ALLURE 🥚 NOVEMBER 2017 🥚

ALLURE

NOVEMBER 2017

November’s box is a bit more generous than the previous boxes received, there are 7 items in the box with a full size eyeshadow brush, lip crayon and face mask.

1. Juice beauty Lip crayon in shade 12 Malibu. 

Full sized item, Malibu is a very wearable everyday pinky nude shade. On the first application, i find that the crayon was abit too soft as the tip broke as im applying it on my lips. Its not soo bad because the formula was just really soft so the tip turned into a balm instead. The lip crayon tho is really creamy and moisturizes the lips well, it is not drying at all and pigmentation wise, colour payoff is very good. (See swatch below.) juice beauty is a cruelty free and vegan brand. 

2. Doucce freematic eyeshadow in shade 37 Bailey.

This magnetic shadow pod can be attached to the smaller doucce palette and you can switch it up with other shades creating your own custom palette. Ive heard of this brand from Allure as you will receive a small palette in your first box. Most of the pigmented shades i got so far are the shimmers, but some are abit more chalky like the matte ones. 37 bailey is a dark shimmery navy steel blue shade. (See swatch below.)

3. Royal & langnickel Moda Mythical Crease brush. 

What’s not to love about a unicorn horn shaped eyeshadow brush? Aptly named the moda mythical collection, this is the crease brush with fluffy ombre bristles and ombre twisted handle. This picks up shadows perfectly without kicking up too much powder and also deposits on the lids just nice. However, as a crease brush i find that the size is a bit too big for my eye shape and i could literally use this to pack the whole lid. Which is what i use it for lol. The whole collection is pretty nice tho.

4. Hey honey - good morning - honey silk facial serum.

This serum has a thin light yellow texture that smells sweet & honey-like. The scent is not strong at all so it does not irritate the skin. It absorbs fairly well without leaving any sticky traces. In fact it made the skin quite smooth and soft after. This serum is recommended to wear underneath makeup before moisturizer.

5. Caudalie Eye lifting balm.

A lightweight eye lifting balm that claims to lift all the eyebags and dark circles in the world. I do not have bad eye bags however this tested on the skin is wuite light and non sticky, absorbs well into the skin quite fast too. Has a very light scent that is non irritating too.

6. Too cool for school - all in one - egg mellow cream.

First thing you will notice is the scent, now, its better than smelling rotten raw eggs, however i find the scent to be too artificial and perfume like that it tends to be abit strong and overwhelming on the face (im not even sensitive to scents). This is a 5 in 1 firming moisturizer infused with egg yolk extract and collagen fiber to help with skin elasticity. 

There’s multiple uses for this, it works as a serum, priming moisturizer, eye cream, neck cream, and sleeping mask in one. It has a thick creamy yellow texture, for a moisturizer i think its best to have a light hand on this when applying on the face as the cream thickness and the strong smell might kick sensitive skin into overdrive. Use small dots and build up as you go.

7. Too cool for school - Egg cream mask (hydrating).

I like that we receive 2 products from the same skin care range and that you can use this mask before you use the moisturiser they gave. 

The mask is slightly different than other masks ive tried, firstly, there is a weird netting cover that you have to peel off before wearing the mask. 

Secondly, the mask is super soft and slippery (generous amount of serum inside) the white sheet reminds me of the inner part of a coconut skin. The serum is infused with coconut water + egg yolk.

Thirdly the mask size fits just nice on my face, there is no excess flaps at the side of face and it tucks nicely underneath the chin. But the mouth hole feels a little bit snug, and the eye hole is a bit too rectangular for my eyes. (Dont mind my lips are super dry 😭)

But in the end i still like the mask! The after removal left some serum to be patted in. It did leave a little bit of creamy residue, so i patted down my face with a thin tissue. The smell is better than the moisturizer tho, softer and not so strong. 

Overall November box is quite generous with the amiunt of products as you also get at least 3 normal full size products like the lip crayon, crease brush and sheet mask. The deluxe sizes are also good for trial purpose as they will be able to last at least a week of daily use in order for you to test the product claims & effectiveness.

SEPHORA PLAY BOX 🖍 NOVEMBER 2017 🖍

SEPHORA 

PLAY BOX

NOVEMBER 2017

November’s info sheet lets your creativity do the work and colour in the illustrations as a way of chilling out. I finally realised that sephora play box usually only gives sample deluxe sizes and very rarely gives a full size item unless its a nail polish or eyeliner item. So if its to be compared to Ipsy glam bag or Allure beauty box, it reduces the box value most of the time. However there is a higher chance of receiving high end brands from sephora as compared to the rest which introduces us to Indie or new up and coming brands. Ok lets get into the samples.

1. Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara.

This deluxe sized mascara has a really big bushy brush that ensures all the bristles are coated in the mascara before being applied on the lashes. Its buildable and does not clump when layered. However, i realised after 2-3 hours of wear, it flakes off slightly if you accidentally touch the eye area and you can see that it drops flakes on your under eyes. Otherwise the jet black shade really elongates and emphasises the natural lashes.

2. Caudalie vinosource s.o.s thirst quenching serum.

Infused with grape water and hyaluronic acid to give a boost of hydration and also to sooth the skin. I usually apply this after my toner and before the moisturizer step. It is pretty lightweight with a clear white texture so it easily absorbs without leaving any residue behind. 

3. Origins Active charcoal mask to clear pores.

Since this is to be used once or twice a week to clear the pores, the big tube size will last quite a while. This active charcoal mask can be used after prepping the face with a warm towel as it helps to open up the pores. (It reminds me of the Caudalie clay mask, or the Neutrogena Charcoal mask.) applies creamy and then it will dry to a lighter grey on the skin and absorbs the oils from the pores. Its one of those products that will leave you very satisfied at the end after you wash off the mask.

4. Sephora ultra shine lip gel in 04 perfect nude. 

Once again i do not wear lip glosses and this is ultra shiny and not at all semi creamy/matte hence i checked a swatch from temptalia.com instead of opening the seal as i intend to gift it. Here is the swatch link:

sephora ultra shine lip gel perfect nude swatch

It is described as a warm nude peach with pearls.

5. My Burberry Blush Fragrance.

I usually like most of the parfums sent by sephora and this is also turning up to be another nice scent. The Burberry Blush has a fruity & floral fragrance, with top notes of pomegranate and lemon. I can foresee wearing this often, or well at least until the sample finishes. 

6. Moroccan oil treatment for all hair types.

Moroccan oil as you know is beneficial for the hair and skin due to the richness of essential fatty acids that makes it an excellent moisturizer and thus helps in adding shine and moisture to the hair and skin. Apply this to the middle and tips of hair for a smooth end. This works pretty well on my girl’s curly hair, as it needs some good old oil to detangle the curls sometimes. And keeps it shiny and smooth too.

Thats the total for the November box. I really need more of cosmetics samples to try on as oppose to skincare/haircare products right now. I have an abundance of those from the previous boxes too. Hopefully next month’s box comes with more beauty tidbits.

FACETORY 🍋 JANUARY 2018 🍋

FACETORY X SAAAMMAGE

JANUARY 2018

FOUR EVER FRESH KIT

Here's the first look at the 4 ever fresh sheet mask kit from January's facetory. This month is a collaboration with 'saaammage' , I wasn't sure who she was actually so i did a little googling up, and erm i didn't exactly find alot of positive things per se so lets just say shes a beauty vlogger. Ok- 

1. Tea tree blemish treatment mask from Dewy tree.

As the main ingredient is tea tree, this is targeted to improve the appearance of blemishes and acne/pimples scars. 

2. Spring flower honey mask from Mimiang.

This has a milky honey scent on the mask and helps provide full moisture for rough and dry skin and also has whitening properties for more skin radiance.

3. Hyaluronic acid soothing mask from Purenskin.

If it has hyaluronic acid, you know its meant to be hydrating and moisturising as hell and meant to lock all those juicy goodness into your skin. It is also meant to soothe and brighten irritation dry skin.

4. Pure essence mask sheet lemon.

Vitamin C in the lemon extract helps to brighten and lighten up and also restore skin elasticity. 

And thats the 4 masks available from January's kit. I like that they all have different functions, there is all types of masks for radiance, clearing, soothing and brightening. Definitely useful for masking once or twice a week.

IPSY GLAM BAG 🤸🏻‍♀️ JANUARY 2018 🤸🏽‍♀️

IPSY

GLAM BAG

JANUARY 2018

January's bag is all about getting up with your game face and showing off your sporty side. To be fair, it wouldve helped the theme better if there was waterproof makeup included due to the whole sporty sweaty theme. As usual there are 5 products in the bag. 

1. Luna Cosmetics eyeshadow in Juliet.

I personally like their pressed shadows beter than their stick shadows because there is much more pigmentation and it is easier to blend with other shadows too. Juliet is described as a shimmery pink in the website. Its a light peachy pink shade. Looks wearable as a soft highlight too. This is smooth to the touch and easily blendable due to the light colour.

2. Nyx lip lingerie in Satin ribbon.

This used to be quite popular when it first came out few years ago because nyx was one of the most affordable brands you can get for a liquid lipstick (apart from colourpop.) However there is always the rise & fall of new launches, and as compared to the soft matte lip cream(SMLC), this one is much more matte and drier to the touch after application. But that also means that this lasts longer than the SMLC. This came sealed in the plastic so I won't be swatching this as i have tried their lingerie line and i do not like the end texture. Hence im giving this away but for the curious minds out there here is a photo swatch from my fav youtuber (beautywithemilyfox) swatcher:

They are all really pretty shades of nudes with different undertones. 

3. Cake heavy cream body butter balm by Cake beauty. 

This is just the cutest brand and packaging ever for a body butter, to receive this in my january bag seems to be spot on as i reach my third trimester and need to stock up on as much lotions and moisturiser that i have to prevent any new stretch marks forming. This smells super delicious exactly like vanilla butter if you're into the sweet stuffs. Its also vegan and cruelty free! Keeps the skin moisturised & soft. Great trial size to sample on too. 

4. City color Contour palette. 

;

City color has some of the most affordably priced products ever for a drugstore cosmetics brand. Some of their products like the lipsticks are meh, but there are some good reviews for their powder products. This one in particular has a decent sample size that wont run out after one application. Product came sealed so this is another item that i will not be swatching. Hence im unable to say on the pigmentation.

5. Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo.

Due to my dreads, i have a hard time testing this out. This is infused with charcoal and coconut oil, smells very minty and clean. It also micro exfoliates, im pretty sure this would be a really satisfying shampoo after i remove the dreads as there will be alot to cleanse. This would be really helpful so im keeping it on hand until the day comes.

Overall i feel like I didn't get to try much new things from Ipsy this month. The nyx lipstick was nice but i have already tried it and wasn't much of a fan. The contour powder, useful but i still have a ton of bronzers to try. The briogeo shampoo, i love the idea but it will be on hold until i remove my dreads. However, i do love the cake body butter balm and the luna eyeshadow. So this month is half2 for me. 

SEPHORA PLAY BOX 🎉 JANUARY 2018 🎉

SEPHORA

PLAY BOX

JANUARY 2018

Here are the product information from the info sheet:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip gloss in Kristen.

For a lip gloss i like the deluxe small size received as i know i won't tend to use up too much of gloss as compared to matte lipsticks. The applicator is long & flat on both sides hence one dip is enough for top and bottom lip coverage. 

Kristen is a lovely nude brown that works way better than a nude pink for light-med asian skin tone. This is a gloss shade that i won't be scared to wear for a natural look. It is non sticky and last even after i ate a burger the remnants of the gloss was still on the lips tho the colour was almost gone. 

2. Smashbox Primerizer (prime + moisturizer).

This is a new formula by Smashbox in the form of a primer + moisturizer. Infused with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. For those who are familiar with smashbox's photo finish primer or radiance primer, this is of the same photo finish series but minus the all silicon formula. If you have clogged pores or drier skin i think this would be a game changer. 

However, i dont particularly like the glass it comes in, because it is hard to reach into the product as the high viscosity of the formula does not flow out easily when tipped out. Perhaps if there was a dropper or if its a squeeze tube instead it would have been better. This helps to apply makeup on better than the all silicon formula which tends to feel slightly greasy if too much is on. My makeup also seems to last longer on the cheeks, tho at the nose area it still gets slightly oily after waiting an hour in an air con room for an appointment.

3. Fresh Rose Floral Toner.

Rose water toner is apparently quite a popular product to calm the skin, this one from Fresh works the same way. I have normal combo skin but when applying this toner (sample is a bottle, full size is spray) it leaves a warm heat on my face instead of calming the redness that was popping out on my forehead. There is no alcohol in the ingredients list, however, it does feel much more stinging than the current toner im using which is innisfree's jeju toner. Hence im passing on this for now.

4. Clinique Pep start eye cream.

This eye cream claims to diminish eye bags, puffiness and make you look more awake in 3 seconds. On the first application i notice there was no scent at all so if you are sensitive on the eyes this is good because there is no irritating scent. Tip is small and its easy to control amount of product squeezed. I do not have very obvious line or wrinkles under the eye, nor do i have very bad eye bags or discolouration underneath it. Hence first time applying it feels like a normal moisturiser and i do not see any visible effects. But it is lightweight and non greasy, very easy to apply under makeup and does not interrupt my makeup routine. 

5. Glamglow Supercleanse cream to foam cleanser.

I love receiving Glamglow products as its not that easy to find this elsewhere except for Sephora stores in Singapore. So getting to try this out first is the best way to find out what works for me. This has a charcoal like greyish colour with a minty smell. When foamed up on the face there is a cool mint feel, which is nice when you think of cleansing. It removes makeup leftover and oiliness. Doesnt end with a tight feel, so keeps it clean and non drying. 

6. Briogeo Don't despair, repair! Deep conditioning hair mask. 

Sephora gave a 11.8ml sachet sample that can probably be used twice for med length hair. I have reviewed this before when i received it in the Allure box deluxed size tube. It works awesome! Doesnt dry out the hair after the deep cleanse and keeps hair smooth and smelling nice throughout the day. 

Overall January's box is a good jump start into the year, and here's also a good reminder from the info sheet of this month: the beauty shelf life of products!

Starting the new year, don't forget to do some cleaning & toss out whats been sitting for far too long now. 😉

BOXYCHARM 🕶 SEPTEMBER 2017 🕶

SEPTEMBER 2017

'Boxy baddie'

September's box came with a surprise of 6 items which is quite alot of products for a $21USD subscription box hence definitely a value for $$ box this month! 

1. Briogeo Don't despair, repair deep conditioning mask.

I love the briogeo haircare series, they are one of the few haircare brands that really do work well even from the different ranges I've tried previously from them. Leave on for 10-15mins and rinse, this leaves a overall healthy shine after.

2. M.A.C cosmetics eyebrow pencil in Lingering.

It's not every month that you get a high end brand like Mac appearing in your budget beauty box so this is very exciting to receive! Lingering is a dark brown shade good for brunettes or black hair beauties so it blends well in colour. The twist up pencil is super convenient so no sharpening needed. Pigmentation wise is dark and glides on well without tugging. Easy to brush and blend out harsh lines too. Love this product as its also full sized! 

3. bareMinerals perfecting face brush. 

Another full sized item that is unique and different from oh all the other foundation brushes in the world. This brush has a special dome shape reservoir in the middle so that you can drop your foundation into the pit and control what you put on your face. The brushes are soft and packed so stippling motion needs to be applied to spread evenly. So far i actually love the way it applies foundation, however the inner pit is harder to clean off the seeped through foundation liquid as it is quite dense and tight. 

4. PÜR Soiree diaries eyeshadow palette.

Packed with 12 shades of neutrals, this is the palette you need to create Everyday eye looks. You can still use the darker shades to wear for the night. I was super happy to receive this because you can't go wrong with neutral eyeshadow shades especially a palette with wide spectrum like this one. I love the shimmer satin shades below. Here are the swatches! 

One swipe coverage, the mattes are not too chalky and there is minimal fallout when tapped with a brush, and the shimmer glides on really well and pigmented. Love this palette! It is also currently oos in the website. 

5. Colourpop ultra satin lipstick in Strip.

This is a swatch found online on google!

As i have not swatched the shade yet because i think it wouldn't suit me well. However i have lots of colourpop's ultra satin lippies and most of them carry the same formula & consistencies. The USL are very pigmented but does not dry down to a super matte appearance, it remains creamy throughout the day and appears somewhat a bit semi matte. So for dry lips this works even better than the UML, however they do transfer to straws and cups fyi. 

6. Studio makeup luminous loose blush. 

Ive never tried a blush in loose form before as i always feared that it will fall everywhere and leave pink stains on things. So i poked only half of the holes on the sifter so it wont dispense too much product out. This luminous blush is in a soft peachpink shade and not too bright for everyday wear, there is very slight shimmer in the particles. Pigmentation wise is surprisingly quite good and just a few dusting is enough to show colour on the cheeks. I'm impressed with the blush and i know it will last me quite long for the quantity in the tub.

September's box is a yay! for me, i love all the products inside even the colourpop that im giving away, im pretty sure the shade will suit the other person better than myself.