Here's a simple way to determine your skin type in 10 minutes

understanding your skin type is perhaps the first step towards a successful skin care routine, if we define "successful" as being able to treat your skin issues. after all, products can deliver you the maximum benefit only if you are treating the problem at its root. before i share with you how i typically decide what product i'll use (or what products i'll purchase for my mom, or how i arrive at suggestions for people who trust me enough to ask me for advice), let's get the definitions right.

it always irks me when i see the term "normal/combination" skin, because i understand that normal skin is a mixture of oily skin and normal skin. the addition of the word "combination" to me then becomes redundant.

in this entry below, i'll refer to normal/combination skin as normal skin, while combination means a combination of two deviations - too dry and too oily.

THE TWO ZONES ON OUR FACE
focusing on just the face alone, there are two regions - the sebaceous-gland-rich zone, and the non-sebaceous-gland-rich zone. because our skin is not uniform in terms of sebaceous gland density, it's not surprising to find at least 2 adjective when describing the state of your skin. hence, all skin types to me are a combination of dryness and oiliness. but it'll be pointless if we named all the skin types as "combination", right?

SEBACEOUS-GLAND RICH ZONE (YELLOW REGION)
the sebaceous-gland-rich zones on the face are typically the forehead, nose (which we so conveniently call the T zone), as well as the inner cheeks. these are the areas that tend to produce more sebum NATURALLY, whether you have dry or oily skin. it's just the way our body is made to be.

interestingly, other parts of sebaceous-gland-rich zones include the back, the chest, and scalp. if you haven't noticed already,  most acne occurs on these "fertile lands".

NON-SEBACEOUS GLAND RICH ZONE (BLUE REGION)
well, it's just the other areas that aren't rich in sebaceous glands! namely, the cheeks and the circumference of the face.

DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES, ILLUSTRATED
so what does it mean to have dry, normal(combination), or oily skin? since our actual skin type will almost always be a combination of two scenarios - slightly less oily non-sebaceous gland rich zone and a slightly more oily sebaceous-gland rich zone, it seems more convenient to categorize the skin type according to the dryer region, since the T zone will be oily no matter what. i've tried to illustrate the differences below.

as shown above (everything is drawn by me! :D i earned some bragging rights after spending hours on them hahaha), skin types are actually a combination of at least two states of the skin, which ranges from dry to oily. this is a very simplistic illustration because our gland distribution and density isn't that clear cut in reality.

ARE YOU DRY? NORMAL? OR OILY?
how do you know which skin type you belong to? a good rule of thumb i've come across is as follow:

1. you have DRY SKIN if your cheeks feel tight, dry or itchy within 10 minutes after washing your face with just water. if you used soap/cleanser and experience the same effects, i'd recommend washing your face with just water alone and see how your cheeks feel. this is because soap/cleanser will dry out your skin, rendering this experiment null. also, if you already have such symptoms, it's best to lay off the soap, or change to one that doesn't contain any harsh chemicals that will strip away too much oils.

2. you have NORMAL SKIN if after washing your face with soap or water, your cheeks doesn't feel anything more than just a slight tightening (around the cheek area if you used soap) or cooling effect. your T zone secretes just enough sebum - it's not overly dry or oily.

3. you most likely have OILY SKIN if your T zone and/or cheeks start oozing sebum within 10 minutes of washing your face (with either soap, or water), making you shiny or greasy all over.

4. you have DRY AND OILY SKIN if you've used soap/cleanser on your face, and your T zone starts oozing sebum while your cheeks dry up like a raisin. YES, this is possible, because your skin is so dehydrated!

while this is a rather simplistic way to determine your skin type, it's a good start to begin your exploration journey in the world of skin care. it's just a rule of thumb anyway!

SKIN TYPE CHANGES, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE
our skin type changes from time to time, especially if you're a girl experiencing hormonal fluctuations monthly! our hormonal changes will affect sebum production as well as other immunological responses (that's why some people experience more acne/sensitivity prior to their period). the best way to look at our skin care routine is to view it as a dynamic system that requires constant tweaking so as to return it to the optimum condition you desire. don't forget, our skin is breathing and alive!

i regard dealing with skin issue as "a return to the optimal condition" because i truly believe that everyone was born with normal skin. it's everything that we do (or it could be things we fail to do) that led to the deviation of healthy skin. of course, this belief excludes genetically defective disorders that made the skin unsuitable to perform its function well in this environment we're born into.

knowing your skin type is winning half the battle. the other half depends on finding the right products to achieve your needs/wants, which i'll write about in the next entry.

so, have you determined your skin type yet? going by the industry's terminology, i have normal/combination skin. i don't remember having particularly oily T zone growing up. in fact, my T zone have gotten considerably more oily in the past year. it may be because of my changing body/skin type, or it could be because i started washing my face with a cleanser more frequently. growing up, all i used was water.

According to peer review sites and magazines

after looking through several peer review websites, as well as taking in considerations of magazine rankings, i've gathered 5 CC Creams that have garnered positive reviews.

if you are new to CC cream, i've got you covered with this beginner's guide to CC cream where i detailed the differences between BB cream and CC cream. italics are the official product description, while normal words are a summary of the reviews i've read.

REVLON age defying CC cream | BOURJOIS 123 perfect CC cream | CHANEL CC cream | JILL STUART airy tint CC cream | NATURE REPUBLIC tinted CC cream

REVLON | AGE DEFYING CC CREAM SPF 30

hydrates, smooths, and evens out skin tone while reducing the appearance of fine lines and hyper-pigmentation. contains SPF to protect against premature aging of skin.

the cc cream is currently first place on the taiwanese review site urcosme.com. it's said to be really light weight, hydrating, has a natural coverage, and without the heaviness of a BB cream or foundation.

BOURJOIS | 123 PERFECT CC CREAM SPF 15

claims to hydrate your skin for 24 hours. a one stop solution to luminous complexion with its 3 pigments to combat all skin issues (redness, fatigue and dark spots).

clinching the 2nd position on urcosme.com, users find it hydrating and brightening. as the product blends out easily, only a little CC cream is needed each time. the light coverage make it comparable to a tinted moisturizer. unlike korean CC creams, the formula isn't oily, the white cast wasn't as scary too. some also noted its long wear on the face even though it doesn't control oil production.

CHANEL | CC CREAM SPF 50 PA++++

a fusion of skin care and makeup, it performs 5 functions in one single step - soothes sensitive skin, moisturize, sun protection, protects skin from environmental irritants, and evens out skin tone and pores. with its long wear formula, you can achieve day-long radiant skin.

voted the best CC cream by biteki readers and urcosme users, chanel's claim seems to be true - readers have moisturized and glowing skin after using it. the multi-functional product is the perfect solution for busy lady who're short of time. i've seen the CC cream work magic on two of my friends before, both times i commented their skin exceptionally good. turns out they used the chanel CC cream.

JILL STUART | AIRY TINT CC CREAM SPF 30 PA++

hydrating and illuminating, the skincare and makeup two-in-one will cover your pores and even out your skin tone. formulated to absorb excess sebum and resistant against sweat, giving you a long wearing translucent glow.

awarded the best CC cream in 2014 by @cosme (i've done a round up of the @cosme award here), users like it for its convenience and hydration. the pore covering power is said to be even better than some foundation and BB creams! the low coverage produces a very natural finish. however, colour selection is limited and may be suited for fair skinned people only. many also commented on the lovely fragrance.

NATURE REPUBLIC | TINTED CC CREAM SPF 25

combining skin care and make up functions, the CC cream moisturizes and provide nutrition to the skin while smoothing out skin tone and the skin texture.

i was surprised to see nature republic getting third place in the 2014 @cosme ranking instead of other korean brands (because the more raved about ones are etude house and laneige). it's reviewed as a low coverage CC cream that evens out uneven complexion, but doesn't cover acne scars. the pump design is also a plus point they like! the oily formula makes it suitable for the dry winter in japan.

if you're into korean CC creams, i've also featured a few in my previous entry about CC cream. i've used the nature republic CC cream (not tinted though!) and really like it, you can read my review here.

if you are in need of convenience, you can really consider giving one of these a try. chanel cosmetics are produced by bourjois' parent company, so MAYBE, just maybe, the 123 perfect cc cream would have similar effects as chanel's?

i use CC creams as a moisturizer and sun screen because that's the only thing i allow to go onto my entire face (as i use foundation/BB cream on the centre of my face only), hence, all these tinted CC creams don't really interest me. except for chanel's because i've seen it work its magic in real life - i can't seem to see the distinction between parts that was covered in the CC cream and parts that weren't.

QUESTION
are you a CC cream girl or a BB cream girl?

For Those Confused By The Marketers

i decided to write this entry because i also need to educate myself on the range of mascaras offered by majolica majorca, a brand under shiseido. those fancy  names don't tell me much about the actual functions, and the brand is obviously trying to make it difficult for me to differentiate between product packaging because they all look similar in terms of color scheme (with the except of the lash link and lash bone). so here is an illustrated entry on the strengths of each mascara.

on the official japanese website, there are only 2 types of mascaras and one base coat. each type comes in two variations: film type (removeable with warm water) and waterproof type.

LASH KING FILM | LASH KING | LASH EXPANDER EDGE MEISTER F | LASH EXPANDER EDGE MEISTER | LASH BONE FILM | LASH BONE 

LASH KING VS LASH EXPANDER EDGE MEISTER

click image to enlarge. image originally from the official japanese website.

i've translated the original image (it was in japanese) to english. it's only available on their japanese website, i think they should add this to their other websites too because it's so useful! now you are able to tell at a glance what each mascara does.

the LASH KING is meant to give you length AND volume, while making your lashes more fluttery at the same time. think of it as an all rounder. i'd perhaps liken this to the maybelline falsies, since that also promises length, volume, fullness, and flared out lashes. i have a review on the maybelline falsies mascara coming up soon!

the LASH EXPANDER (i'll omit the 'edge meister' from here on because the name is too long) on the other hand will give you length and separated lashes. this is much like the maybelline lashionista mascara, except this comes in waterproof formula. i've actually tried the older version of the lash expander, you can read my review here.

the LASH BONE is a translucent mascara base that contains black fibers, meant as a base coat to give you more length and volume. japanese brands seem to love making a lash primer for extra length. kate, visee and integrate have them too.

on the singapore website, i spy two extra mascara that isn't shown on the japanese site (anymore?).

LASH ENAMEL GLAMOUR VOLUME ON | LASH GORGEOUS WING NEO

and look what i found on the taiwanese official website!!! a full on comparison chart! i translated it into english from chinese :D easy peasy!

LASH EXPANDER VS LASH ENAMEL GLAMOUR VS LASH GORGEOUS WING VS LASH KING

as the film type LASH KING is a new release in japan, it's not updated on the taiwanese website yet, hence showing only a "waterproof" sign. image originally from the taiwan MJ website.

the LASH ENAMEL GLAMOUR VOLUME ON is a volumizing mascara, the dual comb brush allows you to control how thick you want your lashes to be. thick as in clusters of lashes stuck together to form a gigantic spider leg. i'd say this mascara parallel the maybelline volum'express hyper curl cat eyes waterproof mascara, as the comb allows the volumizing formula to coat my lashes thickly. read my review here!

lastly, the LASH GORGEOUS WING NEO has a formula that will make your lashes look fuller and more fluffy. "more hairy" doesn't sound nice even though that was the first adjective that came into my mind. the brush is zig-zagged to separate your lashes in order to prevent clumping even after multiple coats of the mascara (according to them). at first glance it seems similar to lash king, that's because they are similar. but i'll expect the lash gorgeous wing to give you skinnier and more natural looking lashes. you know some times lashes end up looking spidery after multiple coats? this MAY avoid that. just a guess judging from the product description.

IN A NUTSHELL

there are 4 main types of mascaras offered by majolica majorca - length, volume, fullness (the false lash effect), and "all of the above".

take your pick.

after writing this entry, everything suddenly appears to be clearer to me. majolica majorca's mascara collection isn't as confusing as maybelline's in my opinion. the thing is these mascaras have a creative name, which is in line with the entire brand because they dream up fairy tales for each collection they release - just goes to show you how airy fairy this brand is. it'll be odd to see really practical and descriptive names show up in majolica majorca's product lines.

one must learn the facts before they can appreciate the beauty in these product names, and i can finally say i really like the product names after spending hours flipping through the web to write up this entry.

QUESTION

were you confused by majolica majorca's product names just like me? please tell me i'm not alone.

image credit: majolica majorca official japanese website and taiwanese website

Or Show This To A Friend Who Will Try It On You

i was browsing through japanese beauty magazine websites (i'm on maquia's today) when i chanced upon these beautiful and simple nail art designs in spring colours! i'm always amazed at how meticulous and how skillful japanese nail art is - it really is an art form. even though i don't usually wear nail polishes (because i'm kinda lazy and impatient when it comes to letting them air dry, and glitter nail polishes are a pain in my ass when removing), i enjoy looking at how people combine different colours and elements together to form a new piece of art work.

here's a few of my favourites, along with translated instructions if you want to try it yourself!

starting off with my favourite.

WINTER KNIT for hands

the combination of pearly white, grey and purple is like a person holding on to the tail of winter, the way the spring sun will slowly melt the winter ice. the addition of gold accent is a touch of minimalistic perfection.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. apply the pearly white polish to the thumb, first finger, and pinky.
(ADDICTION BEAUTY | milk break | 1800 yen)

2. use the smoky gray shade to make a knit art on the middle finger.
(RMK | nail art liner EX-02 | 1500 yen)

3. accentuate the ring finger with a pearly purple shade.
(CHANEL | vernis 641 | 2900 yen)

4. apply a leather texturizing top coat to the thumb, first finger and pinky.
(MAC | nail lacquer texturizer | 1800 yen)

5. add triangle studs to the thumb, first finger and pinky.

BEJEWELED GLAM for toes

the high contrast between the red/hot pink and white is striking and a little bold, making this a perfect way to experiment with vibrant colours. the cluster of crystal, pearl and metal studs brings a royal touch to this design. what a way for your toes to say hello to spring?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. apply an opaque white coat to the thumb, middle finger and pinky.
(RMK | nail colour P-31 | 1500 yen)

2. use a pinkish red for the ring finger.
(ESTEE LAUDER | pure colour nail enemal GE | 2500 yen)

3. on the index finger (or first finger?), apply a hot pink shade.
(CHRISTIAN DIOR | vernis 660 | 3000 yen)

4. add some stones and different elements on the thumb, while using studs on the center of the middle finger and pinky.

RETRO PASTEL for hands

the combination of pastel shades will never go wrong for spring (even though you can wear this any time of the year you like!). what i like about this design is the touch of white, studs, and stones on one of the fingers. so fresh, it stands out from all the pastel designs i've seen.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. on the thumb, apply a dolly pink shade with pearly finish.
(anna sui cosmetics | nail colour N 305 | 1400 yen)

2. coral adds a taste of grown up sweetness, apply it to the middle finger.
(THREE | nail polish 02 | 1800 yen)

3. apply 2 layers of clear purple to the index finger and pinky.
(THREE | nail polish 04 | 1800 yen)

4. on the ring finger, use sheer pastel green as a base.
(JILL STUART BEAUTY | nail colour R 28 | 1500 yen)

5. stick 6 small gold round studs near the base of the thumb. add a mixture of stones and studs to the ring finger in a random fashion. 

FEMININE BOUQUET for hands

you should already be able to tell i have a thing for floral pattern. it's not considered a fetish, is it? haha! i don't think i can ever rock floral nails, but i really enjoy admiring them. it's as though the flowers on the nails are blooming together with those cherry blossoms. what's more lady than pink nails? with a touch of princess-ness to it too.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. apply a pigmented pink beige on the index finger.
(RMK | nail colour EX EX-26 | 1500 yen)

2. on the pinky, apply two coats of raspberry pink.
(RMK | nail colour EX P-13 | 1500 yen)

3. using a pure white shade, apply this as a base coat on the thumb and middle finger.
(RMK | nail colour EX P-31|1500yen)

4. to the ring finger, apply a rose pink as an accent colour.
(YSL | la laque couture 12 | 3000 yen)

5. after the white base coat has dried, draw flowers using nail polish 1, 2 and 4. add a square to the index finger. for the ring finger and pinky, stick a square frame and opal stone for a touch of glam.

DUSTY PASTEL for toes

i'll let you in on another liking of mine, as much as i love the entire spectrum of colours, i'm mysteriously drawn to "dusty shades". dusty rose? right up my alley. that slight addition of greyish tones adds character to the colour and resonates well with me. the elaborate stone pattern gives a ethnic vibe to the overall design - kind of like the elaborate carpets from the skillful artisans from india.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. to the big toe and 3rd toe, apply a smoky gray.
(RMK | nail colour EX EX-02 | 1500 yen)

2. on the 1st toe and pinky, apply a sweet pink shade.
(RMK | nail colour EX P-19 | 1500 yen)

3. for a hint of freshness, apply mint green on the middle toe.
(RMK | nail colour EX EX-29 | 1500 YEN)

4. adhere a square frame in the centre of the big toe, align the stones accordingly. also add stones to the base of the middle toe.

here are my top 5 of the dozens of nails i saw. if you'd like to see more, you can visit their website to have a peek! if you noticed, all 5 designs feature some form of studs. i wonder if it's because i drift towards studs/stones, or is it japanese who like to embellish their nails with these wonderful inventions?

QUESTION
do you like the designs i picked out? do let me know below if you do! we can be friends :D and i'll share more nail designs in the future if you enjoyed this entry.

Look at what Etude House has to offer as of March 2015

a while ago i came across their new colour in liquid lips (you may have seen the swatches i posted on instagram!) and i've always wanted to share it over here. lo and behold, i saw a bunch of new products being released on the official website.

ZERO SEBUM |all day matte gel, white sebum clear,  drying powder

WHITE SEBUM CLEAR | | 11000 won

"helps to melt white sebum on nose and chin"

this cream is applied on comedone prone areas such nose and chin.  it'll get rid of comedones over time.

to be used after toner.

ALL DAY MATTE GEL | | 10000 won

"removes sebum oil for all day matte skin"

mattifying gel primer to be used after your skin care, white sebum clear, and before foundation.

DRYING POWDER | 6g | 6500 won

"provides clear skin without dryness of flakiness"

can be used on T zone, eyelids, and oily hair.

this series parallels innisfree's no-sebum line. well, companies do get ideas from each other and release their own version. the price is exactly the same! the only new offering etude house have is perhaps the "white sebum clear gel", which is a skin care product instead of makeup. that seems quite useful! i can't find the ingredient list on the korean website, but i suspect it contains a blend of BHA and AHA to melt off comedones. not that i have oily skin, but i know many people has so i'm always on the look out for products that can potentially help them.

FANTASTIC COLOR EYES | cherry blossom, rose garden 

eye shadow palette containing 6 different shades each.

CHERRY BLOSSOM | 0.7g per colour | 14000 won

ROSE GARDEN | 0.7g per colour | 14000 won

cherry blossom leans towards the cooler shades while rose garden is warmer. looks like a really fun palette to play around this spring! i like the shades "cherry march", "hand tied" and "my girl" in particular. at around 14USD you can get 6 colours with varying finishes (matte, shimmer, metallic), that's not too bad i think? the addition of browns make this palette rather versatile. 

GIVE ME CHOCOLATE SHADOW | cherry truffle, salted caramel, cacao fudge

eye shadow palette duo.

CHERRY TRUFFLE | 4.5g | 8500 won
[top colour] dark cherry base with pink pearlescent pigments
[bottom colour] warm pink with a moisturizing texture

SALTED CARAMEL | 4.5g | 8500 won
[top colour] gold brown base with pink opal pearly pigments
[bottom colour] red orange base with gold opal glitter

CACAO FUDGE | 4.5g | 8500 won
[top colour] deep brown with brown pearly pigments
[bottom colour] light and transparent base with gold glitter

i'm not really into eye shadow duos even though they make it really easy to use. the less options i have, the easier it is for me to decide how to use the colours! but the packaging and concept of this duo is really cute! and may i say it is very practical too? the shades offered are so wearable on a daily basis! the shades appear sheer in the official swatches, should be really beginner-friendly.

COLOUR IN LIQUID LIPS | 20 shades

liquid lipstick with intense colour and a water shine.

3.5g | 9500 won
click on image to enlarge

korean lip products have been known to be quite amazeballs!!! their wide colour selection and formulation have won the hearts of many. i'm particularly drawn to liquid lipsticks because they're hydrating yet have the intensity of a lipstick. 

i really like the shades BE101, BE102, PK005, PK006 and PK009! RD302 looks quite good too. what about you?

image credit: etude house korea

New Product Releases for 2015

if you've read my blog for a while, you'll know i really like jill stuart's product packaging. this year, they've released new products in spanking new packaging. let's take a look together with me!

do take note this is not part of the spring collection. some are new product, or new packaging, or limited colours added to an existing line.

EVERLASTING SILK POWDER FOUNDATION FLAWLESS PERFECTION SPF23/PA++ | 5000 yen

long lasting foundation with semi matte finish. covers pore with soft focus effect. formulated with rosemary extract, lavender oil and avocado oil for its moisturizing effect.

available in 5 shades.

in store from 6 march 2015

the foundation case is a new design and is designed to look like a little clutch you carry to the party. the jewel facet look gives it a really princessy air.

AIRY TINT WATERY CC CREAM SPF30/PA+++ | 3200 yen

functions as a moisturizer and skin brightener. the pink beige will lift your skin tone naturally. contains cherry blossom extract, evening primrose extract and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin supple. soft focus powder will cover pores, while lipid absorption powder will keep your makeup from melting in excess sweat.

limited edition packaging.

in store from 6 march 2015

there're many more claims on the official website, you can read through all of it if you're interested. too much of a good thing is somethings.. too good to be true :P

CHIFFON RIBBON COLLECTION

in store from 6 february 2015

MATTE CHIFFON NAILS | 10ml | 1500 yen

7 limited colour variations, doesn't contain any pearlescence. as the name suggest, it has a matte finish.

MATTE CHIFFON LIPS | 2800 yen

come in 4 limited colours, also doesn't contain any pearly effect. moisturizing formula melts across lips despite having a soft matte finish.

MIX BLUSH COMPACT N | 4500 yen

2 limited edition colours are introduced in this collection. powders are moisturizing on touch, producing a semi-matte finish that looks natural and soft. comes with retractable brush.

one day i'll get my hands on their mix blush compact! i like their colour combination, and that cute retractable brush that comes along with the palette. the lipstick look really lovely too! all the colours here are limited colours,

saw anything that interested you?

GEO Tri Colour Brown CM-902

sponsored review brought to you by yourbeautymagic. all opinions are my own.

this is the second pair of lens i chose when contacted by yourbeautymagic, a webstore selling contact lenses based in malaysia. currently, they only sell GEO lenses. they offer a pretty competitive price for some of the lense as compared to other online contact lens retailer, that's one of the reasons why i accepted to try lenses from them instead of other online retailers.

the first pair i chose are the princess mimi sesame gray lens, you can see more photographs by clicking on the link!

i've always loved the tri colour series. i daresay this is probably my favourite contact lens design. in japan, they're also sold by ANGEL COLOR, under the series name WORLD SERIES. i've tried the grey, green, and brown before. however, i didn't manage to take photos for reviews a few years ago when i wore the browns, so here goes.


the glass vials are properly wrapped to ensure the lenses reach you safely. lenses belong in my eyes, not in the bubble lined enveloped.


the glass vial that i'm so familiar with. i've been opening these bottles since 2010 :P


product code is printed on the removable vial cap. i'm more blind in my right eye than my left.


the front and back look almost identical to each other, unlike the princess mimi sesame grey lens. the pixels are spaced further apart for a diffused colour effect.

number of tones: three (dark brown, honey, yellow)
diameter: 14.2mm
B.C.: 8.60mm
material: polymacon
water content: 40 +/- 2%

power range: 0 to -6.00 (0.25 step), -6.00 to -8.00 (0.50 step)

(information obtained from official GEO website of another lens because the tri colour series is off their official web! but lenses have similar properties since they're made from the same materials)

price on yourbeautymagic: USD 19 (other webstore are priced around USD20)

close up of the tri colour brown on my eyes. you'll notice it look different in different photos. it was hard capturing the colours of this lens! the photo below will look closer to what you see in reality.



ENLARGEMENT
the lens is 14.2mm with no limbal ring, hence it only enlarges my eyes very very gently. this is one of the reasons why i like this lens - it looks very natural in terms of size.

COLOUR PIGMENTATION

the colours are more diffused and sheerer as compared to the angel brown and princess mimi sesame grey. this really helps to soften the colours and facilitate the blending of colours with my original eye colour.

despite the sheerer colours, it did a really good job lightening my eye colour. totally a plus point in my opinion because it makes the lens look more natural.

the darker brown around the circumference help to blend the lens into my eyes while creating a more 3D look by contrasting darker and lighter shades together. i really love that added dimension to my eyes (you can observe this most clearly in the photo taken in natural light)

COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY
the pupil size is noticeably smaller than the angel browns. i remember i took a while to get used to the obstructed vision (much like seeing your long lashes after you applied mascara the first time).

i haven't worn this out for an extended period of time yet, based on my past experience with GEO lenses, fresh lenses wear comfortably for up to 8 hours. aged lens (more than 3 months old) may make my eyes feel dry easily, i do carry eye drops around with me just in case.

these lenses are yearly lenses according to the official site, but i think it's best to change them out whenever they start to show signs of drying your eyes.

IN A NUTSHELL
this pair of lens will look really good on people with dark iris. the 3 tones in the lens gives a very natural lightening effect. it's the kind of changes that make a huge difference, but people can't quite pin point the reason behind your change.

i absolutely love the tri colour series because it adds so much character and soul into my eyes. it will definitely take a normal eye makeup to the next level. think of it as jewels for your eyes and you'll probably get what i mean.

watch out for this pair of contact lens making it's appearance on my instagram and youtube videos in the future!

for more information, you can send contact them. they're friendly and replied to the bunch of questions i threw at them :P i accepted their invitation to try these lenses because their pricing is more competitive than the other online contact lens retailers.

also, shipping took about 2 weeks for me. i guess the customs held up the package for a while because malaysia is REALLY NEAR to singapore.

if you have any questions, leave me a comment below :)