Empties #2

REN Micro Polish Cleanser (sample - 0.17 oz / 5 ml)
Full Size - $30   5.1 oz / 150 ml
I got this little sample size from Sephora and this only lasted a few washes for me. I like that it's a gentle physical exfoliant. The granules are fine and mixed in the foamy cleanser. I'm trying to steer away from foamy cleansers as it makes my face really dry. But I actually prefer it when it's in a scrub form because I want the granules to be rinsed off easily. Wiping it off with a washcloth might be a little too abrasive. I really like this cleanser, especially paired with chemical exfoliating products (masks, toners, moisturizers) because it gets off the residual dead skin without being too harsh. I don't use it everyday, only once or twice a week. If you have this sample or the full size, when you think you have run out of it, cut open the tube because there'll be much more than you think that's inside.
I recommend it and would definitely purchase the full size.

Melvita Rose Floral Water (sample - 0.96 oz / 28 ml)

Full size - $22   6.76 oz / 200 ml

I got this sample from a Birchbox long time ago. The thing that I love the most about it is the scent. It's lovely and natural without being overpowering. It's very gentle on my sensitive skin. The consistency is just like water. It's doesn't do much in terms of moisturizing. It will release some of the tightness after cleansing but not completely. But overall it's a lovely product and I would have purchased the full size if it was available. Apparently Melvita doesn't carry it anymore and a lot of other sites are listing it as out of stock. However, there is the Damask Rose Floral Water, which ingredients are just a bit different than the original rose water. But I would love to try it.

Caudalie Premier Cru Eye Cream (sample - 0.03 oz / 1 ml)

Full size - $98   0.5 oz / 15 ml

I remember when I got this sample from Sephora I was really disappointed because it's such a small sample. But after using it for the first time I was so glad that I picked it because it's such a nice eye cream. It's really rich and moisturizing without being greasy. I know a lot of people like the cooling eye gels or the ones with thinner consistencies like Origins Ginzing Eye Cream. I personally like my eye creams to be rich and almost balmy like Clinique All About Eyes Rich. I love that this Caudalie eye cream doesn't feel as greasy as the Clinique one and is perfectly fine worn under makeup.

I discovered the ridiculously high price when I was just thinking about purchasing the full size. I would definitely purchase the full size if $98 wasn't too much of a burden for me. Until then, I would just keep an eye out for the samples!

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (travel size - $14   0.5 oz / 15 ml)

Full size - $48   1.7 oz / 50 ml

Jumbo size - $96   4 oz / 120 ml

This is one of my holy grail products that I've raved over and over again ever since I got it. It's definitely worth the hype and if you wonder why, see this post. I've been repurchasing the travel size and just recently picked up a full size. I definitely recommend getting the travel size because it's a really nice bottle that's perfect for both travelling and using at home. It's doesn't take up much space in your skincare routine and the smaller dropper is much easier to use. I've already filled this little bottle up from my full size one.

It's definitely worth the hype and the money and I will definitely keep repurchasing this!

L'Oreal Ever Curl Sulfate-Free Hydracharge Shampoo      $7.29   8.5 oz / 251 ml

I've been using the L'Oreal Sulfate-Free line nonstop for about a year and I love it. The thing about most sulfate-free shampoos is that they don't lather well and I end up running out much quicker. This line of shampoo lathers just like other normal shampoos. I've noticed that my scalp doesn't get itchy and irritated and my hair doesn't get greasy as fast. There are different kinds of shampoo in the Sulfate-Free line. I have perm in my hair and honestly I didn't notice this Ever Curl one made any difference in the curl department. I don't really mind the different "functions." To me the different kinds mean different scents.

I would recommend it to everyone and I'll forever repurchase the Sulfate-Free line!

Hall of Fame: Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo Three

$13     10.14 oz / 300 ml

Ingredients: Water (Eau, Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Urea, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Thiosulfate, Bisamino PEG/PPG 41/3 Aminoethyl PG Propyl Dimethicone, Glutamine, Tyrosine (L-Tyrosine), Leucine, Cysteine HCl, Glycine, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey Root), Plantago Major, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Protein, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Sodium Borate, Sulfated Castor Oil, Magnesium Carbonate (CI 77713), Tetrasodium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA, Disodium EDTA (Copper), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene

Availability: drugstores, Drugstore.com

This shampoo is, as the name suggests, a clarifying shampoo. I got it because I noticed that my hair gets really weighed down after constantly using nourishing hair products such as sulfate free shampoos, rich conditioners and hair masks.

Normally a cheap drugstore shampoo with sulfate would take care of the problem as it strips everything off of your scalp. But at the same time it leaves my sensitive scalp very itchy.

Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo Three does the job better without making my scalp uncomfortable, which to me is surprising because its ingredients aren't the best/ healthiest for the scalp and hair. It really gets all the gunk off to the point where my hair will feel a bit like straws, without making my scalp irritated. However, because it gets everything off of your hair, I suggest putting conditioner or hair mask on afterwards, otherwise the hair would get tangled really easily.

The packaging is marvelous. It doesn't waste any product. I didn't have to open the bottle to scrape out the last bit. When nothing's coming out when you squeeze it, there is really nothing in the bottle.

How I use it
I use it about once a week to get any product buildup off of my scalp. This is also when I use my hair mask because it will clean the hair really well so there's not much barrier between the hair and the mask. I always follow up with a conditioner or hair mask to help untangle the hair.
I mainly focus on my scalp so I don't need a lot. It lathers up and then I bring it down to my hair.

Recommendation
I highly recommend it to athletes, models, people who need to deep cleanse their scalp or hair regularly. I've read good reviews from swimmers. I would also highly recommend it to people who use a lot of nourishing hair products.
I don't have color-treated hair so I'm not sure if it would strip the dyes off. So I cannot recommend it to those who have color-treated hair. But I do have perm in my hair and it doesn't seem to ruin the perm.

I've been using this shampoo for about 10 months and have repurchased it. I definitely see myself continue using it for a really long time.

Have you tried Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo Three? What's your favorite clarifying shampoo?

March Favorites 2013

Product Mentioned:

• MAC Mineralize Moisture in NC 20 (REVIEW)
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC 20
• MAC Lipsticks in See Sheer & Lady Bug
• YSL Shocking Mascara (REVIEW)
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in Nude
• Nubar Nail Polish in Black Polka Dot (REVIEW)
• Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
• Smith's Rosebud Salve (REVIEW)
• Soap & Glory Hand Food (REVIEW)
• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter (REVIEW)
• Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment
• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer in Neutral Medium

What I'm Wearing:

• MAC Mineralize Moisture in NC 20
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC 20
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
• e.l.f. Contouring Bronzer & Blush
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer
• Bare Minerals Ready Luminizer in The Love Affair
• Inglot Eyeshadows in #393 (eyelids), #360 (crease), #378 (liner)
• Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara in Brownish Black
• L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in Carbon Black
• Jouer Lip gloss in Birchbox Pink

New hair perm. Love!

1 inch & 1 1/2 inch rods

February Favorites

Makeup Favorites

• NARS Concealer in Custard: It’s a stick concealer that’s very convenient for travel and touch up. I use this when I’m in the rush out of the door. It’s easy to blend. I don’t use this for undereye because it could be drying.
• L’Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer in Light: I use this for under eye concealing because it’s luminizing. There is very subtle shimmer that’s pretty hard to detect. It looks natural and gives an instant pick-me-up. It can also be used to highlight other parts of the face if used without or on top of foundation. The consistency perfect; it’s not too sticky nor too dry. It’s very easy to blend. It feels very light on the skin. I would say it’s to lighten the skin more so to cover the skin. 
• Kate Super Sharp Liner in BK-1: I don’t know how I included this in a bunch of face makeup… Kate is a Japanese drugstore makeup brand owned by Kanebo. The price point is between L’Oreal and Physicians Formula. I got this in Taiwan. I’m usually not a fan of liquid eyeliner because it takes a lot of time to get a perfect smooth line and it usually turns out to be too thick for my hooded eyes. The tip of this eyeliner is very thin and flexible, which is really easy for me to control the line. It has a semi glossy finish.
• Bare Minerals Ready Luminizer in The Love Affair: It’s a golden highlighter. The shimmer is very finely milled. It’s not glittery at all and gives the skin really nice glow. It’s pretty pigmented. I hate those highlighters that you have to pile on to get the effect. I don’t have to do that with this highlighter. It’s so easy to apply. The powder is smooth like a dream. It’s perfect for light-medium to dark complexions. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re very pale, especially with cool skin tone. The golden shimmer may look too noticeable.
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand Medium 0-1: I am SOOO late on this bandwagon. This powder is very nice. It reminds me of Bare Minerals Veil. The powder is very smooth. Even though there are different shades, the powder isn’t very pigmented and doesn’t add much coverage, which I actually really like because I already expect my foundation and concealer to cover the imperfections. This powder keeps my face matte longer than Mineral Veil. I would definitely repurchase it when the current one runs out.

• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze: This is the third Color Tattoo I purchased. I don’t know why I did because the first two did not impress me, but I’m glad I did. It’s a very nice all-over eyeshadow and also a nice crease color. I’ve been really lazy on my makeup this month. I usually just put a layer of this all over the lid and put some more on the crease. It’s very creamy and stays on all day. I’ve posted a review of this cream eyeshadow.
• L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush: I was hesitant to buy it because I had never worked with pigments or pressed pigments. But I couldn’t resist the color so decided to give it a go. I love this antique gold color. It reminds me of MAC Paintpot in Rubenesque (shown in picture above). It’s not a dupe but the color is pretty similar. Amber Rush is a little more rosy and more metallic. It’s very pigmented, smooth, non-messy, and easy to use.

• Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle: When I first bought it, I was really disappointed because it was too dark for my taste. This month I had been reaching for it for a neutral look. It shows up pretty brown in the picture. It’s actually rosy mauve. It feels very nice on the lips and it’s easy to wear.
• MAC Lip Coulor in So Vain: It’s a limited edition/ discontinued product. But I thought I would show it because you might be able to get it from eBay or some other places. It’s a lip cream that’s not too matte and not too glossy. It feels like a film on the lips and also feels like it’s just gonna slide off. However, it actually stays on pretty well. It’s a rosy peach color. Very wearable.

• Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Dressed to Kill and Paint the Town: I love these nail polished because they are cheap but the quality is so good. It doesn’t chip on me for almost a week. Sometimes it can go for a whole week without chipping. The color is opaque. 2 coats are enough. Dressed to KIll would be a little more tricky to work with than Paint the Town (the first coat can be really streaky) but nothing too challenging. I’ve been loving Dressed to Kill a lot. It’s a very dark red, almost black. I’ll have a review on these nail polished posted soon.

Skincare Favorites

• My Beauty Diary Masks: These masks make my skin look really good the next day. It looks rejuvenated and well-rested. The left over serum is the key. I like the pink one. The green one doesn't make me break out or anything but I can tell my skin likes the pink one better. It just feels more calming and more gentle. There are tons of different scents and they do different things to your skin. They’re available on Amazon. See this post for more details and demo.

Hair Favorites

• Paul Mitchell Clearifying Shampoo: I use this one a week to get rid of the buildup on my scalp. It does as it says and it doesn’t irritate my scalp.
• Organix Moroccan Argan Oil: It’s a dry oil so it doesn’t weigh down your hair. I like to use it before I style my hair as a protectant.
• Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream: It’s one of those products that don’t make a dramatic difference but it makes whatever you’re doing much better (if that makes sense). I use it on damp hair before I braid it to get the beachy wave the next morning. I also use it on the root of dry hair to create some volume. It smells heavenly. I hope there’s a perfume that smell like it.
• Redken Heat Styling Thermo Actif Spray Starch 15: It’s a hair spray that holds the style while leaving it flexible. I love that it doesn’t make my hair crunchy. However, it has really strong alcohol scent when you spray it.
• Diffuser: I noticed that if I blow dry my hair with it before I go to bed, my hair has more volume the body the next morning and it looks good down.

Random Favorite

• The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson: This is the second book in the Millennium trilogy, after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I just finished The Girl Who Played with Fire. This one is easier to read than the first one because it’s not as dark. I like both books. I do think you have to read the first one to understand many things in the second one better though. The characters and their relationships can be hard to understand if you skipped the first one. If you’re interested in the final one, I would suggest you start right after the second one. Unlike between the first and second one, there’s no time lag in the story between the second and third one.

No Heat Wavy Hair

I did this look following missglamorazzi’s tutorial. It’s super easy and convenient!

January Hair Care Favorites

L’Oreal Ever Creme Shampoo, Moroccanoil Hydration Hair Mask, L’Oreal Ever Sleek Conditioner

All these products were mentioned in my 2012 favorites.

I use the hair mask only once or twice a week. It’s extremely hydrating and makes the hair very soft. It’s pretty pricey but it’s well worth it.

The shampoo and conditioner are hydrating and doesn’t dry out the scalp. They can weigh the hair down after a while so I use clarifying shampoo once a week so get rid of the build-up.

Moroccanoil can be found on Amazon and in some hair salons.

Favorites: 2012 - Skin Care, Hair, Body

2012 was a good skin care year for me. I felt that I know more about my skin and what to look for in cosmetic products. And maybe I was hormonally more stable :P
My skin used to be very dry and I've noticed this year that my skin has become normal to combination. Even though my skin rarely get uncomfortable like dry skin does, it's still sensitive to certain chemicals. So I tend to go for products for sensitive skin.
These are my favorite and most used skin, hair, and body products of 2012:


Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic - 5 oz $24
Very gentle and natural to the skin. It's very hydrating and absorbed quickly. It never broke me out. I'm very sensitive to alcohol so I don't think there's any alcohol in it. I think the price is pretty reasonable, too. I've been using the same bottle since the spring and I'm just now down to about 10-20 uses out of it. I also use it after makeup to take away the powderiness and it works pretty well for that.





Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash - 5 oz $20
I got a sample size in Birchbox and it lasted for MONTHS! You only need a little bit because it really lives up to its name "frothy." It's so foamy and feels nice on the skin. The best part is that it rinses off very easily and doesn't leave residues on the skin. It doesn't dry out the skin, either.






Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser - 4.34 oz $7.99
It's the kind of consistency I hate, but it just works so well! It doesn't foam up. It's like gel and oil. But it gets rid off every trace of dirt and makeup. It truly cleanses the skin. It feels like there's residue of the cleanser left on the face but when I wiped my face with the toner on a cotton pad the pad was crystal clean. It's not harsh on the skin, either.



Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream - 2.5 oz 15$
This hand cream isn't the most moisturizing. It's kind of a temporary fix. But I absolutely LOVE the scent. It's fresh and fruity, kind of smells like Starburst. I got a sample in Birchbox and later bought a full size one.

L'Oreal Ever Sleek Line
I started getting into sulfate free hair products this year and have tried several sulfate free shampoos and conditioners. The common problem with sulfate shampoos is that they don't lather as much so I tend to use way more product when I wash my hair. The Ever Sleek line shampoos lather up just like the ones with sulfate. The conditioners are really nice and hydrating, too. I've noticed that my scalp doesn't produce excess oil any more and my hair is smooth and soft. This line is more affordable compared to other sulfate free product, too.


Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Hair Mask - 8.5 oz $35.79
This is the most hydrating hair mask EVER! When my hair was damaged from a perm I used it 3 times a week to keep my hair less frizzy and smoother. After I got back to my natural hair I still use it twice or once a week, depending how much I heat style my hair that week. It's definitely pricey but it's totally worth it. I've already repurchsed a second one. It's not widely available. Some hair salon carries it. Amazon does, too.

Udderly Smooth Udder Cream - 10 oz $6.49
It comes with unscented and lightly scented. It's not super thick or super watery. It's perfect for year around. In the summer it doesn't leave the skin greasy and it doesn't sweat right off. In the winter it's moisturizing enough for normal skin.







Burt's Bees Radiance Serum - 0.45 oz $17.99
It's gentle and hydrating. It's completely liquid and it comes with a dropper, which I really appreciate. I find it better than some of the high end serums (Estee Lauder, Ole Henriksen, Caudalie)









Burt's Bees Sensitive Night Cream - 1.8 oz $14.99
It's very moisturizing and absorbed quickly. Feels very nice on the skin. It doesn't break me out. Perfect for the winter times. I also put it on dry patches on my face before putting on makeup.







Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick - 0.5 oz $2.99
Most chapsticks I've try have the really made-up chemical, kind of plactic-y scent and I can't stand it. This chaptick has a very natural cocoa butter, vanilla-y scent, which smells and taste really good! The cocoa butter is very moisturizing and the mineral oil locks in the moisture. It's my before bed and makeup chapstick.





Clinique All About Eye Rich - 0.5 oz $30
It's a very thick and rich eye cream. It claim to minimize dark circles but I don't really see the difference. But I love how it feels under the eyes and it makes applying under eye concealer the next morning smoother.






Befine Exfoliating Cleanser - 4 oz $24
I got a sample from Birchbox and then I bought a full size one. It leaves the smoothest skin. I also like that it's exfoliator and cleanser in one and it does a really good just in both.









Feel free to request any reviews of these products!