test. Many lip products, and even some BB Creams contain beeswax, so do check the ingredients properly before investing. I didn't have particularly adverse reactions from using this product, except for a few red spots around the mouth which disappeared when I washed the product off. These concerns aside, I think Rose & Co. offers a solid lineup of their products.

Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate

There was a time when I was battling bad breakouts because of certain toxic skincare products (Vitacreme B12, hear?). I was also stubborn enough to plough through with my own skincare "remedies," but nothing seemed to work. After some intensive research, Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate seemed to be the best bet on my skin woes at that time.

I received this tiny miracle as a generous gift (thanks S), and it is one of the best skincare products I've encountered. I've actually stuck to Clarins skincare for a good few years and found it to be effective, but strayed at one time or another because of the innumerable temptations on the beauty market. I remember how my skin felt the first time using this product. It felt softer and calmer than ever. This feeling of a product working is more pronounced when skin has been suffering for some time. 

It comes in a white 15ml glass bottle. It is surprising how little product there is, but since it is oil, I only ever use one pump for the entire face. This oil does not feel greasy as it would normally be imagined. In fact, it settles quickly on the skin and dries comfortably. While this did not cure my then skin problems, it definitely set my skin in the right direction. After visiting my dermatologist and being diagnosed with rosacea, this is one of the only two products that she retained on my skincare list.

Now, I use this twice a week as maintenance. I can really see the difference the next day when I use this product. My skin feels softer and is subtly more radiant. One complaint is that the pump lacks a "springy" quality, which can make it hard to maneuver and if I'm not careful, the oil can splatter all over when it's pushed down. This can be avoided with extra care.

Overall, this is a great staple treatment to use on any one's regimen, especially for sensitive skin. I have oily, breakout-prone skin suffering from rosacea, and this product is like a vitamin for it.

Shiseido Fine Toiletry Hand Cream

Hand cream is something I am always running out of. While I generally do not practice impulse buying, the bug usually catches me overseas when everything feels "now or never." It was one of those moments in SaSa when I spotted a glass jar stocked full with this Hand Cream while checking out at the cashier. I looked at the HK$20 tag, grabbed one and off it went with my other purchases.

I knew i wouldn't be blown away. After all, it is from Shiseido's FT (Fine Toiletry) line, which is the brand's humble drugstore offering. I was sure it was not going to be bad, but I also knew it was going to be basic, just like my one-time FT Cleasing Oil favorite.

The white translucent gel feels very light, quite different from the many hand creams I am accustomed to. I honestly didn't expect it to provide moisture. Blended out on bare hands it leaves a slight sticky film that eventually dissipates. While it did not moisturize my hands, I felt that it hydrated them. In face care analogy, this hand cream is a balancing water or a light serum as opposed to a cream. I am surprised though, for when I wake up in the morning my hands are noticeably softer and some lines are smoother. During the course of the day my hands go back to their original state after some labor, but this product always restores them unfailingly.

From my experience with Shiseido's FT products, I can glean that it offers reliable products at reasonable prices. While I would like to try other brands of hand creams (because there is so much out there), I wouldn't mind revisiting this one once in a while. 

Bourjois Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation in 81 Soft Ivory

There is something delicious about mousse foundations. It reminds my sweet tooth of cakes and pastries. I couldn't resist to see whether Bourjois' Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation fits my dessert bill.

It comes in a tiny glass jar with a screw-cap cover. I like that it packs a punch albeit the small size. It fits right in my palm which also makes it very convenient for travel. Here it is in all its moussy goodness:

The mousse has a softy, fluffy texture that, because of its novelty compared to liquids and powders, is enjoyable to put on. A little dab can cover a whole cheek area. The finish is matte and soft, with medium coverage. The mousse is on the left, blended out on the right. While it might look darker and yellower on my hand, it blends well into my face (NC20). It also suits my oily skin and does not make it greasier like other liquid foundations. The light texture also agrees with the fussy skin on my face. I didn't experience any redness or pimples after using this. I can attribute this to its simple formula (a very short ingredient list that even my dermatologist approved of).

When I purchased it in Hong Kong two years ago, their promo included a free brush.

The brush is especially made for this mousse foundation. Together they make a great pair. The bristles are soft and firm and aids in blending the foundation seamlessly. The foundation can also be applied with fingers with good results, but I find using this brush gives a more flawless finish because it buffs the foundation onto the skin more.

Overall this is one of the best foundations I have tried for my oily, reactive skin. For a French drugstore brand, I am quite impressed that it can hold its own against many other expensive lines. I will continue to look out for more products from Bourjois.

 Ingredient list:

Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Hair Mask

Shiseido's famous Tsubaki haircare series is inspired by the camellia. The Tsubaki brand claims to include camellia oil extracts in its ingredients which make hair beautiful and healthy. There are three ranges: Shining (red), Damage Care (white), and Head Spa (yellow) with their own full lineup of shampoos, conditioners, and hair treatments.

Tsubaki Shining Hair Mask with Tsubaki Oil EX is meant to be used as a weekly treatment mask that nourishes hair by replenishing it with moisture. I've had mine for over two years and I still have a few good uses left. It's amazing how far this 180g product stretched out when used once a week.

The product come in a deep tub with a screw-cover cap. It's a thick, yellow substance that has a very rich texture. One small scoop is enough to cover an entire head of medium-length hair. I apply hair treatments beginning three inches below the scalp, typically avoiding the area above that and the scalp itself. I find that the first three inches of hair doesn't need repair as it's an area with relatively new hair growth, and my scalp itself is too sensitive to take in any rich product.

I put this on for about five minutes in the shower and though I think it should be applied on for longer, I can't be bothered. Rinsing takes around another good five minutes to cleanse out the product completely. I notice my hair looks healthier each time after use. This products makes my hair softer, shinier, and much smoother (but there are still some frizzy strands of hair). Overall, this is an effective product otherwise I wouldn't be diligently using this once a week for more than two years. It does not have the months-long effect of salon treatments, but I am quite satisfied with the weekly repair it provides as I definitely see solid results each time.