Because one release is never enough.

Not too long ago, MISSHA released a load of cute products in collaboration with LINE. This is the second release to rip that hard earned money off your hands.

Actually, it's just 3 products, but each having 6 colour variations.

DUAL BLENDING CUSHION SHADOW | 7800 WON

a high blendability eyeshadow (x 2!) thanks to the cream to powder formula.

click to enlarge!

                                                         

TENSION BLUSHER | 11800 WON

the bouncy formula will leave you with a natural and long lasting flush.

click to enlarge!

                                                         

POPTASTIC JELLY TINT | 7800 WON

a jelly formula to stain your lips evenly with strong vivid colours.

click to enlarge!

                                                           

EDITOR'S NOTE
What interests me the most is the tension blusher. At first glance, I thought it's just the usual cushion blusher which by now has sort of become the norm. I do see the merits of a liquid blusher, and an applicator with a larger surface area to ensure even and diffused application. The tension blusher however, appears to be a lot less watery than the cushion blusher I have come to know of. It's a thicker liquid encased within a mesh (I think!). The formula also looks very hydrating, so it might be the perfect blush for girls with dry skin. 

And the tint, you can tell how well it stains the lips just by looking at the model's lips. Especially in the "hot coral" swatch, you can see the stain from the previous colour! Haha!

Even though I can't wear any makeup currently, I'm lusting after peach toned eyeshadows. The orange cupcake shade looks really good on the model's eyes!

What about you? Saw anything that interest you?

image credit: missha

Just 3 simple steps, a lot less products than you think.

summer is almost around the corner, you probably wouldn't want to risk your makeup melting off your face in this heat. the best way to overcome that issue?

WEAR LESSER MAKEUP!

follow this 3 simple steps and you can get away with not just lesser makeup, but also a natural looking face. because who doesn't like the no-makeup makeup look?

1// BRIGHTEN DULL AREAS

the eyelids, under eye area, side of the nose, nose bridge, and chin area can use some pick me up with a highlighter.

these area tend to be a little darker and could benefit from the brightening effect of highlighter. you can either use a highlighter or a colour correcting formula to achieve the desire result. the glowy look makes you look healthier without looking washed out.

2// USE FOUNDATION/CONCEALER SPARINGLY

DO NOT apply it all over your face. i repeat: DO NOT USE FOUNDATION/CONCEALER ALL OVER YOUR FACE. the areas that need the most coverage are usually the under eye, side of the nose, and around the lips (if you have uneven skin tone).

well, if you have acne, it's a different story! the thing about foundation/concealer is it can easily remove all the shadows on your face, which basically means wiping away all the definition your natural face has. you either layer on some shading powder afterwards to correct that, but that means you end up using more product and that's not the aim for this look!

3// ONLY POWDER THIS 2 AREAS TO REDUCE CAKING

powders are meant to absorb oil, so use it on places that actually produce oils - your T zone, and the side of your nose.

dust a small amount of powder with a puff or a very fluffy brush. doing so greatly reduce the chances of your makeup caking up throughout the day.

that's basically it! spot concealer, brightening and powdering. it's no secret, but we all need that reminder once in a while to not slather everything on our entire face even if it's more convenient. convenience comes at a cost, and in this case, it's the cost of looking heavily made up.

on a side note, i haven't illustrated in a while and i can definitely feel my skills become rusty. URGH. and how do you like the super imposed headband? hahahahaha if i were in a better mood i'd do a better job. but this has to make do for now. images adapted from the www.

According to 300 Japanese office ladies.

japanese magazine VoCE recently published their TOP 5 brown eyeshadows, according to a vote by 300 office ladies.
why them you ask? because brown eye shadow can enhance your eyes subtly without it being too loud for the work place!

there's a range of eyeshadow from the different price category. let's see why they love these so much, starting with the first.

1ST // LUNASOL | SKIN MODELLING EYES 02 | 5000 YEN

"creates three dimensional eyes with just the right amount of pearl. works great for work and the after hours."

2ND // KATE | FORMING EDGE EYES BR-3 | 1400 YEN

"it's affordable, and the instructions are easy to understand." check my previous post for the entire selection of colours.

3RD // MAQUILLAGE | TRUE EYE SHADOW BE323 | 3500 YEN

"the colours are beautiful, especially the eye liner shade that helps to define the eyes"

4TH // CHANEL | LES 4 OMBRE 226 | 6900 YEN

"the package is glamourous, and the colours can easily create an elegant and natural gradient."

5TH // DIOR | 5 COULEUR 746 | 7600 yen

"good colour pay off, the palette can transform your day look to night look easily."

EDITOR'S THOUGHT//
lunasol has been a crowd favourite ever since their skin modelling eyes was released 9 years ago. i heard that their powder is super powdery smooth while the colour is pigmented yet natural looking. the price tag is hefty though (although chanel and christian dior's eye shadow made lunasol relatively more affordable simply by price comparison). someday.. i'll get to try it! someday..! a girl can dream!

images and poll via voce

Almond eyes are trending right now in Japan?

it's about time to explore other eye shapes, i suppose! rounded eyes have been in vogue for way too long in japan, so i'm glad the korean wave finally hit some sense into the beauty industry to start trends that actually enhances what we have instead of making us lust for something we don't have.

asian eyes are usually long and slender, it's the exact shape most caucasian makeup style goes after: the almond shaped eyes.

while you don't need this exact eye shadow palette to create the effect, this is KATE's way of recognizing and promoting a trend that i approve of!

introducing the FORMING EDGE EYES, available in 8 colour variations.

FORMING EDGE EYES | 1400 YEN

the eye shadow palette trio consist of a highlight shade, a medium shade, and a dark colour.
the shape of the pan is similar to the shape of how you'll apply the eyeshadow.

application instructions.

they recommend applying A first, followed by C, and lastly B to add definition to the eyes.
the palette comes with a sponge tip applicator, which is a pity because i think a brush will work much better with the blending.

before and after.

the eye shadow looks rather frosty, especially the highlight and medium shade.

click to enlarge!
swatches of the different colours

EDITOR'S NOTE

looking at the swatches, i notice the eye shadow is mostly frosty, which reminds me of their BROWN EDGE EYES. the only difference in this new palette lacks the nose shading powder the latter has. 

KATE is known to rehash their products, so this is definitely not a must if you already own some of their older eye shadow palettes. however, it's a good addition if you feel like experimenting with japanese eye shadows because for the price, KATE's products will amaze you. i can vouch for the smoothness and buttery-ness of their eye shadows.

KATE has a good selection of browns. if browns are too boring for you, check out GN-1, deep khaki. it's an uncommon shade among the western beauty brands! i'll personally stay away from BU-1 because frosty blue just don't float my boat.

all images belong to KATE.

Everyone else has a (huge) stash of lip balms too right!?

i don't know how else to justify the amount of lip balms i own.
those in the photos are just 5 that i'm currently using, i still have another 3 or more that's not opened yet.
GASPS.

"i am running out of lip balm!"
says no one ever!!!

here's a brief comparison and my thoughts on each of the lip balm.

VASELINE | PETROLEUM JELLY | ~6 SGD

vaseline is probably the best value of money out of all products here, at only 6 SGD, i get 368g of product and i am pretty sure i can NEVER finish this tub. ok, never is a strong word, so let's just say i won't run out of vaseline for another 5 years AT LEAST.

it's not sticky nor shiny, and does an awesome job preventing my lips from getting dry. layer this baby on before bed and you'll wake up to gorgeous lips. due to its viscosity, vaseline runs the risk of going on too thick, but that's a welcomed quality when i use it at night.

as it does interfere with lipstick application, i usually apply it before starting my makeup, only wiping/blotting it off just before moving on to the lipstick step.

SMITH'S | STRAWBERRY LIP BALM | 7 USD

this lip balm hands down smells the best!!! their scent is what makes this special, i guess. oh, and that lovely pink colour balm too! it doesn't tint my lips pink though.

in terms of its ability to prevent dryness, it does a rather mediocre job. it's harder than vaseline, so it's harder to get a good amount of products onto my lips. i'll need to reapply this more just to keep my lips from drying out. definitely not something i'll use overnight because i tried it and.. my lips were a little dry in the morning.

the formula is not shiny, making it an undetectable lip balm.

it contains beeswax and lanolin on top of petroleum jelly, and while it smells like a minty strawberry, it tastes nothing like strawberry. not even like the artificially strawberry flavoured pocky.

it's safe to say the only redeeming point about it is the sweet scent. is it worth 7 bucks? not in my books. and the packaging is a pain in my ass at times because it's so hard to open it.

LUCAS' | PAPAW OINTMENT | 3.25 AUD

one of the cult favourites well known for its protective capabilities, it's also known to be a "very expensive petroleum jelly" since it's mostly petroleum jelly. in my honest opinion, it is indeed very similar to my vaseline petroleum jelly, but the formulation makes all the difference between the two.

in singapore's temperature (around 30 degC year round) it's a lot softer than vaseline, more shiny for sure. the blend reacts well to my body temperature as it melts into my lips nicely and coats it thinly. it's as though the softness of the product make it incapable of layering too thick a layer (a tragedy that might happen with vaseline). when i smack my lips together, they glide across each other with ease unlike the slight friction i get after using all the other lip balms. that's a strangely satisfying sensation.

there is a slight scent to it, but almost undetectable. if any, it's a natural scent that does't put me off. i can't speak of it's power to "relieve and cleanse" to be honest. if vaseline works well on wounds, this will too! but you know, this will be a greasier version.

due to its shininess and slipperiness, i also blot it off before applying my lipstick. otherwise, it's the perfect overnight treatment for my lips.

CARMEX | SOOTHING LIP BALM | 1.59 USD

i was actually using this lip balm on my skin to soothe any irritation because of its awesome cooling sensation. with added camphor and menthol, it calms any tingles within my skin very well.

cooling lips felt amazing too! it doesn't sting, and the effect last for a few minutes at most. the scent though!!!! it took me a while to get used to it. the first time i smelled it i was really taken aback.

the formula is just as soft as the lucas' papaw ointment, it's definitely more greasy than vaseline and lucas' which might be due to the additional ingredients such as petrolatum, cocoa seed butter, mineral oil, lanolin and so on. the lip balm feels heavy even though i only used a thin layer, and the shine is real.

i haven't worn this overnight before, but it being more greasy and thick than lucas' tells me it'll work just as well as an overnight treatment.

MAYBELLINE | BABY LIPS | ~3 USD

perhaps i am too used to using softer lip balms (like vaseline and lucas' papaw ointment), i find the baby lips not meeting my high expectations after seeing how it's been raved as the most hydrating lip balm out there. those girls are missing out.

it's not as greasy or oily as what i'm used to, but the redeeming point about the baby lips is its light application, and adorable scent. the one i have smells like grape juice, and i gotta say i quite like it!

i'd say this is the perfect lip balm to wear beneath your lipstick without have the need to blot it off prior to lipstick application because it's not quite as oily as the other lip balms. the lack of shine makes this invisible on my lips, except for the slight tint that gave it away. it's also a pretty no-mess product since you don't need your fingers, nor have to worry about it melting and leaking out of the package.

definitely not my go-to lipstick for sleeping though, because it's just not enough to keep my lips from drying out. i need something heavy duty.

the other issue i have is the long list of ingredients used to formulate this lip balm. like, WAY TOO MUCH YO! but then again, do take note that i've used an one ingredient lip balm (vaseline petroleum jelly, which is 100% petroleum jelly) for years. so anything more than one is many in my opinion.

IN A NUTSHELL

there's always a lip balm for ever situation! when i need an extra layer of protection, i drift towards the oilier/softer products. when it's a little prep for makeup, i use the harder products.

personally i drift towards unscented and uncolored lip balms because i love using them on my skin too. any multi-purpose products score extra points in my heart because i just need to carry one item out instead of two! lip balms are awesome barriers to lock the moisture within our skin, so don't hesitate to use it on your skin if necessary!

i can't decide if i prefer vaseline over lucas' papaw ointment or not. both are very similar in terms of function, but lucas' makes my lips feel more lubricated, and i quite like that.

This is berry interesting.

i hope the lunar new year treated your belly well! i definitely overloaded on the food.
now i need to work those calories off by sharing etude house's brand new offering this month.
the theme is strawberry and it's berry cute and interesting!

other from the pumped up packaging, i can't say if the actual content inside is any different from usual.
i wonder if they're strawberry scented? that would be fun! and yummy!



the whole collection includes makeup and body care. let's take a closer look.

FACE//

ETUDE HOUSE PEARL CRYSTAL CLEAR ANY CUSHION | SPF50 PA+++ | 18000 won

a new formula for the any cushion series (that's all my limited korean figured out).

BERRY DELICIOUS ANY CUSHION CASE | 8000 won

a special strawberry design for your existing any cushion pact.

BERRY DELICIOUS CREAM BLUSHER | USD 11

comes in three shades: a selection of peach, pink, and coral.

swatches available on musingsofamuse's blog!

BERRY DELICIOUS FANTASTIC COLOUR EYES | USD 16.80

musingsofamuse swatched these palettes on her blog!

available in two colour choice.

click to enlarge!

BERRY DELICIOUS LASH PERL CURL FIX | USD 14.40available in two shades, black and brown. i believe they're the same as the usual curl fix, only difference is the cute strawberry packaging.

LIPS//

BERRY DELICIOUS COLOR IN LIQUID LIPS | USD 12.40
comes in 10 new shades! the most interesting one is perhaps GR701, since it changes colour.

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY LIP JAM SCRUB | USD 9.10

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY LIP JAM TREATMENT | USD 9.10

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY LIP JAM | USD 9.10a slightly tinted lip balm.

   

NAILS//

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY SOUFFLE NAIL | USD 3.90

BERRY DELICIOUS PLAY NAIL STICKER | USD 3.20

BODY//

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY BODY SCRUB AND WASH | USD 11.00

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY BODY MILK | USD 11.00

BERRY DELICIOUS BREAD SHOWER SPONGE | USD 3.90

BERRY DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY EAU DE PARFUM | 18000 won

EDITOR'S THOUGHT//

the entire collection looks very impressive collectively, even if you're not gonna use them, it looks like a good desktop decor to own, you know what i mean? haha!

that aside, the coral cream blusher and the pink eyeshadow palette looks gorgeous.

i'd be interested in the body milk if it smells like the body shop's strawberry body butter (because it's my favourite out of all their body butter).

the lip scrub cost way too much in my opinion when you can make your own DIY lip scrub at a fraction of that price with sugar and vaseline.

did anything catch your eyes?