A year of lip products #8

I have recently discovered that I own an obscene amount of lip products. In an effort to downsize without having a blog sale or burning all the makeup in my possession in a bonfire, I thought it would be a neat little idea to take inventory of my lipsticks, glosses and stains.

Pictures are taken in natural daylight with no color correction or manipulation.

LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 4D

Here's something slightly more showy for this festive season. I've not heard of LORAC until pretty recently, and I wish I'd known about them sooner! Because I absolutely love everything LORAC that I have so far! This here is a 3D lip gloss that delivers exactly what it promises and way more. First off, the applicator is a short bristled brush that is pretty stiff. I did find that I have to double dip to get enough product to cover my lips. I also noticed that with most brush applicators, I get a streaky application and often have to do some work to even it out. But aside from that, there's so many things to love in this tube of gloss! In the tube, you can clearly see that it's absolutely packed with glitter and this is one of those products that gives you exactly what you see, no swatches necessary. Depending on the lighting and angle, I get slightly different results due to the multi-dimensional glitter and holographic effect the gloss gives. At the core, this is a cool, blue-toned bubble gum sheer pink grapefruit scented gloss that you can use either on its own or to dress up a boring lipstick. It doesn't, in any way at all give me the feeling of having disco lips when I've got this on. It also fills out my lips nicely and makes them look full without being overdone. I end up with a gorgeous (albeit slightly frosty) shine that I really love. Although sticky, I don't mind it too much because my lips don't feel dry at all.

A year of lip products #7

I have recently discovered that I own an obscene amount of lip products. In an effort to downsize without having a blog sale or burning all the makeup in my possession in a bonfire, I thought it would be a neat little idea to take inventory of my lipsticks, glosses and stains.

Pictures are taken in natural daylight with no color correction or manipulation.

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Orange Soda LSS588

One of those lipsticks where the color appears almost exactly the same as the tube and a hand swatch. On my hand, it looks a tad dry and highlights the lines of my skin. However, on my lips it seems to fill up my lines quite nicely. I don't often have dry lips so I didn't need a balm prior to putting this one. The color is quite a bit lighter than my original lip color and gives off a cross between the wrong shade of lip concealer and dead person on me, probably due to my Asian skin tone. Not a lip color that I would personally pick for myself, ever, as I don't see an occasion that requires me to look like a corpse. It isn't drying but not particularly moisturizing, either. When I smoosh my lips to even out the color, it slides around a little too much for my liking and results in a patchy finish. I find that if I keep my mouth closed even for just a few minutes, the color will settle and form a very obvious line on my lips.

No Buy Ban Rules Update

I've been doing really well on my No Buy Ban so far (nothing bought!) and I have to say that it isn't easy at all.

With all the time that I have to go online and watch Youtube videos and read beauty blogs, temptation is just everywhere. Even when I head out for groceries, I never fail to spend at least 10 minutes at the drugstore just swatching.

Of course, it's always somewhat (slightly) comforting in a strange way that I'm really a housewife and therefor have no money to spend on unnecessary things like, say, more makeup. But, come on. One can only lie to herself so so long, no? Women will always need unnecessary stuff like bronzers, nail polishes, lipglosses...you get the drift.

So I came up with a couple of new rules for my No Buy Ban. I figured that if I don't want to turn into one big pink sasquatch going on a rampage in drugstores after I'm off my ban I really should give myself some sort of allowance.

The original rules:

1. I'm not going to buy anything that I don't absolutely need, like, say, another pressed powder to add to my collection of 8 others.
2. I can only replenish what I've used up (eg. shampoo, conditioner, face moisturizer etc.)
3. The ban will last for a minimum of 30 days starting November 9 2012.

The additional rules:

1. An allowance of 3000yen will be allocated for each month to buy whatever I want. Should I spend more than 3000yen this month, the excess will be carried forward into the next month. If I spend less than my allocated amount, the balance can be added into the following month.
2. Birthday month and Christmas month would be my bonus months and I will be allowed to spend twice my allowance (yessssssss!). And yes, if I don't spend all that money, it will be added into the following month! Wheeeeee!
3. The ban will run for an entire year (and a little bit more), ending on 31 December 2013.

I know the new rules seem like I'm only making excuses to be able to spend, but I have a pretty good argument for them.

See, it helps me think and plan my purchases carefully so that I won't overspend. And at the end of the day, I'd really love to save up for one good quality product that may possibly be expensive instead of blindly buying 5 that end up as duds. Makes sense, no?

No. 3 took me a long time of thinking and reasoning. It's really hard when you're the only person in the argument and you have to look on both sides. But in the end, I think a year will fly by quickly when I have so many things products that I've only swatched but not put to use yet. Considering that when I first came to Japan I could fit all my makeup into a small pouch, I  have now accumulated more than enough items to take me through 13 months. It will definitely be a challenge to refrain from buying beauty products because I really love being a lab rat when it comes to new products, but I think I'll be able to come out of this one alive and well at the end of 2013.

Let the ban begin!

A year of lip products #6

I have recently discovered that I own an obscene amount of lip products. In an effort to downsize without having a blog sale or burning all the makeup in my possession in a bonfire, I thought it would be a neat little idea to take inventory of my lipsticks, glosses and stains.

Pictures are taken in natural daylight with no color correction or manipulation.

Anna Sui Lip Gloss in #300

I have always had a love for Anna Sui everything for the goth loli packaging and their signature subtle rose scent. This was probably one of the very first Anna Sui products that I bought when I started wearing makeup. Back then, I had practically zero knowledge about war paint and with the few dollars that I had as a student, all I could rely on was the girl at the counter for advice. Granted, this is not the color that I would personally pick today as it's a little too pale for my liking, but this gloss here had gained me a few compliments here and there every time I wore it. The wand applicator is not your typical doe foot and I actually like that I can use any surface I want because it picks up just enough product for one application. It has the lovely signature Anna Sui rose scent, which I love but it's pretty much tasteless, which is slightly disappointing. In the tube, the shimmers can be a little daunting and it looked really opaque. The hand swatch says otherwise, though. The texture is a little jelly-like and the microscopic flecks of shimmer is almost unnoticeable. My one gripe is how the product highlights the lines in my lips instead of plumping them up. It could be because the color is paler than my lips but they seem to settle in pretty quickly. This is one of the stickier glosses that I own and it takes a little bit of work to get a nice finish. I do, however, get a pretty decent wear time out of it considering it's a gloss that I wear only on its own.

November '12 empties

I went through quite a few products in the month of November and honestly, I think I get a kick out of finishing stuff up. Just the sight of half empty stuff that's been sitting around forever finally finished gives me flutters in my stomach. True story.

On to the suspects.

Product #1:

L'occitane Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo

L'occitane Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo

From here:

Care and give radiance to your hair. This shampoo smoothes and softens capillary fibers. Your hair is left looking and feeling supple, shiny and silky. A natural complex of 5 essential oils - Angelica, Lavender, Geranium, Ylang-ylang and Patchouli - plus wheat proteins work together in synergy to help repair, strengthen, regenerate and soften dry and damaged hair. The perfect shampoo for those who color treat, permanent wave, blow dry, curling iron, or use drying styling products on hair.

What I think:

I love it! The smell is so wonderfully relaxing and shampooing my hair was one of the things I look forward to at the end of everyday (yes, I'm one of those people who has to shampoo everyday). It doesn't strip or leave my hair feeling squeaky after the suds are rinsed out. Lathers nicely and the scent lingers on forever! I get an oily scalp if I use creamy shampoos or stuff with silicones so this one is perfect for everyday use even if my hair isn't damaged.

Will I repurchase:

I have been repurchasing this for about 4 years (when I still had a job) and finally, this year, I realized that I had to give it up due to the price. No job, no nice expensive shampoo =( But having said that, I've always thought L'occitane products prices are a bit way out of my reach and yet, I've been stubbornly paying through my nose for years. Yay, me! I'm likely to come back to this as a treat for myself in the near future but I definitely won't be purchasing it on a regular basis. Not by choice, sadly =(

Product #2:

Hada Labo Gokujyun Face Wash

Hada Labo Gokujyun Face Wash

 From here:

Preserve your skin’s natural moisture as you wash. A small amount works up into a rich, foaming lather, then rinses clean—without drying out your skin. Used morning and night, this is the luxurious yet practical start to softer, more supple skin.

What I think:

It's free of fragrance and color. Boring. I got this in summer and had been using it regularly for my night time cleansing with my Clarisonic Mia to combat the oilies and for extra gentle exfoliation. Nothing exciting, but it didn't irritate my skin like my Biotherm cleanser did and my face wasn't left feeling tight and stretched after I dry it. I went through a crazy skin phase for a few months were my breakouts were deep under the skin and painful and they happen all the freaking time! At the same time, my face would be oily and I get so afraid to exfoliate in case I aggravate it further. My usually-normal skin became extra sensitive and rejected all my regular face products so this kinda saved the day at a highly affordable price. Overall, it's a simple cleanser that does its job. Great for sensitive skin types.

Will I repurchase:

Already did. I like that it keeps everything under control face-wise and no comings-out will be happening soon with the closet zits, but honestly, it's so boring! I like my products to be lightly fragranced so this one just really doesn't make the cut for me. Although, to be completely fair, I did get it because it's fragrance/color free to help with my crazy skin phase.

Product #3:

 Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel

From here:

This soap-free shower gel contains zesty satsuma essential oil and has a refreshing citrus scent.

• Soap-free

• Lather-rich

• Refreshing citrus scent

What I think:

I like Body Shop shower gels in general. And when I say like, I really mean I've been using them regularly since I was about 13 years old or so. In recent years, however, I find that they can be a tad on the drying side if I don't follow up with a lotion or a body butter after. Not sure if the formula has changed over the years, or that my age is showing in my skin =( The citrus-y smell is a good wake-up scent and I love having it waft through the apartment when I decide to step out of the shower. I find that it's best used with the Bath Lily and I need only a small amount to lather up for my shower. I don't like using it for baths because, while the bubbles grow pretty quickly, I often have to squirt a lot of it for that effect. Wasteful, in my opinion. This jumbo size lasted the man and I a good few months and it seems to be pretty good value when there's discounts.

Will I repurchase:

Sure. I've gone through many of these over the years. It's one of my favorites from the Body Shop. We tend to rotate our shower gels with other scents so things doesn't get boring, but I'm pretty sure this one will make a repeat appearance.

Product #4:

Body Shop Born Lippy Pot Lip Balm - Passionberry

Body Shop Born Lippy Pot Lip Balm - Passionberry

  From here:

Our cult lip balm in a pot. Gives colour, flavour and moisture for more kissable lips.

• Purple tint

• Shine finish

• Fruity passionberry flavour

What I think:

Judging from the battered packaging I guess it's easy to come to the conclusion that it was well-loved. It wasn't. I've just had it around for a really long time and finally decided that enough is enough. I don't want to look at it for a second more (I did make a very conscious effort to finish it up, though). While it met my criteria of smelling good, I didn't feel that it made my lips any softer or more moisturized after repeated uses. The effects were instant, yes, but not long lasting. I also hate the way my hair always get stuck on my lips whenever I use this. Oh well, for something that I bought for an emergency on a beach getaway, it lasted me a good few years.

Will I repurchase:

Nah. I like that it reminds me of my childhood when The Body Shop products were a luxury and they always smelled and tasted so good. But now that I know better and my lips need the actual moisture from a good product, I'll look for something else.

Product #4:

Kneipp Bath Salts (Orange Linden Blossom, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lavender)

Orange Linden Blossom

Eucalyptus

Lavender

Rosemary

From here:

Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts contain salt crystals that are generated from salt water that is pumped up 460 meters from an underground sea in Germany. The water is boiled off using Europe’s last existing traditional pan method and the remaining salt is then infused with Essential oils. This process allows the Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts to be created without chemical additives, remain free of modern pollution and naturally rich in minerals.
The Bath Salts contain a much higher percentage of Calcium, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc than sea salts and industrial salts. The unique crystals naturally absorb the Essential oils until released into a warm steam bath.
The Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts are alkaline free, preservative free, dermatologist tested, bathtub friendly (leaves tub clean) and skin friendly. Activated by hot water, Bath Salts help build resistance to daily aggressions, exfoliate, tone and increase elasticity of the skin. Taking a Kneipp salt bath relieves the discomfort of minor aches and pains, relaxes tired muscles, refreshes the body and can promote a restful, sound sleep.
Kneipp Bath Salts are a great way to detoxify. The salts bind protein on the surface of the skin and form a layer that prevents the dissipation of heat from the body. The salt then promotes perspiration and the body’s toxins are eliminated in sweat. This opens the pores and allows the body to absorb minerals and trace elements (Rosemary and Juniper are specific herbs that promote the detoxification process).
Directions for a Jacuzzi/whirlpool bath: slowly add 1/4 capful of bath crystals. Turn on jets, turn off if they create too much foam. You may add up to 1 capful of salts as the foam subsides being careful to turn the jets off if it is too sudsy.
Directions for a regular bath tub: Add one capful of bath crystals to bathwater of approximately 97°- 100° F/ 36° - 38° C in temperature. Optimum bathing time is 10-20 minutes. You may choose to shower after your bath.
Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts boost the health-promoting benefits of the Essential oils. Oily skin may find that the salts are the best alternative.

What I think:

Love. My very kind (then) new neighbor Moriyama-san gave us some gifts as a greeting when she moved in next door and included 4 sachets of bath salts as it was still early Spring. They all smell wonderful and if I could sleep in the bath, I would! I've always had a problem with winter skin and sometimes it would get so bad that the rashes would bleed (TMI, I know!) so I've been avoiding having baths , because everyone says so. These leave my skin smooth and while not exactly moisturized, not dry at all! No itching, no tightness. I don't even have to follow up with my nightly regime of slathering myself in body butter before bed. My favorite of the 4 has to be eucalyptus, mostly because I like minty/herbal scents. It helps clear my sneezies and I always have it in my mind that anything that smells like eucalyptus has to be good for the body.

Will I repurchase:

Already did! I will, over and over again, every winter, as long as they keep stocking up the shelves.

A year of lip products #5

I have recently discovered that I own an obscene amount of lip products. In an effort to downsize without having a blog sale or burning all the makeup in my possession in a bonfire, I thought it would be a neat little idea to take inventory of my lipsticks, glosses and stains.

Pictures are taken in natural daylight with no color correction or manipulation.

Clinique Sun Buffer lipstick SPF15 in Buff

One of the best nude colored lipsticks that I own, this one goes on slightly waxing with a little bit of tugging but once on, it doesn't feel drying at all. In fact, my lips still feel hydrated 3 hours in. I can slick this on my lips on its own without having the need to layer a balm underneath it. This leans a little on the yellow side and but it's a very close match to my natural lip color. It gives a slight sheen that isn't too glossy and makes my lips look a little fuller, perfect for the conservative environment that I work in. 

A year of lip products #4

I have recently discovered that I own an obscene amount of lip products. In an effort to downsize without having a blog sale or burning all the makeup in my possession in a bonfire, I thought it would be a neat little idea to take inventory of my lipsticks, glosses and stains.

Pictures are taken in natural daylight with no color correction or manipulation.

Tokidoki at Sephora Prisma Gloss in Sandy

Something right up my street! I'm usually sold on packaging over quality and end up with some duds and fails over time. Tokidoki in Japanese means "sometimes" and I'm not too well versed with the history of the brand, but, whatever. The packaging itself is really quite something as it's slightly bulkier than your regular gloss and it's got a really cute charm on the cap. Sort of reminds me of snow balls (is that what they're called?) where you turn them upside down and watch the snow fall. So cute! The other thing that I love about it is how the applicator is spatula style and I can get a more precise application. Both sides are the same so I use one side for my bottom lip, and the other for my upper lip. The gloss itself may look pretty scary as it's in a toxic-looking green that doesn't seem too friendly for any time of the day. But have a look at the hand swatch where it's only very slightly tinged in green, which in my opinion makes a great neutralizing color. And on the lips, well, it looks just like a clear gloss except for the mirror-shine quality that most other glosses lack. Wear time isn't all that great because the glossiness kinda fades a little after an hour or so although it does keep my lips feeling moisturized enough. The scent isn't something that I can put a finger on; something that isn't yummy, that's all I can say. Most people would scoff at this glorified "clear" gloss and I totally understand. But how cool is it to just pull it out of your bag in public and make a show of touching up with a green tube?