Best of 2015 & Resolutions

Hi guys!!

Running short on time here, so let's just cut to the chase LOL.

Happy New Year!!

Last year I ranked my yearly favorites... this year... in no particular order. Let's start with skincare :)


1. Albion Skin Conditioner

Really the most conditioning toner I've ever used. My skin feels so calm and comfortable every single time after I use it. Stopped using it for a while cuz I got distracted by the SK-II Clear Lotion, but when I went back to it again, I was like OMG I FORGOT HOW GOOD IT WAS!!!! It's very expensive but I definitely recommend :)  By the way it's just a very conditioning/comfortable feeling... if you're looking for something more it might not be for you.



A shout-out to the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. Unfortunately this did NOT make it to my Best of 2015 list. I was OBSESSED with it for months, but after a while I feel like I stopped feeling/seeing effects from it. You can read about my initial thoughts about it here. I ran out of it but still have a second bottle. Maybe after this little break I will be able to see if it makes any difference again?


2. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

Last year I raved about the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. This year it was replaced by this XD Now I just use this whenever I cleared out my blackheads. Not only it keeps the pores tight, it also nourishes and reduces the peeling process to a minimum. I mean the Mask is still great... it works through a different mechanism (ie, drawing things out) so it depends on what you're looking for. Personally, the oil > mask because the mask is such a hassle to wash off. Before I was willing to put up with it just because the results were phenomenal, but after discovering this oil does the same... I haven't touched the mask at all lol. Prob will save the mask for the summer. I also use it all over my face once in a while. Personally can't use it every day-- too much exfoliating/breaks me out. 


Here are my most used skincare from 2015

Cetaphil is awesome.

Still loving the Clinique Smart Custom Repair Serum.

First Aid Ultra Repair Cream is awesome.

When I had that peeling problem around my mouth, Luca's Paw Paw Ointment helped with the healing process a lot (that and it's a great lip balm in general). Not as much as Carmex though :) Seriously, Carmex is the cure/godsend for any lip problem O_O

Want to give a shout out to the Origins GinZing eye cream. Used to think it was just okay but not only it's great for dark circles, it's also awesome for reducing puffiness.

And of course, the Diorsnow UV Shield is still the most amazing base makeup I've ever used =)   


3. Innisfree Smart Foundation Super Moisture

Best liquid foundation award of course goes to this! Although.... it might be discontinued already O_O I have no idea. You can read my review here.



 
Want to give a little shout out to the Too Faced Born This Way foundation. Although I only tested out that foundation briefly... still thinking about it lol. Review here. Although I heard they expanded the color range... I might be able to find a better match?


Most used base makeup...

Clinique Air Brush Concealer-- Don't use it as a concealer cuz I just can't place anything underneath my eyes =_= so was just trying to use it up by using it to highlight my forehead, between my brows, my nose bridge, around my mouth, and under my chin. It's grown on me =D

Too Faced Chocolate Powder Foundation. Review here. Now I actually really like it since moving to Cali.

Lancome Teint Miracle Powder Foundation (Asia edition). Talked about it LONG LONG time ago here.

SK-II Auractivator CC Cream. Reviewed here. It was only most-used because it's sheer coverage + sunscreen in one... I used it a lot when I was lazy. But it's not something I would repurchase... I'm kind of over the super glowy look and plus it doesn't last on combination skin.


4. 廣源良菜瓜水 Luffa Water Facial Mist

Favorite mist of the year LOL. So cheap, yet the spritz bottle is so nice! Super portable and light. Also the mist it gives out is pretty fine. Pretty damn impressed. Did I mention it's so cheap??? LOL. Been enjoying my Jurlique Rose Water Mist but this is something I definitely will go back to. Thumbs up! Hmm... not sure where you can get it, bought it when I was in Taiwan. If anyone is interested let me know I'll look into it.


5. Lunasol Beige Beige eye shadow quad

Favorite eye shadows award no doubt goes to this quad =D


Really, can't find fault with any of the colors. Still obsessed with the glitter shadow, and the brown shadow. Really want to try out more Lunasol eye shadows. Pretty sure if I ever run out of this palette I would repurchase (or at least I would buy another quad from Lunasol). See here for details/swatches.


Of course... you guys know it by heart now, the only eyeliner I use is by Milani Infinite eyeliner in 06 unlimited.


My best advise for long-lasting eyeliner is...
1. Avoid liquid foundation over the eye area. Or if you must, at least set it with powder. Just use a powder foundation
2. Do your eyeliner first with an eye shadow. My favorites are the brown one from Lunasol Beige Beige and L'oreal Infallible eye shadow in Bronzed Taupe. Those two seriously make EXCELLENT eyeliner base. Helps my eyeliner stay on super long... and gives my eyeliner and much more softer and blended look.
3. Then layer this eyeliner over the eye shadow

Years and years of wearing makeup and these are my best tricks to long-lasting eyeliner =D Seriously, give this a try. Don't do liquid eyeliner first then layer with eye shadow, that doesn't do anything. Do eye shadow as eyeliner first THEN the liquid/gel eyeliner.



Trusty and beloved Shiseido eye lash curler, and Majolica Majorca mascara and mascara primer.


6. Neuve eye brow pencil

Faaaavorite eye brow product this year!!! the Maybelline one and everything else fell out of my favor. And this is so freaking cheap too.


Favorite blushes

If I have to pick a favorite one, it will have to be the THREE blushes. However, I feel like these all got equal amounts of love from me... the formulation for all three brands are amazing. Check them out!

THREE- Sweet Thing-- LOVE THIS for spring/summer.

THREE- Into the Aether-- OBSESSED for colder months. Currently reaching for only this LOL.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes-- Mood Exposure and Luminous Flush are my favs. Mood Exposure is just an amazing all-year-round color.

For these blushes you can see my swatches here. 

Discovered the Bobbi Brown blushes like in mid-year and they have amazing formulation. I love both colors that I got-- Coral Sugar and Peony, but I prefer Coral Sugar :)


I actually made a little dent!!!!!! I've never made a dent in a blush before!!! *Le PROUD*


Favorite lip products

3CE lip laquer in Dahlia. Formula is VERY drying, me no like. But I love the color and the matte finish so I'll deal with it LMAO

YSL volupte shine in corail intuitive. It's a nude pink... I seldom use it on its own, but it's the PERFECT nude pink to layer over :))) One of my fav combos is to layer the Clio Lipnicure in Revenge Pink over it to create the gradient lip.

YSL glossy stain in #29... an all-around favorite now lol don't think I can live without it. It just goes with EVERYTHING.

Favorite lip tint/stain award goes to the VDL Triple Shot Tint Bar. It's not gimmick at all lol. Cannot say enough good things about it. Staining is decent, but the formula is impeccable-- super moisturizing!! I would really really love love LOVE to collect all of the colors... but... calm your panties now Frances =_=


Shout outs to Rouge Dior Nude in 169 Greige. No idea if it's still being sold, but at one point was obsessed with wearing nude lips hahaha.

Aritaum Honey Melting Tint deserves a shout out too... great great formula. Would've made it to the best if I have different shades I guess? For some reason even though these two are super cute shades... I don't always feel it.


Fav brushes awards go to...

SUQQU cheek brush. Yes. It's love! Awesome for small face girls lol. And I mean it's pretty multi-functional too... for powder, highlight... etc :)

And a surprising favorite... SUQQU eyeliner D brush. Funny thing is I kind of hated this brush for a while LOL cuz it felt so scratchy. Was about to give up on it. Took me 3 months to break it in I'm not even exaggerating =_= not sure if the turning point was when I decided to clean it with my cleansing oil?? Maybe that helped. And yes, I prefer this over eyeliner C now, simply because I like a softer look.












Of course... additional shout-outs.

Well actually the Bubbi multi-function brush isn't a shout-out, it's an all-time favorite. Why is it discontinued??? I don't get it. SO GREAT for traveling, and honestly sometimes I just use it even when I'm not traveling cuz it's so great. So soft and applies powder SO WELL and so portable. Love love love.

SUQQU Face Brush... okay I would NEVER travel with this thing. Too expensive and I'm too scared to lose it. It's a luxury brush and it's super soft... but it's not a must. Still, a pleasure to use so here it is lol!

Eyeliner C also deserves a shout-out. Good brush =) 





Only one favorite hair product from this year (aside from my old standby-- Aveda shampoos). Bumble & bumble Surf Infusion hair spray. Already talked about it on Instagram so not gonna elaborate.


Favorite perfumes!


Jo Malone Nectarine & Blossom. Still going strong =P Might get a full size one... Although I want to buy the Blue Agava & Cacao next... hmmmmm....

Chloe... the perfume?? LOL too lazy to look up the name...



======================================================================
Beauty resolutions for 2016 =)

This might be shocking to all of you XD But I want to stop using liquid foundations. For good. I will continue using up what's already been open on hand (or I might not... still deciding), but I think I will get rid of the rest and just use powder from here on out.

The reason why I made that decision is that being a pharmacist (yayy I can say that now) you learned that your skin ABSORBS a lot of stuff. A lot of medications work by being absorbed from the skin into the blood stream (like gels, patches, etc). I don't want my body to absorb anything unnecessary. These days I sometimes only apply skincare at night... or I haven't been wearing my Dior sunscreen at all just because it's been very gloomy and I just got lazy with the sun protection. Interestingly my skin got better O_O so even skincare products are just full of chemicals. Feel like my skin does better without most of it. I mean of course I'll still continue to use them LOL. But just trying to keep them to a minimum and just back to the basics. I think even though the Dior sunscreen is great, but because it literally fills in all the pores, it adds burden to my skin without me even realizing it.

Second resolution... take off my lip products before I eat. Don't want to swallow all that shit LOL. I still forget a lot of times. Working on it!!

Third... keep gyming/be physically active

Fourth... eat only till when I'm full. My new thing is to eat whatever I want and whenever I want (preferably only when I'm hungry or really really craving for something... or just if it feels really good/fits the mood :D) but to never be too full. NEVER stuff myself!! lol. Been doing really well on this. I no longer do cheat days... I feel like that kind of mentality actually made me have very unhealthy relationship with food. Cuz you're constantly restricting yourself and thinking about what you should reward yourself with at the end of the week you know? lol! I just want to eat and enjoy food and not think/obsess about it.

Fifth... cut down makeup expenses. Hahaha. Feel like such a hypocrite saying this cuz obviously I'm sharing things I like and therefore "promoting" stuff (in the sense I make my readers want to buy stuff XD)  but I really just need to get away from YouTube and all that so I won't get "triggered". These days I mostly watch vlogs and just try to put my energy elsewhere. Time to move on to bigger and better things??? Can I save up for a house please??? LOL!!


Alrighty, if you've stuck around for this far, thank you =) thanks for reading my blog and just put up with my general ramblyness haha. Not sure where the direction of this blog's headed... I mean I love reviewing stuff... but since I want to actively distance myself from the makeup world so I won't get triggered to always wanting to buy/try new stuff... not sure what kind of content I will be able to bring you guys. Any thoughts?

Again... happy 2016 to you all!  I'm really excited to see what 2016 has in store for me ^__^

Much much love,



<3 Frances

Umm... Random Lip Product Swatches? Aritaum, Clio, VDL, Revlon, 3CE, Loreal, Maybelline

Yellow peeps!

How's everyone doing? Hope you guys are keeping warm. It's been bloody freezing here (don't ask me why I said bloody.... I think it must be the fake British in me XD)

I totally did not think there would be such a long gap between this post and my last... what can I say... I have dry eyes and sitting here staring at the computer is just such a pain these days. But anyway, since it's snowing hard today and I have nothing else to do but nest... I thought I'd come up here to distract myself from my urge of stuffing my face XD 

This post is gonna be pretty random XD hence the questionable title. Too lazy to think of a good title since there really isn't a cohesive theme here. But I just really want to share what some of the lip products look like on :) Oh by the way.... I forgot to do arm swatches of the lipsticks... as well as I forgot to take individual pics of the lip products -_- me is so scatterbrained. If you guys want arm swatches let me know. Otherwise I'm just not gonna bother, lol.

And before I start, I want to quickly mention that I did photoshop these photos. If you guys go back to my other posts, you can see there's always this ginormous blood vessel in my left eye (so it will be the right eye on screen). It's a permanent thing/nothing I can do about it, but it's been getting worse since my eyes have been SO DRY. Anyway it really bothered me so I just decided to photoshop it out. It doesn't affect the swatches so why not lol. Just want to be transparent with you guys... although it really isn't a big deal at all. Nobody will prob notice anything if I didn't say anything LOL.

As usual, here's me with my bare lips.



I have to pose with this. Had all the lippies that I wanted to show for this post in this bag. SO ADORABLE!!!! Who else here loves Stitch? =DDDDD


Oh I should also mention... the pics are kind of washed out... please keep that in mind. I tried =( sunlight did not want to work with me.


1. Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony

It's a neutral pink. It's slightly pinker in person. It's so washed out here that it looks like a nude pink... although it does translate a bit more nude pink on me than arm swatches.


I actually don't like this lipstick as much as I thought I would... I think it's probably because when I first tried it... I was more tanned than now so it looked more flattering then. Now that I'm back to NC20... I don't find this shade particularly flattering. Eh, I don't know. It's a nice lipstick though but there's just something off about it. The formula is good though... moisturizing and buttery. Also minty. Although I don't find the formula any more superior than drugstore lippies, say like Revlon lip butters.






2. Aritaum Honey Melting Tint in No. 2 Sugar Syrup

This, is the worst swatch of all the lippies in this post. Not true to color at all. Why did I bother posting this -_-" it looks almost like the Tarte lipstick here but it's not remotely close in real life. It's a very neon peachy pink. Very cutesy and gives your lips that young look. I tried and tried but it just would NOT translate through the photo. Please imagine the color to be more vibrant and neon.


Not true to color!


Not true to color!


Not true to color!
 

Not true to color!
.... I REALLY TRIED. I swear -_-


3.  Aritaum Honey Melting Tint in No.3 Strawberry Chips

Again, this photographed HORRIBLY. It's a bright pink, also on the more neon side.


Not true to color! Funnily this actually looks a bit more like No.2 Sugar Syrup in real life cuz it's so washed out lol.


Imagine this color to be more intense and brighter... it's so washed out. But I feel like this one at least shows up a bit better than No.2 =_=


Not true to color!

I think I might just have to find another time and see if I can photograph these lippies better. Cuz they are so gorgeous and it kills me that you guys can't see how bright and pretty they are! Super flattering in my opinion. Did I mention I love the formula as well? By the way they smell like peaches :D 


4. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in #7 Soft Coral

... You know what, now I look at it, this looks exactly like MAC Ravishing OMG!! Bobbi Brown perhaps look a bit darker/more orange in the tube... but they look pretty much the same on my lips. Oh gosh XD

Formula is okay... your typical creamy lipstick. Not excessively drying but also not moisturizing.


Oops, sorry for that stray hair lol





5. VDL  Triple Shot Tint Bar in 101 Triple Pink

I actually surprised myself by how much I like this color. Generally not a fan of pale/light pink on me, but I think this lipstick is pretty! And surprisingly the triple color/gradient lip thing actually works O_o so it's not a gimmick product LOL. These pics are kind of washed out too... but I think the effect is there.








In person, the pink in the person looks much darker and the gradient is much more obvious. Looks so blended/one color here.




6. Innisfree Creammellow Lipstick in #8

My lips were getting really dry at this point from putting on/removing all the lipsticks... so they weren't taking the color well /__\  so excuse the patchy application. Patchiness aside, isn't this red color gorgeous? Definitely one of my favs!

I think this red color is the perfect beginner red if you've never dabbled into red lips :) you can definitely build up the intensity, or wear it thinly for a more natural look like I did in these pics.

By the way... the formula of this lipstick is really interesting... I've never had any lipstick like this O_O it feels kind of "dry sticky"... it's really hard to describe because it's not like a super buttery lipstick that can be a bit sticky because it's so soft... it's more "sticky" in the sense that you can feel a very firm coating on the lips.  Sorry if that doesn't make any sense XD but it's a lipstick that you can feel that it's there once applied. I also wouldn't consider this formula moisturizing. It's on the drier side but not as drying as a matte lipstick would be.











7. Clio Lipnicure in #5 Revenge Pink

Haha, sorry for the uneven application. It looked pretty even in person, but I guess not XD







Can you tell by all these extra selfies that I ADORE this color? =D






LOVE this color. But keep in mind that all the photos are a bit washed out and it's more vibrant/in your face in person lol.




Personally, I do not like using this lipnicure on my bare lips. I have to apply this OVER some lip balm because otherwise, I can taste the product, which is like tasting fragrance (ever accidentally get perfume on your lips? That's what it feels like, ugh).

I don't find this product exceptionally long lasting?? So I don't really think it lives up to its name. Even when I apply it directly over my bare lips, it doesn't really set or stay. Also, when I apply it directly over my bare lips, I find it really hard to blend out cuz it's so dry and thick. I'd have to blend it out with some lip balm.
 
When it's applied over some lip balm, it's staying power is just like any other lipstick-- it comes off as you eat/drink/talk.


8. 3CE Lip Laquer in Dahlia

One of my favorite colors over the winter. Actually can't believe I forgot to include in my January favs -_-  Got too excited over my Japanese makeup haul lol. Gorgeous gorgeous deep dark red that is not intimidating at all... in fact, it's really perfect for dark gradient red lips!










Yep... my lips were not having it. They were so dry T_T






Formula-wise... it's slightly on the drier side, since it does give matte finish.

I actually have another 3CE lip product that I wanted to show you guys... but I could not find it when I was taking pictures for this post -_- so it will have to wait. I used to never be able to understand how some girls say "I have no idea where such makeup product went!" ... I'd be like... how can you not know?! But now I'm guilty of becoming one of them XD Especially now I have the habit of taking out lip products with me... they get lost so easily in the purse... in my pockets... etc etc. Haha


9. Maybelline Super Stay 14HR Lipstick in 065 Ravishing Rouge

May I formally introduce you guys, my all time favorite red lipstick? =) a true red lipstick, that is XD


MAC's Ruby Woo and Russian Red have nothing on this lipstick. It complements me the best!










10. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 415 Pink In The Afternoon

It's a dusty pink color. Hahaha I forgot to take lip swatches for this lippie... but yeah basically just posting these pics here to show you guys that...  I'm not crazy about this color lol. Does not go with my skin tone. Prob a good choice if you're going for smokey eyes though.

But Revlon Lustrous Lipsticks have pretty good formula and a wide range of colors... Definitely a line that I'd recommend checking out :)


11. L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in 202 Coral Encore

Heads up: STRONG FRAGRANCE. 






I like the formula! It's slightly thick but moisturizing.





12. Maybelline  Matte Lipstick in 680 Mesmerizing Magenta

Not sure if this is discontinued... cuz it was like half off/rollback price when I got it last year. Not crazy about the formula... it has a certain slippy feeling to it. Also not really feeling the color. It smells like very sweet vanilla lipstick haha, so it has a certain plastic-y scent to it.








13. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 720 Fire & Ice

One of my all time favorite orange-y reds. Again, never introduced it on my blog before cuz I was waiting to write about it in my red lipstick collection post, haha.




I look like I was in pain. Or having a facial spasm. HAHA.





Alrighty folks! Hope you guys enjoyed this post. I'm gonna continue to nest... and do a little bit of baking =D

See you guys in the next one! Stay warm and safe!


<3 Frances