Kiss Me Hyaluronic Acid Collagen Moist Lip in Cherry Red

I got my tube of Kiss Me Hyaluronic Acid Collagen Moist Lip in Cherry Red from a small adambeauty.com haul early this year.

It comes in a plain red tube mimicking the color of the balm. The cap clasps onto the body securely. The twist up mechanism on the bottom is ribbed and looks very discreet.

The balm (SPF15 PA++), which contains hyaluronic acid, is a bright cherry red that instantly fuses the lips with vivid color.

Above is a swatch of the balm. It provides instant moisture and fills in lip lines completely. My lips not only felt moisturized, but they also looked smoother and plumper. I would otherwise call this one of the best lip balms I've ever tried if not for the fact that the bright red shade looks off on me. If you are a lover of reds and the moisture lip balms provide, then Kiss Me Moist Lip has all you are looking for. If like me, you prefer transparent balms, you'd be better off checking Moist Lip's other variants in Smooth and Natural. Click here for the entire selection on adambeauty. Overall, the Moist Lip line offers excellent quality lip balms for their price.

Some Japanese description.

Bourjois French Manicure Kit in 93 Rose Naturel

I've always liked nail polish, French nails in particular, but have had sloppy results each time with my clumsy fingers. When I saw Bourjois' Manicure Kit, I thought this was the equivalent of French Nail Painting for Dummies. My kit came all the way from Boots in Oxford, and I must say it is quite a nifty set. (Thank you S, for this.)

Three bottles of polish are housed in one compact box. The instructions are clear, simple, and illustrations très chic!

It lists three easy steps beginning with the star polish, 93 French Rose Naturel, a light pink, featuring a special slanted brush for fool-proof application on the nail tips.

The diagrams are simple but very useful. 

The trio from left to right: French Manicure polish in 93 Rose Naturel for the nail tips, So Laque Ultra Shine in 28 Rose Lounge (trivia: Kate Middleton used this shade on her wedding day) as an all-over nail color, and Fixant Brilliant gloss fixer/topcoat. 

The back of them.

Above is what's special about the set. It was easy to create French nails with the help of the specially-cut brush of 93 Rose Naturel. I found slowly layering tiny amounts of polish made application more even and precise. For Rose Naturel, I was able to create tolerable results by applying a light coat on one half of the nail and turning it over to apply on the other half, then proceeded to repeat the process with another light coat. Then, I smoothed over Rose Lounge, and finished off with Fixant Brilliant. I simply followed all the instructions in the box and everything worked out.

The finished look one day after. The tips look white in the picture, but they are actually bright light pink. I would much like to try the other nail tip shade in 91 Blanc Glamour, which is a true French white. Overall, I am very satisfied with the Bourjois French Manicure Kit. All the polishes served their function, and they are very easy to use and apply. I would recommend this set to nail polish maestros and novices alike.

Nexcare Acne Dressing

While there is nothing enticing about the word "acne," when combined with "dressing" the word seems so much more tolerable. Together, the product name Nexcare Acne Dressing sounds a little bit delicious (the swine within) and promising enough for me to grab one.

The packaging features two smiling humans and a furious pimple. I suppose the pimple is upset because it is supposed to be killed off. 

The product is made by the famous Scotch tape and Post-It company, 3M. The patches come in a sterile paper pack which looks medicinal and very safe.

They come in two sizes -- 0.8 cm and 1.2 cm at 12 and 6 pieces, respectively. They are very easy to attach on pimple areas. I must say I prefer the bigger size at 1.2 cm because it covers a good part of breakouts. However, the smaller size is also useful for tiny pimples. The adhesives are not too sticky and do not tug on the skin at all. Actually, they need to be patted on for better adherence. In the morning, I would find most of them have traveled away from my face on to who-knows-where. They sometimes completely disappear only for me to spot them on my hair!

Below are the instructions.

The patches weren't able to get rid of my pimples in one night. So, if you are looking for an intensive pimple zapper, this product isn't it. In fact, I found the patches too mild because they didn't do much to get rid of my acne. It took about 3 consecutive nights of application for me to see some improvement, but even for that time the pimples weren't completely gone. I found myself going through the patches quite quickly, and considering the cost of this (around HK$30), it's quite steep for something that requires constant use to see some results.

In a nutshell, this didn't work out for me. Those with mild pimples may want to try this out though. 

Gatsby Oil Clear Sheet (Black Film)

Back in high school when my skin entered its preliminary oil breakthrough, I got some Gatsby Oil Clear Sheets to help me through the process. I remember being amazed at how this thin rubbery paper was able to take off all oil on my face with a few swiping motions. I've tried other brands such as Clean & Clear and Muji (sucked) and I'm convinced this Gatsby remains one of the best paper oil absorbers in the market.

For years, the sheets came in blue films. It was fine seeing it turn dark blue with my facial oil, but after using this black film, I honestly think a blackened oil film looks more hygienic than a dark blue one. It's amazing how the Japanese improve on these details.

Out of its plastic case, the sheets are housed in a simple, discreet cardboard which quite fits my bill for oil absorber sheets.

First opening. Japanese instructions for those who like it.

The magic adhesive for picking up sheets, made classic by Gatsby.

Ready to paste.

Got one!

Product information and instructions.

I've been using this product for years; in fact, it is probably one of the first cosmetic items I've used second to lip balm and yet I never knew that these papers contain mineral oil, polypropylene, and a host of other chemicals. Amazing. Well, whatever works. 

The back of it. Love the lone recycle icon on the lower right. This is one product I would buy over and over again (so long as I've got the oilies) for the simple fact that it works.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara

Kiss Me's Heroine Make line is popular for their mascaras. One of their recent releases is the Impact Frame & Curl Mascara, which I've read many good reviews about.

It comes in a standard black tube with gold imprints. The cap is carved with a princess-inspired design.

The packaging features this mascara as a deep black shade. 

This is the first mascara I've seen that features both brush and plastic in one wand.

Additional information for those who understand Japanese.
 
Using the diagrams as guide, I applied the plastic side to separate my lashes, and then proceeded to use the fluffier brush side to curl and add volume to them.

The inky blackness of the mascara truly gave my lashes a deep, dark, sooty look. It also left a delicious glossy finish that made my lashes look healthier. I found that it curled and gave volume to my lashes, but did not separate them so well. My experience is that heavier mascaras tend to curl and give volume, while lighter ones either curl and lengthen or curl and separate. I haven't found a product that successfully did all three for my sparse, thin lashes. However, this mascara is infinitely better compared to Heroine Make's earlier Long & Curl Mascara release (reviewed here). 

The Impact Frame & Curl Mascara stayed put without smudging for the 10 hours that I wore it and would have lasted longer if I hadn't called it a day. It wasn't easy to remove but I was able to get rid of most of it (not all though; I found some mascara on my lower lid in the morning) after patiently soaking my lashes with Biore Eye & Lip Makeup Remover. Overall, I found this mascara too heavy for my thin, brittle lashes and while it did give me a wide-awake look, the volumizing effect was obviously unnatural. For those with lush lashes that can carry the weight of heavily formulated mascaras, I can imagine how this can deliver fantastic results in terms of color, finish, and volume.

I Nuovi Eyebase Eyeshadow Perfecting Base

I Nuovi is one brand in Sasa that always catches my interest. It was only after reading a couple good reviews of its eyeshadow base when I finally asked my sister to help me pick it up on her last trip to Hong Kong.

By far I've only tried two eyeshadow bases; while Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion didn't work for me, I found Lunasol's Eyelid Base exceptional. I didn't want to splurge on another pan of it because there is a reformulation due for release this autumn. I figured the next best thing is to try out I Nuovi's "eyeshadow perfecting base."

The product, simply called Eyebase, comes in a plain nude-colored, no-frills tube with a screw-cap cover. 

The Eyebase contains a generous 15ml of product, which is quite a lot for an eyeshadow base. The pointed tip is also helpful in controlling the amount of product to be dispensed.

It is light beige with a gel-type texture. I can't imagine when this will run out since just a dab is already enough to prep the eyelids. 

It feels a little bit gooey when spread out. I guess that sticky characteristic is what helps eyeshadows adhere to it. 
It dries to a matte, clear finish. It doesn't make eyeshadows "pop" or look more vibrant the way Lunasol Eyelid Base does, but its transparency keeps the color of eyeshadows true. This base also keeps my eyeshadows in place for about 12 hours, which is really impressive.

I didn't experience any irritation using this product. I am also glad that it's fragrance-free.

 And that it doesn't contain any animal products.

It is interesting to note that this Italian product was formulated and manufactured in Japan. Below is the ingredient list.

It's priced at HK$175, which isn't really cheap, but it does its job and it does contain a lot of product. Overall, I am happy with this purchase and wouldn't mind recommending this to anyone who wants to extend the wear of their eyeshadows.

NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer

There is always a disadvantage no matter what cosmetic brand one starts out with. I chose to go for pricier brands when I was a makeup newbie, reasoning that the chances of failure is lower with well-established names. And true enough, after trying many high- and low-end brands over the years, my contention is that for most of the time the more expensive ones deliver better quality and results. The disadvantage is I was always comparing these cheaper brands to the better ones I've tried. And one of the consistently better brands out there is NARS. 

I have always loved NARS. I love the concept of simple sophistication fused into quality cosmetics. I learned more about Francois Nars' makeup philosophy in his book, Makeup Your Mind. My first Nars product was their Cream Blush in Gueule de Nuit, and every other cream blush I've used was trampled by this gem. The Powder Blush in Desire, remains a good warrior in my book. Their Multiple in Copacabana is still one of the best highlighters I've come across. Most recently, Nars Loose Powder is the only loose powder I've ever truly had spectacular results with among the many powders I've tried. 

I got a sample of Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer from the SA while purchasing NARS Loose Powder in Rustan's. Their Makati counter has moved from the basement in Essences to the ground floor and has its own well-deserved kiosk. The sample comes in a box with an introductory pamphlet attached much like a full-sized product.

The 2ml tube is quite generous for a sample product and is packaged very well.

The primer has a milky color with a very fluid consistency. It is quite cool to the touch and is very runny like water, requiring a quick hand for application. 

Above, how it looks like when just spread out. It quickly dries to a matte finish. While the product claims to be pore-refining, I did not see much help in that account. The mineral powders didn't slow down the oil production on my oily face either. Certainly, I didn't experience any "velvety-matte, makeup-ready finish." The foundations I paired it with (Nars Sheer Matte and Glow) didn't look more radiant or stayed for longer on my skin either.

The product description.

Overall, a total fail of a primer. I still wouldn't mind trying more Nars items in the future though, given that they churn out more products that work out for me (so far) than not.