Long time no review

Well.. Let's see if I still remember how to do a proper review since I haven't been able to do it for so long. You know.. Because of my skin.. I kinda stopped using all skin care products. So lip balms are like the only stuff that are reviewable for a long time.

Let's begin. (Typing this as I stuff my face with fruits. Feeling hungry before dinner!)

The DHC lip cream is a dainty little lip balm (contains only 1.5g of products) made for ants maybe. The lip balm itself has no fragrance, but it sure does have a scent. Not really pleasant, but also doesn't stop me from using it. I just tried sticking the tube too close to my nose for comfort to figure out how to best describe the scent. I think it's the smell of rancid olive oil, as it smells similar to some organic olive oil lip balms I've tried in the past. It just doesn't smell fresh.


Photo credit: DHC

The lip balm has a light yellowish colour to it, is soft and glides on upon warming up to my skin temperature. With one swipe, you'd get a thin film of the lip product hugging your lips. This is probably what I like best about it - it doesn't deposit too much product. It's soft, but not that soft where it'll make a mess. After all, a thin film is all you need, especially when using this to prep your lips before lipstick application. I find that the product doesn't really interfere with lipstick application, meaning lipstick will still adhere to my lips despite having a layer of lip balm on it.

It's not sticky nor glossy, only a slight sheen is observed. It moisturizes my lips just fine, nothing too special in my opinion, as the good old Vaseline petroleum jelly does the same job for me. Except, I gotta admit that Vaseline is a lot softer than the DHC lip cream, so it tends to applies thicker than the latter (unless you control the amount you use carefully).

I used the photo from the official DHC site because I didn't want to show you guys the sorry state my lip cream is in. I used it up within a month (used it day and night as my exclusive lip balm to see how fast it runs out) and resorted to extracting the remaining products that's within the lip balm holder. I used something to dig it out and it just looks like a murder scene.

The skinny tube, while it helps with a more precise application, also makes it hard for me to clean it out after the exposed part of the lip balm is exhausted. Usually I can dip my finger into the lip balm holder to use the leftovers, but unless you're of alien descent with unusually long and skinny fingers, you'll need a tool. I used a toothpick to get it out but it didn't do a good job. I could have used a cotton bud to dip and apply, but how many cotton buds will I waste in the process?

Just a question I ponder at night that helps me fall asleep.

The ingredients used in the DHC lip cream are mostly derived from botanical sources.

lanolin oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax/candelilla cera/cire de candelilla, beeswax/cera alba/cire d’abeille, lanolin, stearic acid, squalane, paraffin, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, pentylene glycol, tocopherol, phenoxyethanol, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, panax ginseng root extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract

We have the moisturizing ingredients like lanolin and squalane. There is also paraffin forming part of the lip balm base (the other being olive oil).

Some people with chronically dry lips (or from medication like accutane) found relief in the DHC lip cream. But if you have an average lip like mine, you'll probably find any other lip balm works just fine for you. For a price of USD 9.50 (holy cow it's SGD18.90 at watons), I believe there are other options that work just as fine, but cost lesser.

In a nutshell:
- Moisturizing, for about 4-6 hours before I have to reapply
- Applies only a thin layer of product, awesome for priming lips
- Fragrance free
- Contains botanical ingredients
- Moisturizes like any other lip balms for my average lips

Unrelated thought:
Phew! After writing all of the stuff, I'm relieved I can still write at all.

There isn't any beauty news that interest me enough to want to blog about it. Also, I was at a wake 2 weeks ago and was unable to blog.

To be honest I've been avoiding review posts for a while, not just because I have no content to write about (since I'm not using much products), but also because to come up with an entry like that, I need to take photos of the product. To take a good photo, you need good lighting. Having lived like a vampire for the entire time my skin is bad, I still don't really like the idea of being in a brightly lit room. I'd inadvertently see my skin and it upsets me. I thought I'll be steeled by now, but it still hurts me to see it being abnormal and all.

Taking that photo for this entry is all I can manage for now. I channeled all my focus on the subject and managed to avoid glancing at my hands (that's holding the camera, and I need to look at the camera to review the photos and stuff) for that short period of time. Let's take it one step at a time. 

One photo this time, maybe two photos the next. :)

Another liquid matte lip colour

I just snooped around on the Maybelline Japan site and found out they're releasing a new liquid matte lip colour. I can't call it a lipstick because it's not!

Maybelline claims it is a velvety liquid lip colour that turns matte. HOWEVER, lots of review said it doesn't turn completely matte. It doesn't set like other products, so technically speaking it doesn't feel as dry. Downside to that is it's not a long wearing formula (which might be a upside to someone else with drier lips).

Liquid matte lip products have had its 15 minutes of fame after so many other brands released something like that in the previous year (NYX, Colourpop, Kylie, Anastasia beverly hill, Milani, just a few I pulled off my head). It feels like Maybelline is a little late on this train that's already leaving the station (or is liquid matte lips here to stay?).

The VIVID MATTE LIQUID was released in the USA at the end of 2015.

It has been repackaged for Asian release. I haven't visited any drugstore in a long time so I don't know if it's actually in Singapore yet or not. It might have came and gone for all I know, but I can't find any information on its official site, so I'll assume it haven't hit the shelves yet. For some reason I feel kinda deja vu when I saw it on the Japanese site. I might have seen it when I passed by Watson's a while ago!? (Brain starts to question reality)

Retails at 1500YEN, or SGD$21.90

Anyway, you can see the packaging is reminiscent of the Lip Polish. The applicator is also different from the US release - this is more angled and flatter. Should do a good job getting the product into the corners of the lips without messing it up.

click to enlarge!

The US version has 21 colours to choose from. We have a grand total of 7! (There's only 6 on the Official Maybelline Japanese site though) With that said, the selection of colours should be well loved by the majority, since they carry the shades you can wear on a daily basis.

Asia haven't caught on the nude lips trend yet, so I'm surprised to see they have included one nudish shade!

click to enlarge!

As they are numbered differently from the US version, I can't match the Asian colour code to their respective US colour codes.

If you want an affordable liquid matte lipstick that sets and stays (for at least 3 hours), you can check out the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet. My friend gifted me one and IT'S AMAZING.

A little late on the news!

Happy lunar new year! I spent the last weekend at my grandmother's place, which explains the lack of post last week.

Kate's new products were released on 1 February in Japan, so I'm actually late to the party. I just found out today so I quickly did this entry up. I remember lamenting the little sadness last time when there were no news of new Spring products from Kate. It's wasted feelings because Kate did have something planned!

It's a small collection, but I'm always excited to see what's new!

METAL GLAMOUR EYES | 1700 YEN

Kate's new eyeshadow is here to give you the ability to create glamourous eyes and control just how much shine you want.



The eyeshadow quad consist of 3 main shades that creates the perfect gradient effect for a naturally pleasing look, and an additional 2 shades as the finishing touch. The metallic/pearlescent shade contrasts the darker colours to create dimensions, allowing you to create more refined features.

That the official fluff anyway. The eye shadow quad reminds me of their older eyeshadow palette, the COLORCIOUS DIAMOND. Except the new one have only 1 glittery/mirror finish shade as opposed to the 2 glittery shades in colourcious diamond. The additional of a metallic medium (they call it their dark metallic) colour is new.

CLICK TO ENLARGE!

Available in 6 shades.

Over on their official site they went one step further to show you how to achieve certain effects with the metallic and glitter shades. Funny they used a caucasian eye shape to showcase it because most of its target consumers probably do not have that specific eye shape. Then again, it's just for illustration purpose, so I understand :) Also, I'm not one to complain about having more reference photo to take a look at their finish. It appears the metallic shade isn't THAT metallic.

SUPER SHARP LINER EX | 1100 YEN

The new Super Sharp Liner EX promises to be easy to use, bleed proof, sweat/water/sebum resistant, yet easily removeable. The jet black eyeliner has a glossy finish, brand new faceted packaging, and ultra fine pen tip (that's developed together with pentel, then pen maker).

The new product packaging is supposed to help with application. By holding it on its grooves, you can pivot the eye liner properly to easily fill in the gaps between your lashes (NOT the water line). The result is bigger eyes and fuller looking lashes.

I've owned one of their eyeliner from the super sharp series before, and I won't say it's my favourite eyeliner. I'm not sure if this would be the same formula as before. Regardless, the new packaging is BEAUTIFUL.

GLAMOUROUS LASH | 1400 YEN

The new volumizing mascara comes with a primer (fiber volume base), and a black mascara. This film type mascara can be washed off by warm water.

COLOUR ENAMEL GLOSS | 450 YEN

The sheer lip gloss has high shine like glossy enamel, adding more definition to your pout. Formulated with moisturizing ingredients such as almond oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil, it keep your baby lips kissable at all times (do wipe away that gloss before kissing though).

CLICK TO ENLARGE!

Available in 6 shades.

Ending thought:
After owing so much makeup, I'm really more of a spectator than a player on the field now.
Seeing what they have to offer is like entertainment to me. Kate rehash their eyeshadows every few season because how else are you going to keep people entertained if you don't release old products in new packages?
I think the beauty sphere is pretty much saturated by now, so new and innovative products will be far and little.
But I do have to give it to Kate for having awesome packaging.
The faceted stuff always gets to me! URGH!