Too many empties, too little time

Over the past few months, I have accumulated some "used-up" empties, in attempt to clear my beauty stash. Doing this kind of posts will definitely keep me motivated and on track. However, I just haven't been able to find a time to blog about them... In fact, I had an entire bag of empties that I wanted to write about. But before I had a chance, I have to throw them away. Anyways, let bygone be bygone. I really should just blog whenever I have a relatively small pile of products to talk about... That being said, please be ready for a "relatively long" empties post......   OK, I have decided to do two separate posts, this is just getting ridiculously long... lol 

(Left to Right)
Laneige Pore Clear Wash Off Pack
Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser
NUXE BODY Fondant Body Scrub
OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (Fast-acting/moisturizing)
Bath & Body Works Carried Away Shower Gel
Bath & Body Works White Tea and Ginger Shower Gel

• Laneige Pore Clear Wash Off Pack - a nice clarifying mud mask. May re-purchase. 
• Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser - I have used up multiple of this cleanser. One of my favourites! Very gentle and non-stripping. No parabens, dyes, perfumes, lanolin, formaldehyde and proteins. Not sure if it's available outside of Canada though. It's made by the same company as Neostrata. 
• NUXE body scrub - not a fan of this, don't like the smell, left lots of residues in my bath tub whenever I use it. 
• OPI nail polish remover - I want to give a shout-out to myself!!!!! That is 480mL (16 fl oz.) of nail polish remover!!!!! I can't believe I was able to use it all up!!!! Besides that, this is a very good nail polish remover, does the job quick and I found it relatively non-stripping than other removers. Will purchase if I can find it at Winners again at discounted price. 
• B&B Carried Away shower gel - like the scent at first, but as with all other B&B products, I get super sick of the scent quickly. 
• B&B White Tea and Ginger shower gel - OK, this is an exception. I ADORE this scent. It is nothing over-powering comparing to all B&B scents I have tried. Doesn't smell like ginger to me, but rather a very clean and fresh scent. I love this scent and I have back-ups of it. 

(Left to Right)
Neogence C+ Whitening Serum
Curel Intensive Moisture Cream
Sofina beaute SPF50+ PA+++
IPSA Foundation (shade 102)
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Sofina White Protect SPF50+ PA+++ (discontinued)

• Neogence whitening serum - Taiwanese brand. Unsure about effectiveness, at least I don't see any dramatic changes. Probably won't re-purchase but I think I still have a back-up at Hong Kong. 
• Curel Intensive Moisture Cream - Absolutely LOVE this cream!!! So moisturizing, non-irritating, yet non-greasy!!! I can feel my skin absorbing the moisture. Definitely will repurchase after I finished all my stocks and when I visit Hong Kong again. Not available here in Canada. 
• Sofina SPF - My all-time-favourite SPF. Nothing much to say except I love it and will continue to re-purchase. I think I should dedicate an entire post to it. 
• IPSA foundation - another shout-out to myself that I managed to finish a base product!!!! I use base product everyday but I'm not sure why it always takes forever to use something up. Maybe because I am always interested in trying other base products. Nontheless, IPSA is a very nice brand for making foundations. But this shade is slightly lighter than my complexion, not a perfect match. 
• Caudalie Beauty Elixir - used this up fairly quickly. I purchase this in August for my flight to HK and this stuff is just addicting! I love how it smells and how it feels. So refreshing! I can't speak for any skincare benefits yet with this travel size, but I will keep in mind re-purchasing this some day. 
• Sofina white protect SPF - I used this on my body during the Summer months. Again, a great sun protection from Sofina, but this particular line has been discontinued.    

When September ends... Outfit

I know, I know, it's October already.

But better late than never. =P

So here I present you my outfit on the last day of September.
Simple, all-black, with some extra touches.

I have to admit, I am quite surprised with the quality of this Forever 21 shirt. Not only is it flowy and comfy, the elastic band around the waist really gives some definition to my body. I also really like the cutting of the sleeves. To me, it definitely looks like it is more expensive than Forever 21. All in all, just a very nice shirt to dress up or down. And let's be real, black is never going to go out of style.

A closer look of the shirt (Forever 21)  & necklace (American Eagle)

Ring (Tiffany & Co.)
Watch (agnes b)
Jeans (Uniqulo, style no. T1000)
Flats (Zara) 

M.A.C lipstick in Plink!

 


This is technically my first M.A.C. lipstick from its regular range (I have two sheen supreme lipsticks which were limited editions at that time but are now permanent). Everyone is crazy about M.A.C. lipsticks and say how great they are. I admit that they have a wide range of selection, but in day-to-day life, how many different colours would I wear really?

Well, let's go back to this lustre formula in Plink!. I have heard a few youtubers talked about it and it is always at the back of my head that I will have to try it some day. I am definitely not a M.A.C. lipstick expert, but as far as I know, the lustre range is more sheer and gives you a sheen. This totally sounds like something I would like. And let's be real, how could I resist the name Plink! ? (Pink is my favourite colour, surprise surprise)

First of all, the classic scent or taste of M.A.C. lipsticks - a slight vanilla scent. I don't hate it and I am absolutely fine with it. My problem is...... it doesn't really show up a lot on my lips. I know it is supposed to be sheer, but of course I would still like some differences (or else why would I bother to put on an extra product?). My lips are quite pigmented to start with, so maybe this is just not a shade for me. I also find it hard to apply on top of my lip balms. My lips are quite dry so I NEED a lip balm underneath. But so far I can't seem to find a combination that works perfectly.

I don't hate this lipstick. It's just I don't find myself reaching for it that often. Maybe you guys have recommendation on how to use it? Or maybe I should try other M.A.C. lipsticks from other ranges?

Btw, as a side note, I really don't think I should get more lip products...... I just have way too many..... How could you ever finish a lipstick or lipgloss? -________-

Beauty Wishlist --- HK Edition

While you are reading this post, I have landed Hong Kong safely. As a shopping paradise, it is no exception when it comes to beauty products. Not only most of the products are much more affordable than in North America, the selection is beyond! So of course I have to seize the chance to grab a few of the items I have been eyeing which are not readily available in Canada.

1.) Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream 

- The trend of BB cream is nothing new and there are numerous BB creams out there in Asia. After trying 1-2 a few years ago, I have made the conclusion that BB cream is not for me. I just prefer foundation all in all. However, I believe the technology of BB cream has definitely been advanced and I have been told that they now offer a better colour match and coverage. A lot of people has recommended this particular BB cream from Lioele and I am curious to check it out.


2.) Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner 
3.) K-palette Liquid Eyeliner 

- I am not a big fan of dramatic eyeliners on myself but I have been curious about these Japanese liquid eyeliners. Both of them are known to be long-lasting and precise, not to mention the great colour pay-off. Should I get both? I am thinking maybe to get one black and one brown from each brand to try them out. 

4.) Solone Eyeliner Gel Pencil

- Yes, another eyeliner. lol. This time a pencil. We all know how hard it is to find a pencil that is really smudge-proof. Now I believe this is a Taiwanese brand and we shall see if this is the answer to my prayer.


5.) Menard Beauness Booster Lotion

- This is a lotion/toner that claims to make the skin less likely to become rough or pimpled. It is also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. Menard is not available here in Canada but it is in Hong Kong. But I first have to find out how much it retails. 

How many lip balms can one girl have?

I am sure we all feel the same - there can never be enough lip balms. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall, lip balm is a must all year round. I don't know about you, but I rarely finish an entire lip balm because I always want to try new ones. So inevitably, a mini collection has formed......

(Left to right) 

Smith's Rosebud Salve 

Jurlique Love Balm 

Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm 

Lip Ice Strawberry Lip Balm SPF 15 

DHC Lip Cream 

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Lemon 

Elizabeth Arden Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Rosy Lips 

La Roche-Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream 

Maybelline Baby Lips Anti-oxidant Berry (with SPF)

Evie Plumping Rose Lip Therapy (Day, with SPF) 

My handbag staple right now is the Elizabeth Arden lip protectant, which is essentially their ever so famous 8-hour cream in stick form plus SPF. This is a brilliant idea because it is so much more convenient than applying the 8-hour cream. I also love the DHC lip cream but it doesn't have SPF so it would be more suitable for Fall/Winter months. It is definitely on the top of my list because I actually have gone through one before (the rare one!!!) and this is my 2nd tube of it. However, it is not available here in Canada and I will need to stock up when I am back to Hong Kong. Another one that I can only get from Hong Kong is the Evie lip therapy. It smells absolutely amazing and is packed with essential oils: almond sweet oil, avocado oil, hazelnut oil, jojoba oil, just to name a few. By looking at the ingredients you already know how amazing this lip therapy is, not to mention it is organic. It leaves a slightly more oily/shiny finish than the other two mentioned above so I wouldn't recommend putting a lip stick on top, at least not immediately or you can blot some off before apply your lip colour. 

I keep some of these lip balms at my nightstand for the convenience of applying before I go to sleep. The one that I reach for the most (frankly the only one I reach for) is the La Roche-Posay Ceralip. I've always adore La Roche-Posay and I used to keep re-purchasing their hand cream (I still love it but I'm just too busy with trying new things now). This Ceralip comes with a set with the hand cream and at first I didn't love it. I thought it was too thick for my liking, but the truth is I haven't found a right use for it. Ever since I started to use it at night before I go to bed, I have completely fallen in LOVE with it. It is so nourishing yet non-greasy and for me, it is just perfect as a bedtime treatment. 

An obvious disappointment is the Avene cold cream lip blam. I enjoyed the Avene cold cream hand cream so I was expecting this to be just as good. Arghhhhh, I really just don't like it. The worst part is it leaves a white film on my lips and this is clearly not attractive. It also didn't do much for my lips so I am not even sure if I will enjoy using it as a night treatment. Overall, this product is C- for me. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, which will be my mini collection of tinted lip balms. =) 

Wishlist

As a shopaholic and a beauty-addict, you can imagine how hard it is to control my spending. I must say, often times it is not things I NEED, but rather things I WANT, which I am sure is the majority of case for others as well. But as inspired by ViviannaDoesMakeup recently, I really want to streamline my "collection". Quality vs. quantity, as simple as it sound, we all know how challenging it could be. Now, for my first baby step, I think it is a good idea to visualize my "desires". Making wishlist will give me a chance to think twice before buying something new. Plus, I think we can all agree that it is interesting to know what others are eyeing at the moment. ;)

OK, without further adieu, here I present my wishlist as of late:



1.) O.P.I Nail Envy 

- Nails strength has always been the thing I am lacking. They break so easily and I have heard good things about this product. I am just hoping it will go on sale.





2.) Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H 

- Base makeup is one of the things I care the most and need the most because of my blemishes and hyperpigmentation. When it comes to Summer, longevity becomes even more important. And to add on top of that, I will be back to Hong Kong in 2 weeks...... The hot and humid weather there is really no joke...... I hope my Makeup Forever Mat Velvet is going to do the job (still testing this out). If not, I will have to seek some help and this Lancome foundation is definitely on my list. 

3.) NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliners 

- I am quite happy with my Prestige eyeliner pencils but of course I am always on the hunt for better. I don't really go for colour liners but I would love to try the brown, skintone and black ones. 

Well, that's it for now. You can for sure expect more of these wishlists to come. 

I'm loving ZOYA

ZOYA Mia 

O.P.I Pirouette My Whistle 

Canmake 101A 

I tried ZOYA nail polishes for the first time recently and I have to say, I fell in love with its formula immediately (at least this shade)! I am certainly not an expert when it comes to applying nail polishes but it was just so easy to work with this one. Opaque in 1 coat but I added a 2nd coat just in case. The most impressive thing to me is how it smooths out. I have never encountered a nail polish that has such a smooth and shiny finish (even with my far-from-steady hands). I was so tempted not to put a topcoat on it.

I am definitely going to pick up more from ZOYA (in fact I did pick up 2 more shades from the Summer collection) and I can't wait to try them! I love Essie's colours, but in all honesty, their formula really is "hit or miss" and even it is a "hit", from my experience it still doesn't compare to ZOYA.