July 2015 Empties/ Mini Reviews

Hi hi!


It's time to go through my trash again LOL. Let's do this!!

1. Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

I want to say it does nothing,  but since I ran out of this and returned the Aveda one and only been using the Kiehls Avocado eye cream in the morning... I've been noticing my dark circles have been horrible O_o so maybe it did do something. Not repurchasing this time around but gonna get something with caffeine for my morning eye cream. 


2. Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Lipo-drain Serum

Have had this for a longggg time. Stopped using it because it makes my skin feel dry??? It's kind of hard to describe. Not a tightening feeling, just it just gave me a weird feeling as if my skin is dehydrated from the inside. Lol I don't even know, I just know I don't like how it makes my face feel after. Anyway didn't want it to go to waste so I only applied it to the jawline and neck this time around (you're supposed to apply it to your entire face and neck, followed by a "massage" routine). This works for water retention so it does have a slimming effect. Lipo-drain? I think that's false claim. I bought two of them at that time so currently working on the second bottle.


3. Skin & Co. Truffle Body Milk Sample

Nothing special. Smell reminds me more of almond milk lol. 


4. Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Neck Cream
 

 
This is just a deluxe sample size I got when I purchased the lipo-drain serum. I actually liked it! And I do feel like it works. It does give you that tightening feeling and I feel like my double chin is less saggy/prominent while I used it LOL. Don't know if I'm gonna purchase the full size product. I feel like I like it but don't love it to splurge.


5. Diorsnow UVB Protection
 
... This is the first time I noticed it says "UVB" protection on this product. Does that mean it only has UVB protection and not UVA??? Or is it merely emphasizing it has UVB protection in addition to UVA??? I gotta look into it O_O

Anyway you guys know I love this sunscreen. Talked about it multiple times (see here). The only thing I will add though is it is more suitable for winter. Even in the desert/dry climate here in California, I found this sunscreen to be a bit too heavy in this heat... Didn't realize how heavy it feels until I switched to Anessa. That said I still love this sunscreen and I do have two more in my stash. I need to stop hoarding!!

 
I noticed they do have new packaging now! Which is awesome because when the product is low, the cap just will NOT stay on. Kept falling off which frankly was very annoying. I'm really glad they changed the packaging but I'm also bummed out that I have two of the old package ones -_- lol
 
Love that it comes with a pump. Super easy to control. Not sure if the new ones do (feel like the new ones look like regular screw-on lids).

 
Thought I squeezed out all of the product but when I cut it open there was SO MUCH product left. I ended up applying the leftover product on my body and there was more than enough.


6. Arcona Magic Dry Ice Hydrating Gel Sample

It was nice... ppl who like gel moisturizers will probably like this. But to me it wasn't special and I don't miss it. Smells like cherry flavored cough syrup which was a turn-off for me.


7. Origins Youthopia-Lift Firming Cream Sample

I'm not even sure if this was discontinued or renamed/repackaged. Can't seem to find the Youthopia line anymore. Anyway this thing is really old too but I do like it! Like the Clarins firming cream, it gives a tightening feeling and somewhat "reduce" the appearance of my double chin lol. I'm more inclined to look into firming products from Origins than Clarins... ummm... simply because I like Origins? lol.


8. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner 



Here's another one

You'll probably see this product on my blog until the day I stop blogging.


9. Guerlain Abeille Royale Face Treatment Oil Sample

I think it's nice and it does hydrate my face/make it plumper, but I don't think it's that special. First time I used it was very taken aback by the smell-- it was like applying perfume to my face. Doesn't smell like old lady exactly... maybe smells like rich middle aged lady skincare??? lol


10. Lancome Soothing Recharging Night Cream

This expired before I had a chance to try it on my face O_O I just used it on my body.  I think I would've very much enjoyed it though. The name "cream" is really misleading because it's more of a thick gel. If you like the Clinique Moisture Surge I think you will enjoy this. It was very hydrating when I tried it on my body.


11. NUDE Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil Sample

When I was at Sephora the SA insisted that I need to try this because she said it was basically the most amazing oil she's ever tried. Ummm... sadly didn't work out that way for me. It has rosehip oil so I was excited to test it out. But when I applied this it didn't want to sink it. The two nights I had it on I could feel a layer of oil on my face. The Sunday Riley oils and Guerlain oil didn't do that. And I didn't notice anything extraordinary either.


12. Yes to Coconut Polishing Body Scrub

The formula of this body scrub was very interesting-- it contained exfoliating beads in jelly. Don't know how else to describe it lol never used anything like this before. It did feel quite hydrating and not in a residue/uncomfortable sort of way. Not sure if I will repurchase. It was okay.


13. Wen Lavender Cleansing Conditioner

As you can see... the pump broke -_- I have no idea what happened to it. Anyway too lazy to use it. I'm pretty much over cleansing conditioners anyway so I just decided to toss it out. Such a waste but whatever. Not gonna try to hang on to products I don't like when I have so many other good products that are waiting for me to finish before they expire O_O lol.



14. Aveda Invati



Talked about it here. Since I wrote that very recently and my thoughts have not changed, please just refer to that :)


15. Maybelline Fashion Brow Duo in BR-1

Really enjoyed this product! At one point I was pretty much in love/obsessed with it lol but that has passed. Still doesn't change the fact it's great though! But it ran out quite fast @_@ seeing that I've never ran out of other brow products before. 


One end is the twist up brow pencil, the other brow powder. I have backups of this product so I'll make sure to write about/swatch it the next time I open up a new one =P



16. Kate Lash Maximizer (white)

It contains a lot of little fibers, which became really annoying as the formula dried-- the little fibers stuck out and poked my eyes. The same applies to all fiber mascaras though-- have to make sure to use a tweezer to get all those fibers that are sticking out. It does the job of holding curls/volumizing, but I won't repurchase. Too expensive for what it is. There are cheaper and better options.


17. Mistine Super Model Mascara

This is a dual end mascara that I got while I was in Thailand. The description was all in Thai so I kind of had to figure out how to use it on my own LOL.Was a bit cautious when I bought it cuz I've never tried Thai cosmetics but I've seen positive reviews on it (from a Taiwanese YouTuber) so decided to give it a try.


1. Mascara has little curl hold. It doesn't make my lashes go stick straight but my lashes would lose a bit of the curl
2. The fibers stick poorly to the lashes if you don't lay something down as a base first

I used the mascara two ways. I'd use my mascara primer as always, put on a layer of the mascara, follow up with the fibers, then mascara again. More often I would use my own mascara primer, then just the mascara end. I found the mascara is pretty good for length/volume without the fibers.

If you want to use the fiber end but don't have your own mascara primer, I'd still suggest putting down a layer of mascara first, then fibers, then mascara so you can get the fibers to stick.





I will say, the fibers aren't messy as I anticipated. I didn't experience any fall outs/irritation while using it. Major kudos to that since I find most fiber formulation really irritating to eyes. When you apply the fibers to your mascara-coated lashes though, you might find the fibers clump up quite a bit. But that can be combed out as you use a second layer. Yeah kind of troublesome that's why I usually forgo the fibers lol.


I do have some application photos for you =P Took them a long time ago lol.





Not the cleanest looking lashes. Personally don't really care hahaha. They do look better from afar



Overall effect



Really love how much my lashes stand out with this mascara.

Pretty much in my last few posts I was using the primer+mascara combination (so no fibers). You can see the effect best here.  The mascara itself works pretty well. Fiber end really isn't needed lol.

Will I repurchase? Probably not. I'd be totally willing to try out another mascara from Mistine though! I will probably just look for a regular mascara without fibers.


18. MAC Liquidlast Eyeliner in Coco Bar

Discontinued. Hoarded some backups when it was being discontinued. Later discovered Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner is a dupe.


... I always felt like I didn't finish that much stuff, but how come my empties posts always end up being so long? -_- lol.

Have a great rest of the day :)




<3 Frances

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


1. Chloe perfume

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

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

3. Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 575 Wonderland





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






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





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



I love the name of this lip product =P


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


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

Went to return the MUFF aqua cream (cuz it smudges within an hour 😓) and pick up the Clinique smart custom repair serum and came out with this 🙈🙈🙈 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 😄), and spotted that Hourglass has an Ambient lighting blush palette 😱😱😱😱 I reasoned that after 20% off each blush is $16... So... 🙈 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 Nov 9, 2014 at 7:03pm PST

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.

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. 

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. 


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.

Review: innisfree green tea seed serum did not work for me 😞 It is extremely fragranced, I was quite taken aback by how perfume-y this thing smells. I was expecting something that smells natural or at least smells like green tea. I like the consistency-- it's very light/watery and fast to absorb and hydrating. Not sticky at all. Not sure if it was the fragrance in this thing that broke me out... I have not heard a single negative review on this so I really didn't expect my skin to react to it, but it did break me out pretty badly (red bumps all over my face) #innisfree #greenteaseedserum #greenteaseed #serum #skincare #korean #koreanskincare #review #beautyblogger

A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on Nov 9, 2014 at 6:18pm PST

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 😔 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 Nov 9, 2014 at 6:27pm PST

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



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


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. 


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... -_-"  


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...

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 🙈 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!! 🙌🙌🙌 granted the flakey skin is still there, but just no longer visible. Makes makeup application 100x easier 🎉🎉🎉 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 Nov 8, 2014 at 11:27am PST

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. 



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.

Dear Shu Uemura cleansing oil, why did I ever stop using you 😍 actually I know why, because Shu freaking pulled their counters out of the US LOL. I do prefer Shu over MAC and Bobbi Brown, but in all honestly they all get the job done. Shu is a thicker/richer texture and I feel like makes the job comparatively easier ✌️ #shuuemura #japaneseskincare #skincare #cleansingoil #review #beautyblogger #makeupremover #skinpurifier

A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on Nov 13, 2014 at 8:26am PST

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

[JAPAN] Damage 😱 PS. Didn't buy anything for myself from Laduree, it was a favor lol. Kind of disappointed after seeing the rose petal blushes in person... Not as delicate as I thought 😕 #japan #japanese #makeup #japanesemakeup #haul #taxfreeshopping #laduree #lesmerveilleuses #jillstuart #lunasol #three #suqqu #albion

A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on Dec 17, 2014 at 4:47am PST

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