Sephora’s friends & family sale (20% off) is going on until November 3, 2011 — if you haven’t picked anything up yet and want to, go here and enter your e-mail address and a promo code will be generated for you to use on your next Sephora.com purchase.

Sigh, I don’t need anymore makeup — but I still ended up spending quite a lot during this sale. Half of the items I purchased are products I’ve owned in the past and wanted back-ups.  Okay, minimal rambling, more photos for this post.

SUPER Face & Eye Cleanser with Acai  see here 4 oz for $30
I mentioned this in my last skincare routine video and raved about it while complaining about how pricey it is. After I finished that bottle, I tried switching to other cleansers (Philosophy’s Purity, Mario Badescu) and my skin started to break out. I waited 2 months before going back to this cleanser. But a few weeks after switching back to this, my skin cleared up.  I thought… if I’m going to spend a lot of money on any beauty product, it should be for skincare.  Your skin is a canvas for makeup!

OLE HENRIKSEN Nurture Me see here  1.7 oz for $40
This is a very rich formula that smells wonderful! I’ve only used it a few times so far and am still on the fence on whether I will stick with this moisturizer or go back to my SUPER Hyper Hydrator which is 1 oz for $40 (almost double the price of this OLE HENRIKSEN moisturizer!).

OLE HENRIKSEN Ultimate Lift Eye Gel see here 1 oz $38
This is a clear gel with an aqua-colored tint. I’ve only used this a few times as well. I don’t have any major complaints about my under eye area except that I have some fine lines that are more noticeable when my skin is dry. So far this stuff has worked well to quench the dryness around my eye area.

 

MUFE Powder Foundation in 205 see here $32
I’ve heard great things about this powder, so I had to give it a try myself. I’ll let you all know how it works on my usually dry skin.

NARS nail polish in “Pokerface” see here on sale for $8
This is a very pretty lilac-y purple; from NARS’ 2010 Holiday Collection.
I think it’d look better on someone with lighter skin than me. I probably wouldn’t purchase this at retail price ($17), but since it was on sale, I’ll keep it.  Swatch shown below is after 2 coats. Applied wonderfully — not sheer, not streaky.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Primer see here 0.35 oz for $18
I’ve tried UDPP, elf’s primer, LORAC primer, Shiseido’s primer — and while they are all decent eye primers, my favorite is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It never lets me down!

Kat Von D Autograph liquid eyeliner in Puro Amor see here on sale for $16
I bought this as a back up since it was on sale.  Still quite pricey, but this is a great eyeliner. It’s very pigmented and the applicator tip is very soft, but not too soft. It makes application easy, smooth, and quick.  The brush is a bit flat, so you can use the flat side to apply a thicker line, or turn it to the side and apply a thin line.

That’s it for my haul! *Phew*
I think I need a serious break from buying makeup/skincare products!
Then again… I always say that, don’t I?

What did you pick up from the Sephora F&F sale?
What do you plan on picking up?
Please share Hopefully it won’t tempt me to place another purchase O_O

 

This month will be ‘favorites’ rather than a ‘hits & misses’ since I didn’t come across many ‘misses’. I’ve been trying improve my skin so I will have a better ‘canvas’ for makeup application; therefore, I went many days with little to no face makeup to let me skin breathe.

My OCT favorites product list:
* Benefit POREfessional
* Clinique’s Uneven Skin Tone Solutions Kit
* Kracie Hadabisei Tightening Facial Mask
* Super Face & Eye Cleanser with Açaí
* Dariya Hair Grip/Velcro

Benefit POREfessional:
0.75 oz for $29 at Sephora (see here)

I have the mini version and I love it! I will be buying the full-size version when this runs out.
This is a balm that you can wear under or above your makeup to help reduce the appearance of pores.
This product instantly reduces pore size. I don’t have very large pores, but they are visible. I apply this before makeup and it eliminates the appearance of pores and leaves my skin looking so much smoother!

 

Clinique’s Uneven Skin Tone Solutions Kit ($49.50 at Sephora)
Kit comes with:
- Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (1 oz)
- Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 (0.5 oz)
- 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula (1 oz)

This is a great deal because 1 oz of the Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector itself is $49.50. Why not just pick up this entire kit; even if you won’t use the scrub or moisturizer, at least you get a nice bag.

Let me start by talking about the Dark Spot Corrector:

This dark spot corrector does what it claims: visibly reduces hyperpigmentation.  I have only been using this for ~3 weeks and it has significantly reduced my acne scars. The product claims you will see results in as little as 4 weeks and definitely by 12 weeks; however, I noticed my dark spots lightening after just 2 weeks of use. This is a light, serum-like product that does not leave your skin feeling sticky. I’m diligently applying this morning & evening and patiently awaiting the results at week 12.

I did not start using this moisturizer until last week. I wanted to see if the dark spot corrector worked on it’s own first, and then introduce this moisturizer in my skincare routine. This moisturizer is supposed to help further reduce hyperpigmentation because it has ingredients that “breaking apart surface darkening”. It contains SPF 20, which will help protect your skin from any further sun damage. This moisturizer absorbs well, doesn’t break my out or clog pores, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy. I’d give it a 4 out of 5 just because I’ve had experience with other facial moisturizers that absorb/moisturize more amazingly than this.

I’ve only tried this scrub cream a few times. It’s an exfoliating scrub with small exfoliating beads in the scrub that help remove dead skin cells. This scrub brightens your skin instantly.

Overall, the kit itself is a great buy! If you want to try the dark spot corrector, I would definitely recommend purchasing this kit rather than just the dark spot corrector. It’s the same price, anyway!

Kracie Hadabisei Tightening Facial Mask:
I love this mask more than I love the My Beauty Diary masks — and I love those!
I got a variety box of Kracie facial sheet masks on sale from Mitsuwa a while back. You can find these masks on YesStyle and other Asian sites. They can be quite pricey, but since I use them sparingly, it’s well worth it!

I have no idea what this says…
but basically, you leave the mask on for 15 minutes, remove,
then gently pat in the remaining fluid into your skin.

The mask comes generously soaked in fluid. I let one of my masks sit out and dry so I can show you all what it looks like. It is relatively large; some people like to cut their sheet masks to better fit their face… however, I’m too lazy for that. As long as it doesn’t fall off, I let it be!

The mask is black and it makes you look kind of like a ninja… hah:

Super Face & Eye Cleanser with Açaí (from Dr. Perricone)
4 oz. for $30 at Sephora (see here)

I first tried this cleanser a few months back and it did wonders for my skin. I complained that it was “so expensive” and after I finished my first bottle (it lasted for months, btw!), I tried using Philosophy’s Purity cleanser and my skin was not having it! I also tried a Mario Badescu cleanser and my skin was once again breaking out constantly. So I bit the bullet and purchased another bottle. Ever since I started using this again, my skin has cleared up tremendously!  So I took advantage of the Sephora friends & family sale and bought yet a third bottle as a back-up.  While this cleanser is quite pricey, it works for me! So I’m sticking with it. The $30 price tag is well worth it for me.

It comes with a screw-on top and a separate pump screw-on top:

The packaging is a thick frosted glass, so I’m always super careful not to drop this!

 

Dariya Hair Grip/Velcro (pink, set of 2 in 1 package) – $4.59 at Mitsuwa
You can find these at some Asian food markets/cosmetic shops or on Asian websites

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It’s just a hair velcro that holds your hair/bangs back when you wash your face/do your makeup.
This is so convenient, gentle, and doesn’t leave a crease in your hair like clips do

That’s it for my October favorites!
What are some makeup/beauty products you’ve been loving this month?
Maybe it’ll give me an excuse to buy more stuff in November

HITS:

Philosophy Microdelivery System
I got it as a value-kit for just $32; unfortunately they don’t sell this kit anymore
The kit contained half-sizes of each product.

You now have to purchase the microdelivery exfoliating wash separately from the peel.

Microdelivery Peel ($65) see here
Kit includes:
- 2 oz Vitamin C/Peptide Resurfacing Crystals.
- 2 oz The Microdelivery Peel, Lactic/Salicylic Activating Gel

I use this peel once a week instead of using my Clarisonic Mia. This peel works wonders for my skin! This exfoliates skin gently and nourishes skin with vitamin C and peptides. It removes oil, leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and brighter.  It will remove any flakiness you may be experiencing.

Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash (8 oz $25) see here
This microdelivery wash has very fine grains in it and does a great job deep cleaning pores. This is gentle enough to be used on a daily basis. This helps keep my skin smooth and remove any flaky spots I may have (since I have dry skin). It has also helped prevent blackheads from forming.

 

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (0.1 oz, $19) see here

I have the shade “Medium 02″:

Great coverage! Fully covers my acne-scars, redness around my chin/nose area, dark under-eye circles. The texture is just right–not cakey. This product blends very well and is long-lasting.
The only downside is that it’s only available in 3 shades: light, medium, dark.

 

Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara ($20) see here

This mascara is amazing! It’s one of the very few mascaras which hold a curl for >8 hours (my lashes are stubborn and usually point straight down!). It adds tremendous length and the silicone bristles help separate and coat each lash! One to two coats is sufficient for everyday-wear. This mascara does not clump, flake, or run. I also love the packaging: the exterior is a textured and has a velvety-smooth feel. The only cons are the price (so pricey!) and it’s not waterproof (which I personally don’t mind).

 

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush – Soft Plum (~$7)

I love this product for multiple reasons:
- nice texture
- not dry for my dry skin like other dream mousse products I’ve tried
- compact packaging
- great for on-the-go for touch-ups since you can apply with your fingers
- long lasting
- affordable (look for sales)

 

Downy Wrinkle Releaser
I have the travel version (bought it from Rite Aid)

Spray, tug, and smooth it out. Great for a quick-fix for your wrinkly clothes.
Convenient; quick-drying; smells great

 

MISSES:

Sephora Matifying Compact Foundation ($20)

I am in the shade D25:

This isn’t a bad product; however, I don’t think it’s worth the price. The coverage is sheer/light and this powder brings out any flaky patches I may have on my face. I honestly think the drugstore Maybelline Dream Matte Powder does a better job at a fraction of the price.

 

Stila Coconut Crush Lip & Cheek Stain ($24)

I don’t care for this product at all. Why?
- I hate the packaging — these twisty-pen-type-things are so annoying
- I dislike how the product comes out onto the brush
- I don’t like how this color looks on medium skin tones.
- It also has an odd, sticky consistency.
Overall a huge miss for me. Luckily this was a sample size and I didn’t pay for it.

 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating (1.7 oz $42)

Overall, I would not purchase this product because I think the regular tinted moisturizer works a lot better for me. Some skin tones may benefit more from the illuminating one, but just not me for the following reasons:
- shimmery. Does not work well for all-over application.
- feels more greasy than the normal tinted moisturizer
- only available in five different shades

Mandom Beauty Cleansing Express – Age Care ($13.99)

This makeup remover contains CoQ10, which is supposed to help prevent aging and keep skin more youthful. As a makeup remover, it’s nothing special. I didn’t notice it removing any additional makeup from my skin than what my Neutrogena makeup remover facial cleanser does.  This is, however, a great eye makeup remover (gentle, doesn’t sting, and removes with a few wipes). Still… nothing too special and I would not repurchase it at this price.

 

The Skincare Night Moisture Recharge – Regular (2.54 oz $42)

Claims to be a lightweight moisturizer for normal and combination skin. (My skin is usually dry, but since it was humid this past month, my skin have been more combination). I feel like this moisturizer doesn’t absorb well and sits on top of my skin rather than moisturizing. I used it for a few weeks and didn’t notice a difference in my skin. This isn’t a bad moisturizer but, it’s SO EXPENSIVE and I don’t think it’s worth the $$$.

Whew, now that was a long post. Hope it was helpful Hope you all have a wonderful day!

EOS (evolution of smooth) first became popular because of their unique Smooth Sphere Lip Balm.  EOS now has hand lotions! I believe this everyday hand lotion is available in 2 different scents: Nourish (floral scent, aquamarine-color packaging), and Refresh (cucumber scent, light green-color packaging).

I’ve been using the EOS everyday hand lotion for over a month now; here are some pros and cons of the products:

PROS:
+ lightweight, yet moisturizing
+ non-greasy
+ absorbs very quickly (doesn’t leave a sticky/greasy film on your hands)
+ 97% natural
+ contains vitamin C & E, antioxidants,  and other nourishing ingredients
+ long-lasting moisturization
+ packaging is sleek, unique, and perfect for your purse
+ paraben-free
+ not tested on animals

CONS:
- only 1.5 oz for $3.99
- the floral scent of the Nourish Everyday Hand Lotion is a bit odd; reminds me of an old lady’s perfume
- currently difficult to find in drugstores

These don’t seem to be too popular yet, as I’ve only seen them at Rite Aid so far. According to the EOS site, you can find these at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, or order from their site or drugstore.com — where have you all seen this sold (if anywhere)?

Pebble-shape packaging:

Back (has an indentation for easy gripping):

Front:

Has anyone else tried this out? What are you thoughts? Please share!

 

 

The Clarisonic Skin Cleansing system has been receiving a lot of hype in the last year or so. It’s an electrical, wireless, portable, deep cleansing facial brush. The sturdy yet gentle bristles of the face brush oscillate 300 times per second! The cleansing system helps minimize pores by cleaning deep and removing dirt and oils. The Clarisonic Mia retails for $149. Yes, it is EXPENSIVE!  Note: Amazon.com does sell them for slightly less.

I’ve had my eye on this product for months, but was very reluctant to dish out $150 for a… face brush. But my skin was really struggling and I had never seen any product, except the Clarisonic, with so many positive reviews, and after doing extensive research, I decided to give it a try. I’ve been using it for almost 3 months now; I think that’s long enough of a trial for me to write a fair review.

For those of you who are curious, I will give a little background information about my
skin type, and then I’ll share how the Clarisonic has and has not benefited my skin.

Brief background info regarding my skin type:
My skin has a lot of redness, is dry and acne-prone. I used to (pre-Clarisonic use) struggle with dry, patchy, flaky spots on certain areas on my face — especially around my nose. Though my skin is mostly dry, there were still certain spots that do get oily; however, those oily spots would still have some flakiness. The flakiness was a huge struggle for me because regardless of the numerous moisturizers and exfoliates I tried, the flakiness would still persist! So annoying!

It’s important to have a good, smooth, canvas (your skin) for optimal makeup application. This is why I decided to spend a little more money on skincare to fix up my crazy skin.

What came in the box:

- 1 Clarisonic Mia
- 1 sensitive brush head
- pLink charger
- Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser (1 oz.)
- Pamphlets with information about the product

 

How the Clarisonic has affected my skin:
- Breakouts: I get less breakouts and my breakouts aren’t as severe. They also heal and diminish faster than before. Unfortunatly, it has not eliminated breakouts.
- Acne scars: Lessened acne scars due to the fact that I get less breakouts. Lightened acne scars since I don’t get reoccurring acne in the same spots anymore.
- Redness: Lessened redness, but has not eliminated redness.
- Flakiness: GONE! I’m so so so happy I don’t have to deal with flaky patches anymore because that was one thing that made it difficult for me to get my makeup to look natural. The Clarisonic has kept my flaky skin away!
- Dryness: Improved. (no flakiness)
- Oily spots: Well-controlled.

I’ve got to admit, I look forward to using my Clarisonic everyday! My skin just feels SO clean and smooth afterward. Although it hasn’t eliminated my breakouts, it has significantly helped my skin. While I wish it didn’t cost $150 — I would still repurchase it if I lost mine.

Here are pictures I took of my bare face pre-Clarisonic, and days after using the Clarisonic. As you may be able to notice from the photos, my skin actually got WORSE the first week I used the Clarisonic. I think it was just adjusting, because by week 2, my skin started to look a lot better.  As you can see, my skin has a long way to go — but the Clarisonic has definitely helped me take a huge step in the right direction. :]

I’ll be happy to answer any questions you all may have for me

The allergic reaction I got from Philosophy’s Hope In A Jar still hasn’t cleared up, but it hasn’t worsened either; hopefully it’ll clear up in 2-3 days.  Luckily Sephora has a great return policy and I was able to return the “Hope is All You Need” set.  They didn’t even ask me why I wanted to return it, they just processed the return for me.  After telling them about my allergy, one sales associate said that I am most likely allergic to lavender oil. That seems to be the culprit for many people. I am definitely steering clear of that stuff from here on out.

The sales associates at Sephora were very nice and helpful. Before I went in, I was convinced I wanted to try Shiseido skincare products next (since I’ve had such great experiences with their face makeup products). But the sales associates convinced me to try the new Skin Nutrition Lunchbox from the “SUPER by Dr. Nicholas Perricone” line. She had personal experience with it and she loved it. I wanted to try samples of skincare products before purchasing; however, since Sephora has such a good return policy, they convinced me to try this kit out.

The $65 set contains 3 full-size products ($80+ value):
* SUPER Face & Eye Cleanser with Acai (4 oz.)
* SUPER Detox Elixir with Watercress (4 oz.)
* SUPER Hyper Hydrator with Coconut Water (1 oz.)

The packaging is cute and colorful. The products are in this tin lunchbox type of thing.
It’s a cute design, but it didn’t sell me.

The face cleanser can be used day and night. The Detox Elixir is a spray that’s supposed to detoxify and rebalance your skin, helping achieve a glowing complexion.  This detox elixir is what sold me because it can be used to set makeup. Yes, supposedly you can spray it over your makeup. I’ve been looking to buy a setting spray anyway — so this was the selling point for me!  Lastly, the Hyper Hydrator is supposed provide great moisturization — even for dry skin. It smells like coconut; I’m not a big fan of the coconut scent, but I can live with it. If it does it’s job, that’s all I care about.

I’m going to wait until this darn allergic reaction clears before I try this stuff out. I’ll keep you all posted!

I also received samples with my purchase. I never got samples when I made in-store purchases.
Do you guys usually get samples when you buy stuff in a Sephora store?

Until next time, my lovely readers!

It’s very sad that this is the third post about an allergic reaction since the beginning of this month. But I’m sad to inform you guys that I am allergic to Philosophy’s Hope In A Jar.  If you saw my previous Sephora haul from the other day, you know that I just bought this product. I am almost positive this reaction is to Hope In A Jar because the bumps are more severe in the areas where I used a more concentrated amount. I really thought I’d love this product since it got such wonderful reviews online. Ironically I’ve read that this moisturizer is the only thing that does not give people allergic reactions. But I guess not me. I’m extremely disappointed that I’m allergic to it because I wanted to love this product. I’m almost positive that the culprit ingredient causing the reaction is lavender oil.

Here is the timeline of my developing allergic reaction:
Monday night:  1st use of Hope In A Jar (right before bedtime)
Tueday morning & evening: 2nd and 3rd use of Hope In A Jar
Wednesday morning & evening: 4th and 5th use of Hope In A Jar
Thursday morning: woke up with small, red, itchy bumps on my face. they appear a bit patchy. face feels warm to the touch. from afar it kind of looks like a bad case of acne. sooo annoying and extremely itchy

As you can see, I went about 2.5 days using the product until I mounted an allergic reaction. This has been the recurring pattern with all the cosmetic allergies I’ve experienced in the past.  The physical symptoms of the allergic reaction does not start until 12-72 hours later.

I also once had a very severe allergic reaction to mangos. (The oil in mango skin is urushiol — the same oil found in poison ivy)  That reaction did not start until 12 hours after I ate the mango.  When I come in contact with poison ivy, it doesn’t start itching until hours after exposure.  I’ve concluded that the contact dermatitis I experience is almost always a delayed allergic reaction.

I created this post because whenever I have an allergic reaction, the first thing I do turn to google to see if anyone else has experienced a similar allergy. I’m just sharing my personal experience with allergic reactions. Is anyone else allergic to Hope In A Jar, or am I one of the few?

What to do about this contact dermatitis allergy?
AVOID ITCHING, touching, or irritating the area. I will try to wait this out; but if it gets a lot worse, I may need a short course of corticosteroids. I sure hope it clears up on its own.

**Below I posted 2 pictures of my allergic reaction. If you don’t want to see it, just don’t scroll down**

I know a lot of people get grossed out when they see skin reactions. Of course I don’t want everyone to see my nasty skin allergy, but it may help someone identify an allergy.

So, that is my disclaimer… do not scroll down if you don’t want to see it. I’ve warned you.

I’ve made the image size smaller so it doesn’t look that gross. If you are really curious, by all means click on the image to enlarge it.

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Close-up (gross)

Yeaah. Skin allergies are so annoying — especially if the allergy is on your face or lips.
I’ve had my fair share of allergic reactions so this is becoming old news. : (

Hopefully I can return this Hope In A Jar back to Sephora.
I’m gonna ask for samples of stuff before I purchase a full-size product.

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I hope you all have better luck with skin products than I do!

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