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I bought this as my HG mascara, Imju Fiberwig, is running out. I encountered it via Ava Yu Kiu's beauty videos and thought I'd give it a shot. It's a tad more expensive than the average drugstore mascara, at almost €17, but I've had disappointing results with almost every drugstore mascara I've ever bought, so I'm willing to pay for something that might actually work. That said, Fiberwig is significantly cheaper.
My first HG mascara was Benefit's get bent (same formula as BADgal, different/bent brush), which was stiff enough to hold the curl of my naturally very straight and long lashes, though it drooped at the end of a moderately long day. Then I discovered Fiberwig when I was in Hong Kong, and have stuck with it ever since. I love how the fibers are removed with warm water, less rubbing of the eyes with alcohol-based removers.
POINTS:
- The formula is moderately wet, which worried me at first as I prefer stiff formulas like Fiberwig.
- It's very lengthening, but not volumising.
- I had to curl many times before and after application of each coat to get my lashes to hold shape, but I think it will stay after that.
- I would say that this is another version of Bourjois' Coup de Théâtre mascara - which actually works. (I see the packaging got revamped since I bought it almost 10 years ago...I wonder if they changed the formula, which was too weak to hold curl, back in the day.)
- Individual lash definition is very good.
- It looks natural enough to be worn without any other eye make-up.
BEFORE:
Bare eye with Maybelline's Pure.Cover Mineral concealer in 01 Nude Beige and Benefit High Beam on the tearduct and nose.
AFTER:
One coat of the white base, and approximately three coats of the black mascara (in quick succession, not left to dry in between).
FREAKY COMPARISON PICTURE:
OVERALL:
If you're looking for length but not volume, and average curl hold, this is perfect for you. If your lashes are very thin, this may not work well. Only get this if no other drugstore mascara works for you, as it's among the most expensive - I think it may actually be more expensive than Benefit's offerings. It's essentially a more expensive and less volumising version of Fiberwig.
LMF - 傲氣長存 (Persistent Self-Pride) English TranslationChinese lyrics: ChlyricsEnglish translation by z.ky. Do not reproduce without permission. WARNING: Extreme profanity. Translated lyrics after the cut.
Last week, I had a problem with small dry patches of skin on my face with flaked and were a pain to use BB cream on. My usual serum and moisturiser didn't seem rich enough, and the central heating craze at the beginning of cold weather wasn't helping.
I've heard of crazy old ladies slathering Vaseline on their faces at night and tips online involving Vaseline masques resulting in dewy, glowing, even skin, so I tried putting a layer of Vaseline on the dry patches on my face under moisturiser. No dice - expected, since Vaseline is completely useless on my lips and seems to dry them out rather than do anything beneficial.
I was considering shelling out for a higher-end, richer moisturiser as I've never really experienced this problem before, and it was making me panic. The dryness began to itch and spread. However, I seem to have stumbled upon a remedy, which I'm going to share:
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick - on targeted areas, under your usual moisturiser.
It's literally Palmer's (which I already use on my body) in stick form. It doesn't feel as greasy/gloopy/sticky as Vaseline (it's sticky, but it's a bearable kind that you'll forget about in a few minutes), it doesn't leave a high-gloss sheen (annoying), it's easy to use (swivel and swipe - no need to rub in if you're lazy), and after two days of using it, there are no more dry patches on my face!
It's great for protecting vulnerable areas of your face from harsh central heating and cold winds during the Winter. It smells gorgeous, melts into skin, and soothes dry skin effectively! It doesn't slide around like Vaseline will, moreover it will last all day. Please do try it if you're having the same problem with drying skin!
Please refer to my skin profile here!
Etude House is an inexpensive, but good quality cosmetic brand in Korea. I came across this BB cream when searching for a cheap, basic, easy to apply Korean BB cream with a natural finish. I believe that this BB cream was repackaged recently, adding the "All Day Strong" part. It comes in three shades (with notes on what I've learned from my research online):
#1 Sheer Silky Skin: Lightest shade. Suits oily skin, with a mattifying finish.
#2 Sheer Glowing Skin: Light to medium shade. Suits drier skin, with a dewy finish.
#3 Sheer Flawless Skin: Darkest shade. Highest coverage.
I bought 6 sample sachets on eBay of #2 for $3.50. Though I do have combination skin, my cheeks and forehead can get dry in the wintertime. I also prefer a dewy finish which can be toned down with powder, as opposed to an unnatural matte face which needs extra contouring and blush: therefore I chose #2.
I used it straight on my face after getting up in the morning, just to see how it would cope with dryness. I didn't wash my face first, no moisturiser, base, nothing - all that was on my skin was night cream I had applied the night before! I figured that it was the ultimate test...and here's the result:
Left side: with BB cream. Definitely brighter and more refreshed-looking, with evened tone. Shadows and redness on cheeks gone. Right side: eeeek (bare)! Minimal Photoshop (mainly lighting and colour fixes, none on the face).
A swatch:
I was afraid it would be too dark at first, but it seems to lighten as it's blended out.
Points:
- No weird sheen, thick texture or extra stickiness from the SPF 30 / PA++ - doesn't get pushed around.
- Slight pearlescent effect, but very natural and only noticeable close up. No shimmer or particles.
- VERY easy to apply and blend, no need to buff in - great beginner BB cream.
- I disagree with recommendation for dry skin - if skin is drier than average, this may not give as nice an effect - doesn't cover or moisturise dry patches too effectively. "For Normal Skin" would be more accurate.
- Tone is neutral but tends more to pinkness than yellow shades - buy samples/use testers before purchasing!
- Covers dark shadows around eyes surprisingly well - may need extra layers, but is very layerable and doesn't cake.
- The finish is like mineral make-up: comes off when touched as a powdery/silky residue, but doesn't rub off too easily - could set with powder to be safe.
- Very easy to remove: a few gentle swipes of a Simple Cleansing Facial Wipe and it's all gone!
- Coverage: extremely natural - medium coverage with a very thin layer: covers redness, dark shadows, and visible pores well.
- I took it off straightaway, so I can't say anything about the staying power. But as it's so natural, even if it rubs off it won't look obvious. It feels very light (actually, I didn't feel anything...) and natural, so it shouldn't be a chore to wear. In fact, I think it would do fine without blush, and definitely without contouring. I would be interested to test it in hot or humid weather, as it obviously performs well in dry, cool weather.
- Patting it on is best, but rubbing doesn't produce any unsightly "eraser dust" or promote flaking.
All gone!
Remember that I used this on a crappy (i.e. non-existent) base, so I expect that the finish and effect would be even better over serum, or any kind of prep! Note that BB creams are to be used in place of moisturiser, as many claim to have SPF, anti-ageing, whitening, and moisturising effects.
I also bought a full-size Mentholatum Sunplay SKIN AQUA Silky BB Cream SPF35 PA++ (recommended in a video by Ava Yu Kiu), so I will test that out before purchasing Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream in its full size - but I have to say that there isn't a lot stopping me from buying it, right now!
+Good, if:
You're looking for natural light to medium coverage, more than a tinted moisturiser but less than traditional foundation, without any gimmicks, stickiness, or weird sheen. This would be a great first BB cream.
-Bad, if:
You need a lot of coverage or staying power, and have very dry skin.
The name says it all: if you've used mineral make-up before, you know what to expect - the base consists of powdery minerals rather than oil or water. Overall, I would repurchase this!
As I will be reviewing BB creams and other skincare products, I thought it'd be helpful to describe my skin type. So if we have similar type and flaws, you can be reasonably sure that you'll get the same results I get from various products! Hopefully this helps :)
Note: I do not have blue skin.
Skin type - Combination skin:
Moderately oily nose and chin, normal to dry cheeks and forehead. Becomes normal and dry respectively in the wintertime. Needs extra oil control for the nose, chin, and surrounding areas in hot weather.
Problem areas:
Dark circles underneath eyes, dark shadows around eyes, visible pores on nose, redness around nose. Dry patches appear under tearduct and on eyelid occasionally. Fine lines directly underneath tearduct.
Good points:
Texture is very smooth, have never experienced acne - no scarring present.
Makeup routine:
I only use concealer for my dark circles - I hate the feeling of foundation, so I never use it. I use oil-blotting papers or tissue paper to blot away any excess oil during the day.
November 2011 Skin Routine:
Day
Pond's Flawless White Visibly Lightening Daily UV Cream SPF 15/PA++ (available in Asia only)
Pond's Flawless White Light Infusing Under-Eye Cream (available in Asia only)
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum
Night
Pond's Flawless White Re-Brightening Night Treatment (available in Asia only)
Pai Echium Organic Eye Cream
I'm in the process of switching out my skincare routine for more natural/organic, paraben- and silicone-free products, starting with the Pai eye cream. The Pond's whitening range was excellent before it was repackaged/reformulated as Flawless White - it used to come in a white and navy container. Now I find the day cream a little too reminiscent of pure suncream, while the night and eye cream are good but not mind-blowing. I have a review on the Pai Echium Eye Cream coming up, but first up is Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream!
For a couple of dollars, I bought a pack of Maycare double eyelid tape - for fun, since I have hidden double eyelids already. That is, the outer edge is visible, but overall not very dramatic or overly visible. There's no point in showing pictures of my eyelid, as everyone's eyelid shape is different. In addition to that, you can achieve different effects depending on the positioning of the tape; apply it higher for a more dramatic effect, but beware that it may cause the skin of your eyelid to fold over and lose the effect. Experimentation is key!
The pack contains 72 pairs of tape, nicely presented, including a plastic applicator similar to the one included with double eyelid glues.
From looking up other brands of tape, this one seems to be relatively discreet - it's not thick, doesn't have a strange pattern/airholes, nor does it leave any residue. It will last at least half a day (I took it off after that amount of time) and is quite comfortable - similar to wearing (well-applied) false lashes. I haven't tried using it with make-up on, but I imagine that I would first apply the eyelid tape, then stick to eyeliner and mascara only.
This is what I've gathered from my research on double eyelid tape brands:
- Nexcare: Most breathable.
- Eye Charm: Seems to have good reviews.
- Wonder: Not as big as Eye Charm, but more natural.
- Maycare: Moderately natural, inexpensive.
I'm going to present some advice that isn't commonly found online, but really helped me. These days, interviews can be very structured - for example, competency-based interviews. Every type of interview can be Googled, and situations and questions within an interview for a particular job or company are shared by interview "survivors".But what can't be researched and learned off is personality.Here's my top advice to augment all scenarios that can be learned off and gabbled verbatim in competency-based interviews. It goes without saying that you should have the required skill set and competence, and be reasonably prepared and hold the appropriate level of *genuine* enthusiasm and desire for the job - that is your foundation.
1. YOU are the authority on your own experiences. Think of interviews as exams, which test you on your past experiences. And know one knows YOUR experiences better than YOU. Therefore it's an exam that's impossible to fail...if not for two key points: the relevance and presentation of your experiences. You are in command. Tailor all of your answers to make them relevant to the question, and have a structured answer that's easy to follow: tell it like a story. No one can correct you on your own experiences, because you are the only one who has experienced them. It seems quite absurd to lay it out like that, but it's true; realising that will give you confidence and power.2. Be yourself (and be genuine!). The importance of this applies beyond the interview. If you feel that you have to modify your personality or be highly creative when telling your experiences, you have to ask yourself why you're there, and whether you'll be happy keeping that demeanor up if you get the job, and possibly work there for years. Even if you fool the interviewer and get the job, you are fooling yourself into misery. An example of this is consulting, which people don't seem to get: consultancy is people. If you don't like people, why are you going for it? If you get the job and are forced to interact with clients constantly as part of your job, you will be miserable...because it's not "you". "You" are all you can be sure to have, for the rest of your life. Everything else is uncertain. If you try to bend and manipulate your own self, you are losing your spirit: what you are, inherently. No job is worth losing yourself over.3. Inject some positivity and laughter into the interview. This is lifted directly from Part Two, Chapter 1 of How to Win Friends and Influence People."Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not.
"Thus the sovereign voluntary path to cheerfulness, if our cheerfulness if lost, is to sit up cheerfully and to act and speak as if cheerfulnees were already there. "
--William James
Smiling and laughter release hormones that make you happy, such as endorphins and serotonin.
(--Science. I first did some research on this when I was in secondary school, and I recommend that everyone do the same. Simple and enlightening.)
This is kind of sneaky, but make your interviewer feel happy, so that they will associate you with positivity and like you. And who wouldn't choose to work with someone they like? You don't always have to be at the mercy of the interviewer. Entertain them. Be memorable to guarantee further consideration. If they refuse to smile, don't fall for it. They may be putting on an act to put some pressure on you - all part of the test. --Ahem...that was slightly tangential, but the first point really helped me. It occurred to me a few nights before my first interview, and it helped me gain confidence and dispel nerves. Hope it helps others too!
L - R:
shirt: Penneys (I bought this approximately six years ago and never wore it!)
bag: Penneys, €13.00
flats: New Look, €24.99
trousers: Dunnes Stores, €20.00
pencil skirt: Forever 21, €17.75
skirt: Penneys, €15.00
Thinner than regular polishes, so it definitely needs at least two coats. However this is a plus point for me, as the consistency is very smooth and it dries very quickly - I prefer two thin coats that dry quickly to one thick coat which is hard to manipulate and takes ages to try (and is more likely to smudge!).
The colour is perfect, getting a brown polish has always been in the back of my mind but I only ever see chocolatey goop in stores. The shimmer really helps this to not look like goop. This was cheap, too - about €4.36, and the seller threw in some samples!
Gorgeous shimmer! Pictured: two coats with a crappy Collection 2000 clear coat.
Etude House is a Korean brand which is affordable with cheerful packaging and design! I'll definitely try more of their products if I get the opportunity. I really want this Petit Darling top coat:
These are the samples I received along with the polish:
- Missha Super Aqua Oxygen Micro Essence Peeling mask
- Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream
Will do separate reviews of the Missha samples later!
As usual, a review without spoilers.
Melancholia is uncomfortably moving, almost profound. My inexplicable dislike of Kirsten Dunst was cushioned by the always wonderful Charlotte Gainsbourg, and melted away completely during the second part of the movie. The small main cast (Dunst, Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, and Cameron Spurr as their little boy) and ending were genius. The sparse nudity is touching and natural rather than sleazy. The music blew me away - it's such a breath of fresh air when movie soundtracks feature mostly or only classical music (and NO cheesy credits song).
Despite the limited showings and lush imagery, this movie is not overly "artsy" or pretentious. Action movie buffs will squirm in their seats while romantic comedy fans will have their ideals rattled. Don't take it too seriously or search too deep for meaning, and you will have a wonderful, even if shaken, experience.
Favourite scene:
The conversation between Claire and Justine, during which she mentions "All life on Earth is evil." Could have been taken straight out of Donnie Darko...it's that level of tangibility while touching on the topic of mortaliy: life is short, and how it's in human nature not to recognise it until it's too late.
Most shocking scene:
After the horses calm.
Favourite aspects:
The hair and make-up was divine. Reminded me of the finish in Black Swan. The location was beautiful, too - it was shot in Sweden, including Tjolöholm Castle.
Least favourite aspects:
The slow-motion intro stretched slightly too long for my taste.
--
Irish filmgoers: this movie is not being shown outside of Dublin. Within the city centre, you can see it in the either the IFI or The Screen Cinema - I recommend the IFI for its interior. Catch it before it's gone!
my little airport - 奇人的離職 (A Wonderful Person's Departure) English Translation
Chinese lyrics: my little airport English translation by z.ky. Do not reproduce without permission.
Up until the end, you still want to leave,
I never urged you to stay.
Up until the end, you still want to break up,
I'm behind you, watching you leave, taking your puppy with you.
I'm afraid that you no longer like me, I'm afraid that you no longer speak to me, I'm afraid that you have another pretty girl, I'm afraid that you want to leave me, I'm so afraid that I cannot sleep, it will be over soon.
Up until the end I never spoke up, I just looked down.
Up until the end I never jumped off any buildings, I just wept.
Regarding love, regarding friendship, I will ignore it, ignoring you as you drift away.
I'm afraid that you no longer like me, I'm afraid that you no longer speak to me, I'm afraid that you have another pretty girl, I'm afraid that you want to leave me, I'm so afraid that I cannot sleep, it will be over soon.
Note: Bittersweet French again - "j'ai peur que tu ne m'aime plus, j'ai peur que tu ne me parle plus, j'ai peur que tu as une autre belle fille, j'ai peur que tu veux me quitter, j'ai si peur que je ne peux pas dormir, ce sera finir bientot.".
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