November '13 empties

A full month of work and I'm ready to take a break from the cold and just put my feet up with a mug of hot Milo. So, so looking forward to winter break next month.

Daiso Vitamin C Cleansing Tissue

I don't use wipes on my face, so this is mainly for my grubby fingers when I apply makeup with my hands. Can't say much, except that it was only 100 yen a pack, so why not? It's saturated enough for face (I guess) and the snap lip closes tightly so I imagine that it would keep the packet moist right till the end.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Olive Body Butter

Didn't realize it was for men haha. But I actually prefer this over the other sickly sweet scents they have. Body butters are an absolute must for me in winter (I know it's not winter yet but it's getting cooler = drier skin) and this helps with the dry knees, elbows and legs. I probably go through 2 tubs every winter. By myself.

Repurchase: Yes

L'Occitane Relaxing Body Lotion (travel size)

I love this. Never mind that it's not as rich a moisturizer as I would like, but I think it helps prevent my skin from getting drier. Like all other L'Occitane products, the scent is in no way chemical-y and it's so relaxing it's absolutely perfect for before bed. Consistency is pretty runny and spreads easily enough, which also means I don't have to use as much. It absorbs quickly into skin and leaves no residue or tackiness. Wish I could afford this for everyday :(

Repurchase: Yes

Shiseido Oil Blotting Paper

A resident in Japanese drugstores which comes in a few different sizes. Personally, I don't look into sizes too much because, well, it's just paper. It's not life changing if it's got a 5mm difference. I want to like this, but it's really pretty meh, in my opinion. I don't see it really blotting because even when I gently press, it doesn't seem to lift much off and I have to press on the same spot repeatedly to be able to get a matte effect. 3 or 4 sheets per use seems to be the norm and I definitely spend way too much time on this than I want to. Unfortunately for me, I was out of my mind and hoarded, like, 5 or so of these so it's a long way to using them up :(

Repurchase: No

2e sunscreen for sensitive skin

I have absolutely no information on this product since it was a sample from my dermatologist. Never seen it in the drugstores, either. It's slightly thick, as physical sunscreens go, but I was surprised with how my makeup went on with no problem at all. Zero reaction is always a bonus for me and I'd love to have more than a sample of this, to be honest.

Repurchase: No

Muji Nail Polish Remover

My first bottle was used up here.

Repurchase: Yes

Biotherm White D-Tox Micro-Scrub Cleanser (sample size)

Lasted me pretty much forever since I don't use it often. Once a week, at most. I find it slightly harsh for my temperamental skin. The beads are in no way large, but rinsing off makes my face really squeaky. I get some tightness after drying with a face towel and it's really not something that I like. I don't see any brightening/whitening effect and this is probably one of the few (maybe only) product from Biotherm that I dislike.

Repurchase: No

Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion

My road to using more natural products in my daily life seems to be a rocky and difficult one. While I love the lavender scent (I thought it was meant to be iris but smells very lavender-y to me), this is really terrible under makeup. It's terrible under everything. It's terrible alone. I know it's meant to be hydrating but the facial lotions are supposed to be less heavy and more suitable for day use. I used it under powder foundation, it caked up. I used under BB cream, it pilled. I used it alone, I was oilier than ever. It really didn't help my skin in any way. No deterioration, but I saw no improvement and really struggled to use it up. Even using it as a night moisturizer proved to be too much when I wake up oily.

Repurchase: No

E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Fair

Cheap and works awesomely for me. This is not my shade, of course, and I never use it alone. I had a darker shade that didn't suit my skin tone so much so this one evened it out nicely. Goes on smooth and dare I say, it disappears into my skin so much so that it look like I'm not wearing any foundation. My redness and slight blemishes are covered and it holds up pretty well in summer, too. I buff it in with a Sephora brush and it's one of the quickest ways for me to do my makeup. I use it when I have moisturizers that stay tacky no matter what, or when I've got sunscreen on. It seems to mattify pretty well. Of course, I get oily through the day, but it doesn't break down in any obvious or patchy way.

Repurchase: Yes

One short of my monthly target of 10, but I think I did very well, considering there are a few products I'd never repurchase, but yet managed to finish up.

A year of lip products #48

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 Long Last Lipstick in Bamboo Pink

I think I'm officially in love with Clinique lipsticks! Here's another work-safe color that I rediscovered in my stash. Although the name says Bamboo Pink it leans a little brown, in my opinion. I don't personally own many long last lip products and I'm pleasantly surprised at how smooth it glides on and has just enough slip not to tug, but not too much to make it slide around my lips. On the bullet itself, I was pretty put off by the frost and as it's evident on the hand swatch, it even has shimmers! I'm not one for frosty lipstick because I think it looks too dated. But once applied on my lips, I didn't experience any grittiness from the shimmer (win) nor was the frosty finish too startling (win). What I ended up with was a very nice sheen that made my lips look soft and perfectly kissable.

September '13 empties

What is up with this heat here? I'm beyond melting and it's pretty crazy how hot it gets here in summer!

It's true that I'm from a tropical country and it's hot all year round, but not 37 degree kind of hot :(

At least I used stuff up this month so I guess that makes it alright in a completely unrelated way, yes?

b. Strong Wash Shampoo

Mister Homebody got this for his itchy scalp and I ended up using it more than he did since I'm a sucker for all things cool/fresh/minty/tingly. I love lathering up and massaging into my scalp, then waiting a few minutes before rinsing off. Gives me the tingly menthol feeling and it's really refreshing in crazy summer heat. Since I use it once or at the very most twice a week, I'm not sure if it did anything for me. My hair texture remained the same (though thats fair since it wasn't for beautiful hair anyway) and my scalp condition remains unchanged. I didn't have much scalp problems to start with so this was more a pick me up than a treatment.

Repurchase: No

Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion (Moist)

This is the original version of their facial lotion and believe it or not, I'm finally done after a year. Yes, it really took that long. Since the consistency is almost like water, I didn't have to use a lot, just 5-7 drops at most. I didn't even have to use cotton pads so you can imagine how slow my progress was with this bottle of 170ml. Free of fragrance and coloring, this is supposed to be ideal for sensitive skin in providing moisture without contributing to oiliness. I'd say it did all that it claimed, but nothing more than that. There was no improvement, but I'm happy that my skin didn't get worse. It does get tiresome, though, to be using the same thing for an entire especially when it doesn't feel luxurious or give me a boost of...anything.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Lemon and Thyme Shower Gel

I'm in love with this! But sadly, it's been discontinued with the rest of the Earth Lovers range :( Mister Homebody and I have been really enjoying this shower gel over summer as it's got that zing and it's oh-so-refreshing in this heat. Paraben, colorant and sulfate free, which is just my thing. Works like all the other shower gels from The Body Shop, but I have to give it some extra love for smelling absolutely delicious!

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Bath & Body Works PocketBac in I Love Bling Rock Candy 

I think Bath & Body Works products are mostly misses for me being that they're usually too strongly scented. This one here smells sickly sweet and I get really embarrassed each time I use it in the teachers' room after a lesson. To think it's one of the milder ones that I have in my stash. To be honest, I don't actually know how effective it is for clean hands, but I'm too lazy to walk all the way to the washroom in between lessons, so this does the job.

Repurchase: No

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

I've used a bottle up here.

Repurchase: Have backup bottles

Feverlet E.G.F. Essence Mask

One of the many masks from my haul at Incheon Airport. I like this way more than the Etude House ones. Saturated with just enough essence so I don't get anything running down my neck while I relax and the fit seems a lot better, too, with minimal adjusting. The cotton sheet is slightly embossed and thinner than others, but I don't know if it's just by design or if it functions to provide more benefits to application/absorption. I can actually massage the essence into my skin after taking it off, as opposed to doing some rinsing with other masks before I proceed with the next steps. Stick it in the fridge for a while and there you go, a cool sheet for your face in 35 degree heat. 

Repurchase: Maybe

Biore Pore Pack (Black)

Found a few strips of these when I was digging stuff out. I always buy the black version because I like seeing all the gunk on the strips clearly when I rip it off my nose. Yes, TMI. I actually prefer this brand over the Claudia Jansen one.

Repurchase: Yes

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Talked about it here.

A year of lip products #47

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.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss (SPF15) in Lilac Pastel

I like lip glosses more than I do lipsticks, really. I find that they (usually) keep my lips moisturized longer than lipsticks and look more effortless than an opaque lip color. In general, I veer towards lip glosses more also for the fact that I don't have to be too careful about slicking them on. A good one will spread itself out easily and fill in the lines of my lips without making them stand out. This comes with your standard doe foot applicator that picks up just enough product for one application without the need for double dipping. From the tube, I deducted that I'd get at least a semi opaque, high shine finish on my lips. That's half true, because it did go on kind of opaque, but the problem I had after that was how patchy it looked on my lips. It went on easily enough when I stretched my lips a little bit, however, as soon as I pucker up, the products settled into lines that I never even knew existed. The more I smooshed my lips together in attempt to spread the product out evenly, the worse it looks. There was some stickiness though I totally expect that out of lip glosses. As the color is clearly not for the nude-loving people, I won't go into how it's not your everyday lip gloss. It did take a lot of trying for this to look decent in the picture and I got a good couple hours of wear without eating or drinking.

A year of lip products #46

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.

E.L.F. essential lipstick in Posh

I think I've just found my perfect Autumn lipstick! This baby may not look like much in its cheap plastic packaging that doesn't roll up properly all the time, but once on my lips, wow! In the tube, it appears to skew to a purple-blue-pink kind of color, but the swatch on my hand says otherwise. It's a pleasantly fruit scented warm berry hued pink that is perfectly wearable even for scaredy cats like me who work in conservative environments! Although it doesn't glide on as smoothly as other moisturizing lipsticks, the tugging is very minimal and one swipe produces very opaque results. I didn't experience any feathering or bleeding, nor did I see any product settling into my lip creases and clinging on to dry patches. I wouldn't go as far as to say this feels light as air on my lips but I've worn more expensive lipsticks that made me feel a lot less satisfied. No stickiness and for the first time ever, I didn't get any lipstick on my teeth (which is saying something!). I also love, love, LOVE that it doesn't pool up on the inside of my mouth leaving a line that gives a stark distinction between where the lipstick stops and my natural lip color starts. I saw a slight stain after wiping off with a tissue but who cares when it's in a pretty warm pink! So much win, this one!

A year of lip products #45

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.

Cyber Colors Vitamin Duo Lip Gloss in 06 Royal Carol

Probably the only product I own from this brand. Not entirely sure but I think it's a brand from Hong Kong and could be easily found in Hong Kong. Do I like it? No. This was a gift from an old college girlfriend and it's a dual ended lip gloss. The label is only one one side so I don't think there's a shade name for either side except a number. While I had really enjoyed one side of it (finished it up so I couldn't even take pictures!), I sort of hated this side. It's glitttery and gritty on the lips and the wand never seems to pick up anything so I needed to keep dipping to get product out. I generally dislike lip products that won't show on my lips (sheer is alright, but nothing is not) and the only good point I can think of for it is that it work-safe. I wouldn't even go as far as to say it's moisturizing because it really just sits on my lips and that stops them from drying out. Glad that I didn't spend any money on this one.

A year of lip products #44

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 Sheer Lipstick in Just Kissed

I'm not sure why it's taken me forever to write about this lipstick when I practically use it everyday. I might've mentioned that I'm more a lip gloss kind of person for the ease of application and more often than not, sheer laziness. On the days that I actually wear lipstick (work days), this is the first thing that I pick up. Many may not like sheer lipsticks for the lack of color and it's not often that I do, either. It just that, this one here smells pretty delicious in a vanilla cookie kind of way and immediately hides the flaky bits on my lips. Add on the zero effort factor since I almost always run out of the apartment in the morning sans lip product to make it in time for my train, and how my lips get an instant boost of moisture and soft glossy effect, I'd wear this down to a tiny nub. The only negative that I can see in this is that the moisturizing effect doesn't last as long as a lip balm would. I wouldn't layer it on top of a balm as it's sheer enough on its own but even when my lips are drier after a couple of hours with this on, there's absolutely no hint of flakiness to be seen. I love how it adds on a bit of warmth to my face without that 80s brown lipstick look. On the swatch, it took 20 swipes for it to show so that may give you an idea of just how sheer of a lipstick it is.

A year of lip products #43

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.

Senna Cosmetics duo lip gloss in Chocolate Cherry

This is the Chocolate side, I'm assuming, as the other other side is a much lighter, creamier nude kind of color that I don't particularly favor. To be really honest, I've only really used this side twice in the entire time that I've had it. And now, I'm wondering why I haven't picked it up more often, seeing that the color really isn't as old lady as I thought it was. Yes, it's brown and shimmery, but on my lips, it doesn't appear that way at all. I'd say this is a warm color that I can wear regardless of season (except maybe on really windy days because no lip gloss has passed that test yet). Some people might label this "frosty" or "contains micro shimmer particles". I'm really not all that great with descriptions, so you can take a look at yourself at how non scary it looks on the lips as opposed to the heavy swatch on skin. It doesn't hide flakiness completely but I'd say it's good enough for the days when lipstick just doesn't cooperate. Like most other lip glosses, it's not meant to have lasting power and I'm completely fine with that. Who'd ever finish up a lip product that you don't need to reapply anyway? Not too glossy, slightly sticky, and medium-glossy (in the sense that I don't get a mirror-like shine from wearing this). Pretty ho-hum, really.

August '13 empties

Compared to say, 2 years ago, I'd say that my hoarding habits have been greatly toned down.

Yet, I feel pretty amazed at the end of each month that I go without buying, I still have a large stash of stuff that I can mow through.

No finished makeup products this month, but loads of full sized bath and body items on their way to the recycling bin!

Rinren Yuzu & Ginger Shampoo
I've talked about it here before. Frankly, I'm glad this one is done with because I was getting tired of how mild the scent is.
Repurchase: No

Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Conditioner
Wish I got this sooner because it made my hair a lot less tangly. Less tangles = less hair loss in the shower = very good. It has silicones, yes, but I'm quite ready to admit that those non-silicone shampoos and conditioners just don't work for me. If anything, my hair got drier, frizzed up and it takes forever to detangle in the shower, not to mention the hair loss. I'm not exactly blessed with thick hair and being able to save some from clogging up the shower drain everyday is a good thing. The scent is not overpowering and very feminine. For an inexpensive drug store conditioner that is easily available everywhere (even in convenience stores sometimes!), I'm pretty happy with the results.
Repurchase: Yes

Rinren Yuzu & Ginger Treatment
This is no treatment, by any means, as conditioner is often referred to as "treatment" here in Japan. I wanted to go down the no-silicone path and picked this in hopes that my life will be changed forever. And change it did. I noticed more hair in the shower drain after rinsing off and it did nothing to make my hair smoother. Nor did I have a healthier scalp. Nothing. At all. Glad this one is finished.
Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Cucumber & Mint Shower Gel
Yes, love x100000. Never thought that the cucumber-mint combo would work in the shower although it's a drink that I've had many times before. Paraben/soap/sulphate/colorant-free. So much win here! I wish this came in a larger size like those jumbo 500ml bottles that they occasionally have in store. This was a real breath of fresh air in the crazy summer heat and makes an awesome body wash for that end-of-the-humid-day grime and dust.
Repurchase: Yes

Feverlet Collagen Essence Mask
One out of the 120(?) sheet masks that I hauled from Incheon Airport last year. Yes, they're still around. This feels like it's better quality than the Etude House ones that did absolutely nothing for me. The cotton sheet is a little thinner than the Etude House masks that I used. They have a texture that seems to work quite well in holding the essence. Although less saturated than Etude House masks, I find that it has just the right amount and doesn't drip down my neck. I also find that I don't have that sticky residue after I take them off and I don't need to splash my face with water again before I apply toner (or lotion as the Japanese version is). Not sure if my face is any less wrinkled or more plumped up, really, since I've never had any life changing experience with any sheet mask except for SK-II. I usually pop sheet masks in the fridge for a few minutes while I go through my cleansing routine in summer because let's face it, who doesn't like that temporary relief when it's 40 degrees out there?
Repurchase: No

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip
First mentioned here. I'm not sure if this is a charcoal strip but I love my nose strips black, nonetheless. Makes it so much more satisfying when I can see those little blackheads clearly. Nothing to shout about here, just your regular nose strip, if you're into that sort of thing. I did find it a little harder to peel compared to the Biore ones that I've used previously.
Repurchase: No. Happy to finish up the remaining strips and be done with them

Muji Nail Polish Remover
Only slightly more than 500 yen and I wish I'd discovered this sooner. Smells citrus-y with none of that eye-watering suffocating deathly fumes that comes with cheap polish remover. Does a really good job with removing nail color and doesn't leave my cuticles or nails dry and flaky like the really strong ones do. A little pricey for probably half the amount that I get from the 100 yen shop, but hey, it's worth not having my bin and entire apartment smell like we've been doused with alcohol.
Repurchase: Yes

Shiseido Sebum & Oil Blotting Paper
Dislike. I need at least 3 sheets in a single blotting session and even then my fingers feel oily after as if the sebum has soaked through the entire sheet. TMI? I still haven't found a Japanese blotting paper that actually works like the Johnson & Johnson ones. This feels no different than if I blotted my face with regular paper.
Repurchase: No

Sally Girl neon orange nail polish
One of those things that got thrown into a package when I bought some stuff off a blog sale. What a rip off since it was already gooey and I could use it only once after adding a few drops of solvent in it. The brush is really tiny and makes my shaky application look even worse than usual. I'd have love to wear this color when it was still usable as it was totally a summer color that doesn't look too out of place, neon and all.
Repurchase: No

iHerb.com nail file 
Think low quality sand paper stuck onto a foam board. It goes all floppy at the slightest pressure that I apply when filing my nails. Good for one use only. At least it was free gift, useless as it was.
Repurchase: No

Nail file from drug store in Malaysia
I've had it for so long that I can't even tell the brand anymore. It went with me from Malaysia to China and finally ended up here in Japan. I guess that says a lot for a nail file because it gave me countless uses over the years. I never torn a nail or had jagged tips that snagged on clothing from this one. It was pretty hard and didn't bend during use. I haven't found anything as good here yet, sadly.
Repurchase: No

So there, 10 is the magic number this month. I'm pretty good in using up stuff, regardless of whether they work or not. Don't you think?

A year of lip products #42

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.

Canmake Stay-On Balm Rouge in 01

This has to be one of my very favorite lip products, ever! It's so well used that what you see in the picture is all that I have left, rolled up all the way! Initially, I was quite skeptical as it appears a strange purple in the tube and I wasn't sure if it was something that I could pull off. But once applied on the lips, would you just look at how beautiful it is? As a balm rouge (I'm assuming this is Canmake's version of a tinted balm), I find it sufficiently pigmented as it's so easy to build up the opacity. On the swatch, it took me about 8 swipes to achieve that sort of color density. It may sound like a lot, but when it glides on so easily you don't really need to put your mind into it. I've worn this to work almost everyday in summer as it also has UV cut (Japanese speak for SPF haha) and I absolutely love that my lips looks perfectly soft and kissable with a juicy looking shine. It's so comfortable and keeps my lips moisturized in the hot weather, too. So, so much win!

A year of lip products #41

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 Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Kissy Fit 

I like this. I really, really do. I'd even wear it regularly if my hair didn't fly around all the time and get stuck on my lips. First of all, pink is not in my usual list of picks for lip color as I believe the ship may have sailed and I'm a little too old to be sporting bubble gum colors. Of course, I am wrong, since this is right up my alley and didn't make me look like a pre-teen. In the tube, the shimmer is glaringly obvious and the color stands out as a pretty bold pink (not loud, just bold). Even on the skin swatch, the shimmer particles are quite evident, but like with other lip products that I own, they're not in your face once applied onto the lips. I love, love, that it fills out my lips and smooths out all the fine lines. I don't even need to worry about flaky lips as I find that the product spreads out so evenly to camouflage any dryness that I might have. One coat of this (no double dipping, yay!) and my lips are perfectly juicy and luscious. It is, however, a little thick and sticky so I definitely have that something-is-on-my-lips feeling.

A year of lip products #40

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.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Kiss Me Coral

I know many bloggers love coral shades in summer and it's something that I'd love to try, really. In all honesty, this is a really beautiful wearable shade that is considerably less bright than what most women half my age are wearing. Warm toned, almost red, but not quite. On my lips, I swiped 2 coats on and due to the fact that I'm generally too chicken to wear bright lips, I didn't manage to do a good job so I had to even it out with a brush. Although it's supposed to be a creme finish (which I assume is a little more moisturizing?), my lips were a little dry and it highlighted the flaky bits. I really like that I don't have that dreaded inner rim of color on my lips which I sometimes get with other lipsticks. It feels light and I can't say much about wearability since I had lunch an hour after I put it on. It did, however left a little stain on my hand after I wiped it off. Overall, not something I'd be brave enough wear on its own (shame, really!), but I'd love to sheer it out with some balm.

July '13 empties

Another month, another empties post. Seems like all this blog is about is just the garbage that I accumulated, eh?

This month brought me tons of disappointments, but as is my OCD nature to finish up everything right down till the very last drop/dollop/sheet, I think I did pretty damn well.

One more finished lip product this month!

Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Face Foam

Hates it. Even with my oily skin, I always feel like my face is stretched beyond limits after I use it. And don't get my started about the itching that came with that crazy dry feeling. On the bright side, I use it with my Clarisonic and I love how it really foams up.

Repurchase: No

Cleansing wipes from 100 yen store

I don't use these on my face, ever, but I keep them on my vanity for wiping my fingers off after using cream shadow, BB cream, before dipping my fingers into anything etc. You get the idea. Somehow this box must be either a really old one or the seal sticker inside doesn't really seal. They were pretty dry by the time I got to the third sheet. They don't seem to clean very well. either. I usually have to press hard on the dirty spot and swipe a few times before anything comes off, especially cream eyeshadows.

Repurchase: No

Bifesta bi-phase Eye Makeup Remover

Went on a crazy buying spree during my brief period of insanity and bought 3 bottles of these. I didn't even really start wearing eye makeup regularly till I started working in April. Must've been some demon possession going on there when I clicked purchase, I'm sure of it. This bi-phase eye makeup remover does its job well and lasted me a very good 4 or so months before I got to the last drop. Doesn't sting my eyes and never left me with cloudy vision either. Some of my eye makeup can be a little stubborn to remove, like my Bobbi Brown gel liner and waterproof mascara, but all they need is 10 seconds of this stuff on a cotton pad on my eye, and a few very gently swipes. All clean. Even in between my lashes. My only gripe is that it doesn't smell like garden flowers and babies, but I guess that's alright.

Repurchase: Already have 2 backup bottles

Etude House Lemon sheet mask

So I went trip happy at Incheon Airport during my many flights between Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur and I bought, like, 10 of these. Which is a lot, considering I don't use sheet masks. So, what did this do for my face? Absolutely nothing. It claims to brighten skin and is supposed to be great for acne skin types. But, well, nothing happened. Smells great, though. And chilling it in the fridge 10 minutes before applying it onto my face felt pretty awesome in this summer heat. I do, however, hate the sticky feeling that the essence left. I don't care what anyone says, it does not absorb into skin. It just stays on the surface no matter how much I try to massage it in. I ended up rinsing a second time just so that I could apply my moisturizer after. Oh, I have to say that it's a pretty good fit for my face too. And they weren't skint on the essence because there was plenty left in the packet even after I took the mask out.

Repurchase: No

Etude House Pearl Extract sheet mask

Bought 10 of these as well on the same day I got the Lemon ones(!). Nope, didn't like them, either. Claims to brighten skin, hydrate blah blah blah. Whatever. This one didn't even smell nice. I had the exact same issues I did with the lemon one. But I do love the feeling of slapping one on when the summer heat is unbearable and taking a short nap with the air conditioning on. Not sure if it's just me, but my face itched a little after.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel

I'm one of those devoted lifelong users of The Body Shop's shower gels. While I won't particularly pick this one first out of the many other scents they carry, this one's apparently manly enough for Mister Homebody. I like how foamy it becomes and how the scent lingers in the shower. However, it contains SLS which I'm trying to cut down and eventually out.

Repurchase: No

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

I first tried this one out when I was in Hong Kong and everything sells for cheap there. It removes my makeup very well and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. Now, I have a very complete cleansing routine whenever I'm wearing makeup (which is pretty much almost everyday now that I have a job) and it involves what most people would call "tedious". I start with the Bifesta eye makeup remover to remove all my eye makeup (obviously) and I use the cleansing oil for the rest of my face. After I've rinsed off, I always follow up with my regular cleanser, which may be whatever I'm using at the moment as I've not been loyal to any particular brand since Biotherm. I've been doing this for ages and it seems to work best for me out of all the other methods I've tried, from cream cleanser to makeup wipes and everything in between. It's slightly runnier than other types of cleansing oils that I've used previously but I don't see how that makes it inferior or work any less than other more expensive types. Although I have sensitive skin and really should stay away from fragranced products, I do sometimes wish this had at least a teeny bit of fragrance in it to spice things up.

Repurchase: Already have 2 backup bottles

Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Clearly Pink

I've never had a Clinique lip gloss before and I'm clearly blown away by this one. It fills out all the fine lines and gave me smooth silicone looking lips while not making me look like I used a lip plumper. The formula is awesome and glides on easily. I never needed to double dip because somehow, the doe foot applicator always picks up the right amount of product. The SPF 15 is an added bonus too, though they're chemical sunscreens which I randomly get allergic reactions from. While I love almost everything about this lip gloss, I don't think I'd repurchase simply because I'm currently trying to phase out buying products with ingredients that I'm iffy about.

Repurchase: No

DHC Eyelash Tonic

I used this for the recommended 6 months because apparently that's how long it takes for some people to see results. I did miss a few days in that span of time but I don't think it's supposed to make a difference to the results I was supposed to get. Because it did absolutely nothing for me. If anything, it annoyed me that I had to apply this to my lashes everyday and sometimes I somehow manage to poke my eye with the wand. It started out as a clear gel but in time it grew cloudy and I think it's due to the fact that I always moisturize beforehand and it's the moisturizer that's making the product cloudy. In the beginning I felt that I had less falling out of my lashes but after 6 months, it was just another extra 2 minutes that I had to spend every night which yielded zero results. I even tried using this on my eyebrows because mine are so sparse. Nothing. Just a waste of my time.

Repurchase: No

Muji cotton pads

Not sure if these cotton pads are organic cotton but I find that they tend to shred less than the ones that I usually get from the 100 yen store. They even withstand removing glitter nail polish, and that is really saying something. I don't feel like they work any better or any worse but I do like that I don't get bits of cotton stuck on my face and fingers all the time. They feel smooth enough on my face, yet rough enough to remove nail polish easily. Slightly more expensive than my regular 100 yen cotton pads, but since I live in Muji land and prices here are cheap-to-reasonable, I don't see why not?

Repurchase: Yes

So out of 10 empties, I ended up with no to 7 of them. Not sure if I'm just too picky or I buy all kinds of crap products because of my no-loyalty personality. I do, however, like seeing my stash get smaller after I've used up/thrown out stuff, though.

On to more product discovery!

June '13 empties

Finished up a whole bunch of stuff and one discard this month. Not bad at all, homebody, not bad at all!

Étude house Pomegranate and Royal Jelly Sheet Mask

Hate pomegranate but love LOVE the royal jelly one! Both didn't do much for my face in terms of beautification. But the royal jelly smelled so good that I wouldn't mind using it just for that. Used up 2 this month because the weather was absolutely sweltering and having them chilled in the fridge and on my face after is sheer bliss.

Repurchase: No

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Funny story. My face was going through a very dry phase because of the medication I'm on but it's also oily at the same time with the crazy high humidity in summer. My blackheads were annoying the crap out of me and I couldn't stand them anymore so I applied this after my usual nightly shower. Thing is, I exfoliated the night before, and I usually exfoliate again before I put on a nose strip. Left it on for too long, peeled it off, and I saw bright scarlet dots on my nose bridge. Yep, I was bleeding. Actually, that wasn't really funny. And I didn't even manage to get a lot of gunk out.

Repurchase: Yes

Shu Uemura eyelash curler pad

Finally changing the pad after 7 years! I read somewhere that you're supposed to use it for only about 6 months, no? But I wore makeup like once in a month in the past 7 years and didn't curl my eyelashes all that often so I think I can make an exception.

Repurchase: No (not for sale)

E.L.F. minty lip gloss (shade Miami)

My favorite lip gloss, which has been sadly discontinued. Why?! I love the way my lips get all tingly and cool when I slick it on. I even believe that it cools me down in summer, even if it was just for a few minutes. Color wise, it was pretty sheer and did nothing to dress up my face and the applicator doesn't pick much product up at all. I usually have to dip twice just for my bottom lip and twice again for my upper lip. Guess that explains why I could finish it up quickly. That, and also the minty taste.

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Ban medicated antiperspirant roll on deodorant

This isn't technically a beauty product but I thought it's worth the mention because of how good it is. There's been many comments about how Japanese deodorants are utterly useless and I haven't tried enough of them to know. While I'm not big on antiperspirants in general because they contain aluminum and aren't all that great for our bodies, I do like that this one is unscented and kept me stink free. I wear light perfume and body sprays and hate when my deodorant interferes with my scent of choice. There is some wetness if I'm sweating way excessively (which happens when I take the 25 minute walk to school) but I don't smell. I'm on the fence about this because I want to switch to a more natural deodorant but at the same time I also can't go through an entire day with soaked pits.

Repurchase: Yes

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

First bottle that I got in Hong Kong had me hooked. I know there is another variant that is generally preferred over this one (don't know why) but this one does exactly what I expect it to. My face doesn't feel stripped or dry and it gets all the warpaint off.

Repurchase: Yes (a few backup bottles in storage)

Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Cream

I have very sensitive skin and while my experimental nature and attention span of a goldfish makes me want to slather every possible product on myself, the (sometimes horrible) reactions that I get after always made me think more than twice. This product is supposed to be suitable for sensitive skin, oil-free and dermatologist tested. Horse crap, I say. I applied a thin layer on my arms (prefer not to go straight to my face) and I broke out in a rash that refused to go away for days. The allergy reaction wasn't as bad as the worst I've had, but it was enough to make Mr. Homebody sit up and notice that my arms had splotchy red patches and they felt like hundreds of little bumps on my skin. The redness went away after a few days but the bumps were more stubborn. Luckily for me, this was thrown in with a bunch of stuff for a swap so I didn't have to spend actual money on it. Mr. Homebody, who has tougher skin and is religious with his sunscreen wanted to try it before I threw it out, until I pointed out that this is purely a chemical sunscreen and I'm not sure if it'd be such a good idea. Out.

Repurchase: No

Biotherm Biosource Exfoliant

This baby has been with me for a very long time. I mean, VERY. Got it when I was still living in Malaysia, took it with me to Shanghai and finally ended up here. Like other Biotherm products, I love the fragrance, which I can only describe as fresh and slightly manly, yet totally female-friendly. I know I totally excel at describing scents but, whatever. The exfoliating beads are not too grainy and they don't hurt my skin when applied. With this one, a little goes a long way as the gel is so densely packed with beads that I don't have to work on spreading it around so that I get an even scrub. My face always feels smoother and softer after using this and I absolutely love that I don't get that tight feeling after rinsing. All that said, I'm moving on from Biotherm simply because I prefer to use stuff that have shorter ingredient lists due to my highly reactive and temperamental skin.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Bath Lily

Can't say how many of these I've used in the span of the past 15 or so years, but I just can't stop using them! As you can see, this one is totally floppy and out of shape and coming loose from the center so it had to go. I find that the bath lily works extremely well for people like me who love lather and suds. They don't grow mold or get that damp smell and they rinse out pretty good. I love the gentle exfoliation that isn't as harsh as say, a body brush or scrub gloves, and I use less product when I have this. 

Repurchase: Yes

E.L.F. Essential Lip Stain (Pink Petal)

The thing with marker/felt tip makeup is that they tend to soak up whatever's on your skin, like saliva and dead skin, possibly small food particles. So, that's just way gross. This marker had a sharp felt tip that proves to be good for precision lining and the tip is saturated just enough to deposit the right amount of product on your lips. The color looks a lot pinker that I'd usually go for but once on my lips, they looked right at home there with that I'm-wearing-a-lip-color-but-it-looks-just-like-my-lips kind of pink. The lasting power, though, isn't great, although that might be the color and not the longevity of the stain itself since it's so light. Apply this on, top it with a balm and you're good to go, for a couple of hours at least. Now, the really horrible thing about this is that awful, awful smell that tells you that something had contaminated it and is multiplying disgusting germs by the bajillion per nano second. I've managed to get only one use out of this before it smelled worse than a month's worth of dirty socks. Out.

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Cleansing wipes from 100 yen store

One of the better ones that I've tried. I have no loyalty for wipes, really, since I never use them on my face. At most they make their way to my inner arm when I'm swatching makeup, but that's the furthest they'd go. The seal worked pretty good at keeping the moisture in and I was able to go through all 30 sheets with minimal drying out. Problem is, I can't remember exactly which 100 yen shop I got them from when there's one around every corner.

Repurchase: Yes

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (old formula)

Cult favorite, this one is. To be very honest, I loved it. My parched winter skin was saved by this little tube of awesome. I didn't wake up greasy faced and most of the time I could even use it in the day, and this is saying a lot, coming from someone with oily skin. The texture is so much lighter than the rich cream-type moisturizers that companies churn out for dry skin and it spreads easily with an absorption rate that isn't too time consuming. I don't feel like I have product sitting on top of my skin and this is one of the most important factors for me, even if I was just going to bed and will probably know nothing when I'm asleep. The bad: very long list of ingredients that essentially tells me I'm using too many things on my face that I don't need. I used to think that Clinique was the perfect brand for people like me, no fragrance, dermatologist tested, allergy tested, blah blah blah. But then I started clueing myself in and realized that HORSE CRAP THAT IS A LOT OF CHEMICALS GOING INTO ONE PRODUCT.

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Clean & Clean Oil Absorbing Sheets

My absolute favorite oil blotters. I get so much satisfaction from seeing the sheets turn transparent from the oil that's lifted off my greasy face. I'm weird, I know. This is by far the best oil blotters that I've tried, and I've tried many. Even the superior Japanese brands with their powdered and fragranced sheets can't compare to this. With this, I'm shine free in 2 sheets maximum. With the other ones, I can go up to 6, and they're usually bigger, too. I've always just used the press motion when blotting and never wipe like how some people tend to, and I do notice some makeup being lifted off, but I suppose it's normal when my facial oils have melted my face off? Only thing that I'm not very happy with is that this is not a cruelty-free brand.

Repurchase: Yes

You got through this empties post (phew!) so, congratulations! Soldiering on to pare my collection down!

May '13 empties

Not a whole lot of empties in May, but, look, I finished up a lip product!

Only 2057534 lip products to go. Yay.

Let's get to business.

Rinren Yuzu & Ginger Shampoo (Refill)
I like that this doesn't have all the stuff that I don't want in my skin/body care products. No parabens, no mineral oils, no silicones and no animal products. I've probably been using silicone products on my hair my entire life, although I can't be sure about the time when I was not part of the decision making process. The fragrance is light and quite refreshing and never, ever overpowering. Lathers up pretty well and when it rinses out, my hair doesn't feel all squeaky and tangly. But, with all the organic/natural/gentle products, I find that while they generally mean well, they don't give results that you could write home about. I like this shampoo, but I'm not wowed. 
Repurchase: I would repurchase it simply for the fact that it's a silicone-free shampoo.

Bath & Body Works "I Love Cookie Dough" Pocketbac
The scent alone is enough for me to want to eat it! Love the size because it's small enough for my makeup bag and it doesn't weigh a ton (I carry my entire life around in my bag when I go to work). I don't find it drying for my hands even when I use it more than once a day, usually after my lessons when I've been using chalk (yes, unfortunately, Japan still uses chalkboards). Only one gripe here, Japanese people are so subtle with everything in their lives that every time I use it, I notice that the people around me will sniff the air in suspicion.
Repurchase: Not in this scent since there's so many to choose from!

The Body Shop "Cranberry Joy" Shower Gel
Hates it. I bought this on a whim when they were having a big 50% sale, or was it one of those BOGO deals? Really should've sniffed it first. Now, I've been using shower gels from The Body Shop for a good many years and it's safe to say that there aren't really any that I find unpleasant. But, well, this one is. The scent is too sickly, chemically sweet and it doesn't seem to lather as well as the others. I practically had to use up half the bottle when I run a bath. I usually like it when the scent of my shower gels linger on my skin after my showers, but with this one, I find that I try to rinse out every trace of it. 
Repurchase: Definitely not.

Skittles "Blueberry" flavored Lip Gloss
Just one of my many kiddy indulgences. Yes, I'm 30 going on 8. Shame, shame. It smells and tastes like what a kid of 8 would like. Completely colorless and pretty shiny, I use this on occasions when I'm too lazy to dig around for a color that matches my mood.
Repurchase: I still another 3 or 4 of these in different in flavors!

Sally Girl bright pink nail polish (Mini)
One of the brightest nail polishes I own. It's practically neon and glow in the dark! Sad that the color is completely off in the picture. Formula is pretty crap, or it could really be just that it went all gloopy and thick. The brush is tiny and all I get is streaky nail polish which I usually end up topping off with a glittery or confetti coat to mask all the imperfections. Usually chips after 3 or so days (even on my toes) and the weirdest thing about it is that it kinda flakes off instead of the usual chipping that I'm used to. Love the color, though, but that may possible be its only merit here.
Repurchase: Whatever for?

Elf Studio Brush Shampoo
I've read enough good reviews about this cheap-but-so-effective brush shampoo that I bought it without thinking twice. Well, next time, I really should think at least twice before I buy anything. Because this brush shampoo really sucks. I don't care if it's cheap and that I shouldn't expect much from it. It sucks. I have to use a very generous amount for each face brush (500 yen coin-sized) and I have a really OCD rule of washing my brushes every week. Even with that much shampoo per brush, I have to shampoo each brush at least twice before the water rinses out sorta clear. And then there's the thing about the brush bristles still being stained. What is that about? I think I wash my brushes often enough for them not to accumulate too much gunk that it doesn't rinse out properly or it becomes permanently stained. Sad to say, I've used body shampoos that worked much better than this bottle of crap. Oh, and it contains parabens.
Repurchase: Never

So that concludes my May '13 empties. Have you used any of the above products and felt differently about them than I did? Tell me if you have!

Honestly Homebody is on Bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5048615/?claim=fmtqbtkznsm">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

So we all heard that Google reader is dying a slow death and there's a sudden surge of migration to Bloglovin. Or is that just me being slow as usual?

Anyhoo, I got on the bandwagon!

The Shopping Queen Giveaway

I've always wished I was one of those lucky people who'd strike big and win the lotto one day.

But, really. Who am I kidding when I don't even know how to buy a lottery ticket?

Mr. Homebody is not much better. All he ever won was a pencil when he was in elementary school. Or a sharpener. Something to that effect.

I've been on a contest/giveaway rampage recently and it certainly didn't go unnoticed. Especially when I retweet contests everyday repeatedly and it shows on Mr. Homebody's feed haha.

Anyway, I joined Jen's giveaway and short of saying a prayer while kneeling at my bedside before I snooze, I'm really hoping that I'll win this one.

The very generous Jen (hey, it rhymes!) will be giving away:

1. Rimmel lipstick in Tell No One
2. Rimmel blush in Berry
3. Rimmel nail polish in Double Decker
4. Bourjois blush in Rose Frisson
5. Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Elite
6. Rimmel Kate lipstick in 16
7. Deluxe sample sized Estee Lauder Idealist
8. Deluxe sample sized Benefit High Beam
9. Benefit BADgal mascara in brown

On top of that, the winner gets a Philosophy "The Cookbook" set.

Girl sure knows how to dangle carrots in this donkey's face.

I so want this. I'm honestly not sure if it's the Tarte Lip Tint that sent me into one blabbering mess or the Philosophy set. Maybe it's the Rimmel goodies. Oh, oh! It has to be Benefit's High Beam. I don't know.

Giveaway gods, do you hear me?

Daisy Meadow 500 GFC Followers Giveaway

The good thing about living in Japan sometimes is that I can get quite spoiled for choice when it comes to drugstore makeup that are of decent quality. The downside, however, is how every import product costs more than twice the price in other countries.

So unfair, really, because till now I've yet to own any Revlon Balm Stains after reading countless reviews about it. They're supposed pretty cheap but here in Japan they're ridiculously priced.

Anyway, I digress. I was just trying to get to the point of how I actually stand a chance in scoring some highly coveted items in the beauty world that may be available to me here but at truly exorbitant price tags.

Courtney is celebrating her 500 GFC follower milestone (congratulations Courtney!) by charitably keeping people like me in mind and giving away some of her favorite things.

Here's what she will be giving away:

Urban Decay Basics Palette
Real Techniques Core Collection
Bioderma 250ml

 I die. Seriously.

Ever since I caught wind of a new Urban Decay palette release I've been literally green with envy at the girls who seem to just be able to walk into a store, swatch, and buy one if their hearts so desired. I blame this country's pride in locally made products for not being able to satisfy my gargantuan appetite for more.

And then there is the Real Techniques brushes. So many YouTube beauty gurus use it and they seem to have nothing less than nice to say about them! If Wayne Goss and Tanya Burr used them regularly, it must all be for good reason, right?

Bioderma is being mentioned leftrightupdowncenter and it shows up in every other beauty blogger's monthly/weekly favorite all the time. And it is beneficial for sensitive skin. 

I'm not sure how Courtney knew that I absolutely needed all the stuff that she's giving away, but bless the girl's heart for awakening the makeup monster within me.

Fingers crossed!

A year of lip products #11

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.

ZA Aqualish in S01

One of those lip products I've had for a looooooong time but never get to using often. ZA was the teenage brand when I was in high school. And yes, it was a long time ago, but that's not the point. Packaging's always super cute, and I like them even when I grew up and away from being a teenager. This one here is housed in a shiny blue metallic case that actually looks pretty classy for a drugstore brand for the young. The Aqualish range is a hydrating line of lip colors that are sheer with a water-like shine. I like. What you see in the tube is what you get exactly on your lips. As you can see, the skin swatch and the tube is identical. On my lips, it's a cool toned pink tint that doesn't make me look like a dead person and can be worn on its own. In the past, I've used it to tone down darker and bolder lipsticks and it's worked very well to provide that bit of shine and oomph. Other times, it's kind of my to-go lip balm that isn't a lip balm.

A year of lip products #10

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.

E.L.F. Studio Minty Lip Gloss in Miami

One of those products that I wear often because everyday makeup is really understated here. Also, I'm too chicken to prance around in something bright. Nothing that stands out, to be honest, but I have a deep love for everything that's mint and it makes me insanely happy when my lip products are mint scented or gives me that tingly feeling. Here, you have one of those MLBB colors that gives your lips a slight shine with some barely there shimmer. Wear time isn't great but I'm a really bad judge because I'm always eating or drinking. Not that I can complain because it gives me more excuse to reapply! I find that E.L.F. lip gloss wands are not the greatest when it comes to picking up enough product for application so I basically need 4 dips to do my lips. Yes, 4, since I like them shinier and one dip is barely enough for either upper or lower. The tingly sensation lasts for about 5 minutes but don't expect lip plumping effects or anything, though. I'd repurchase in other colors, but sadly E.L.F. doesn't carry them anymore :(