Japan Beauty Haul!

I knew I was going to be given a haul of some sort because I had asked for it. My sister Gibb went to Japan and I told her to surprise me with makeup/beauty goodies from the local drugstore/highstreet. Annotated my wish with, “get me something that puzzles you!” Before handing me the bag of goodies, she said she did not know there were so many kinds of eyeliners and she repeatedly cautioned me that she was clueless and confused when she picked out stuff in the store. I believed her. She is one that can NOT be engaged in makeup or product talk over 5 minutes, so she doesn’t know much beyond the basic fare. Hahahaha! Anyhow, this is what she brought home! Not quite an odd bunch (far from it) but looking at the loot still gets me giddy and excited to play with them all!!! Thanks, Gibb!

The K-Palette product that I have not seen ever is the “Real Lasting Tears Tank.” Why the name?  I have no idea what this is going to do. Don’t want to Google anything because I want to be surprised. I have it in color, “Elegance Beige.” My guess, getting clues from the picture and ofcourse its name, is that it’s for highlighting the corners of the eyes. Hahahaha! I do not know how near or far off I am from the mark.

Kate. This is one brand that I see in all the Sasa branches in Macau or Hongkong. I also see this in a couple of beauty stores in Singapore. I don’t know why I haven’t bothered picking up a single product to try. None drew my curiosity. Now that I have four to try out, who knows? There might be one that’ll get me waxing poetic and get Gibb’s eyes to roll!?

Point Makeup Remover –I do not know the brand. The only English that is seen on its packaging is just that. It helps that the picture on the packaging is of an eyelid and that its formulation looks like Lancome’s Bifacil, otherwise, I would most probably have used this oil all over my face. Hey, might do just that, too. Like I said, it reminds me a lot of  Bifacil—where the separated oils have to be shaken before use. I wonder which one performs better. Contest!

Visee Shadow and Liquid Liner. I have not heard of this brand. I’d just like to know how this will perform; if it is easy to use; if it dries up too fast (which is my usual complaint about anything with similar packaging.)

Eyemania Mineral/Fiber Long & Volume 300% Mascara. What timing! I imposed a mascara ban (one of my new year’s resolutions---others are meaningful ones, I swear) because I have 7 opened ones*** and several more which I have to go through. But, man! I really want to try this out already! This claims to increase the length and volume of lashes by 300%. Reminds me of Younique Mascara that is making the rounds on Facebook and on YouTube. I’ve never tried Younique nor do I have any burning desire to. Based on what I’ve seen online, (YouTuber Shaaanxo devotes a first impression video on this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2snmxFAovmw) it seems very time consuming and tedious, requiring multiple coats of product from two different tubes. But this! This looks promising! 300% just by using a single tube. Will see how long I can hold out!

Anyway, I plan to update this page as soon as I try any of the products out. Looking forward!

***

The mascaras I’m currently using are: Majolica Majorca’s Lash Gorgeous Wing New, K-Palette 1Day Lash Perm, NYX Doll Eye, Fairy Drops, Lancome’s Virtuose and YSL’s Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking, Urban Decay’s Perversion. Will write about these soon!

REVIEW: Chanel Eau Douceur

I WILL REPURCHASE:

I got Chanel’s Eau Douceur from the Chanel counter in Rustan’s (much like your Neiman Marcus, Harrods or Galeries Lafayette). It set me back around P2,250 (roughly USD50) for 150 ml of product. It is cleansing water formulated for both face and eyes.

BACKSTORY:

My story with make-up removers started when I began putting more than just powder. A couple of years ago I woke up one morning to a pair of pimples. This pair multiplied (exponentially) that by the end of the week, one could arguably say I had acne vulgaris. Waking up every morning to zits, scars left by zits, emerging zits and healing ones was literally and figuratively speaking, a pain in the neck (and face!). Anyhow, this urged me to begin my love affair with makeup. Brightside. Thank you, zits! I was successful covering them up with liquid and cream foundation but taking it off at the end of day with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser was sooooo tiresome and time-consuming---had to repeat massaging-in and rubbing off with tissue that my face felt raw every night. I knew then that there was an efficient way of cleaning face and I was right.

EXPERIENCE: 

I discovered Chanel’s Eau Douceur when I was trying out Chanel foundation. The beauty assistant gave me a cotton pad soaked with it to remove my existing makeup and I was impressed! One gentle swipe and the cotton pad was loaded with gunk. Not just that, the quintessential Chanel scent it left behind made me feel really luxe and sophisticated. A woman of the world; as if I was part of old Hollywood glamour--may be eye-roll worthy to some but that’s my truth.  Long and short of it, the escapist side of me brought a bottle home that day.

TAKES MAKEUP OFF EFFICIENTLY: 

This cleaned my face efficiently and gently. No need for rubbing or elbow grease, as was required by Cetaphil when taking makeup off. This also removed eye makeup, including waterproof mascara, easily without stinging. Plus, you have an option of not having to wash your face after. This isn’t fragrance free but my skin does not take issue with this. On the contrary, like I said earlier, the scent just added a layer to the lovely experience. And! And! My pimples calmed down. Yes, it did!

PACKAGING FORM and FUNCTION: 

The sleek packaging graced my makeup table so beautifully. More importantly, this comes with a pump that makes dispensing very convenient. I found that 2 pumps per cotton round (I’d use 5 to 6 for a full face of makeup) were enough to soak the cotton.

LIFESPAN: 

The package indicates 6 months but I used this waaaay beyond that. I admit in a small voice: a little over 2 years. I know! I know! But I assure you, it was still as good as day 1. No change in scent, color or efficacy. No breakouts, too (acne had already been managed at this point). I saved it as long as I could by using it sparingly. I used it on those days when a pick-me-upper was needed. Stretching this out to last for this long was made possible because not very long after, I discovered and became totally dependent on Bioderma’s Cleansing Water.

DOWNSIDE:

The downside to this is the price tag. For a 150 ml bottle, I paid Php2250 (roughly USD50); compare that to Bioderma’s 500 ml for 125 MOP (roughly Php750 or USD 17).  Another one: although it was safe to travel with it (the pump has a cover), it just took too much space in my beauty case. Decanting it to a travel bottle just didn’t give me the same luxe experience so I stopped traveling with it.

KIDS’ CORNER:

My little girls (ages 10, 7 and 4) play with “real” makeup a lot requiring makeup remover. I shared this with them once in a while and their skin was totally fine with it. No sign of irritation and they unanimously loved the fragrance. However, my 4 year old did complain that it would sting her eyes—especially when the pad was too soaked.