I’m back after a month’s hiatus… and… jumping right in! Yes, mascara is probably the single most used makeup product in my collection. Which is perhaps why I have reviewed mascaras more than any other makeup products. In addition to that Essence is a brand I’ve reviewed over and over again simply because it’s perhaps the cheapest makeup brand available at Malaysian drugstores. This is the Essence Volume Stylist 18Hr Curl & Hold Mascara.
The product.
A little description.
As you will see later this is the shape of the brush.
Details.
The bristles.
Description: Mascara that comes in 12 ml or 0.4 oz. of product. Although it claims to hold curls that last up to 18 hours, it doesn’t claim to be waterproof.
Where to buy: Watsons (if you can find it, certain department stores).
Wear test.
Bare lashes.
One coat.
Two coats.
Pros: > Very good volume. > Very good lengthening. > Curls hold up very well (can’t attest to the 18 hours claim but as long as I’ve worn it, it doesn’t loose the curl). > Good lash separation. > No smudging. > As big and fat the wand it, it isn’t really problematic for getting even the shortest lashes because there are varying length of bristles. > Affordable! God, SO AFFORDABLE!!!
Cons: > Tiny bit fallout. > In spite of varying bristle length, working with the brush can be a tiny bit problematic.
Note: It definitely isn’t waterproof! Do with this information what you will. 🙂
Rating: 8.9/10 Great mascara! Great price! I LOVE IT!
I love NYX Cosmetics!!! It’s too bad that Sephora Malaysia doesn’t carry the brand anymore and since it was only sold in Sephora in Penang, I don’t have access to the brand unless I travel to KL… That’s supposedly easily remedied; online shopping.Unfortunately I hate online shopping. I digress…
The product.Shade name and code.Ingredients list.Comes with a doe-foot applicator.Swatch. Ignore the blurred out swatch. That was for another review. It looks darker than my skin tone here but on my face it blends in pretty well. Especially with the powder I typically use to set it with…
Description: Concealer that comes in 0.11 oz. or 3 grams of product.
Ingredients: WATER/AQUA/EAU, TRIMETHYLSILOXYPHENYL DIMETHICONE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, GLYCERIN, SILICA, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, SORBITAN OLIVATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX/CANDELILLA CERA/CIRE DE CANDELILLA, XANTHAN GUM, ALUMINA, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007), CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN (CI 77289), CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS (CI 77288), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)
Where to buy: Limited stores available (check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nyxcosmeticsmalaysia/) and online (Shopee and Hermo are two options). Price: HIGHLY depends on where you’re buying. I would HIGHLY recommend you purchase from the NYX Stores in Kuala Lumpur because they carry 12 shades (not quite enough but I guess it’ll have to work) and it’s priced at MYR 26.Shopee (MYR 29), Lazada (MYR 20.80); both online stores only carry 3 or 4 light shades.I purchased mine from Sephora (redundant at the moment but it cost me MYR 20.80; original price MYR 28).
Wear test…
Freshly applied. Again, ignore the blurred half, that’s for another review… 🙂After about 8 hours of wear. Wasn’t particularly sweating or anything.
Pros: > Applies smoothly. > It doesn’t crease (this does depend a tiny bit on the setting powder used). > Pretty good shade range (there’s 20 shades in total;just not here in Malaysia, we have 12, AT MOST, here in Malaysia) > Pigmented and opaque. > No caking even when layered. > As evident, very long lasting!
Cons: > No more easily available here in Malaysia (and the online options are SO limited). > The product separates a little when in the tube so I have to vigorously shake it up every time I want to use it (hoping this is just my first tube). > You get only 3 grams of product for the price so I’d consider it not entirely affordable (WOW, I’m such a cheapo!).
Rating: 9.2/10 I love this concealer but I do wish it was more accessible here in Malaysia. I love it so much that I got backup when it was on sale.
Wow, with the new background comes some new firsts! The previous review was my first time reviewing Zoeva and now it is my first time reviewing a concealer!The product I own was gifted to me by a very close friend who also happens to be a fellow blogger, Lakshmi of Big is Compatible (link here).
The product.Ingredients and shade name.Product from the US of A and made in China!It has a brush tip! That’s cool! It does end up looking a little icky if not cleaned.Swatch… Ignore the blurred patch (it’s for a different review).
Description: Concealer in a squeeze tube with a brush tip and comes in 0.28 oz or 8 grams.
Where to buy: Online at L.A. Girl Malaysia (link here) and also a very limited amount of booths in Play Up and Parksons (check the website under “LOCATE US”).
Price: MYR 30 (from L.A. Girl Malaysia official website)
Wear test…
Freshly applied. Again, ignore the blurred half, that’s for another review… 🙂After about 7 hours of wear. Wasn’t particularly sweating or anything.I’ve tried it on a hot and humid day and I was sweating and it performed just as well..
Pros: > Applies smoothly. > It doesn’t crease (this does depend a tiny bit on the setting powder used). > Pigmented and opaque. > I am partial to the packaging, because like toothpaste I can squeeze it to completion. > WIDE shade range (VERY dark skin friendly). > No caking even when layered. > As evident, very long lasting!
Cons: > The tip can get a tiny bit messy. > Not easily available here in Malaysia. > Price is steep considering it is just USD 5 in the US of A.
Rating: 9.3/10 I love this concealer. If you can get it at any less than MYR 30, then do grab it!
Founded by Zoe Boikou, Zoeva as a brand began with only a line of makeup brushes which has now expanded to eyeshadows, lipsticks, and even blushers and highlighters. This is a review of a single brush, namely the 227 blending brush.
The brush. (I LOVE MY NEW BACKGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)The cardboard inside has some information on the brush.Excellent packaging. Definitely made me feel like I purchased something high end.The handle with the brand and product code engraved.Bristles up close.It is slightly flatten with bristles that are frayed out to allow good eyeshadow blending.
Description: Makeup brush intended for eyeshadow blending. Bristles: Mix of natural (goat hair) and synthetic Ferrule: Brass Handle: Wood (lacquered six times)
Price: MYR 59
Where to buy: Sephora outlets nationwide and online at sephora.my
Pros: > The brush feels and works like a high-end makeup brush. > Extremely sturdy and durable. > Blends out eyeshadow beautifully! > Having had it for a couple of years, traveled with it and also used and washed it so many times, it looks almost as good as new as evident from the pictures. > Soft bristles.
Cons:
> Did initially shed a little but when it stopped shedding, it stopped for
good.
> Price isn’t affordable but the brush is definitely worth the price.
> Natural bristles require more care than synthetic brushes.
Rating: 9.1/10 I LOVE THIS BRUSH! I actually wanted to test out Zoeva as a brand and so I purchased the brush that I had only one of in my collection at that time (an eyeshadow blending brush). Definitely worth the money spent! I am actually eyeing a classic set. If you’re a makeup artist or simply just love makeup, it is definitely worth investing in it!
Second Rimmel review! I loved the previous product (Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal – link here) and let’s see if I love this too. Today, I review the often talked about Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder in the shade 010 Warm Honey.
The product. Very simple packaging.
Product inside.
Description on the back.
A closer look.
Swatch. About half a shade lighter than my skin tone.
Description: Pressed powder that comes in 14 grams or 0.49 oz of product. Here in Malaysia there are about 6 shades which is pretty good because I believe 010 is one of the darkest! Sure enough, 010 is difficult to find because it seems to be sold out.
Where to buy: Selected Guardian and Watsons nationwide.
Price: MYR 14.90 (at this price, waiting for a promotion isn’t even necessary!)
Wear test.
Freshly applied. I used this only under the eyes because it is too light to use all over the face (yes, picture reused from my Maybelline Fit Me foundation review, link here).
After about six hours of wear. The under eyes have stayed almost perfect!
Pros:
Smooth velvety powder.
Easy to apply and blend.
Lives up to the name! It stays matte all day!
CHEAP!
Does not look heavy or cakey with proper application.
Lasts very well on the skin!
Comfortable to wear.
Cons:
Can settle into lines if over applied.
Darker shades of this powder would be perfection. It actually does come in deeper shades but this is the deepest one available here in Malaysia.
Packaging is very flimsy.
No powder puff or sponge.
Can cause flashback if over applied.
Rating: 9.1/10
In spite of the Cons, I LOVE this powder and am giving it a high rating. By the way, I already have a backup, enough said.
Update 17th June 2019: Prices have been revised for these products. Check under each product review section.
Another day, another Althea review! Yeay! Althea launched a new collection called A-Bloom and let me tell you that the adorable factor is 10 out of 10. You’ll see in the pictures below.I was sent all these products but opinions are all mine! None of the links are affiliate links either!
I LOVE THIS BOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!SO MANY GOODIES!!!!!!!!!
SO the collection comes with the following; 1. BHA Blackhead Blaster 2. A’bloom Giant Meringue Puff 3. A’bloom Baby Meringue Puffs 4. A’bloom Moisturizing Watermelon Mask Sheet 5. A’bloom Nourishing Avocado Mask Sheet 6. A’bloom Brightening Lemon Lime Mask Sheet 7. A’bloom Anti-Blemish Peach Mask Sheet I will be reviewing the blackhead blaster as a unit, both the meringue puffs as a unit, and the masks as a unit.
First up, the Blackhead Blaster.
Illustrations! YES!A little bit of description on the box.
Directions and ingredients. I have to say THANK YOU ALTHEA for the ENGLISH scripts!!!
A close look. I will list the ingredients separately too.It comes in a twist up tube.Safety cap! YES! highly appreciated!Don’t worry the black is just the charcoal!
Description: Cleansing stick targeted at managing and removing blackhead, excess sebum as well as pore cleaning. Has charcoal as an added ingredient and hence the black colour.
Pros: -Cleanses pores and excess sebum really well. -Easy to use. -User friendly packaging. -PRICE! -Skin felt clean and fresh.
Cons: -Dries out the skin a tiny bit. This typically happens with me when tea tree oil and charcoal is involved. (But I only used it on and around the nose and forehead area). -The grit that is supposed to clean the pores does dissolve but not fast enough and so it does scratch the skin! First time I used it I actually felt the grit on my skin and not in a good way. The grit is a little sharp. Take note that I don’t have the most sensitive skin or delicate skin for that matter.Althea website says that it is supposed to be gentle so I guess it would depend on your own skin and how you handle exfoliation.
The red circles are the gritty substance in it which I believe is charcoal although I can’t be sure.
Rating: 6.5/10 As effective as it is I was not a fan of the grittiness of the stick.As much as it made my skin softer and really exfoliated, I did notice one or two tiny zits around the areas I used it which is something I’ve noticed, happens when I use a really strong exfoliant. I doubt this product would be something I’d willingly purchase.
Next up, the Meringue Puffs! Trust me, this is the most adorable thing you’ll see in this review!
OMG, OMG, OMG!!!Both puffs come with the same description because they’re made of the same material.Thank GOD for description in ENGLISH!Not dampened.Dampened! Definitely gets CONSIDERABLY larger.This are the smaller puffs, the larger one is just a result of dampening it.YES! SO CUTE!This is how it looks held up to my face (dampened).
Description: High density latex free makeup sponges that come in two sizes.
Note: I can’t attest to longevity of the sponges just as yet, since this was sent to me for my honest review, I agreed to post the review within a prescribed time limit but I will definitely keep you posted.
Pros: -Blends out cream and liquid product beautifully. -Blends out product in RECORD time because the giant sponge is so big! -The baby sponge helps with the nooks and crannies. -Soft sponge! -Bouncy and that’s really important in makeup sponges. -CHEAP!!! MY GOD SO CHEAP!
Cons: -It EATS product. First time I used it I had pumped out enough to cover my face and when I dipped the sponge into the foundation it completely disappeared into the sponge. I thought it might just dispense onto my face and it did but not all of the product came out. Because of this, I tried dotting on my face and blending it out and this worked much better. -Although it has a teardrop shape, the tip tapers off to the base on an angle too wide rendering it not that useful for going into the corners for more precise blending. The smaller ones are much more useful for this but since they have the same shape I get more use from the base than I do from the pointed end. -Holds too much water so the sponge needs to be rung out properly lest the face becomes wet (unless of course that is your desired look).
The point is not acute enough to fit nicely at the under-eye area.Even the baby sponge is shaped that way and it’s not that convenient.
This is how I used the baby sponge.
Rating: 6.9/10 I am torn with this. It’s soft, blends well and is CHEAP but at the same time, the cons are pretty serious. Sponges are good because they should take away some product off the face so one doesn’t look caked on but at the same time it shouldn’t eat up your product. I feel like people doing body paint might get good use of out it because the giant sponge is so big it would cover a large portion of the skin with a base grease paint fairly quickly. Perhaps even faster than a large brush.
Last up, THE FACE MASKS!
I got four!LOVE the puns!Description on the back and in ENGLISH! YES!I am only sharing one picture because directions are the same and specific ingredients I’ve already listed.Four different masks made for four different goals.
Description: Face masks that come in four different variations.
Price: MYR 2 (each)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YASSSS!!!!!!!!!(no change in price, THANK GOD!)
Pros: -All four masks worked beautifully. –Mild scent. Fragrance is not an ingredient so perhaps the only scents I caught were from the ingredients. -The mask is very wide which is ideal for me because masks rarely cover my big face properly! -Avocado – It is supposed to balance pH; I don’t know if it did but this was my FAVE out of the four. -Watermelon – This lived up to its name; it moisturised my skin and made it bouncy. -Lime – Brightening is something that takes time. Hardly something that will be obvious in a single use. However, I loved how this mask makes my skin feel! Peach –This was the only one that didn’t do much for me except hydration.
Cons: None (RARE, INDEED)!
TIP! Squeeze out the serum/essence from the face mask and use it on your legs and feet to get the most out of it!
Rating: 9/10 Out of all the products in this collection, it’s funny that I loved the masks the most because I don’t really believe in masking except for the soul therapeutic effects it parts. So I was surprised to see an actual difference and a glow to my skin! At RM 2 it’s a STEAL!Would definitely repurchase!
Sorry if you were click-baited but here’s the meme! HAHAHA!
Edited 17th April: Added two pictures because there was something I missed on the product. Scroll to “Description”.
New products from Althea Korea; an online beauty shop from, obviously, Korea! There are country specific iterations of the shop in several countries including the USA. I am an Althea ambassador but that has no influence on my views on their products. I was sent these two together so I decided to review them together. Opinions are all mine! None of the links are affiliate links either!
The products.
One comes in a tub and the other in a tube.
Both descriptions were in Korean.
I review the Waterful Green Bamboo Pads first.
Notice the word “Pads” that will make sense in a second…
Safety sealed! Love it!
Yes, they are individual sheets that dispense product.
Comes with this teeny tiny prong to pick it up.
LIKE THIS!
This is how each sheet looks like.
Description: They are moisture pads that come in 80 sheets per tub and contains about 100 ml product. The special ingredient in this product is bamboo, as its name suggests.
The sheet material was not disclosed but there was this statement on the Althea website (verbatim).
“Made with EWG green(1-2) grade ingredients only, safe and suitable even for sensitive skin – EWG Grade : Safe Ingredients tested and chosen by American environment NGO.”
So after I had published the review and had to put away the box for recycling (YES, I ALWAYS DO!) I noticed this inside the flap of the box. It was a description of the product in English.
You see how I may have missed it!!!
Thank you Atlhea for putting the description here in English but next time, please place it where I CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT!
Pros:
Gives the skin a gentle exfoliation with the pads.
The formula itself is very effective! I noticed a difference on day 3.
Skin felt smoother.
Skin felt highly moisturised!
I even felt a little reduction in texture!
The plastic prong was a great addition (I hate tub products because I hate sticking my finger into it knowing my germs transfer into it!).
Cons:
The pads are so thin that even with the tiny tweezers it was difficult to separate each sheet.
I need AT LEAST two sheets per use, that’s about 4 sheets per day and with that the product would be done in UNDER 20 days. That’s less than a month usage.
Note: Although it does not have added fragrance, this pad does have a very strong medicinal scent to it. I’m partial to that kind of a scent as opposed to fragrance in skincare.
Rating: 8.7/10
I love this stuff!!!! I may even willingly purchase this. Once I use up all the skincare I have…
Moving on, product number 2!
The tube.
Product.
Description: It is essentially a moisturising cream that helps with skin issues.
Update 17th June 2019: Prices have been revised for these products. Scroll down to see changes.
*Disclaimer: None of the links in this review is an affiliate link. I am an Althea brand ambassador but I am NOT paid to write this review or test the product. The product was something purchased with free Althea store credit.
B-Lab is a Korean cosmetics brand whose sole purpose is to create cleansing products hence their entire line is only made up of, well, cleansers. With very simple, no fluff packaging they focus on good quality natural ingredients and effective cleansing methods.
I got the smaller one to test but because Althea was so generous to give me store credit, I went for the large 500ml one. It is a simple squeeze bottle and the black cap can screw all the way off so one could definitely reuse the bottle for something else.
Ingredient list is in Korean so I did have to refer to Althea and Google translate for information.
Description: Cleansing water that comes in 100 ml and 500 ml bottles.
Price: MYR 17.00 for 100ml and MYR 52.00 for 500ml (revised price, MYR 20.00 for 100ml & MYR 54.00 for 500ml)
Swatch test
From left to right, hard to remove liquid lip, blue liquid liner, concealer, tough to remove waterproof mascara, three pigmented eyeshadows.
Pretty good, considering, that mascara is the devil’s spawn and that liquid lipstick belongs on the Sahara desert because it dries out the lips like none I’ve tried!
Pros:
Light on the skin.
Very effective at removing makeup.
Skin feels refreshed after using.
Love the reusable bottle!
Very natural ingredients!
Cons:
Tiny bit of sticky feeling after use.
Does burn my eyes but it isn’t as bad as some others.
VERY bitter! DO NOT recommend using this on the lips!
Rating: 8/10
The price is not too bad for the amount of product and it performs pretty well but I’d look to the drugstores for my tried and tested.
Oh, another Maybelline review. What can I say, I love a lot of products from the brand. It is perhaps the first makeup brand people know here in Malaysia and today I review the Baby Skin primer.
The product. Comes in an outer plastic box.
Ingredients list and some instruction on the side of the box.
Ingredients list.
The tube.
The product. Clear silicone-y primer.
Blended out. It does fill up the pores and blur the skin as seen here.
Description: A dimethicone and silicone based primer that comes in 22ml product.
Ingredients: DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, STEARYL HEPTANOATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SILICA SILYLATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, PRUNUS CERASUS EXTRACT / BITTER CHERRY EXTRACT [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR CI 73360 / RED 30 CI 77492 / IRON OXIDES]
Where to buy: Major pharmacies/drugstores nationwide.
Price: MYR 28.21
Wear test.
No primer.
With primer.
After about 7 hours.
I used it with the Maybelline Fit Me foundation, keeping with the brand. No primer side.
Primed side.
It isn’t so apparent in the picture but the side of the primer did break apart while the unprimed side stayed intact. What is obvious from the picture is the primed side is way oilier than the unprimed side.
Pros:
It does fill up pores.
It does blur skin texture.
Generous amount of product for the price.
Cons:
As evident, it didn’t hold up even with my not so oily skin.
Foundation breaks apart and patches of skin shows through when facial oils come through.
It moves too much underneath the foundation and so the foundation does not sit well.
The scent is nauseating to me.
Feels rather uncomfortable on the skin to me.
Rating: 6/10
One expression; ‘meh’. Such a ‘meh’ product. Had it for over a year and it is not even a quarter used.
LipHop is a brand under the drugstore/pharmacy brand Guardian Health and Beauty. The products are developed and made in Korea. This is my review of the LipHop Sun Protection Lotion.
The product.
Description on the back of the tube.
Description and ingredients list.
Description: Sunscreen that comes in 100ml that claims to be SPF80.
