Etude House | Baby Choux

I'm back! Kind of... Anyway, this time I bring a quick review of Etude House's new Baby Choux base from the Sweet Recipe collection. I'm going to get right into it since there isn't much to say. It's supposed to be a base you add after your moisturizer and before you foundation/bb cream or whichever you choose. It's gives a smooth finish look to the skin and I think it acts like a primer.

A little of this goes a loooooong way. Really, you only need a bit. The texture is kind of like a fluffy texture that turns powdery when it blends into the skin. It does give me really soft skin and moisture. It also acts like another barrier between my skin and make up, but I don't feel my make up lasts longer. To me, it works like added moisture to my skin which is always appreciated. It smells peachy but in a good way. 

Am I happy I got it?

Yeah, it was $10 and seeing how I apply so little, the price was good. The added moisture is awesome which is always a plus. But, if you want a primer then maybe it isn't a good choice.

Hourglass | Ambient Lighting Poweder in Ethereal

In dire need of some writing inspiration this has been, ironically enough, the light at the end of the tunnel for me. I swear, I had nothing to write about because I felt no product was worth writing about. So, when I first heard about this Hourglass product I was intrigued but knew my pocket would suffer for it. After some reviews I read, I decided to just get one and try it out. Boy, I regret getting this but not for bad reasons. After having used this for three weeks I'm trying to hold myself back from getting the other five. Why must it be so expensive?!

The shade I got is one out of six and it's called Ethereal. The purpose for these products is not to act as a highlighter (you will be disappointed if you get it for that purpose) but to strategically place a light effect around your face. This will add luminosity wherever you go, when used wisely. This is one of those products that is a bit more professional and has to be used by people who know what they're doing. Of course, this is so the product can be used to it's advantage and can be truly appreciated. If you buy this and don't know what you're doing you'll have wasted $45, which is sad.

I use a powder brush to dust this all over my T-zone with a light hand. This adds a lovely glow that gives the illusion of coming from within. Using this has helped me look not so tired on days where I could sleep like a Koala. The product is one that works in a subtle manner, but looks amazing if you can spot the difference. I'm seriously considering getting at least one more but only because I know I'll use it. So, to those who think they can wield this magical product I definitely suggest trying it out.

Etude House Wishlist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, I have an extensive Etude House wishlist. Can you blame me? Their new sweet recipe collection is both adorable an appealing to me! This isn't even all of it either. I need to be shipped to Korea so I can shop in this store personally. This shall now be my goal!

Be back soon!

Hey, guys! I'll be taking a quick break from blogging while I go through some personal issues. I hope for your patience and understanding. I will be back, but the break is necessary. 

Thank you for understanding,

Iv.

My Cream Eyeshadows

Since I'm a little low on my blogging mojo, I decided to play it safe and follow the line of my previous post. I don't have many cream shadows but I can still show you the ones I have. Disclaimer! I really don't have anything bad to say about these and I'm pretty glad I got them.

MAC Bare Study- I've written about this shadow before, so I wont go in depth. This is just something I reach for when I want a barely there look. Slap this on and smother on some mascara and I'm done. What can I say, it's reliable. 

Inked In Pink-  Newest addition to the cream shadow family and really the only way I wear a pink shadow. There's just something about that pearly pink finish that just gets me. Plus, the pigmentation is great!

Blue On By- I don't use this as an eyeshadow, just an eyeliner. The pigmentation on this is weaker than the others but it's perfect for eyeliner. Not much of a 'blue on the whole eyelid' kind of girl.

Bad To The Bronze- This is perfect for a subtle evening look and it's just so easy to use. The possibilities are always endless with neutral shadows, it's almost impossible to go wrong there. It's a step up from Bare Study. When I want to look natural but with a hint of something I just slap this on. (So much slapping going on!)

All of these have great wear on them. The Maybelline shadows more than the MAC. Pigments are great, too. However, with the Maybelline shadow tattoos you have to work fast because once they settle they settle.

Blue On By | Bare Study | Bad To The Bronze | Inked In Pink

MAC Bare Study Dupe

Don't know which is which, eh? Well, that's awesome because that means you'll be able to get MAC's Bare Study for a little less than MAC's price. If you've ever wanted Bare Study then you only have to get Maybelline's Barely Branded Color Tattoo.

One of the differences between these two products is the textures. Bare Study has a more smooth creamy texture that is very flexible when it comes to blending. Barely Branded has a more adhesive texture that makes it harder to blend once its set, however I suspect that it has to do with the lasting power of the 'tattoo' effect. The other difference is the lasting power. Bare Study tends to waver a bit during the day, but always stays visible. Barely Branded stays where you left it for a long ass time.

Choosing between the two:
This all depends on a couple of things. Price range is definitely a thing to consider. Bare Study is $23, while Barely Branded is around $7. Also, you should consider the lasting power you wish to have. Lastly, the texture.

Both of these products are very good. Its amazing that they have an identical color payoff. I personally can't choose which is better because even though the color is the same, the finishes and textures are different. It all comes down to what you prefer.

 Left: MAC Bare Study & Right: Maybelline Barely Branded

 Left: MAC Bare Study & Right: Maybelline Barely Branded

Febuary: Think Pink

I've never been a February kind of person. Never really been into that whole "Omg! It's Valentine's day!" fiasco I see around me. Hell, I even wore full black on V-day to school. Rebellious, right? Anyway, regardless of utter indifference to the month of February, I've been very pink these last few weeks. Pink blush and pink lips. These are the things I'm leaning more towards to lately. I just feel that pink is giving me a flush to my face that I'm sorely lacking lately. Pink is just a happy color when it comes to make up. It barely disappoints. We should all have at least one pink item in out make up bag so we can brighten up our day. Adding that flush of color that just looks right. For my daily dose of pink, I chose these items above. These have helped me through my pink obsession and maybe they can help you, too!

Products:

•Dior Peechy Keen 553 Blush (LIES! It's not peach, its pink)

•MAC Oh So Fair Blush

•E.l.f blush (He of no name...really, I can't find a name)

•Rimmel Kate Moss 101

•NYX Sweet Pink
•MAC Viva Glam Gaga

•Revlon Honey Douce

Without flash.

Dior Peechy Keen | MAC Oh So Fair | E.l.f | NYX Sweet Pink | MAC Viva Glam Gaga | Rimmel Kate  Moss 101 | Revlon Honey

With flash.

Dior Peechy Keen | MAC Oh So Fair | E.l.f | NYX Sweet Pink | MAC Viva Glam Gaga | Rimmel Kate  Moss 101 | Revlon Honey

MAC | Dubonnet

Red lipstick is just a staple piece in every make up bag. They come in many a shades and fit women differently. Its like owning those jeans that make your butt look amazing. Yeah, those. I myself own two red lipsticks: MAC Rubywoo & Kat Von D Adora. Both are gorgeous and very classic reds. So, I wanted to spice up my red lipsticks and go for a more brick red, a bit darker than the traditional. 

I chose a MAC lipstick because I feel safe with MAC. I haven't had too many casualties with MAC lipsticks. If you want a good quality lipstick, MAC is almost always the way to go. This time was no exception since I found myself with a new red lipstick called Dubonnet. Never heard of it and didn't research it before hand. This is an Amplified range lipstick, meaning the color will be more vibrant. The finish is between a satin and matte lipstick, which is fine by me. I don't find myself overly checking my teeth in the mirror to see if I have some lippie there, because I feel that once the lipstick sets its unshakeable for a nice amount of hours. That being said, I find that the way it wears is a bit unflattering. I can definitely say I've had other lipstick that wear off in a nice way. This isn't one. Regardless, its a lovely different shade to have for a special occasion or just because. I give this a B+.

Makeup Must Haves

These are products that when I look back I know I made a good investment. Even after having some of these for a long time I still get a lot of use of them. Sometimes daily.

Naked Palette- This is one of those products that just gives ample ways of usage. This is a very complete product to have and the colors just make it easy for both day and night looks. 

Falsies- If you already have long lashes and you're looking to just get the black color in them, I suggest this mascara. This is what I use to give my lashes a very opaque color and to also give them that spider look.

Tarte Smooth Operator- Definitely a product to have if you get oily during the day, if you have big pores or both. This just prevents me from getting oily in the T-zone for a good amount of time. Also, you don't need a lot of product to get this working right.

Tarte Exposed Blush- A nude blush is always something you should consider having. Both fair and dark skin can pull this off, getting a lovely flush on the skin that just makes you look healthy.

Etude House BB Cream- Providing a very good coverage and giving my skin a lovely glow, I can't ever go back to Western foundations. With so many BB cream products out there the possibilities are endless, so trying the one that's right for you is a game that at the end is very rewarding. 

MAC Honeylove Lipstick- A nude lipstick is always a must on my make up bag. Honeylove is my one true love that I always go back to. It provides a lovely pink undertone nude that looks amazing on any occasion and can compliment the rest of my make up well.

Kat Von D Oh My Goth- Just like having a nude lipstick is a must for me, so is having a dark one. This lipstick is the perfect dark purple with an amazing metallic finish that has pink shimmer. What can I say? It looks amazing.

MAC Soft & Gentle- Highlighters are such lovely additions to make up bags. When you're feeling a little dull, just slap a good highlighter on the top of your cheekbones and you're ready to go. Soft & Gentle is just one of those neutral highlighters that give a very nice glow that gives the face dimension.

L'Oreal Liquid Eyeliner- If you're into the cat eye look, a good opaque liner that gives you precision  is a must. Good opaque liners can be found both in drugstores and more high end products. 

Eyelash Curlers- Even if you have curly lashes, I find that lash curlers come in handy. They can just separate and keep your lashes in check, getting them ready for mascara.

Revlon | Fashion's Night Pout

Fashion's Night Pout is one of those nude lipsticks I kept seeing on Youtube/blogs but I could never find it here. I'm a huge nude lipstick fan so I was naturally intrigued by this lipstick. I kid you not, I have wanted this for maybe 2 years. Anyway, I was finally able to find it at some random Kmart and it was the last one and let me tell you, I love it.

The lipstick is a peachy nude, which I adore. The texture is one I find myself liking a lot. Not too creamy that it wont last, but to too matte that I feel my lips will crack. Its a moisturizing texture that feels comfortable on the lips and I don't feel I need to watch what I do or else it'll rub off... or worse, get on my teeth. The lasting time on this is average, nothing spectacular. However, I feel that I love using this lipstick and adding some Clarins cream gloss on top. It looks amazing, the perfect glossy nude lip without being goopy. I truly adore this lipstick, its right up there with my favorite nude MAC's Honeylove.

Naked Basics

 For me, this palettes is one of those where you start saying you wont get it but then you cave in and do. Trust me, I said I wasn't going to, but I really got into matte shadows and wasn't in any mood to hunt down individuals. It's a really small palette that fits into the palm of your hand. What can I say about this product? It suits its purpose. I feel like I have a more business approach when I pick this up. I have something in mind and I use it to get what I want. But there is no thrill when I use it.

Do I like the palette? Yes, I do. Very much so. The pigmentation on it is great and smooth. Easy to blend. However, its not something I'd buy again. I don't regret buying it, because I use it a lot. I like my results with it. But I just don't experiment with it. I use it and then put it away. That's it. I don't play with the colors or anything. Do I recommend it? Well, if you want matte shadows and don't want to find dupes then sure. If you have the money and can spend it, go ahead. Overall, I am happy with it but that's it.

Etude House | Precious Mineral BB Cream

By far the best BB cream + foundation I've tried up until now.  I bought this with the sole purpose of it providing moisture while I was in Colorado and have been using it ever since. The first time I saw this BB cream was when Martina, from Eat Your Kimchi, talked about it. I was impressed how amazing her skin looked because it seemed like just that... skin. 

So many times I've loved a foundation and later on hated it because it caked or just didn't look natural. When I tried my first Asian BB cream, the Skin 79 one, I vowed never to use western foundations ever again. I'm proud to say I've done just that and my skin tends to behave more, even on that time of the month. However, the Etude House Mineral BB cream is less ash-y that the Skin 79 bb cream. The Etude BB cream looks very natural on my skin, providing a dewy finish that leaves my skin looking healthy and not like a disco ball. It provides me with moisture and a very impressive coverage. Its perfect for everyday use and I'm so damn happy I got it. 

I truly recommend this products if you're looking for an easy, comfortable and natural looking base. Also keeping in mind that the coverage is light/medium, so those looking for a full coverage should maybe avoid this. Also, the skin range is based on Asian skin tones so those with darker skin tones wont be able to use this. However, maybe with the popularity increase they might broaden their skin tone range. I hope so because the finish this gives would look divine on a darker skin tone.

Here's the video where I first saw this product:

Body Shop | Rainforest Volume Shampoo & Conditioner

I try to always have a positive outlook on every product I try and then review. Even going as far as to admit I've been lucky to research and love the products I invest in. These Body Shop products are by no means a good investment for me. They are currently the object of my hatred-yes, it's that bad- and I can't even bring myself to finish them.

Lets start by saying these are for fine hair. I'm an advocate for fine hair that gets tangled by the slightest gust of wind. I thought it would be so good to finally try "good" products that didn't have silicones, sulfates, colorant and parabens. I also thought I'd be doing my hair a favor... First off, I need an insane amount of product to cover my whole hair and feel its "clean". The products wouldn't last a month, and having to spend the money on them constantly... not cool. The next thing was that my hair felt like rubber when I rinsed. Do you know that feeling your hair gets after you just colored and rinsed it? That weird wire texture? THAT is what I felt. Then, as if that's not enough, I had to spend about (30) minutes to brush my hair. Most of the times I ended up with headaches after the whole process.

I find that washing my hair and brushing it is supposed to be a soothing process. Using these products left me stressed and pissed off. I usually try to finish products, even if I don't like them, but I can't myself to finish these. I cannot stand the thought of putting these on my hair one more time. It makes me cringe. The only thing I liked was the smell, and even that can't make me use these again. I'm truly disappointed with these products and I'm just happy I didn't spend full price on them. 

Have any of you tried these? Thoughts?

Back!

I'm back from vacation and it was heavenly. Seeing amazing views and having time to stop and appreciate is wonderful. I got some cool stuff for Christmas and some products that kept my skin alive in that dry weather, so that will be coming up sometime this weekend! Hope you all has a good winter!