About Me

My photo
California, United States
Hi! Thanks for visiting ^_^ My social media platforms: Instagram: meowmier Youtube: http://goo.gl/U5SnNM (formerly under the username francesvlogs but I don't have access to that anymore). I don't really do videos anymore simply because I think blog posts are more informative. Hope you enjoyed your time here! :)

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Haul Attack! Sephora, Innisfree, & Taiwan

Hi guys!

Happy 2015! Hope y'all have a wonderful New Year :) Can you believe we are already more than half way through January?! Time is FLYING by and I'm getting really excited. Nervous, but excited. I feel like I've been waiting for 2015 for a really long time. Why? BECAUSE IT'S THE YEAR THAT I AM GOING TO GRADUATE!!!!!! O.M.G.  After 3.5 years of grueling pharmacy education, if I may say, I am finally gonna move forward to another phase of my life. Granted, the life of employment isn't fun, but I feel very ready for it. I'm SO ready to move, find a job, get a pet :D and just start saving money.

Anyway, enough of the wordy intro. I am finally back in the US. If some of you are wondering how I am able to be away for so long at this time of the year since I'm still in school, it's because in the fourth year of pharmacy education (at least at my school), we do rotations/internships throughout the whole year. So it's basically working full time. And I decided to combine my vacation block (which is 5 weeks-- I know, kind of insane) with my winter break. Hence the super long vacation in Taiwan :P

To ease myself into blogging again, I decided to go for something easy to write XD It's gonna be a brief one as well, sorry :( have sooo much stuff that I need to do that I really shouldn't be blogging at all -_-"  This is basically a collection of the hauls that I wanted to, but never showed here. The Sephora VIB sale, some purchases I made on innisfreeworld.com, and the stuff I got from Taiwan. If you follow me on Instagram you will also see that I went crazy while I was in Japan, but I will dedicate another post to that haul :D


First, the stuff that I got from Sephora VIB sale
SAM_4431

1. Chloe perfume
SAM_4435
I think this is the first time I've ever repurchased a perfume. On the left is my current bottle (duh LOL)  When I took this pic I was only 1/3 through the bottle, now I'm half way through the bottle. Still in love with this perfume :D it's rare that I have such a long-going affair with a perfume lol. I think the only other perfume that I've kind of made my way through is Dot by Marc Jacobs-- that one I used up about 1/3. I still like that one but so far I have no intention to touch other perfumes XP


2. Diorsnow sunscreen
SAM_4439
IN LOVE. Been using it since last summer? Still can't get enough!

3. Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 575 Wonderland
SAM_4440

SAM_4443

SAM_4445
Lovely color, great formula. Wanted this forever and so glad to finally have it. Another color that I want to collect from this line will be 373 Rieuse. :D

4. Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation in Golden Light
SAM_4459

SAM_4452

SAM_4460

To be quite honest, now I have been using this for a couple of months... I kind of regret buying it :/ it's just decent. What I don't like about this product is that the staying powder really isn't good... it tends to break down and get patchy as I get oily. This only happens when I use this as a powder foundation all over my face aka when I use more of this product. When I use this for setting powder, since I only use a light dusting, I don't really have the patching up problem. Honestly, I do not recommend this powder. If I could return it, I would have lol.  Definitely only a novelty product for the chocolate smell.


5. Makeup Forever Aqua Cream in 15
SAM_4471

SAM_4472

SAM_4477
Really liked this taupe color. Got it to create a more subtle eyeliner look/smudge out my eyeliner. But I ended up returning it cuz it smudged within an hour :( Dry products are the way to go when coupled with liquid eyeliner. And notice the product was already kind of dried out when I received it in the mail. 

6. Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony
SAM_4482

SAM_4486
I love the name of this lip product =P

SAM_4490
Can we take a moment to appreciate how cut the packaging is?!

SAM_4496
It's a very nice, soft, natural pink.

Went to return the MUFF aqua cream (cuz it smudges within an hour πŸ˜“) and pick up the Clinique smart custom repair serum and came out with this πŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆ was gonna pick up the 1.7 fl oz one but there's actually a value set so I got this instead (1 oz serum, 0.5 oz uplifting firming cream, and 0.17 oz laser focus wrinkle correcting eye cream πŸ˜„), and spotted that Hourglass has an Ambient lighting blush palette 😱😱😱😱 I reasoned that after 20% off each blush is $16... So... πŸ™ˆ and didn't get to redeem my gift during my bday month so also did that today! Heard many good things abt this MUFF smokey extravagant mascara so I'm excited to try it 😊 I know I went a little too crazy for this sale... 😳 #sephora #vibsale #clinique #hourglass #ambientlightingblush #ambientlightingblushpalette #makeupforever #muff #skincare #makeup #beautyblogger #nomakeuporskincareformeforalonglongtime
A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on
Items 7 and 8 would be the Clinique Smart Custom Repair Serum and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. While The Hourglass Ambient lighting powders absolutely do not work with my combination skin (makes me extra oily... not just look oily, but makes my skin produce more oil), I have NO regrets with those blushes :D 


Now onto my Innisfree purchases. I basically went on a Innisfree spree after the Long Wear cushion. But I'm kind of over Innisfree now hahahahaha.
SAM_4340
So many samples!


The main reason why I made that purchase is because I wanted this. I absolutely LOVE the volcanic pore clay mask so I really really wanted to try the toner to see if it would do anything to control my blackheads. 
SAM_4345
I bought two of them because I was gonna give one to a friend as a gift... but I ended up having a reaction to the toner... and my friend has even more sensitive skin than me so I don't feel safe giving this to her :( so I just ended up keeping it for myself.  Kind of sucks cuz now I'm stuck with two of the toners that I have no idea what I'm gonna do with. 

SAM_4351
Haven't tried the cleansing foam but I hope it's good. I feel very optimistic that I won't get a reaction from the cleanser though :P


Here are some of my review posts from my Instagram for the Innisfree products. I figured it's too redundant to type up a review again when I've already done them lol.

By the way, got the green tea seed serum bcuz my roommate got it for me when she went home to Korea lol. Not part of the haul.

Review: Innisfree Jeju volcanic pore toner also did not work for me πŸ˜” used it twice (only used it on my nose since that's where I'm more oily and have bigger pores) and both times my skin got incredibly itchy where I applied the toner 😳 my skin also started peeling a few days after but I'm not sure if it was directly related to this. The toner itself contains some jeju volcanic powder in the bottom so you want to shake it well before you use it. It's not drying at all which surprised me because I thought it'd be somewhat drying for oil control (can't remember if oil control is one of the claims at all though). The smell is pleasant but not organic at all lol (your typical skincare fragrance). Really surprised this didn't work for me because I use the volcanic pore clay mask from the same line and got incredible pore tightening results from it, and no reaction! Sad 😞 #innisfree #jejuvolcanicporetoner #volcanicpore toner #toner #skincare #koreanskincare #review #beautyblogger
A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on

SAM_4352
Also got a cleansing oil to try. Hope it's good!


SAM_4356
I really wanted to try the soybean line but now I'm too scared to try :/ sad....

SAM_4358
The volcanic mask sample will be good for travel. But all these samples... I have no intention to use them cuz my skin has been quite sensitive these days. Just gonna give them to friends or give them out as free samples on my next blog sale. 

SAM_4362
Since I liked the Skinny Microcara, I wanted more of them since they are quite affordable. I had the waterproof version and that one does not hold curls, so I wanted to try the none-waterproof version just so I can spend less time massaging my eyes when I try to remove my makeup XD I'm currently using one now, but for some reason... I think the none-waterproof version is even harder to remove than the waterproof version O____o||| Maybe because it's hydrophilic and I use cleansing oil which is hydrophobic? Haha... -_-"  

SAM_4365
Got one in brown :D

By the way, Innisfreeworld.com sometimes have free shipping events... so I would recommend signing up for the newsletter and just wait to purchase from there when there's an event ^_^ I purchased all my products during the free shipping event.


Now onto the products I bought in Taiwan...
SAM_4551
Got the Clinique smart custom-repair serum duo while I was at duty-free. Don't think I have talked about the serum here on my blog O_o 
I have no idea what's in this stuff... But it's AMAZING 😳 Currently having a lot of flakey/peeling skin going on on my nose because I squeezed my blackheads πŸ™ˆ but when I smoothed this over... It literally smoothed EVERYTHING DOWN. Like you can't even see the slightest flaking 😳 how does it do that???!?!??? Usually I have to use a stickier moisturizer to pat down the flaky skin but the texture of this serum isn't even runny or sticky. The finish is matte, which is completely mind boggling LOL. Tried it again this morning (only used it twice so far) and got the same results!! πŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™Œ granted the flakey skin is still there, but just no longer visible. Makes makeup application 100x easier πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰ I NEED to pick this up while the VIB sale lasts!! So glad I got a sample of this ❤️❤️❤️ #clinique #cliniquesmart #customrepairserum #serum #amazing #skincare #beautyblogger #sephora
A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on
I hope it's not annoying that I just keep reposting stuff from my Instagram XD but it's just so much easier for me. Easier for you guys too I hope for those who've already read them so you don't have to re-read the same information. Anyway, the serum already obtained holy grail status in such a short amount of time... lol. I do have a holy grail post in the works... :)

And yes, I am fully aware of how crazy it is that I bought SO many mascaras and mascara primers. Since I will be entering the work force soon, don't think I will be able to go home in the next few years :'(  so I went crazy stocking them up lol. Mascaras I can do without, but I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THOSE MASCARA PRIMERS. As long as I have those babies, I can pretty much make any none-Asian mascaras work (as long as they don't migrate down my eyelid haha). While others may be known as the crazy cat lady, I am totally happy being known as the crazy mascara lady lol.

The stand-out products in that pile for me will be the Aritaum Honey Melting Tints-- now I understand why the rage over the Internet. They're awesome! Also the Maybelline Fashion Brow Duo... my new fav brow product :)  (yes, more than my Anastasia brow powder duo). The other brands that I have not talked about before on my blog here will be Bevy C., 3CE and VDL, Clio and Pupa. That pink mascara on the lower right corner is a Thai brand called Mistine, which I purchased while I was in Bangkok :) heard good things about it. The pink thing below the Clinique serums is an eyebag highlighter (it's by Pmel). I think I've seen something similar on Bubzbeauty so I picked it up (but she uses it as a highlighter). To be honest, I should've picked up the champagne one (there was pink and champagne and white I think??) because pink just does not suit me around the eyes.  

That L'oreal lip tint in the middle I didn't get from Taiwan lol. Bought it yesterday. But figured would include it in the pile anyway. The color is 202 Coral Encore and it's gorgeous. Like the formula too. The only thing I don't like is the super strong fragrance... kind of like the Clio Lipnicure if you have tried that before. 


SAM_4550
Thought it'd be fun to show you guys the things I have back-ups for :D Got an extra Dior sunscreen with my VIB $20 coupon.


The last thing I got from Taiwan will be the Shu Uemura cleansing oil... also from the duty-free. My luggage were so heavy that I could NOT bring a makeup remover with me =_=" so I had to buy one at the airport lol.



Now as an ending to this post... here's a sneak peek for my Japan haul: 


Alrighty guys. Hope you guys don't mind this semi-lazy post >_< Feel free to let me know if there's anything you would like me to talk about first. Otherwise, I will see you guys in my best of 2014 products post :D

Hope you guys have a fantastic week!



<3 Frances

2 comments:

  1. Yay for 2015 graduation year!!! COngrats :D I'm seriously drooling over your haul, esp the hourglass blush palette and all them asian mascaras and primers lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahh thanks Kelsey! I hope Hourglass doesn't come out with more blush palettes... cuz I would die XD

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear your thoughts =) Please provide a link back so I can visit your blog too if you have one =D

Any spamming or advertising will be removed.