Short Hiatus! =O

Hi Everyone!

If you didn't know, I will be pursing my graduate studies at an East Coast university this and next year.

My school reminds me of Harry Potter! XD old school style architecture and buildings! Very different from the modern West Coast!

I will be flying to the East Coast sometime this week and moving all my necessary stuff with me, finding and moving into an apartment, unpacking, getting used to the time change, etc. so I will be quite busy for the next 2-3 weeks or so.

Hope you guys understand!

I do have a few more things on my mind to review for you guys, including 2 awesome pencil eyeliners and an excellent brow pencil that I found and a lipstick and lip tint (writing this on here so I won't forget lol).

I will also use a bit of time to hang out with some friends on the East Coast, going shopping =P and doing tourist things, haha, before grad school starts!

My grad masters is a very tough program, so if I am not posting as much for the next 12 months, this is probably why. =( I know, sorry.

Thank you everyone who reads my blog and who have stuck with me so long! I will try post as much as I can and not disappoint you!
Continue enjoying the hot but wonderful summer guys! I will see you relatively soon! XD

Review on Tend Skin Care Solution =D

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing the Tend Skin Care Solution

This can be found on Amazon (for prime shipping) in 4oz, 8oz, 16oz and 472mL.
I bought the 4 oz bottle for $12.
This product is said to eliminate razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and redness from shaving, waxing, and electrolysis. It is ideal for men and women.
Directions: After cleansing and rinsing off newly shaved skin with water, make sure that your skin is dry and use a cotton pad to apply this onto the skin. You must make sure you skin is clean and dry before application, if there is some residual water on your skin, the product will not have the proper skin contact and not be effective.

What do I think of this product?
I have used this product for almost 2 months and have nearly finished the bottle. I think it is a great product and works very well.
I use this on my arms to reduce ingrown hairs from keratosis pilaris and I use this on my legs after I shave for at least 3 days straight. (Keep in mind, I probably used this product up very quickly because I use it for my arms too, but if you just use it for your legs or face, it will last much longer)
During summer, it's hot and sunny, and of course we want to wear dresses, shorts, swimwear, etc. and because of this, most of us prefer to shave. I shave much more often during the summer and tend to get more ingrown hairs and irritation as a result.
This product has significantly reduced the amount of ingrown hairs and razor bumps I get from shaving and keratosis pilaries and helps reduce the redness and irritation. I don't need a lot, don't need to soak a cotton pad with the product, just dab some product onto the cotton pad and wipe it on my legs. After application, I will applying my body lotion. This product does contain alcohol which tends to dry out the skin, and will sting if there are any cuts on your skin, but I have had no negative side effects from this product. It does not make my skin irritated, more sensitive, or red.
I have heard that some people say it has a strong bad smell, to me it just smells like rubbing alcohol, and it's not that strong and fades quickly.
I have also heard that there are fakes sold on Amazon. I don't think the one I got from Amazon is a fake since mine does apparently work for me and it has an expiration date and lot number on the back.
During use, I will get probably one or two deep ingrown hairs that this product cannot work with, but if you read the instructions carefully, they tell you that if the ingrown hair is too deep, this product will be less effective. That makes sense, since this product works topically and I don't expect it to go that deep into my skin.
The only thing I'd really like to know is how this product works, like the biochemical mechanism. Does it soften the skin or have a kind of chemical exfoliant that makes skin thinner so it is easier for the hairs to grow out instead of in? Or does it do something to the hair follicles that changes the structure or direction it grows. I have no idea, and my research online has lead me no clear answers. This is not because I am suspicious of the product and if it will damage my skin, I am just curious and would like to know how it works. But Tend Skin probably keeps it as a trade secret or something. =P
Overall, I think this product is worth the money, and I will definitely repurchase this again! =)

Do I recommend this product?
If you tend to get a lot of ingrown hairs and razor bumps from shaving I highly recommend this product! However, if you have sensitive skin, make sure to talk to a dermatologist before use, or try it on a small area of skin to see if there are any side effects.

I hope you found this review helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and talk to you later! =)

Special Occasion Summer Outfit!

Hi Everyone!

Please watch in HD! Thanks. =)


The dress is from Anthropologie and the purse is Ralph L. Lauren.
Wedges are from Nine West and watch is from Seiko.

FYI, I did not buy this dress or purse, it was a gift from a family member. I would never buy such nice things for myself, too poor. =P

The summer has been pretty hot so far. It's a little cloudy now, but still kind of warm outside.

This dress is great for outdoor events such as weddings, parties, shows, etc. The material is light-weight and comfortable!
You know those hot summer days when you have to dress up for something but you don't want to feel sticky, sweaty, and gross inside a thicker or more form-fitting dress. Something like this is a great alternative!
It is soft and flowy, allowing air to circulate through and best of all, you can go out and eat in this dress, because no one can see you tummy! XP

The white inner layer is quite opaque and so no one can see your underwear, but if you want to be safe, like me, go for nude underwear. =P

Here is the bag up-close:

I hate to be one of those people who complain but can't help it today. I don't really like this bag. Because it is made of real leather, I can't put too much inside (even though the bag itself is pretty big) otherwise it will distort the shape. My mom would always come up to me and say "Why is your bag so heavy!" "There's something poking out on the side, take it out! It will stretch the leather!" and so on. =P Yeah, I don't want a real leather purse/bag anymore. What's the point of a large bag if I can't put a lot of stuff in it....

Has a little mascot now! ^_^ A bunny keychain I got in Japan!

This was my makeup that day (if you care to know, lol):

So I hope you enjoyed the video. See you later! =)

Review on Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector (work still in progress)

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing the Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector

This product can be found online or in the Kiehl's store for $35. It contains 1.0 fluid oz or 30mL of product.
This product can be used as a primer before foundation and/or concealer or as skincare product at the last step of the skincare routine.
It is said to be lightweight, non-greasy, oil-free, paraben free, and non-comedogenic. It is supposed to minimize the appearance of pores and improve the skin by "Instantly, skin appears perfected as the number, size, and depth of pores are visibly minimized. In just 4 weeks, even bare skin appears transformed and virtually flawless. pores appear significantly diminished for a fresh, healthier-looking complexion."

Note: I have italicized certain words for a reason that will be explained below. Thank you.

What do I think of this product?
I bought this product to reduce the appearance of my pores and it was raved by Gossmakeupartist on Youtube (I believe, hope I got that right, bought this a looong time ago). I got it for $30 because I had a discount.
My first impression was that this was a slightly expensive purchase. Kiehl's is known for it's high quality but expensive skincare so I wasn't that surprised by the brand. But you know, this still cost quite a bit. =P
This product did not irritate or redden my skin. It has a skin-color color, but it does not tint or change my skin color when I put it on. It blends into my skin. It does smell like paint, that sort of chemical smell which is kind of annoying. I don't like that. =/ And it is a little sharp smelling so if I inhale too much of it, I'll start to get a headache. Luckily the smell fades really fast and ends up having a very faint smell of plastic, or maybe rubber, something like that.
I started to use this as the last step in my daily skincare routine (following the instructions). Instantly I could tell by the texture that it was silicon based. It has that very slick/smooth texture that some people may not like because it feels greasy to them. For me it does feel greasy well, obviously, because it is silicon based. It does not look greasy, and when I wearing it, it does not feel sticky or heavy. However, when I touch my face, it does feel greasy and I don't really like that thought in my head, even when I know it doesn't look greasy. I used it as a skincare item for about a week until I couldn't stand it, and just stopped using it for that purpose. =P
During that one week, after I applied it as my last step in my skincare routine, I honestly could not really see the difference before and after I put it on. It blurred and softened the appearance of my pores somewhat, but not to a significant degree and not to the point where it is noticed clearly by other people.

Going back to my Note that I wrote above. I italicized all those words, because I feel that this is not a skincare treatment for literally minimizing pore size. I feel that it's just something that affects the appearance of the pores. Granted I did not use this everyday for 4 weeks, but if you read it carefully (as I have quoted for you above), look how many times they used the word "appear". The definition of appear is to "look like something" or "seem like something". So that just tells me, after using this product for 4 weeks my pores will look like they are smaller, but in reality they are not....so, this does not seem like a treatment to me. Seems like I have to wear this product in order to reduce the appearance of pores. If this was a real skincare treatment product, I don't think it would use the word "appear". Perhaps if it was a real skincare treatment product it would say something like "Instantly, skin becomes perfected as the number, size, and depth of pores are visibly minimized. In just 4 weeks, even bare skin is transformed and virtually flawless. Pores are significantly diminished for a fresh, and healthier complexion.". Get what I mean? But, I digress =P, sorry it became a little rant.

As for being a foundation/concealer primer, I honestly have not tried this yet (thus as the title depicts "work still in progress"). I rarely ever wear foundation, much less concealer, and it is summer now and very hot and I don't feel like wearing anything on my face for now. =P So, perhaps later, when I have more events to go to and when the weather cools down, I will use this as a primer and let you guys know how it is. =)

As for now, I kind of feel like I wasted my money. Hmm...probably should have done more research on this before buying. =/ But if it works at least as a decent primer, I'll just use it until it's done and not repurchase it. =P and if it surprises me and is a fantastic primer, i'll let you know as well. XP

Do I recommend this product?
Currently, I do not recommend this as a skincare treatment for minimizing pores. If you want something to just make your pores look more blurred or smaller, you can try this. It didn't work that well for me and I don't really see the point of making your pores "look" smaller vs trying a product that literally makes them smaller. But, each to his/her own. =P

I hope this review was helpful to you. I am sorry for giving you a half review instead of a full one but I wanted to talk about this product before I forgot about it. XP I bought this product more than 4 months ago and really felt the need to get this over with. Besides, when this is on my blog, I can see it and remember to update you guys!
Feel free to write any questions or comments in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you later. =)

Quick Review on "Clean & Clear" Advantage Acne Spot Treatment

Hi everybody!

I have mentioned this product before and this will be a quick review just because the product has not changed but the name has.

I am reviewing the "Clean & Clear" Advantage Acne Spot Treatment gel

This product costs $6-10 and contains 22mL or 0.75 fluid oz of product.

A while ago I reviewed the Clean and Clear Advantage Mark Treatment, as in 2 years ago. They have renamed this product as the Acne Spot Treatment.

Because it is basically the same thing, all I want to say that it contains 2% salicylic acid which helps treats and prevents acne. It also helps reduce the inflammation, redness, and swelling that comes with acne and has antiseptic properties that help kill bacteria.

I now use the Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, obviously, since Mark Treatment is no longer continuously produced on the market. It may still be around, but I use the new name.

And it works great! =)

For more information, click on the link for the Mark Treatment above.

Thanks!

Review on Facial Hair Spring Bend Remover =D

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing an item that I will call the Facial Hair Spring Bend Remover

This product can be found online, I bought mine in Tokyo Lifestyle for about $3.

What do I think of this product?

So a while ago, as in 1-2 years ago, I saw Bubzbeauty on Youtube talk about this product. She raved about this product as a fast and efficient way to remove tiny hairs from the face, especially around the mouth area. At the time, I just used tweezers to pull out the hairs individually and I felt that it was not necessary to buy something like this. Because, tweezers do the same thing and still work.

I was very bored this summer, and saw this for a very low price and was like, well, why not? And I love this! One of the best investments I have ever had!

This product uses a similar concept to hair threading, a common Vietnamese practice of removing facial hair and shaping eyebrows. As shown in the diagram above, as you roll the wires along your face, the twisting spring will catch, pinch, and pull out the hairs as you roll.

I found this to be a very fast and efficient way to remove hair. I do not need to spend the time and energy looking at a mirror and straining my eyes to find and pluck individual hairs. I can just roll this on my face without really the need to look into a mirror and in less than 30 seconds have nearly all the facial hair removed. It is faster and less stressful than plucking individual hairs and once you get into practice and do it quickly, it doesn't hurt. More a prickling sensation.

I usually like to use this around the mustache area under my nose and around my mouth. It helps clear up the fuzz that creates a shadow that can give the appearance of a mustache or beard.

Small, light weight and portable, I have no problems carrying this around when traveling. I like to use this in the evenings, after I cleanse my face and before I go to bed. Then I'll apply salicylic acid gel to the area, to prevent bacteria from going into and clogging up the open pores (which are produced when I pull out the hairs).

Do I recommend this product?

I highly recommend this product for those with normal and/or non-sensitive skin. If your skin is extremely sensitive, it might be more painful when using this product, or your skin may react to it more and cause some redness and swelling. You could try using this item less often, maybe once a week, which helps reduce irritation. If you do have a skin condition, you may talk to your dermatologist about using this product.

I do have sensitive skin, so in the beginning I did have some redness and swelling. Salicylic acid does help calm my skin down and by the next day I am fine. After long term use, my skin is already use to this, and so does not react as violently as it used to.

So I hope that you found this review useful! This product is quite well known throughout Asian but not really in the States. Feel free to ask me any questions or comments in the comment box below! 

See you very soon! =)

Review on Biore Black Pore Strips!

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing Biore's Black Pore Strips

These strips can be bought at Marukai Living, Mitsuwa, Tokyo Lifestyle, and Takashima and also online.
It is a pack of 10 nose pore strips for about $12-$15.

What do I think of this product?
This is my go-to pore strip. I have tried a variety of pore strips within and outside this brand and I always come back to this one! I think that the adhesive properties of the strip are stronger and tend to leave less sticky residue behind when I take them off.
During the summer, my pores get bigger and tend to get clogged more easily so I get more whiteheads and blackheads. But I do tend to get white heads a lot more frequently than blackheads, especially on my nose. Once a while when I feel that I just have too many large whiteheads on my nose, I use this pore strip. It is very effective for me. It pulls out the majority of the white heads except for the hard to reach areas such as the inner corners of my nose. My pores become significantly smaller after use and it is great!
I do not use pore strips often since they are a relatively forceful way of cleaning pores and can be damaging and drying to the skin with often use. So I use this occasionally, maybe once a month, especially a few days before an event or date.
I will also use pore strips at night, after I cleanse my face and before I go to bed.
I only use them at night, because remember, pore strips can be a little damaging to the skin, they may take off a little bit of skin, exposing it to the environment. Also, once all those whiteheads and blackheads are pulled out, the pores are now open holes, also exposed to the environment. After taking off the strip, I rinse my face with water, apply toner, serum (sometimes) and moisturizer. And after that, I will use my Clean and Clear advantage acne spot treatment gel (formerly called the mark treatment) over my nose. This product has salicylic acid which prevents acne, and acts as a natural antiseptic. This way it will help prevent bacteria from going into my open mores and prevent acne from reforming!
I cleans my face before using the pore strip because the pore strips stick best to the face when there is no oil and dirt in the way. Pore strips rely on using the warm wet water on your nose to active an adhesive mechanism that literally sucks out the water and blackheads/whiteheads from your skin and pores. Water is polar and oil and dirt are non-polar. Like goes with like. So, if you have oil and dirt between the pore strip and the skin, it's not going to be as effect.
I guess my only issue with these is that I find them a little expensive. =P But at least they work well for me!

Do I recommend this product?
I recommend this product for those who do have sensitive skin on their nose and who tend to get more white heads than black heads. Not that this pore strip takes out whiteheads better than blackheads, the strip is black so you can see all the whiteheads that were pulled out, so visually it is better to see them.
If you do have sensitive skin, I recommend abstaining from pore strips all together and go for something more gentle such as the rubber-like peel off masks or clay masks.

So I hope that this review was helpful. Feel free to write any comments or questions in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you soon! =D

Review on "My Beauty Diary" Cooling Mask ^o^

Hi Everyone!

Kind of funny that I said I would slow down on product buying and reviews because I was moving to the east coast and I said I didn't want to bring extra stuff....but....I guess I'm still buying =P.

Anyway, today I am reviewing the "My Beauty Diary" Cooling Mask!!

This product is a box of 10 masks that costs from $12 -$17. It can be found online on Amazon, or in the "My Beauty Diary" store in Los Angeles, CA, or in Takashima, and sometimes in 99 Ranch.
They are paper masks soaked in tons of serum.
It is said to: Cool, sooth and nourish skin for use on normal skin. And it contains: witch hazel, amica - soothes skin Menthol, peepermint - lowers skin temperature Calendula, scotch broom - softens skin Compound extracts of yeast - nourishes and moisturizes skin

Directions
Cleanse and tones face thoroughly before applying mask. Put the mask on and leave it for 20 - 30 minutes, then peel off. Gently massage the excess essence on the face and neck to assist absorption. No rinsing is necessary. Follow with your daily moisturizer. Use 2 - 3 times weekly for maximum effect.

What do I think of this product?
I love this product! This is my go to summer mask!!!
It does not irritate or redden my sensitive skin. Like all other "My Beauty Diary" masks, the paper mask is decently sturdy and soaked with a lot of serum.
It does a wonderful job of hydrating and softening my skin! I love the texture of my skin after using it. Feels so smooth and soft ~<3
And best of all, is its cooling effects! All masks feel cool on the face to some degree (except the ones that are exothermic and supposed to warm up), because they contain some moisture which evaporates as it is on your face, making you feel cool. BUT! This mask actually is endothermic, it becomes colder than just the cooling feeling of water evaporation from the skin. This feels so great and relaxing~ Especially on hot summer days, when you feel so tired and uncomfortable because of the heat. I love to use this on hot summer nights as well, to help me relax and cool down before I go to sleep. ^_^

Do I recommend this product?
Yes, I highly recommend this product for all skin types! This is great if you are looking for a mask that will really help you cool down whenever the weather is unbearably hot! Keep in mind that this mask's benefits are mostly cooling, hydration, and skin softening. If you want other or added benefits, maybe you can try a different "My Beauty Diary" mask. I have many reviews on my blog that you can check out!

So I hope that this review was helpful to you! Let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment box below! Thanks for reading and I will talk to you later! =)

P.S.
F.Y.I. guys, heat is a form of energy. Exothermic processes release energy (or heat) and Endothermic processes absorb energy (or heat). Releasing energy usually assumes releasing it into the environment (sometimes to another object, but that goes into radiation and conduction) and absorbing energy is taking energy away from the environment or object. So things that feel cold are not releasing "coldness", there's no such thing as that. What actually happens is when something feels cold, energy (or heat) is being taken away from it.
Super important if you want to go into chemistry or biology or biochemistry as a career. Don't forget! lol XP

Review on Anastasia's Brow Wiz Eyebrow Pencil

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing the famous Anastasia "Brow Wiz" Eyebrow Pencil

This product costs $21 and can be found online or in stores at Anastasia, Sephora, and Ulta.

What do I think of this product?
I decided to try an eyebrow pencil because I knew that the area I'm moving to in the East Coast will not only be hot, but also humid (as opposed to southern California's hot and dry weather) and I wanted a product that would be longer lasting and more smudge proof than my eyebrow powders. Not saying I don't think that my eyebrow powders are long lasting enough, I honestly don't know. When I go to humid and hot countries like China and Taiwan, I bring makeup, but end up not wearing it....because...I feel like I'm breathing in and walking through water there =P, super humid!
So just to play safe, I wanted to find a suitable eyebrow pencil!
I chose the color "medium brown" which suites my natural hair color. My hair color is a deep brown color but it tends to get sun-bleached (lightend by sun exposure) a little at the top.
One end of the product has the pencil makeup and the other end has a spoolie to help brush the hairs out and even out the makeup after application for a more natural look).
I really love the pencil makeup end. The product is a harder and seemingly wax-based makeup that does not deposit too much color with each stroke, so it doesn't look too dark. It is very precise because of the tiny tip and it is easy to fill in the eyebrow naturally. The makeup is very long lasting, even on super hot days, they do not smear or smudge and don't seem to be affected by sweat.
My main issue with this amazing product is the spoolie at the end. The bristles on the spoolie are not that soft, they tend to be pretty firm/hard and not comfortable when brushing out my eyebrows. The bristles are also not very long and so I need to hold the spoolie nearly parallel to my eyebrows when brushing, which is something I am not used to and feels awkward to me. (I am used to long soft bristles that I don't have to hold so close to my face!) Also, with stiffer bristles, it is easier to accidentally brush off too much makeup, which means I need to reapply my makeup if I apply too much pressure when using the spoolie. (With a soft spoolie, it is not as sensitive to pressure, so I tend to use more pressure with less control and not a lot of product is brushed off). So I ended up not using this spoolie end at all, and just using my E.L.F. spoolie or E.L.F. disposable spoolies, which work great! (and are cheap). But it makes me feel like I'm wasting my money by not using the entire product. =/
Another issue, more minor, is the price and amount of product. This is a little pricey for me. $21 can feed me 2-3 meals! I also now do my brows everyday, which means using my brow makeup often. I have heard many reviews/thoughts that this product is used up very quickly, and that there isn't enough for the price for some people.
So my verdict, is, I love the product! The quality is excellent and as great as it is advertised. The downside is I don't use the spoolie and it is a little expensive for the amount of product sold. Currently, I do not think I will repurchase this product.
On a side note, my mom and a close friend has told me that this color is a little too dark for me. Perhaps for now it is too dark because the summer sun lightens my hair to a lighter brown color, but I will still use it in combination with my softer and lighter brow powders and using it when I go out at night, especially if there is flash photography. As for everyday wear, I do not like the lighter colors for this brow pencil, I find them a little too warm (yellow or reddish) for me so there is no lighter color for me to choose. =/

Do I recommend this product?
Just looking at the quality of this product, I highly recommend this product. This is fast and easy to use. It is very long lasting and gives a natural look.
Just keep in mind if you are willing to spend the money for this and if you are okay with a spoolie with short and harder (than what you may prefer) bristles.

So I hope that this review was helpful to you! Feel free to ask any questions or comment in the comment box below! Thanks for reading and I will see you later! =)

P.S. I am currently trying another eyebrow pencil, which may be more suited (and less expensive) to my preferences. Stay tuned!

Review on BCL Tsururi Ghassoul Face Wash Paste Black Head Remover =D

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing BCL's Tsururi Ghassoul Face Wash Paste Black Head Remover!

This product costs $14 and contains 120 grams or 4.2 oz of product.

It is said to:

• Removes pore clogger, grease, from pores, leaving skin smooth, bright, and beautiful
• Ghassoul (Moroccan lava clay) and Andean rock salt, and charcoal absorbs dirt and grease from pores effectively and naturally
• Also conatins 6 kinds of natural essential oils to create refreshing herbal florest scent
• Rich lather leaves skin refresh after wash
• 100% botanical soap ingredients. Contains scrubs.

You can find this on Amazon for free shipping. =)

What do I think of this product?

I have previously reviewed a Tsururi cleansing scrub here. And I was not impressed.

However, I was looking around online and I saw that this particular one had very good reviews, so I decided to try this out. I have been using this for a little over a month.

This is my most favorite current face scrub!!! (My all time favorite one is Poretol's Pore Care Face Massage Pack). This exfoliating cleanser does not irritate or redden my skin. It has a sort of herbal-medicinal scent. The scent is not strong or sharp and does not irritate my eyes or nose. It's a smell I don't mind, kind of like the scent of Tiger Balm actually.

It does have tiny exfoliating beads which are very small and do not scratch my face. They are not as small as Etude House's Baking Powder Foam Cleanser, but they are still very small. The tiny exfoliating beads do a wonderful job of gently exfoliating my skin and making it feel nice and smooth after washing!

This cleanser also foams up while massage the product into your face! I love foaming cleanser, they feel great! This one does not foam up as much as the image shows, but it still foams up well.

I love this cleanser. It is great at exfoliating away dead skin cells, making my skin smooth and soft, and cleansing my skin very well. As for my pores, they have not gotten bigger, darker, or more clogged after using this. However, my pores have not gotten smaller with this either. This product may be a good way for preventing and cleaning clogged pores and black heads, and so keeps the status quo, but does little for further pore improvement (such as shrinking pore size). I would definitely repurchase this product and I plan to do so once I move to the East Coast.

Do I recommend this product?

If you are looking for an exfoliating cleanser, I highly recommend this product! It does a wonderful job of exfoliating and cleansing my skin and helps prevent clogged pores and break outs. If you are looking for a cleanser to help shrink your pores, this may help but will not work as directly and significantly as you may like. Perhaps you could use this in combination with a more specialized product for reducing pore size or try something else.

So, I hope you guys found this review helpful! Please let me know if you have any comments or questions in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you next time! ^_^