THE GREAT ASIAN BEAUTY HAUL PART 2 (HEROINE, 3CE, CHARMING KISS)

Hey guys, 

As promised, here’s part two of my beauty haul!
For part one, click here. 

#1 Heroine Make by Isehan

Product 1: SP Long & Curl Super Waterproof Mascara

I was so happy to find Heroine Make at Sasa in Taiwan as it has become my go-to brand for mascara. I was ready to buy myself a tube of their Kiss Me Make Long & Curl (which I previously reviewed) but saw Cosme's #1 rated, Heroine Make SP Long & Curl Super Waterproof* mascara and bought that instead.  

*For the purpose of this review, I will simplify the names, referring to the SP Long & Curl Super Waterproof mascara as SW and Kiss Me Make Long & Curl mascara as Kiss Me. 

Some of the notable qualities of the SW include

1. Its ability to lengthen the lashes about 3x more. (Better than Kiss Me's) 
2. Very long-lasting.
3. I tested its waterproof capabilities in the shower and it stays on. 
4. It doesn't smudge. 

Other things I noticed...

1. You’ll need an oil based makeup remover to get it off. 
2. It tends to clump the lashes together after 2 applications. 
3. You have to be careful when applying if you want it to look more natural. 
4. It doesn't seem to add much volume to the lashes. I found the length it created wasn't proportional to the added volume/thickness making my lashes look 'thin' but long. I had to use a spooly to make it look more natural. 

Comparing the SW to Kiss Me, both seem identical in regards to their function. They're both waterproof, lengthening, and long lasting. The difference lies on how much more length is added to the lashes and just how waterproof is waterproof. I found the SW to be better at both categories but, despite everything, I find myself preferring Heroine's Kiss Me mascara. Kiss Me gives a more refined and natural look to the lashes in my experience. Not saying that SW couldn't have the same result, it just takes more  time and effort to do so.

I would recommend the SW for those looking for a lengthening mascara. If you're looking for something less dramatic that adds more volume and length at the same time, I would recommend the Kiss Me mascara. 

Product 2: Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner

I bought the Make Smooth Liquid eyeliner expecting the same quality I would from Heroine's mascaras but I was left rather disappointed. While having a pleasant opacity in terms of the blackness of the ink and its rather smooth application on the lid, this eyeliner has trouble staying on, period. I tried topping it off with eyeshadow using a shadow brush but even that didn't keep the ink from coming off. I did manage to find a solution with the help of q-tips. Apparently, packing eyeshadow on with a cotton bud really helped it last all day. I think Heroine could make some improvements to this product. Just make it more lasting and waterproof then I'll buy it again. 

#2 3 Concept Eyes (3CE)

I heard so much about 3CE from friends so I didn’t hesitate to buy some of their products. I chose three from the limited pile: the glam cream shadow in Baby Doll, cream blush in New Pink, and their wonderful lip lacquer in Bon Bon.  

Product 1: Cream Blush (New Pink)

I've been using the 3CE cream blush for everyday wear as it gives the most natural flush. The consistency is creamy and blends easily on the skin. If you don't blend it out, the pink cream is opaque enough to use for avant garde looks. 

Product 2: Glam Cream Shadow (Baby Doll)

The 3CE Baby Doll cream shadow is a peach colour with subtle shimmer particles. Its cream formulation is smooth and blends easily just like the cream blush. Its also a gorgeous colour to use on its own for lazy days or as an eye primer. I usually use it under a smokey eye to make my shadows last longer. I also tried it as a cheek highlighter and it worked really well.

Product 3: Lip Lacquer (Bon Bon)

Bon Bon is a peach coloured lip lacquer. It has a delightful buttery feel when applied and it finishes matte but not drying at all like Limecrime Velvetines. The formulation unfortunately, emphasises the look of cracked lips. If you have this lip lacquer, I suggest scrubbing your lips prior to application or applying some balm. You can also choose to top it off with gloss for a pretty shine. 

Oddly enough, I noticed that the colour registers pink on camera and photos but in person, it's peach. 

I used all the makeup products in this haul (except the falsies) to create this simple natural look.

#3 Charming Kiss produced by Chiaki Ito (Koji) 

I’ve been looking for falsies like this for the longest time! It’s not a very common find in Manila but in Taiwan I found similar looking lashes in most of the cosmetic stores. It’s pricier than a box of lashes you can find at Divisoria but the hairs look very natural and it’s obviously better in quality. 

The length is only half of a regular false lash so it's meant to be placed on the outer lash area for a full yet natural effect. I used a pair on a client recently and the result was stunning. It goes on easy and it blends in with the natural lashes. I'll definitely buy more of this in the future. 

That concludes Part 2 of my beauty haul. Stay tuned for Part 3 next week! :) 

THE GREAT ASIAN BEAUTY HAUL PART 1 (CLIO, AVANCÉ, MEDIA)

In recent years, I’ve noticed myself slowly shifting my attention away from Western beauty care to its Eastern counterpart. I’ve decided, now more than ever, to explore the Asian makeup arena as I’ve encountered some really good contenders from brands like Heroine and Clio. Lucky for me, I get to travel back and forth from Taiwan which has become my gateway to the Asian beauty industry. 

The Taiwanese, much like Japanese and Koreans, are conscious about their appearance which is why you'll be able to find several cosmetic stores all over the place. Most popular are Sasa, Cosmed, and Watsons for their affordable beauty supply. Other luxury brands can also be found occupying the first level of malls around the country. The moment you walk in is an invitation to purchase. 

Like a moth drawn to a flame, I couldn't help but splurge on the massive abundance. Carefully selecting a handful from brands I've never tried before and some which have become recent favourites. And without further ado, here's the first part of my great asian beauty haul! 

#1 Clio

Clio carries one of the best eyeliners I’ve tried so far. Their Gelpresso line is just amazing quality with a wide colour selection. It’s the only eyeliner I’ve tried that has the best staying power as it doesn’t budge once it sets on the skin. A tita of mine had given me a bunch of Gelpresso eyeliners from South Korea and I just couldn’t get enough. So, when I saw the brand in Cosmed I decided to grab a couple more that I haven’t tried before. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen a matte Gelpresso eyeliner from their darker colour selection. They do, however, carry these amazing pastel liners that are matte and equally beautiful. I got two, Mintade and Keep Calm, which I thought would work well to make my eyes look bigger and brighter when lined on the waterline. 

Gelpresso Keep Calm 

Gelpresso Mintade

True to the Gelpresso quality, both eyeliners have amazing colour payoff, it doesn't budge once set, and it's also waterproof. I tested it on my hand and it does not rub off unless you use makeup remover. Definitely a good purchase.  

Now, because I was so impressed with Clio's Gelpresso eyeliners, I decided to try their waterproof pen liners which come in matte black (Kill Black) and brown (Kill Brown). Being pen liners, the Kill Black and Kill Brown are wet when applied. I must point out that the ink is wetter than I expected so I had to wait a little longer for it to set. Once it sets, the liner stays on all day and again, it will not budge. The colour is also build-able but I suggest waiting for the first layer to dry before applying a second layer to create the best opacity. 

Kill Black

Kill Brown

Note: Clio is available at SM Aura!!! 

#2 AVANCÉ (Japanese Brand)  

Avancé is one of the brands I haven't tried before. I picked it out from a wall filled with eyebrow products. I was originally going to get myself another K-palette brow pen but decided I could get it in Manila anyway. Out of the lot, Avancé's Jolie et Jolie et dual brow pen looked closest to what I was looking for. First in colour and second in function. Just like K-palette's dual brow pen, it has a pencil on one end and a powder on the other. The powder was what helped me make the switch from K-Palette as it doesn't contain glitter particles. 

I bought two colours which I felt would be most used for my clients, Light Brown and Natural Brown. I tried Natural Brown on myself and I love how it has more colour payoff than K-Palette's brow pens. Although, I am still an avid fan of K-Palette because the colour is closer to my natural hair. 

Natural Brown

#3 MEDIA (Kanebo, Japanese Brand) 

Last but not least, we have Media which is a brand under Japanese cosmetics producer, Kanebo. Media is another first for me and I found it while I was looking for a nude lipstick for my tita. I saw their wide colour selection on display so I decided to try each one on my hand and boy was I impressed! It was just the most beautiful selection and I wanted to buy it all but of course, self control. I bought two nudes, one pink (PK-01) and one beige (BE-02), just for everyday wear.

PK-01

One notable attribute about these lipsticks is how comfortable it feels on the lips. The gloss is watery, light, and buttery. At the same time it leaves the most natural looking colour. I'll definitely be looking for this brand again when I get back.  

And that concludes part one of my great asian beauty haul! Stay tuned for part deux next week! <3

Review: Kiss Me Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara

Hi guys, 

I know I’ve been M.I.A. for a while now but I’m back with some excellent products for review which I'll be blogging about for the next couple of weeks, starting with a wonderful mascara from Japanese drugstore brand, Heroine Make by Isehan. 

Heroine Make is a popular brand in East Asia and it’s now available at SM Aura’s Watsons. The signature blonde anime model graces the mascara packaging with her long thick lashes which is what you can also expect with yours. 

The mascara is said to give you...

DRAMATIC LENGTH

Advanced polymer coating contains Super Long Up Fibre (1.5 times longer*) that clings tightly to each and every lash from root to end, creating lengthening action of up to 120% without clumping. 

*compared to previous formula of Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara. 

LONG LASTING CURL

High power curl setting polymer keeps lashes at maximum curl all day.

WATER PROOF TYPE

Offers high resistance to tears, perspiration, water and sebum for comfortable and long lasting beautiful lashes!

REVIEW

I thought you should know that I don’t really like wearing mascara often for fear that my lashes will fall off (I blame this on Majolica Majorca mascaras which work so well but makes my lashes fall off). But, I can't seem to get enough of Heroine mascara. I find myself using it on a daily basis because I’m flat out impressed and it doesn't make my lashes weak and brittle. 

One swipe and it lengthens and thickens my eyelashes to the point that it looks as though I’m wearing lash extensions.

I do, however, find that this mascara becomes clumpy if applied too much. It also seems to smudge in the heat but only a little bit. Despite all this, I'm happy with the product because it gives such a dramatic effect to my eyes.

*When I'm in air conditioned areas, the mascara doesn't smudge. 

I will suggest that if you buy this mascara, make sure you have an oil-based makeup remover because it can be very tasking to remove.

How to use:

Curl your lashes (root to tip) before applying the mascara. Place the brush on the base of your lashes and apply upwards for extra curl. To create density, apply more coats. One coat usually does the trick for me. 

TIP: If you find your lashes to be a little clumpy you can use a spooly to comb through your lashes for a natural finish. 

Packaging:

The product comes in a total of 6g. The packaging is adorable and particularly lightweight. I didn’t have any trouble removing the mascara from the hard plastic covering as well. 

Pros

• Makes lashes appear like you’re wearing lash extensions or falsies
• Lasts all day
• Lightweight and cute packaging

Cons

• Smudges in heat (tiny bit)
• Tends to clump if you add more coats (but can be fixed with a spooly)

Price: P595.00

Review: Pasjel Silverpink Mask

Thai brand, Pasjel, recently launched their premiere line with the Silverpink Mask. I came across it at snowprincess_mnl’s clearance sale and because of my fondness for skin care masks, I decided to try it.  

What separates this peel-off mask from others is its ability to tackle several skin problems at once. Its potent formulation is said to revive, moisturise, tighten, smoothen, and lessen the appearance of wrinkles. Some of the ingredients are as listed below:

1. Nicotinamide - blocks and neutralises inflammatory acne and hypersensitivity. 
2. Sodium Hyaluronate Molecules - acts as microscopic fillers that treats and prevents wrinkles and rough skin. 
3. Hydrolysed Collagen - tones and tightens skin
4. Urea - a powerful and naturally occurring hydrophilic skin moisturiser that keeps the skin hydrated, making it soft and supple.
5. Panthenol - a natural humectant that locks moisture for 24 hour skin hydration.

Other ingredients include Vitamin C, Kaolin, and Allantoin which all promote natural skin healing. 

Other info

• Results are seen 24 hours after using the mask.
• Tested and marked 100% safe.
• Not tested on animals.
• No steroids.
• No harmful compounds. 

*Contains perfume

REVIEW

I have a couple of general observations that I want to point out. First, opening the tube was very messy as the product clung to the twist-off cap. It didn’t do well for my slight obsessive compulsive ways. 

Second, the size was much smaller than I had anticipated. The net weight is at 20g and this product is meant to be placed all over the face. You’ll probably only get 3 or 4 uses out of this tube. 

Third, I find it quite pricey for its size. P850.00 (clearance sale price) for 20g. 

This is how it looked when I opened it the first time.

The recommended use of the Pasjel Silverpink Mask is twice a week. My experience during both trials have been different so I will be reviewing them separately.

First Trial:

Upon placing the product on my face, I felt a little sting in my eyes. I didn’t place the product anywhere near the eye area in case you were wondering.

Its scent was also piercing and unappealing. I think the formulation may have been too strong for me which is why my body reacted in such a way. 

I continued to use the product nonetheless just to see how it would fare. After a few minutes, I began to feel my skin tighten. 

I left it on for 30 minutes after which I peeled it off. The peeling process was difficult and painful as the product had clung tightly to my skin.

Results, however, were good. My skin felt smooth, tight, and soft to the touch. 

Second Trial:

To be honest, I was pretty hesitant to try it out the second time around but I felt like giving it the benefit of the doubt. 

The experience was actually much better. It didn’t sting my eyes anymore and the scent, although still unappealing, wasn’t piercing. I left it on for 30 minutes after which I peeled it off. The process was again, quite painful and difficult to remove. 

Results were positive. Skin felt tighter, softer and smooth to the touch. I also observed its effects 24 hours after and my skin still felt soft and supple.

Overall, I feel that the product does work but there are other products that give the same results that aren’t as uncomfortable to use the first time around. 

How to use:

Apply all over face and wait 15-30 minutes. Peel off after.

Use twice a week.

Packaging:

The product comes in a 20g tube container. The general look is cute and simple while the material is high quality. Despite its superficial appearance, opening the tube can get a little messy. Upon opening the product for the first time, I found the product had clung to the crevices of the twist-off cap which was disappointing. 

Pros

• Effectively tightens the skin 
• Makes skin smooth and soft
• Effect is long lasting

Cons

• Formula is quite strong - stings my eyes when applied (initially)
• Smell is also slightly piercing (initially)
• Product came out messily in tube container
• Perfume scent is unappealing although lightly scented
• Pricey and very little product content

Price: P850.00

Review: Nature Republic’s Snail Solution 80 Ampoule Special Set

A lot of the skin care products that I’ve grown to love over the recent years have mostly revolved around snails. The secretion from these wonderful molluscs has proven to be a very effective remedy for various skin problems. I’ve grown so fond of it that I find myself gravitating towards different snail products from different brands. 

It was, therefore, a no-brainer that when I went to Nature Republic, I glued myself to their snail skin care section, which is where I found the Snail Solution 80 Ampoule Special Set. 

The main product of the set is the Snail Ampoule which contains 80% snail secretion filtrate. Hence, the number 80 printed on the bottle. The other two items that are included are sample sizes of the Snail Solution 90 Skin Booster (90% snail secretion filtrate) and the Snail Solution 80 Emulsion. Both these samples are also available in regular sizes.

Each of the items in the set aims to brighten the skin and improve on wrinkles. I applied all three products, one after the other, after cleansing my face and using toner. I will, therefore, be reviewing them as a whole rather than individually. 

REVIEW 

A common characteristic of snail products is how instant its effects are. Upon first application with these goods, my skin immediately felt more refreshed and revived. The products promptly hydrated my skin, leaving it smooth and supple.

I then observed its effects the next morning before washing my face and was impressed to find how even my skin tone looked. There was less oil than usual and my pores were ridiculously tiny that I couldn’t even really see them up-close. I continued using this set for my day and night skin care regimen for a week now and I’m very happy with the improvements it has made. 

My skin feels a lot suppler, looks very clean, even, bright, and smooth. My pores are almost invisible up-close and overall it has effectively hydrated my skin.

I should also mention that these products have a very pleasing scent. Not too strong and quite calming. 

How to use: 
There are instructions at the back of the box that tell you how to use the product but I found it a little incoherent as to which needed to be used first. Based on what I've read, I simply came up with a sequence that I hope is the correct way. I use the Skin Booster - Emulsion - Ampoule in that order after washing and toning my face. I apply the products by patting it on until it's fully absorbed by my skin. 

Packaging: 

The set comes in an elegant earth-friendly box. 

Both the emulsion and skin booster comes in 30ml plastic containers which I honestly find difficult to use. It was quite challenging trying to get the product to come out without having to exert much effort. The best way was to shake the product to the lid part before opening it. 

The ampoule which also comes in a 30ml size, was simpler to use. The lid is basically a dropper which picks the thicker consistency of the ampoule with ease. 

Pros

• Easily absorbed by the skin
• Effectively moisturises and revitalises
• Smoothens skin
• Softens skin
• Greatly decreases appearance of pores
• Brightens skin
• Smells great

Cons

• A little pricier than I would have hoped for 
• Impractical design of the Skin Booster and Emulsion

Price: P1,795.00

Review: GLORIA GARCIA Moisturising Cream

The GLORIA GARCIA moisturising cream, just like the other GLORIA GARCIA products from my previous blog, is infused with the powerful and restorative effects of the olive fruit. The product contains a high amount of Vitamin E which makes it a great moisturising agent for the skin. It also contains Vitamin A which is a powerful antioxidant and known for its reparative properties. Suitable for all ages and skin-types. 

GLORIA GARCIA carries two moisturising creams in her Olive Oil line, a day moisturiser and a night moisturiser. This one in particular is for day use as it contains SPF 15 so you won't have to worry about applying sunblock after. 

It's like an all-in-one moisturiser for those who don’t have time to slather different products in the morning. Plus, it's all-natural and not tested on animals. 

REVIEW

I used this product for over a week now and one thing that I noticed about this moisturiser is how well it works with makeup. The consistency is rather rich and this helps it blend with foundation seamlessly. It’s like an added moisture boost for your makeup. Even with powder applied over it, my skin still looked very fresh, especially in photos.   

On its own, the product works just like any moisturiser would. It keeps the skin hydrated throughout the entire day without you having to reapply anything. 

It does, however, make my skin look shiny because of the oil content. To lessen the appearance of shine, I simply placed a thin layer of the product on. 

To help you better visualise the effects of this cream, I find it synonymous to Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream. They're both very rich and potent moisturisers that work in restoring the skin from inside out. GLORIA GARCIA's Moisturising Cream is a toned down version of the 8 Hour Cream but synonymous nonetheless and without the stickiness. 

Another thing that I noticed is that it also has a very lasting effect. At the end of the day, when I remove my makeup, my skin still feels soft and smooth. It looked great from start to finish. 

How to use: 

After washing and toning, apply this product by placing 5 dots on the key areas of the face (forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin). Massage until the product is spread throughout then pat onto skin until fully absorbed. 

*Be careful not to over apply especially in hot weather conditions. 

Packaging: 
The packaging is simple, elegant, and top quality. The product comes in a 50ml glass-type container with a twist-off lid. 

To observe proper hygiene when using this product, I suggest using a scooper to get the product from the bottle and closing the lid immediately after to avoid any contamination from the air.

Pros

• Effectively moisturises (very potent)
• Long lasting effects
• Includes SPF 15
• All-natural ingredients
• Not tested on animals
• Works great with makeup

Cons

• Can make the skin look shiny unless placed thinly.

Price: P1,320.00 

(VIBER Bambi at 09177962239 to purchase)