Mickey up girls!

I don't usually follow makeup releases by The Face Shop, because there are simply too many Korean brands to look out for. A lot of them simply don't register on my limited radar. But my antennas picked up the cute mickey packaging this time round!

This is quite the full collection - face, eyes and lips! There are two skin care items which I conveniently left out of this entry.

1. CC LASTING CUSHION SPF 50 PA+++| 15G | 20000 WON

Sheer, mildly hydrating and dewy. Covers up pores and long wear.

Available in 3 shades.

2. CC COOLING CUSHION SPF 50 PA+++ | 20000 WON

Very hydrating, less sticky but still dewy looking, sheer coverage. Cools down skin.

Colour selection same as above.

3. BB POWER PERFECTION CUSHION SPF 50 PA+++ | 20000 WON

Full coverage, hydrating and dewy.

Colour selection same as above.

4. SUN CUSHION SPF 34 PA++ | 19000 WON

Sun block in cushion form!

Say what????? Yea, I don't get it either.

This might be more useful for reapplication after you got your full face of makeup done?

Available in Mickey and Minnie packaging.

5. INK GEL STICK | 13000 WON

Buttery smooth, the saturated colours wears well on the lips providing long lasting hydration and colour.

6. WATERY TINT (6 SHADES)| 4500 WON

Available in 6 shades.

7. TINTED LIP BALM | 7000 WON

A hydrating lip balm that gives you a slight tint, great for creating the healthy natural look.

Available in 2 shades

8. MONO POP SHADOW PALETTE | 18000 WON

You can easily create dimensions on your eyes with the selection of neutral brown eyeshadows in this palette. Finish the look with any of the 3 lip colour, all chosen for its versatility in every day life.

Whether you like orange or pink tones, you are pampered with 8 eye shadows in each of the palette. The colours are carefully paired with earth tones to make it easy to wear.

9. COLORING STICK SHADOW | 6000 WON

You can now achieve flattering eye looks with their simple to use eyeshadow stick. Just draw it on and blend!

10. ALL-PROOF AUTO LINER | 7000 WON

Sebum, sweat and water resistant! Now you don't have to worry about having panda eyes at the end of the day!

11. ALL-PROOF MASCARA | 11000 WON / 14000 WON

01 (Super Proof, 11000 won) and 03 (Mega Proof, 14000 won) are both waterproof, but 03 is an all rounder - it has lengthening, volumizing and curling effects, while 01 was designed for maximum curls only.

02 (Daily Proof, 14000 won) is a film type mascara. You can remove it easily with lukewarm water, but it still has sufficient resistance against water and sebum.

12. ALL-PROOF EYE KIT | 9900 WON

Each set comes with a Mega Proof mascara (black only) and an Auto Liner, which comes in two colour variations, black or brown.

13. ALL-PROOF EYE KIT TIN CASE | 19000 WON

Same offering as above, except for the beautiful tin case. 

Ending thoughts:
So, what do you think? I thought the Mickey ears on the mascara tube is really cute! Korean brands are crazy over collaborations with other brands now, and I can't say I dislike them!

Also, the eyeshadow palette has a beautiful combination of colours. I didn't see any official swatches, so I have no idea how pigmented they are, nor what kind of texture they have. It would be a steal IF the colour payoff is amazing! But one can only expect so much from Korean brands because their formulation is different from the Western counterpart.

If you're interested in getting them, you might be able to find them online. 

Image credit: THE FACE SHOP

Another beautiful collection!

Etude House has launched their new PINK SKULL collection this September! Wanna look lovely and cute? Or do you prefer a cool and funky look? Now you can achieve both looks easily with this collection.



This is a small collection consisting of products for eyes (eyeshadow, mascara), face (blush), lips (lipstick), body (perfume), and nails (nail polish). Quite comprehensive, I'd say!

From now till 29 September 2016, you can get 10% off all products from this series! I've linked them up to the etude house website for you already! Prices listed here in this entry is BEFORE discount.

PINK SKULL COLOR EYES | USD 22.80

Available in two variations, each set comes with 9 eyeshadows with finishes ranging from matte to shimmery.

01 is more yellowish and lighter in colour, while 02 is more pinkish and darker in colour.

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PINK SKULL CURL FIX MASCARA | USD14.40

This water and sebum resistant formula will make sure your lashes stay curled the entire day!

Available in two shades.

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PINK SKULL CURL FIX MASCARA LONG LASH | USD14.40

The mascara wand is designed to deposit the mascara in such a way that it lengthens your lashes, while holding its curl for 24 hours. Also water and sebum resistant.

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PINK SKULL CREAM BLUSHER | USD 11.10

Achieve a natural and healthy looking face with their moisturizing cream blusher, available in two shades.

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PINK SKULL TWIN SHOT LIPS TINT | USD 14.40

Spice up the tinted mousse with a pearly shot colour! Avalable in two shades.

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PINK SKULL COLORFUL SCENT EAU DE PERFUME | USD 27.60

This scent is going to be cute and alluring at the same time. It's top note consist of raspberry, grape and pear, giving off a refreshing scent before mellowing into its rose, muguet and freesia middle notes. It's vanilla, sandalwood and musk base notes adds warmth to the scent. 

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PINK SKULL PLAY NAIL | USD 3.90

Get pretty and cute nails with this 5 new shades of nail polish!

Two of them are glittery (#1 and #2). #3 and #4 appears to have micro-glitter, and #5 has a cream finish.

Ending thoughts:

I really love the colour combination of the eyeshadow palette this time round (especially 02). They look really pretty in the pan, but I do not know if the colour translates as well when put on skin. They look kinda meh in the swatches don't you think? The reddish and deeper tones chosen for this palette makes me wanna huddle up on my imaginary reading chair, left hand holding a glass of red wine while my right hand is trying to flip the pages of my imaginary book next to a dimly lit table lamp.

Everything seems better in my imagination :P

That aside, the black glittery nail polish IS TO DIE FOR!!! Its name translates to "universe-like black", which seems appropriate! If only glitter polish isn't such a PITA to remove.. Also, knowing what the perfume is made of seriously makes me want to give it a whiff. It does sound like something I'll like! Fruity, sweet and invading, before dying down to something inviting. 

As in, "please come near me and sniff me" kind of inviting. *smirk*

Welcome to the bitten/gradient/ombre lip trend that's already more than 3 years old.

I understand that there will be a significant time lag when western beauty brands ride on the Asian beauty trends, but this really came a little late! Considering this release is actually designed for the Asian market, I expected them to create something like this a lot sooner.

I don't think America will appreciate the bitten lips trend anytime soon, because they love the illusion of fuller lips. The bitten lip does the exact opposite, by making the lips look smaller.

Maybelline recently released 6 shades in this new product line. It retails for SGD$16.90.



Each lipstick contains three colours: a concealing colour, a blending colour, and the main colour. Designed to easily create the Korean style just bitten lips, otherwise known as ombre/gradient lips.



The colours vary from red to orange.


image via cocopsyche.

I tried to get the official swatches, but I noticed it's just digital manipulation and not the real thing. Here is a swatch I found :)

The colours seem to blend in with each other almost perfectly (except for RD01)! Ridding you of the need to manually blend the colours with your fingers. The colours also look very wearable. I'm especially delighted to see a darker colour here (RD03).

From the swatch, you can also see it has a slight sheen to it, but definitely not enough to call it glossy.

Ending thought:
I'm happy there's finally a more affordable alternative to Laneige's Two Toned Lip Bar (SGD$34). Maybelline has perfected their lipstick formula so you can be pretty sure the lipstick will be comfortable to wear on your lips. While this is not a long lasting lipstick, do expect it to feel a lot more hydrating and lip balm-y than long wearing formulas.

On a side note, I think they chose a very unflattering promotional picture of their model. She looks like she has permanent duck lips because her upper lip is so pouty naturally. Hahahahha I can't help but laugh when I saw this. Pardon me. QUACK.

Sheer is in!

Visee is release two brand new products this fall, both emphasizing becoming of age as a woman. It's a small collection!

The keyword for this collection is probably sheer and translucent, since both products is designed to achieve that effect for a more subtle and mature look.

Both products will be released on 21st August in Japan.

FOGGY ON CHEEKS | 1500 YEN

A pigmented blush that has a sheer and soft finish, it can be built up for a more vivid colour. The baked blush will gently hug your skin for a natural look. Formulated with emollients to keep your skin hydrated and supple.

Available in 5 colours.

GLOSSY LIP JELLY | 1300 YEN

A gloss that adds dimension and shape to your lips, it goes on smooth without the stickiness one would commonly associate with lip glosses. Formulated with squalane for moisture, it acts like a lip balm to keep your lips pouty all day long. The colours are designed to blend into your original lip colour to enhance your natural beauty.

Available in 8 colours.

Ending Notes

I quite like the direction Visee is going - translucent. It just gives off an air of effortless beauty. Strong colours might sometimes come off as trying too hard, or makeup mishaps. Giving your skin the ability to shine through means others still get to see your natural beauty, enhanced and not covered.

This is mildly exciting!

Canmake don't usually release a themed collection, and this time it's the same. It's a handful of random products, some are new, some are just new colour additions to the existing line.

That's not to say it's not exciting though! I don't really care too much about having an over arching theme, neither do I look for an over arching connection between all the new products. As long as the products are awesome, you got my attention.

This fall, Canmake is releasing mostly lip products.

LIP TINT JAM | 650 YEN

A clear lip tint that develops color over time. The longer you wear, the stronger the stain. Available in three colours (03 is limited edition).

It differs from their popular LIP TINT SYRUP - the packaging is a clear plastic instead of an opaque one. Other than that I'm not too sure about its consistency since I can't find any description of it on the internet. But it should be a little more firm than the syrup? Since it's called a jam?

LIP AND CHEEK GEL | 600 YEN

Melts on the skin to impart a natural colour for the healthy glow. Can be used on the lips as well, making it convenient to achieve colour harmony on the face.

This is a new colour, but Maquia didn't publish the colour code of this. It's too new and even the Canmake official site haven't been updated yet. 

YOU LIPS ONLY BALM | 650 YEN

A colour changing lip balm that adjusts to your moisture level. Formulated with an SPF of 15 and PA++ to protect your delicate lips from UV rays.

It's a balm form of the YOUR LIPS ONLY GLOSS! It might be up your alley if you want something less glossy!

VOLUME LIP LADY GLOSS | 700 YEN

A honey like gloss, volume up your lips with this lip gloss that can functions both as a bottom and top coat. Also formulated with and SPF of 15, PA ++.

From the swatch it looks a little pearlescent? Either way, Canmake make awesome lip glosses and I can personally attest to that.

Image credit: Maquia

Underwhelmed is an understatement.

Kate is finally releasing new products for fall! About time!

I know they usually release a new palette every season even though the colour variation is similar to previous products. I thought this would be similar to all the other releases but I'm wrong!

Apart from the eyeshadow, the other products really didn't wow me. Canmake and Visee both made something similar, so I feel that there isn't much Kate has to offer in terms of innovation here. Just a rehash on products that's already out there in the market.

COLOUR SENSOR LIP TINT | 1400 YEN

A lip tint that changes colour according to your chemistry! The difference is just slight, I find it very gimmicky so I'd do without the swatches. If you're interested, you can click here to see them on their official site. It is available in 7 colour variations.

The only one that will really show a huge difference would be the shade BK-1, turning from a greyish tint to a pinkish tint. But Canmake already released something exactly the same before, so pardon the lack of enthusiasm here. Everything that's colour changing is just too gimmicky for my liking.

The only redeeming quality is perhaps the applicator, it's designed to be used perpendicular to your lips so you can coat the top and bottom lip at the same time! Hopefully this make it easier to achieve gradient lips.

DARK NIGHT GLOW | 1600 YEN

A new eyeshadow quad, containing one cream base and 3 powder eyeshadow, the colours are muted and look very wearable. I was going to say it's a rehash of older series, but truth be told, the colours are actually new. Even though it's the same colour combination (it's meant for daily wear, so you really can't get too creative with the colour combination or it'd end up looking too impractical), it's the first time I see such muted colours.

The eyeshadow base helps the later eyeshadow adhere better, and allows their colour to be more vibrant. You'll get a frosty/metallic shade and two darker shades to define your eyes to make it pop. I must say I'm in love with that metallic sheen that imparts so much dimension to the eyes! Literally make your eyes look like headlights!

Available in 5 colour variations.

CC LIP AND CHEEK CREAM | 850 YEN

Riding on the success of their CC lip balms, they now come in a bigger packaging so you can use it as a cheek cream too! The formula aims to give you natural looking colours. It's also hydrating and protects your lips from UV rays.

Available in 2 shades.

You know what? I'd tell you to save your money and get the 480 YEN CC lip cream instead. They're basically the same thing, just packaged differently.

As a Kate fan, I'm not overly excited by this release. But then again, how much newness an you bring into the market given the ton of competition around? I can only hope their quality stand out from the rest :)

Image credit: Kate and @cosme.