Beauty Binds #1 – Creasing Concealer

When it comes to beauty dilemmas, there are some that I can just let go, like finding a mascara that will actually give volume to my short Asian lashes. However, there are some beauty conundrums that I still obsess about till today. I thought I would do a little roundup of them over several posts and talk about possible solutions that have worked for me and some that have not. More than that, I really hope that you have some tips and product suggestions to offer me so I can finally let go (if that is possible).

Conundrum – Finding a concealer application method that will not only cover my dark under eye circles but will also not crease as well

I know that I am cheating a bit here by trying to solve two issues, but if there is one beauty problem that I am obsessed with fixing, it is these two. I think concealer is so important for looking fresh and awake in the morning. Even if I don’t apply foundation, I will always try to put on some concealer. I still don’t think I have found my perfect combination of technique and products yet, but I wanted to talk about a few that I have tried over the years. Some were picked up through through magazines, Youtube, and Intagram, and others were just some of my own experimentations.

Method #1 – Simply Find a Concealer That Will Not Crease

Maybe I am just asking for too much. I honestly don’t think there has been a concealer that didn’t crease on me a little bit. If I had to choose, I think that the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer would be the best concealer I have tried that will only give me minimal creasing. For an Asian brand, I find the Ipsa Creative Concealer, which is a cream concealer, doesn’t really crease that much on me. If you know of a great concealer that does not crease, I would love to know.

Method #2 – Powdering After Applying Concealer

Powdering any makeup will increase its longevity. So it should be a no-brainer that you should definitely set concealers with powder since they are usually creamier. Believe me, I have tried this technique on and off for years and I must admit I still don’t love it. I have also tried applying the powder with a brush and and pressing it in with a puff. However, it has either left my under eye area looking super dry or made the creasing even more pronounced.

Method #3 – Use a Sponge to Apply the Concealer

I have been using this technique on and off for a while. Mostly, this is because I feel using a sponge to apply concealer sometimes takes away some of the coverage. However, I do think it can help minimize creasing just because there is less product that can crease. Lately,  I have also started to dip my Beauty Blender into thicker concealers like the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, and then press it into the skin. This allows me to keep the coverage without worrying if it will get too cakey or crease.

Method #4 – Only Applying Concealer to Where You Need It

I learnt this technique last year and it is one of my favourites. Often when I watch Youtube, I see people loading tons of concealer allover their under eye area. However, sometimes, I find that it is more important to focus the concealer only on the darkest areas. This way, you use less product and minimize the chances of creasing and it looks more natural. I think the renowned makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge explains it best in the video above. She also talks about applying concealer and waiting a bit before rechecking for any creasing. She will then use a sponge to remove the excess product and smooth out the area. My only problem with the latter technique is that I don’t find that my concealer creases till hours later. I haven’t tried bringing a sponge in my purse though. Maybe I should!

I have also tried using eye primer on the under eye area and baking under the eyes, but I still don’t quite like how my under eye wears over the day. I hope you enjoyed this post of me rambling about concealer woes. I would love to hear your concealer tips and tricks.

Review: Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum

Actives. Acids. AHAs. Before this year, these just sounded like terrifying words to me. I don’t how I came upon thinking this way, but I guess I was scared that these potent ingredients might be too strong for my skin. In some ways, I found out this was true, but for the most part, these actives have been game-changing for my skin. This journey into actives actually began after I starting following skincare Instagram accounts. Many of them used these actives daily in their skincare routines so I figured they couldn’t be that scary. Most importantly, these actives claimed to give quick and noticeable results which was a promise I couldn’t resist.

If you Google Vitamin C, you will find a plethora of evidence of how it can brighten and tighten your skin, how it is an anti-aging superstar, and how it can boost your production of collagen. The list goes on and on. I even read somewhere that it can protect you from pre-cancerous changes in your skin! However, Vitamin C can also easily break down when exposed to light or air. I often hear about it oxidizing. Luckily, I haven’t had that happen with the Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum I am have been using the last few months.

Background

I first discovered Wishtrend through their Youtube channel as they discussed Korean Beauty in English. I soon found out they also had a website selling a curated selection of Korean beauty, and they also created items for their own Wishtrend brand. One of their best-selling lines is from a Korean brand called Klairs. I still haven’t tried anything from Klairs yet, but hope to try their famous toner soon.

Claims

This serum contains 21.5 % of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in their formula. Since Vitamin C is quite a tricky ingredient to work with, getting the right percentage is important. I am not a skincare expert, but I do notice that one of the most famous ones from SkinCeuticals contains 15% Vitamin C, so I guess this one is on higher end. It claims to be not sticky and absorb quickly. Furthermore, they claim that the 70% Sea Buckthorn Water in the formula decreases the likelihood of irritation. To prevent oxidation, you should also keep it refrigerated.

Application

Like Wishtrend claims, this serum is thin and watery, and absorbs quickly. It comes in a dark bottle with a dropper. It is also not sticky at all like they claim. I have had mine for a over 3 months and it is still has not oxidized. It was a bit of hassle having to walk to my fridge to use the serum, but I think the results were worth it.

Results

So what did I think? All I can is that I am converted. After using this serum for over 3 months, my skin has improved in many ways. I think the first thing I noticed is that my skin just looks more glowy. Vitamin C helps with collagen production and I found my fine lines on my forehead were definitely less prominent. I did have one problem though. It made my cheek area breakout, which never happens to me. So I had to stop using it on that area, and I never wanted to try again. I mean, I had already patch tested it on my neck for a week and it seemed fine. Therefore, if you know that certain areas of your skin are sensitive, this high concentration of Vitamin C might not be the best option for you.

VERDICT: I love the texture and application of this serum and definitely saw noticeable anti-aging benefits. However, the high percentage of Vitamin C might not be ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Get to Know Me: Favourite Non-Beauty Youtube Channels

I have been wanting to do more blogposts to let you know me a little better.  I considered doing a “50 Facts About Me,” but it just seems truly daunting to think about so many facts about myself.  So I decided to talk about some things I am into outside of beauty by sharing some of my favourite Youtube channels.  If you have any Youtube channels that you watch that you think I would like, I would love some new recommendations!  Hope you enjoy this post!

I love animals, and especially enjoy watching dog rescues

There are not many animals that I dislike.  Although, I must say insects are a bit hard for me.  I find that a day spent with animals will automatically relax and make me happier.  I don’t have any pets of my own, but like many people, I love watching animal videos.  They always say you are either dog or cat person.  I used to be a dog person, but over the years, I learned to love cats as well. Lately, I’ve been binge watching a Youtube channel called “Gone to the Snow Dogs” about a couple that own 3 Huskies.  I love watching her make homemade treats for them and bring them on all sorts of adventures.  It always brings a smile to my face.

I also love watching dog rescues, like Vet Ranch.  Their channel stresses the importance of dog neuter and spays in light of the problems with dog overpopulation.  They focus on taking dogs that might otherwise by euthanized, and often giving them straightforward medical procedures that make them completely adoptable.

I love learning about other cultures

As I mentioned in a previous blogpost, I have a degree in Anthropology.  Therefore, I always love learning about the intricacies of someone’s culture, either from actually going to someone’s home to try a home cooked meal, or actually travelling to a place and immersing myself in their everyday life.  I haven’t travelled much the last few years, but I still love learning about other cultures through Youtube.

Lately, I have been watching a lot of travel food channels.  I have especially been loving the ones that try street food in Asia.  As my parents are from China, I often wonder what types of food they eat in other areas of China, either than the Cantonese food I grew up with.   I feel that often at a restaurant, you only might taste the “star” dishes of that country, but you never really get to try out the diversity of food that actually exists if the you visit the country.

That is perhaps why I love watching The Food Ranger.  He lives in China presently, and he will often go to small villages to try out the local specialties.  He will often try the same dish, but in a different region of China.  It is totally fascinating for a cultural buff like me to see the diversity of food in the world.

If you love The Food Ranger, you will also love Mark Wein’s channel about food in Thailand.

I am learning how to cook

I only officially moved out a few years ago.  My mother did most of the cooking all my life. However, I got married a few years ago, and I realized I should really learn to cook better.  I figured food just being edible is not good enough if you have to eat it everyday.  Let’s be honest though, “not very edible” and “barely edible” have been quite common terms in my home the last few years. Like many who have to come home and cook after a full day of work, I love recipes that are quick and taste good.

One channel that is not really a cooking channel, but I thought I would recommend here is Karlie Kloss’s Youtube channel.  Not only is Karlie a famous model, but she loves to bake and also talk about coding.  I find her recipes super easy to follow and there is one particular recipe I use a lot, which is her Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe.  Super grains are huge the last few years, but actually finding recipes that you wholeheartedly think are really tasty are quite difficult.  I love this pudding because it tastes like having dessert in the morning.

I also love Sorted Food, Cooking with Dog, and Gordon Ramsay’s channel.

If you have channels you love, please comment below!  🙂

My Current Favourite Youtubers

My obsession with Youtube continues to persist.  In the last year, I have discovered some new Youtube channels that I have loving.  I thought I would share them in case you are having a Youtuber drought and need some new channels to watch especially during those nights during the winter holidays.

Song of Style

I remember the surprise I felt the first time I used Instragram Stories.  Suddenly, I could hear and see people that I had only known through static images all these years.  Some were just as “cool” and down-to-earth as I had expected.  Song of Style, a well-known fashion blogger, is one of those people.  She has been posting more regularly on her Youtube channel and it has been fun watching her vlog behind the scenes during fashion week and share beauty and fashion tips.  My favourite videos though are where we learn more about her personal life and background.  I especially enjoyed the video where she took her equally fashionable dad on a shopping spree.  It was nice to gain some insight as to where she got her good taste from.

I Dress Myself

I know, yet another fashion blogger because I am always in need of fashion inspiration.  I am one of those people who loves fashion, but doesn’t have the talent to put together amazing outfits.  I don’t even inspire to look like these fashion bloggers, but if I am even able to take a small nugget of inspiration from them, I am already quite happy.  Yanin, who is behind the blog I Dress Myself, not only has an amazing blog, but I also love her Youtube channel.  I think I would describe her style as mainly black, minimalist, but with an edge.  My favourite videos of hers are when she does her style lookbooks in her bedroom.  Laidback, but so chic.

Caroline Hirons

If you are really into skincare, you probably know Caroline Hirons.  She is also a blogger and experienced aesthetican.  I especially love hearing her talk through all the technical aspects of skincare.  However, even though the skincare knowledge she imparts is very helpful, it is her vlogs which I love watching the most.  She is the mother of four kids, and I love the dry humour she brings as she navigates her life as a busy mom.  Plus, she hangs out with other British beauty bloggers I avidly watch, like Lily Pebbles and Ruth from a Model Recommends, which is always so fun to watch!

Jennifer Wan

I feel like many of the beauty gurus with bigger audiences tend to talk about certain brands over and over again.  With Jennifer Wan, I feel like I really get a more comprehensive review of many different types of beauty brands.  She is one beauty junkie though!  She often talks about brands that I have not even heard of.  In the last year she has started vlogging as well, and her openness about her dating life is frank, relatable, and hilarious.  One of the channels I have probably followed for over 5 years (I had to sneak this one in even though I have watched her for a while).

Rachel Nguyen

I know, another fashion blogger who has gotten in Youtubing (is that a word?).  She is the face behind the blog That’s Chic.  I’ve always loved her style, but her vlogs are what started my obsession with her channel (you probably notice a trend by now!).  I love watching her as she navigates her laidback Californian life with her friends and family.  She always seem to be having the best time!  Plus, I love her ending segment where she answers her viewer questions.  If you love Song of Style, I have feeling you will love her as well!  Plus, she is friends with Claire Marshall which is my favourite Youtuber, so she has become a must-watch as well.

If you have any other Youtube channel recommendations you think I would love, please comment below.

This or That: Living Proof Prime Style Extender Hair Primer vs. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Style Treatment

I decided to cut my hair shorter for the summer.  This comes with pros and cons.  Since I couldn’t commit to cutting my hair above my shoulders, I decided to get a long lob just past my shoulders. My hairdresser forewarned me that this was probably a bad idea because the ends of my hair will always want to curl outwards at that length.  He was right!  The main reason I dislike cutting my hair shorter is sometimes it takes more time to style.  I have stick straight Asian hair, so when it is long, I pretty much just run a comb through it everyday.

Over the years, I have gotten samples of both Living Proof’s Prime Style Extender Hair Primer and Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment.  I have found they are both good at extending the longevity of your style and the cleanliness of your hair.  To me, I sometimes can almost use them interchangeability.  However, if I could only buy one, which one would I get?

Claims

The Primer claims to extend your style 2 times longer, keep your hair cleaner longer, and create a weightless shield to layer under other styling products.  The Styling Treatment claims to deliver smoothness, volume, conditioning, strength and polish to your hair, keep your style cleaner and longer, and make your hair stronger.  In conclusion, they both keep your style cleaner and longer. However, the main difference is that the styling treatment will obviously have other benefits such as add smoothness, volume etc.

Formula

Living proof is known for the science behind their products.  As indicated on their website, both these products contain their patented Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA) which creates a weightless shield to protect each piece of hair.  I think the big difference is that in the Styling Treatment, they also include their patented Volumizing Molecule (PBAE).  Both of these products are for all hair types, sulfate-free, silicone-free and oil-free and formulated for colour and chemically treated hair.

The scent is described as a citrus scent.  I mean, I don’t think it smells like a lemon or orange.  It just smells kind of fresh to me.  The scent lingers a bit the first day, but I don’t find it too strong or offensive.

Application

I follow the instructions and apply the white gel on clean and damp hair, and distribute evenly with a comb.

Results

I tried using either separately and together and I think if I had to pick, I would get the 5-in-1 Styling Treatment.  For me, using them separately, they keep my hair clean for up to 3 days and rarely do I ever I have to use my dry shampoo anymore.  The hair feels smooth and weightless when you run your fingers through it.

I think the main reason I would pick the Styling Treatment is that it does a very good job of holding a style.  I usually like the ends of my hair to curl towards my face, and with the treatment, the curl holds stronger and is more defined.  The hair in general has more volume as well.

The primer along with the styling treatment hold the style the longest.  However, I find just with the treatment, it holds for almost as long.  Even after I wake up, most of the style is in place (my ends are all curled) compared to if I didn’t use the product.

VERDICT:  Using both together will give the ultimate in maintaining the cleanliness and longevity of your hair style.  However, if you only wanted to get one, I would recommend the 5-in-1 Styling Treatment because it pretty does it all on its own.

Favourite One Eye Shadow Looks

I love the process of putting together an eye shadow look.  To me, it is almost like completing a paint by numbers picture.  However, more likely than not, on my most days, I tend to just quickly throw on one eye shadow and some eyeliner.  I used to keep hearing about MAC’s Woodwinked as the perfect example of an eye shadow that can create a multidimensional look.  I haven’t tried it still, but the shadows I list below are my go-tos when it comes to creating a quick look patted on with my fingers or applied with a brush and then quickly blended.  As you can probably tell from my selections, bronzes and browns tend to be my favourite colour for this type of application.

shu uemura Pressed Eye Shadow in ME Light Beige 825

shu uemura eye shadows tend to be a hit or miss for me.  Some of the matte colours can be kind of chalky and not as pigmented, but this particular metallic shade is a winner for me.  The texture is very soft and buttery, very similar to the Urban Decay shadows.  This shade is a metallic bronze shade, which almost borders on being rose gold.  Even though it is metallic, it is very subtle.  Paired with a brown eyeliner, it makes the perfect combo for an everyday look.

Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in BR306

This was my first every blogpost and I still love this cream eye shadow.  This is one of the darker colours in this blogpost, but this warm-toned brown colour makes it super wearable.  This comes in a gel texture, more similar to the Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoos.  I would say the application glides on even more smoothly on the lid then the Maybelline one.  With primer (I always wear primer), these stay on pretty much all day and they blend out beautifully.

MISSHA Dual Blending Cushion Shadow (I have linked the original version) in Lines Friends Edition

Yes, cushion makeup also comes in shadow form.  Although, I don’t feel that this is really a cushion in the original sense because the cushion isn’t picking up a liquid.  It comes with a sponge applicator which dips into a powder eyeshadow in the lid.  It comes with two shades, but I am in love with the metallic bronzy shade.  I am just in love with how fast the application is.  You untwist the cap and just dab it onto your eye and that’s it!  The only thing is the shadow creases a little on me.  I guess, nothing can be totally perfect.

H & M Color Essence Eye Cream in Sirocco

I have talked about this cream eye shadow in other blogposts, but it is still my favourite.  The colour is a cool brown with a more low-key metallic sheen.  The texture is kind of between a mousse and gel and great for dabbing on the eyelid with your fingers.  It blends out great, and with primer, lasts all day on me.  For the price and quality, this is a total winner!

Last but not least, I am just going mention two favourites that I probably share with a lot of other beauty lovers.  A constant standby in my makeup collection is the Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in 25 Bad to the Bronze.  All around, considering the price and quality, this is probably the best cream eyeshadow I have tried.  It has good pigmentation, blends out well, and lasts all day on me even without primer (which is a feat in itself).  Another longtime favourite is Sidecar from Urban Decay’s Naked Palette.  A little bit too glittery, but this taupe-bronze colour is a great option for the one eye shadow look as well.

Do you have any suggestions of other eyeshadows I could add to this collection?  I would love to know.

Top 5 Favourite Beauty Tools

The right tool can make a big difference when it comes to beauty.  These are five tools that I feel are irreplaceable in my beauty collection.  I literally would not know what to if I didn’t have them.

Tweezerman Slant Tweezer

I always heard that these were like the best tweezers.  However, I just never committed to buying a pair until a few years ago.  Boy, what difference they make!  I never knew how dull my old ones were from the drugstore till I used these.  These are so precise that they can easily grip a single hair and pull it out.  Plus, they come in so many fun colours and patterns now.  My favourite is still the hot pink though.

Panasonic Circular Eyelash Comb

For anyone with stick straight eyelashes, this electric eyelash curler is a saviour.  It is almost like a hair curler, but for your eyes.  It sounds kind of scary to have a heated device near your eyeballs.  I won’t lie.  You can feel the heat, but the comb has a guard so that your eye (or your flesh) never hit the electric coils.  I usually can get a pretty good curl with a regular mechanical eyelash curler. However, it usually droops pretty fast.  Used over mascara, this curler increases and maintains the longevity of the curl.  I find I get the best results holding it on three places on your eyelashes instead of doing one sweep through.  A must-have if you have straight lashes that point straight down!

Sephora Professional Crease Brush #10

I’m Asian and don’t really have much of a crease.  However, I use this brush for blending out eyeshadow and it is perfect.  I just think a blending brush (doesn’t have to be this brand) is essential in a beauty collection regardless of what eye shape you have.  The most beautiful eyeshadow looks would look to harsh unless the edges are not blended out to almost nothing. This brush has a dome shapes that is perfect for light and more precise blending at the point and more general blending if you use a little more pressure.

Hakuhodo Eye Shadow Brush Tapered

I love using fluffier eyeshadow brushes to apply my powder highlight.  This brush from Hakuhodo is perfect for this job, but any fluffier eye shadow brush is just the perfect width for highlighting the top of your cheekbones.  The crease brush I mentioned above would also work, but I find a fuller brush just applies better over a bigger area quicker.  The brushes from Hakuhodo are great quality and have not shed on me.

Velcro Bow Bang Holder

I don’t know the official name for this item, but when it goes missing, I am rummaging the whole house looking for it.  Basically, it is a piece of velcro that holds your bangs out of your face.  It is so simple yet so effective.  Unlike bobby pins that might leave a crease in your hair, this will not do this.  Sometimes, even if I am not doing my makeup, I will wear it around the house to keep the hair out of my face.  They last forever too.  I have had mine for like 5 years and it still works great.

What are your must-have beauty tools?

 

Mission: Find a New Micellar Water

So my Avène Micellar Lotion is on its last legs and it is time to find a new micellar water. The Avène one has served me well, but as a beauty blogger it is my mission to find new products to review.  Plus, I feel like I was wasting the “lotion” part of this product by double-cleansing everyday.

It seems like since I first discovered micellar water a few years, I can’t go back.  They are just so refreshing and lightweight!  It also just makes me feel like I am doing a better job of removing everything off my face by doing the double cleansing step after removing with micellar water.  The only con for me all these years is that micellar water is just not so great at removing smudgeproof and waterproof makeup.

Just a little history about what micellar waters I have tried over the years.  The first one I tried was, of course, the cult favourite, Bioderma.  I tried the regular version first and it really stung my eyes.  Then, I switched to the pink one which is for sensitive skin and it still stings my eyes.  However, I just loved it so much for removing my face makeup, I kept on using it.  It felt refreshing on the skin and was scentless, which was always a plus for me. With regards to the Avène Micellar Lotion, it is great alternative to Bioderma.  It does not effect my eyes as much and your skin feels moisturized and “bouncy” after you use it.  It does have a scent though and like Bioderma, is not great a removing smudgeproof and waterproof makeup.

So I am thinking of getting a higher end one and a drugstore one to compare this time for a future blogpost.  For the drugstore option, I have decided to get the Garnier one.  There is just too much hype aroudn it not to give it a try.  I just don’t have idea for a high-end one yet.  I thought it would just be fun to bring you along on this mission.  I’m also interested to see what thought processes people use in deciding what new beauty products to buy next.  I usually have some recommendations bouncing in my head from watching so much Youtube, but I tend to take a look at Sephora first.  

Step 1 – Search “micellar water” on Sephora

Whoa, who knew that Sephora carried so many micellar waters (or cleansing waters)?  26 in total.  Wow, I didn’t know that luxury brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Guerlain had cleansing waters.  These must be like the “designer bags” of cleansing waters.  Whoa, $67 USD!  How much that work out to per drop?  I think I will pass because I go through micellar waters pretty quickly and I double-cleanse.

Step 2 – Sort by “best-selling” and “top rating”

Oh, surprisingly the Caudalie one is the best-selling one.  I don’t hear too many people talk about this one.  The second best-selling one is the Koh Gen Do, which I hear more beauty bloggers talk about.  Top rated is often not a great measure for how good a product actually is because it purely is determined by stars and not how many people has actually reviewed.  It looks like Koh Gen Do edges out the Caudalie one by half a star.

Step 3 – Compare the price and the amount of product

So the two candidates are Caudalie and Koh Gen Do, but it looks like the Caudalie one is cheaper at $31 CAD compared to $55 CAD.  However, the Koh Gen Do has 300 mL of product compared to Caudalie at 200 mL.

Step 4 – Check out some other reviews online

Quite a few reviews say that the Koh Gen Do removes waterproof mascara, which would be amazing from a cleansing water.  Plus, it says it does not sting the eyes which is a total “pro” in my eyes.  Also, one of my favourites bloggers, Anna, from Style Under Pressure, recommends their wipes.  I might have to get this one, but let’s check the Caudalie reviews.  Overall, it seems like it is not as strong at removing makeup as the Koh Gen Do one, but is very soothing and great for sensitive skin.  The scent is also sounds appealing because it smells like grapes.

VERDICT:  I think I will get the Koh Gen Do one because I wear so much waterproof and smudgeproof makeup.  However, I might just get both in travel size and do a top 2 best-selling micellars waters from Sephora comparison review blogpost later on.  What do you think?

What process do you go through before purchasing a beauty product?

Eye Makeup Remover Exes + New Friends

I use a lot of smudgeproof and waterproof makeup on my eyes, so I usually need hardcore eye makeup removers to remove it.  Since I don’t want to torture my eyes with intense rubbing, I tend to gravitate toward those that make the removal as quick and painless as possible.  Till this day, I haven’t found one that I completely adore.   Here are some of my eye makeup remover exes that I have tried and moved on from.

Ex Eye Makeup Removers

Lancôme Bi-Facil Non-Oily Instant Eye Makeup Remover  (Reason for Break-Up: a bit pricey and oily on the eyelids afterwards – maybe not anymore if they changed formula)

This is a bit of a cult classic, and I have gone through quite a few bottles of this.  For me, it was the first of its kind, where you had to shake it up to combine the oil and liquid.  It really is quite “instant” in that after one wipe, most everything comes off, except super stubborn Japanese mascaras.  However, I was surprised that even the super hard to remove Majolica Majorica mascara came off if you soaked the eye in a cotton pad for a minute.  I think the only con is that it is pretty pricey ($39 USD) and you do go through it pretty quickly.  I noticed now that they call it “non-oily”, so maybe they have changed the formula a bit, but I remember it did leave my eyelids a bit oily afterwards.  Anyone have an update on this?  Overall, this is a solid eye makeup remover I always go back to once in a while.

Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover (Reason for Break-Up: the scent is too strong for me)

Other than the Lancôme remover, I have also repurchased this one before.  It is very similar to the Lancôme one in that it is a dual phase remover, and similarly, it removes most makeup off pretty easily.  For some reason, I think the Lancôme one is still a bit more powerful in removing stubborn Japanese mascaras.  It states on their website, that after using, there isn’t any residue left behind, and there really isn’t any compared to the Lancôme one.  The only deal-breaker with me is the scent.  It is pretty strong, and lingers afterwards.  Although, I think those that are not sensitive to scents might love this one.

Nursery Yuzu Make Up & UV Cleansing Gel (Reason for Break-Up: takes a bit elbow grease)

This is my current eye makeup remover and I have been using it for a year now.  This is a gel-type makeup remover from Japan created for professional salons.  I picked it up because it was #1 on one of their beauty review charts.  It smells really fruity like Yuzu, which I prefer over floral scents.  You can use it all over the face, but  I have stuck to my Bioderma for that and only use it on the eyes.  It removes most makeup, but takes a little bit more work then the dual-phase ones.  It does leave your eyes feeling fresh and moisturized.  I probably won’t repurchase because it just takes a little more time and work for me to remove the makeup than other removers.

New Friends

Here are a couple of Asian eye makeup removers I picked up recently.  They are both dual-phase and I thought I would just give them a try.  Plus, the price point was quite good. Both of them are under $10 USD.

Mizon Natural Grain Real Oat Essential Lip & Eye Remover

Mizon is mostly known for their snail products, but with ingredients like oatmeal, papaya, and olive oil, it seemed pretty moisturizing.  First impressions so far is that it has a pretty subtle scent, removes makeup quick easily, and isn’t too oily.  So good so far.  Sometimes, it it hard to find ingredients list for Korean products, but just noticed that it does contain parabens.

Innisfree Apple Juicy Lip & Eye Remover

Innisfree is a Korean brand that tries to promote natural ingredients in their products. This eye makeup remover contains 88% natural ingredients and contains Kaolin powder that is supposed absorb any oiliest from your eyelids (that sounds great!).  The apples in this product are supposed to help moisturize and provide radiance on your eyelids (not sure I want radiance on my already oily eyelids).  I have not opened this one yet, but I will update later on the blog about how it preformed.

What is your favourite eye makeup remover?  Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for reading!  🙂

Will it Make the Podium?: Wander Slide Liner Gel Eyeliner Review

As the name of my blog suggests, I am always looking for that next eyeliner that will not smudge on me.  It ha been kind of a mission for me to find the best one for those with hooded, oily, and watery eyes.  You can check out my eyeliner testing history here, and the post also talks about how I came upon this eyeliner, Wander’s Slide Liner Gel Eyeliner in Smokey Black.  Here is a list of my current top 3 pencil eyeliners:

Gold – Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

Silver – Etude House Play 101 Pencil

Bronze – Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eye Liner

There are several things that I usually look for in a pencil eyeliner.  I chose to break down this review according these factors.  Just a little background first if you are unfamiliar with the Wander makeup line.  It was started by started by the supermodel Linda Ellingson and is brand that creates travel-inspired luxury beauty products.

Packaging

Usually, I tend to favour pencil eyeliners that twist-up even though they are less precise (unless they come with that sharpener at the end of the pencil).   Therefore, I am not particularly fond of the fact that you have the sharpen this pencil even though it is nice to have a really sharp and precise point sometimes.  The maroon and gold packaging is beautiful and chic and it is nice to have a strip at the bottom which reflects the colour of the pencil.

Application

Since it is a gel eyeliner, it glides easily over the  eyelid.  Like other gel eyeliners I have tried, the texture of the liner is quite soft and easy to apply.  However, because of the softness of the pencil, it is a little bit harder to create a sharp wing.

Longevity

I think this is the category where this eyeliner may fall a little short.  It will stay on for most of the day.  However, it will start to smudge underneath my eyes in the outer corners where I wing out slightly after a few hours.  I need to touch up a little usually midday.  I mean, this happens to me with most eyeliners though.  Also, with removal, you will need something a little more hardcore than a micellar water.

VERDICT:  I don’t think it is going to make it in my top 3.  I think smudge-wise it is about equal to the Stila liner, but the Stila pencil just edges out the Wander liner because you don’t need sharpen it.