Japanese Bath Salt Review #1

Hi everyone!

If you love taking baths, then this post will be of great interest.  I love taking baths too, but most bubble baths dry me out, skin-wise.  Don't get me wrong, they smell good, I love the bubbles, but when I get out I feel drier than a bucket of sand.  I heard from a penpal of mine in Japan that they have many different types of bath salts, from anti-aging to those meant to replicate an experience at a particular hot spring.  This sounded interesting to me, so I went to my local Japanese market and lo and behold, they also had a bunch of different salts to choose from!  I bought two kinds (hence the #1 in the title) and tried them both out.

#1 Bathclin Pureskin Bath Salts

These salts also have Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe, both of which moisturize the skin. In fact, we have Hyaluronic Acid in our skins already but this decreases as we age.  The salts are a dark green, and make the bath water a milky green color but they do not stain the bathtub or anything else.   It has a nice clean scent, I think it could be suitable for unisex use, the scent does stay on your skin pretty strongly, but not sickeningly strong. 

When I get out of the bath after using this stuff, I'm not nearly as dry-skinned as I normally would be coming out of a regular bubble bath.

This is also more cost-effective than bubble bath (I go through a bottle every two weeks or less because I take a bath after my showers almost nightly).  This 660 gram package has enough to give over 30 baths (the directions say 20 grams per bath, which is about half of the cap that is on the package.) and costs between 9.99-12.99 depending on where you get it from. 

You can order it online, or it could be carried at an Asian market in the health/beauty section.


I highly recommend this stuff, will review the next salt, Bathclin Cherry Blossom, in an upcoming post!

Product Review- It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in

Hello!

Over this past weekend, I went to go get a hair cut and deep conditioning treatment.  During the actual hair cut, my stylist recommended a product to use on my hair every time I wash it, because my hair is color treated and a little on the dry side.  She sprayed this product on my hair and styled it, and my hair felt like new!

What is this product? 

 It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Plus Keratin

This is a professional product sold in salons, and the price does reflect this. It retails at I believe $16.99, I got it on sale for $9.99.

Why is it called "It's a 10"? Because, according to the back label, it does 10 things instantly:

1. Maintenance of keratin straightening treatments

2. Increases styling and manageability

3. Perfect for all hair types

4. Replaces lost protein

5. Protects the natural keratin in hair

6. Protects against heat

7. Restores hydration balance

8. Detangles, defrizzes and adds shine

9. Strengthens hair structure

10. Seals cuticles for extra silky hair

I have used this product a few times since getting my hair done and I must say I am pretty happy with it.

My reasons for loving this stuff:

- Smells really nice

- Very little is needed- I have very long, midback length hair and 5-6 sprays throughout my hair is plenty

- My hair does feel softer after using it and is easy to comb

- My ends do not feel like dry grass

- My hair does look shiny and pretty, even after blow drying it

- Alcohol free

- Convenient little spray bottle container

The only con I can really think of is the price, but it is a professional product, so you get what you pay for in this case.

Speaking of haircut, I will post pics soon with the before and after!

Product Review- Olay Quench Lotion

Hello!

With cooler weather coming soon here in the USA, also comes drier skin.  A lot of lotions need to be reapplied several times throughout the day to keep skin moist but I came across a lotion which claims to keep skin supple for a full 24 hours- Olay  Body Quench Body Lotion (ultra moisture formula).

This lotion can be found at the drugstore, the smaller size is about $6.00 and the large size cost me $9.99. 

The lotion claims to contain shea butter and vitamins E and B3, and also says that it breaks the cycle of dry skin by providing longer lasting moisture.

When I first tried it, I found that (at least to me) it smells really good.  It has a vanilla/floral scent that I like but others may find it strong.  When I put it on, I was pleased to notice that it did not feel greasy after I put it on- another plus for me.

But the bottom line- did it keep my legs moist for 24 hours? Yes, it did.  I put my lotion on after my shower before bed, and my legs still felt nice when it was the same time the next day.

I recommend this lotion not only as a reviewer but also as a person who suffers from dry skim myself.  Also, a little goes a long way! You don't need to put a lot on, and the fact that you don't need to reapply during the day also makes the bottle last longer and save you money in the long run.

MAC Eyeshadows vs Coastal Scents

Hello!

Long time no post, I know. College has been keeping me busy... 

I am going to cover something people seem to ask me a lot- 

Which is better? MAC Eyeshadows or Coastal Scents?

Well it really depends.  I can't say one is clearly better than the other but I can give some similarities/differences.  I personally like both.

Similarities:

1. Cruelty-free- neither company participates in animal testing for either the final product OR the individual ingredients.

2. Both have a lot of colors to choose from and are highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way.

3. Both are versatile- can be used wet or dry (although certain colors of each brand are better at this than other colors)

4. Both are very popular among makeup gurus on YouTube and both get a lot of exposure this way.

5. Both companies also have the option of making your own custom palettes.

6. Both are very high quality shadows and are hypoallergenic. I have sensitive eyes and have never had problems with either brand in regards to irritation.

Differences:

1. MAC is more expensive.  For the price of one color (About 14 USD) you can get almost an entire palette of 88 colors from Coastal Scents (their 88 color palettes run about 25 USD)

2. MAC has a larger amount of color in each pot.  If you are someone who only uses a few colors regularly, MAC might be a better choice because there is a lot more and will last longer if you wear the same color every day.

3. Coastal Scents is a cheap way to experiment with lots of color if you are unsure of buying the more expensive MAC colors. 

4. MAC does get limited edition (and sometimes pretty cool) colors that Coastal Scents does not make anything close to sometimes. 

5. I believe Coastal Scents palettes are made in China (on the back of the box that my palettes have come in, it says Made in China), whereas MAC colors are made in Canada, USA, and Italy (so far as I have seen with the colors I already have.)

In conclusion, choosing between MAC and Coastal Scents is really a matter of preference.  For my regular makeup I do use MAC but when I try something with a wild color I normally wouldn't use, I use my Coastal Scents.

Replay Your Fragrance

Hello!




Recently, a friend of mine received a gift from his friend in Europe-  a cologne called Replay Your Fragrance. (That IS the whole name of it).  


http://replay-your-fragrance.com/EN/








Here is a picture of the bottle:

The reason they call it Replay is that apparently they have designed it so that after a while, when the scent starts to fade, you splash a bit of water on it to reactivate the scent.  The men's version (the one my friend has) has a very nice, clean smell to it, almost addicting (to me, very much like Axe sprays for men).  And yes, the water reactivation DOES work, you only need a drop or two of water to make it work.  


One drawback- this stuff is apparently only for sale in Europe. Too bad, it smells REALLY good and I think it would sell well here! 

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. ^^

Airbrush Makeup First Day

Hello-


As you have already read ( I think ) I recently got a new airbrush makeup system. (I haven't fully completed the video on it because I'm still practicing, I want to do it as well as possible to show a good example.)


Today, I decided to try to wear my airbrushed face out in the real world to see how it would hold up.


It did feel comfortable to wear, my face didn't feel dry or anything and the color and blush did look natural.  I wore my normal eye makeup as usual and went to work.  I actually DID receive a compliment saying I looked very nice today. ^^  


One drawback (and it's the formula of the foundation I think - it's waterbased) is when it gets wet (even after it's dry) it does run.  In the cold winter here, my nose watered a little and it dripped onto my upper lip and ran a little.  Nothing catastrophic that a quick dab with a tissue didn't fix.  


But all in all, so far so good.  It was really quick to apply as well, and a great alternative to my face powder.

Airbrush makeup? At home? For serious?

Hello!

Last week, I was offered by a local company to test out and sample a new product of theirs – A makeup airbrush for personal and portable use!

My sample arrived yesterday, and I am waiting for my airbrush makeup, which I had to get myself (I ordered from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics).  Soon, I will be making videos about my trials and errors, an instructional video on how to use the machine, and tutorials for certain effects, as well as a review of the system and of OCC airbrush makeup. 

Stay tuned, and enjoy!

So you broke your lipstick.... Me too! Let's fix it!

So I went to go use my MAC Hello Kitty Fashion Mews lipstick, one of those limited edition, you're-not-gettin'-it-no-morez shades... and snap! It had a crack in it!  Freaking out, I googled ways to fix lipstick, ranging from taking a lighter to it and pushing it together, to just giving up and making it into gloss, when I came across something called Lipstix Remix.

What is it?

Lipstix Remix (http://lipstixremix.com) is a kit that not only allows you to fix your broken or melted lipsticks, but also allows you to be creative, and mix colors you have to make new!  So I ordered it (It's 19.99, worth it considering my lipsticks are about 14.50 each...)

Here's how it went!

What you need:

 

Microwave

Lipstick holder, all cleaned out- Make sure to scrape out the base of the lipstick and save it! You'll need it or you won't have enough product to repair it properly!  (see pic)

Lipstick mold

Mixing cup with broken lipstick inside

Spatulas

Step 1: Scrape out all that lipstick into the cup!  (See Hello Kitty in there? She’s sad because she’s broken.  Sadder still, I can’t put her back on the lipstick. Oh well…)

Step 2: Put the cup in the microwave.

Step 3: Microwave for 45 seconds, or until the lipstick is liquid.

Step 3 a: In the meantime, snap together the lipstick mold and get it ready.

Step 4: Bend the cup into a spout and pour the liquid into the top of the mold. It hardens quick, so time is of the essence.  It doesn’t have to be 100% full (as you can see with mine) but close to it or there won’t be enough.

Step 5: Put the mold on a level surface in the freezer for at least 10 minutes.

Step 6: Unscrew the top off carefully.  There should be some lipstick sticking out.

Step 7: CAREFULLY slide the base into the clean lipstick container then JUST as carefully work the sides of the mold off. Make sure the base is in securely.

Step 8: Screw the lipstick all the way down and put it away! You fixed it!

Your lipstick is now ready to use!  Now instead of buying a replacement, you can get a totally new color!

I hope you enjoyed! 

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.

Review of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Hello~


Over the weekend, I bought a bottle of the legendary Urban Decay Primer Potion (for eye makeup). Today, I decided to give it a test drive. I knew I was going to be out and about all day, in humid/rainy weather, etc.

So I did my makeup after putting this on, and I must say it really DOES help the shadow stick better and keep a more intense color, hence using less shadow than normal! I used the Coastal Scents 88 color palette for the colors (without the primer, I have to use a lot of some of the lighter colors to get anything close to the look I want. With the primer, I used surprisingly little!) and MAC fluidline gel eyeliner. My eyes looked great, and I was ready to go.


After going out and braving the humidity and wind, I went home to discover that my eyeshadow looked pretty much exactly the same as it did when I first put it on!! No creasing, nothing rubbed off. ^_^


It also goes on very nicely too, and dries to a clear/nude finish. Urban Decay also makes this product in a color called Sin, which is a champagne gold color. I haven't tried this yet but it sounds interesting to have a pale gold undertone to makeup.

More reviews and looks coming soon! Check back regularly!