Product Review- Gatsby Triple Scrub Facial Wash

Hi everyone!

This blog is for the boys- I picked up some Men's facial cleansers from a Japanese brand called Gatsby. They had 4 different kinds and they were on sale at my Japanese store so I picked up one of each.  I also had a male friend of mine try them too to see if there really was a difference between how men's skin and women's skin react to it. 

Today I will review one of them- Gatsby Triple Scrub

Price: Normal Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $4.99

This particular version of it is very scrubby- lots of "sand" in the soap.  It's meant to scrub out the blackheads and impurities out of the skin and based on my uses of it and my friends, it seems to do the job.  I do see a reduction in blackheads on my face after using it.  I do feel like my skin is a little dried out after using it (that's what moisturizer is for I know) but it does to the job. I also noticed my friend's skin (which is oily and blackhead prone) improved a little bit as well after using it a few times. 

I love the smell too- it smells like lemon soda and doesn't leave a strong fragrance on the skin which a lot of people like. 

I give it a rating of 8/10 because of the dryness factor but otherwise I highly recommend it.

BB Cream

Hello!

So, some of you who are into Asian cosmetics (like me) may have heard of something called BB Cream.  If not, keep reading, this is good stuff!

BB cream is short for Blemish Balm.  What is does is minimizes and hides pores, lightens skin blemishes or covers them completely, and evens out the skin tone.  It can be worn alone or under more makeup.  It is important to know that it is NOT a moisturizer, but more like a base foundation you can wear under other makeup.  Usually they are tinted but quickly adjust to your skin color. 

Does it work? I should think so.  I use it and it makes the bigger pores on my nose and chin vanish, and hides most of my little freckles. My camera isn't that great at taking closeups so that I can show you the difference.

Before: see the pores and unevenness.

After: pores are minimized, skin color is more even.

There are MANY brands of BB cream, most of them Korean.  I have two different kinds: The Face Shop Hydro Splash BB Cream and Skin79 Lovely Girl BB cream.

Hydro Splash is more water based, and gives a bit lighter coverage.  Skin79 one is wonderful for covering the pores.  These before and after pics are after using the same one.

Tip! Using BB cream before airbrushing makes airbrush foundation look even BETTER!!!!

Spoiler: My next contest, I will be giving away a full sized bottle of Skin79 Lovely Girl BB Cream!

For now, enter my current contest here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzec3rAVomA

Keep visiting! It makes me smile! ^^

Love, 

ObeyBeauty

Another product review- 2 biore products, to be precise!

Hello!




I'm back with another product review!  I am going to review two Biore products- the Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub and a product I believe to be available mainly at Asian places- Men's Biore Nose Strips. 

Here's the scrub

The pack of nose strips

Scrub:  I love the way this stuff SMELLS! Smells like melon!   However, I kind of don't like how it's not THAT sandy for a scrub.  You do feel some sand, but I think it could be a little grainer for those with more blackheads.   Still, rinses easily and you do feel clean and a bit of a tingle after it rinses off.  I recommend this for people who have light blackheads, like myself.  If you have severe blackheads, I'd recommend something more powerful.

Strips: Don't let the name fool you. What makes them "Men's" is the fact that these strips are bigger, made for bigger noses.  For me, they extend onto the outer edge of my T-zone so I can grab the buggers from my inner corners of my cheeks too.   I also think this is a mainly Japanese marketed item.  I get mine on Ebay or at  my local Japanese market.

Do they work? You betcha! I even tried them on a friend of mine with severe nose blackheads and we couldn't believe the stuff that got lifted out of there! Also tingles while it works to clean out the pores.   I highly recommend these for anyone. I use them on my chin too, when I get blackheads there. 

Mmmmm.... Grapefruit~

Hello!




So far, everything I have reviewed has been more higher end, department store product.  Today, I have one for a drugstore item!  Two, in fact.


I picked up Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash and Body Clear- both with the pink grapefruit extract.

The acne wash

Body Clear

Both products have 2% salicylic acid, meaning they are both for treating acne, be it on the face or body.  They smell GREAT and both leave you feeling really clean, even if you have no acne to begin with.   Next, I may try the body clear scub in the same scent.   Cost wise, they are KIND OF high for drugstore items, I think each one was between $7-9.00.  In either case, highly recommended!  I do however, wish Neutrogena made a toner and moisturizer with the grapefruit. ^^

Sadness~

Hello....




I was all ready to do pretty makeup for today, and even make a video, but NO. My skin had to go get blackheads on itself.




Well, I will try anyway, but forgive me if my skin looks less than stellar...

Madonna "Sorry" Video Look

If you haven't already known, I am a huge Madonna fan.  I love her style, her look, and how it's always changing.  One of my favorite albums is Confessions on a Dance Floor, and I saw the music video of her song “Sorry” and thought to do a tutorial!


There is a video version of this look on my channel!

(Madonna pic)




This look is relatively simple, yet glamorous and flashy enough for the club.




Here's what you need!


All makeup is by MAC unless otherwise noted. 


Face


1.Studio Sculpt concealer in NW20
2.Studio Sculpt liquid foundation in NC25
3.Sheertone Blush in Tenderling
4.Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and gentle


Eyes


1.Urban Decay Shadow Primer Potion (The original one, not the colored one they have out)
2.Shadow in Vapour
3.Shadow in White Frost
4.Shadow in Beautiful Iris
5.Fluidline Gel liner in Blacktrack
6.Plushlash mascara
7.Charcoal Brown eyeshadow 
8.Thick fake eyelashes (even better if they have glitter on the lashline like hers!)


Lips


1.Subculture lip liner
2.Lipglass in Prr


Let's begin!
Step 1
Prime, conceal, and apply foundation to face.


Step 2
Apply a light wash of blush under your cheekbones to contour the face, then dust Skinfinish over your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, forehead and chin for a touch of glow.


Step 3
Apply primer potion to your lids and let dry.


Step 4
Fill in the eyebrows with Charcoal Brown shadow, or whichever color suits you.


Step 5
On the inner half of your lids, apply beautiful iris shadow.


Step 6
On the middle to outer lid, apply vapour shadow, then blend away the line in the middle.  It should fade from darker to lighter on the way outward.


Step 7
Apply a dusting of white frost on the browbone for highlighting.


Step 8
Using a flat angled brush, apply fluidline liner creating a very slight cat eye.  Optional: You can also apply some glitter liner here.


Step 9


Curl and coat your lashes, upper and lower. Optional: Apply dramatic, thick false lashes.


Step 10


Line your lips with the Subculture.


Step 11


Apply Prr to the lips.




Finished!




I hope you enjoyed, and remember to check out and subscribe!






PS- The ASSHOLES of WMG disabled my audio, originally the Madonna song was used.

For Laughs

I was looking for some inspiration online as always... And I came across this video...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdqnvC9O8eI

It's a parody of Michelle Phan's videos, done by a guy who

a) Is surprisingly good at makeup in a way

b) kinda cute, that I think of it.


I thought it was pretty funny. ENJOY!


Next- Japanese girl makeup tutorial! YAY!

Shiseido Tsubaki Shampoo Review

Hello~

I was shopping at my local Japanese supermarket, Mitsuwa and came across this shampoo and conditioner that I had heard about online by Shiseido. As a user of one of Shiseido's other shampoos, Aquair Moist Hair Pack (Which I have used for about 3 years now, and LOVE it), I had heard of this Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner which contains Camellia (Tsubaki) flower oil.

This is the Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner. Very pretty bottles meant to resemble the flower itself.




But if you liked the other one, why the change?

I was an avid user of the Aquair because it was VERY good for moisturizing, and for a long time I was horrible to my hair. Always bleaching, coloring, chemically bombing it to hell, and the shampoo managed to keep it soft! Now, my colored hair has all grown out to its natural glory and I wanted to try something not specifically meant for color treated hair (although this could work too!)

It says "Shining" on the bottle, and that is what my hair does when I wash it. Shine, shine, SHINE. ^_^ It also smells VERY pretty, a gentle floral scent. And my hair is really soft too! Soft, smells good, and looks healthy.

It is however, a bit pricey compared to drugstore shampoos. A decent sized bottle with a pump will rum about 12-19 dollars each for the shampoo and conditioner depending on where you get it.

If you live in the Chicago area, you can get it at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights.

If you don't live near a Japanese shop, there is a wonderful site that sells the Tsubaki AND the Aquair, should you want to give it a try.

www.truerenu.com

Another side note: the Aquair shampoo is sulfate-free, the Tsubaki is not. No wonder my hair color stayed well when using it. ^_^

I rate the Tsubaki Shining Shampoo and Conditioner 9.5/10 (-.5 points because it has sulfates in it)

Shiseido Pureness Review

Hello!

It's time for another review, this one is actually a few years in the making!

This review is on the Pureness skincare line by Shiseido, which I have been faithfully using since 2003. I don't use ALL of the products (I don't think anyone does!) but I do use 5 of them. My skin has been in excellent shape while using this, no major breakouts, nice and clear.

About my skin-

- I have sensitive skin, and these products do not burn or irritate it. (Most stuff at the drugstore actually burns my skin. Especially things like Proactiv.)

- I have combination skin, meaning I have some great skin, some not so great.

- My skin gets really red easily even from light rubbing sometimes. (Rosacea)

I went to the Shiseido counter to find out what products were right for me. They do a full analysis of your skin and make the decisions from there. Here are the products I use.





















Cleansing: Foaming Cleansing Fluid

This is a very gentle on the skin liquid cleanser which foams up a bit on a wet face. Just two pumps is all you need. It cleans your face quite well (my skin can squeak after I wash it) without abrasiveness or a lot of rubbing, which is good for people with skin like mine which gets red easily just from touch.























Toning: Balancing Softener

This is a toner without alcohol. It is safe to put all over your face and does not burn. Again, two pumps into a cotton pad is all you need.























Acne medication: Anti-shine refreshing lotion

This is very liquid, like the softener but is medicated. It has a powder in the liquid to keep you from shining through the day, and has salicylic acid to prevent breakouts and treat the ones you may already have. A few drops into a cotton pad is all you need, I just use the same pad I used for the softener.














Moisturizer: Moisturizing Gel-cream

This is great for people like me who don't need or can't use heavier moisturizers. It comes in a little pot, and it has a gel consistency. A little goes a very long way. A dab on your fingertip can cover your whole face, and does not leave a greasy heavy feel at all.

Additional: Pore minimizing cooling essence

This is a cooling lotion that helps close up your larger pores on your face. I use this only on my chin and T-zone (nose/cheek) area, as these are where my blackheads pop up when I get them. It has a minty feeling on the skin but does not smell like menthol.


These products work very well for me, and they smell good too! However, they are a bit pricey. I spend about 155$ for all of it at once, but it lasts a while.