Nivea Rose & Raspberry Lip Butter

Lip balm is a lip saver. I am a kind of sensitive to lipstick or any kind of lip color.. Most of them makes my lips run dry and chapped, so i guess i need more lip saver in my life.

This product is not available in Indonesia yet. I got it from my Auntie who sent it to me some weeks ago because i was anxious of the idea for having a lip balm (or butter, whatever) in tin can. And Rose plus Raspberry scent? Yeah, i wasn't think of anything else that could stop me for loving it.

Yes, i wasn't. Now, i can, LOL.

This cute lip butter in a tin can is kinda big. I have no complain here since the size makes it easier to find in my make up bag.. And i am always bad with lip balm in tube (i love to twist them up, and most of them are refused to twist down so i ended having a tube with almost all of the product are outside, and i can't close it) so having one in a pan wouldn't hurt right?

Size wise, it's 16.7g which i think is enough 'til next decade.

.. and there's the ingredient list for those who care or need it ^________^

The product inside is smooth, balm-like and tinted with soft pink color which is not translated into lips.

Like the title said, it's scented with Rose and Raspberry, yummy alert!

Well, my first reason for love it lesser is the hygienic reason. I hate to touch my new lip butter with unsterilized finger. I used to have the lip butter from Body Shop, never care about hygienic reason, but it was years before i'm became a beauty blogger, yet before i even care about make up. Now is a different story.

And the second reason is.. it's giving a kind of frosted finish on lips. Sometimes it's not a problem, sometimes it does.. or maybe it's just me.

Compared to my Burt Bee's Pomegranate Lip Balm (can you guess what had happened to it?), Nivea Lip Butter is less moisturizing and stickier. As for healing effect, Burt Bee's has better quality and even not better price (Burt Bee's is about idr 40,000 for 4.25g while Nivea cost about idr 75,000 for 16,7g).

I can't believe the last (and only) time i reviewed about lip balm is a year ago! wow! i miss you, Burt Bee's. I wish i took care of you somewhat more..

Swatched : Too Faced Romatic Eye Palette

Today, unlike usual, i'd post something old. It's still available in market, but i've sold mine so i don't think i will write about product review here since i don't think it's still reliable :p

Product : Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette

Price : $36

Discontinued : No

Here you are.. Super pretty packaging, very feminine, handy & travel friendly, complete with how-to-look card and the shadows inside seems so pretty in pan!

I'm intrigued, what is romantic eye?

According to Jarred Blandino, it's a palette to enchance your inner bride, bombshell or classic beauty, all with an ultra feminine touch.

Jarred Blandino is Too Faced's founder. And he loves to put the reason why a palette was created behind the product it self.

The eye shadows inside are divided into 3 section as usual : day, classic and fashion look. Each section has 1 big pan and 2 smaller pans.

Palette's size is the same with another cardboard palette from Too Faced.

Here's my swatches :

Both swatches are did in the same order :

1st row : soulmates, i do, un-veil

2nd row : kiss the bride, cut the cake, first dance

3rd row : bouquet toss, honey moon, ever after

(in my opinion, the shades name are getting more romatic from section to section :D)

I wouldn't write shades description here, since i don't really remember how they look like. but my faves are i do, honeymoon and ever after :)

As pictured said, some eye shadows are crazily pigmented, soft and buttery. But some elses are chalky, dry and powdery.

I love Too Faced's product design (especially this one) but it's not my favorite and i do think i have to many eye shadow so i let this one go.

Have you tried this? hope you love it more than i do! :)

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink

I am a big big fan of blushes. I think it's about 30 ++ blushes in my collection, but this is the very first individual cream blush (also can be use on lips) in my stash. Truthfully, my very first experience with cream cheek color is with the two in my balm jovi palette.

According to Wikipedia, "Rouge" is the french word for "Red". Talking about cosmetics, Rouge means cosmetics tipically use by woman to redden their cheeks to provide youthful appearance and emphasize cheekbones. In several years, i think Rouge is very vintage, something my grandmother might have in her make up stash, something that might contain dangerous ingredients to provide stronger color, something i'd passed.. But nowadays, there's more make up brand use the word "Rouge" back in the market, and of course with better knowledge and less dangerous things inside.

Oh well, i think this review contains of prettiest picture i took these days, LOL.

This is one of the best seller in Bobbi Brown's cosmetic range. Maybe it's because this Rouge is a multi tasker, it can be use on lips and cheek. And with the full sized mirror inside, it's very easy to make it a staple in woman's cosmetic bag.

The packaging is not the fanciest or glamorous one, but the first time i saw it, i was really impressed. It's simple but has something that scream "Luxuries!" (eh.. maybe it's just me?).

and the insider's look.. pweeety, isn't?

I have to admit that my picture above is not really like the one in real life. In fact, it's more intense and redder in pan. There's no shimmer shown and no fragrance detected.

The image above is clickable to read the ingredients better.

I saw "fragrance" above, but like i said above, i haven't smell any fragrance in pan and during use.

Powder Pink is a creamy warm pink, with a slight hint of brown. The color in pan is pretty much like the build up swatch (the left one) and on my cheek, it's slightly sheerer than the right swatch.

The texture is balmy yet creamy (if it's means something, really), very easy to blend using finger or brush (i use my flat top brush) and last about 8 hours in nice weather. I have normal-oily skin and i'm impressed! Cream blush is not really great for oily skin types, that's why i always skip it, but this one is an exception.

I wish i bought a brighter shade because this one is kinda sheer on me, naturally flushed and no one could say that i'm wearing blush (i'm kind of "yes-i'm wearing-blush" kinda of girl). Especially over foundation and after setting powder, really. But i can't skip setting powder because the oily skin things.

For lips, it's another story :

 

For lips, if you're like me (about NC 20-25 and it to be really shown on your lips), you'd need a lip brush for this baby. Lip brush help the color shown up better, more intense and coverage. Finger is a nice tool, but not as great as lip brush.

The color is my lips but better shade. Like it's appearance on my cheek, it's also seems natural on my lips. But i believe you've read it somewhere, it's drying on lips! It wasn't last very long too, but maybe because i drink water like i've been thirsty for a week. I always use lip balm or lip butter underneath, to prevent drying and add a lil bit glow. Because it's matte.

This one is not a must have, but nice to have. I love to carry it in my make up bag, very simple compared to powder blush (and it's brush) and usefull.. I'm carrying my lip butter everywhere so it could solve the rouge's problem ;)

The Favorites : September 2013 Edition

Okay let's back to "traditional" post every first week of a month.

I spent last September only between home, my family's store, hospital (because my grandma was there) and my auntie's house (my grandma stay there since 2010). I wasn't meant wearing a lot of make up but they do what skincare can't do for a zombied-panda which what i used to be.

Here they're :

Skincare

Hada Labo Lotion (toner) and Milk

i forgot to add my lotion in pict, but i got it as my favorites too. I tested Gokujyun series last month, and i added it into my faves.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil (rollerball version)

It can help me with blemishes, acne scar, panda eyes, itch, iritation, etc. Basically, it's my helper. I've used 1/5 bottle last month alone.

Make Up

MAC got my love last september. I love their Pearlmatte face powder in Flatter Me (review & swatch here), which add color that i want, plus act as highlighter when needed ; Lip Liner in Boldly Bare, which i use alone or under the Drawn to Chic Lip Glass, and dont forget the pouch too! It's unpictured but you can read my review (together with lip liner and lip glass) here.

However, i am still loving my Benefit Hervana blush (review & swatch). It gives a pretty flush, makes me looks healthy and happy ^o^.

Tools

Seriously, if you're a blush addict, you need this Ecotools Blush Brush, no doubt.

It helps a LOT with soft blushes, blend very well, easy to clean, never shed and kinda cheap.. I think it's about $9 in ecotools.com.

Totally holy grail, i need more for back up. Or maybe one for each blush? LOL!

MAC Rebecca Moses Illustrated Nude Lip Bag, Review & Swatches.

Okay, I feel so envy with you girls who are strong enough to write a post about 2 or more lip products (or anything you feel need to apply on your complexion, taking pictures of yourself & the products, editing, and posting).

I think I’ve spent 6 hours (4 different days, 1 hours or slightly more each day) to finish my post. I should say that I’m satisfied enough, but I might update this post in future, to make it better.

I’ve posted about my august haul in this post, where this Rebecca Moses’s Illustrated Nude Lip Bag is included. Sometimes, in the middle of year, MAC will make an illustrated collection, collaborated with fashion designer (for 2013, it’s Rebecca Moses) which usually contains of kits, palettes and brush sets.  I was on Temptalia, reading her review & swatch about Nude Lip Bag and realize that this kit is amazing. I mean, 3 products (4 if you count the bag) for $ 39.5. The amazingness wasn’t stop there, for me, this kit contains of products that great to use together as they’re alone.

MAC Rebecca Moses Illustrated Nude Lip Bag are contains of :

1 make up pouch

1 MAC lip pencil in Boldly Bare

1 MAC cremesheen lipstick in Naked Proof

1 MAC lipglass in Drawn to Chic

The bag is made from something vinyl-like. It’s waterproof but not dirty proof. It’s designed with lip and ribbon illustration in outside, and black with white ribbon inside. This is my make up pouch to go since arrived.

Inside, there's MAC logo and Rebecca Moses' sign on clear divider. I've put a white paper behind to help you get what i mean :)

None of them come in special packaging but as long as i know, all of them are Limited Edition.

I think all of them are easily dupeable, but again, i think they're good for the price. And it's MAC.

Boldly Bare (lip pencil) is described as reddish brown, with matte finish. It has good color payoff, and kinda easy to apply.

I only have 1 lip pencil from Nyx before, and this one from MAC is a lot way better. I love how it stand on my lips passing full course meal and plenty of water. I applied a lip butter underneath to make it somehow shinier, not as matte as it supposed to be if I wear it alone.

Actually, I haven’t tried it as a base for another lipstick than Naked Proof, which basically has similar color with BB. With Naked Proof, it could help Naked Proof stay longer and more flattering since Naked Proof looks paler on me when used alone than with BB as base.

Naked Proof (crèmesheen lipstick) is a neutral cream beige. It has good color payoff (1 swipe to show a hint of color and 2 swipes to make a full coverage) and it last about 2 hours on me when used alone, and 3-4 hours with BB as base.

I put a high expectation to NP since it really looks so pretty and seems like my kin of MLBB shade. It’s not really disappointing, it’s not washed me out everytime I use it, only sometimes when I’m getting paler, but I always could help it with Drawn to Chic lipglass.

I found that MAC crèmesheen formula isn’t as drying as their Retro Matte (I have Ronnie Red to compare it with) on me.

 

Drawn to Chic (lip glass) is a bright warm pink that sometimes makes me think about pinker and glossier version of Betty Bright. It doesn’t contains of shimmer, so it’s easy to make a naturally pink and healthy lips look. It’s opaque and thick. Sometimes I found it hard to blend with it’s own brush (doe-foot shape).

Because of it’s thickness, it could last longer on lips. I also found it not drying, slightly hydrating.

Going into Swatch .. i'm kinda satisfied with my pictures, but if you don't, please let me know ^^

hand swatch, no base, natural lighting, no flash

[1] lip + lip balm

[2] lip + lip balm + boldy bare lip pencil

[3]   lip + lip balm + boldy bare lip pencil + naked proof lipstick

[4] lip + lip balm + boldy bare lip pencil + naked proof lipstick + drawn to chic lip glass

I'm really sorry that i can't picture lip swatch of each product for now. Maybe for future-update? :)

______________________

In the end of post, i'd tell you again that i'm happy with my purchase. Each product are fulfilling my expectation and i love to wear 'em, especially lip liner and lip glass!

Benefit Box O'Powder Swatchfest!

Benefit with their box o'powder oftenly getting success touching my weakness spot. As you can see through the picture above, i have seven (7!!) shades of them. Crazy, there's so many blushes outta there but i have seven shade from a brand only *gluk!*

There's only Dandelion, Hervana and Bella Bamba in their full size box. Another four are in mini size. See? you dont have to get all of them in full size product. As far as i know, there's mini size benefit blush in dandelion, bella bamba, coralista and hoola that oftenly come in mini set. You can get mini dallas in powderazzi palette (discontinued now), and mini sugarbomb in sugarlicious kit. The only one that's only available in full size product is Hervana.

This post will only contains of mini review of every shade. I've reviewed 6 of them (minus bella bamba) previously. Link of each post will provided in the end of post.

Talking about the packaging.. Aren't they're beautiful?

I know, i oftenly stated about how not travel friendly they're. But i almost keeping a place for at least one of them, simply because they're so pretty.

Too bad they have low staying power. They stay about 3-4 hours in good day (could be longer under Guerlain Meteorites) and only about 2 hours in hot day.

And here they're .. The Swatches.

The whole gang : dallas, coralista, dandelion, bella bamba, hervana, sugarbomb and hoola.

My favorites shades are : coralista (the flattering daily shade), dandelion (as finishing powder), hervana (pretty shade!) and bella bamba (don't judge it by it's pan!).

Dallas is a lovely shade but most of the times, it turns muddy on me.

Hoola is pretty, but sometimes it turns orange on me. It's a good match for coralista, though.

Sugarbomb is pretty, it's fool proof and a good choice for my no-blush days.

Dallas is a beautiful muddy-plum shade. It's so boring in pan, but turns pretty on my cheek in the first 30 minutes. In a good days, it will stay good, nothing too muddy. But in bad days, it seems like i'm wearing a bad contouring shade. 

Coralista is a soft, pinky coral with subtle sheen. I'm in love with it and use it everyday in a hotter days.

Dandelion is a soft baby pink with micro golden shimmer. It could be a lovely finishing powder if applied with synthetic brush, or a soft baby pink blush if applied with natural haired brush.

Bella Bamba is a 3D watermelon shade. I'm not sure what 3D means here, but it does doing the job to brighten my face in tired days. It's the most pigmented one in the bunch, so it need more attention to apply.

Hervana is the most popular one. It's warm pink with peach undertone while blended together. This one is pretty for day and night use. I highly suggest you to use natural haired brush with this baby.

Sugarbomb is a warm peach blush. It's more to be sugary cheeks for me. In my opinion, it's the least pigmented of the bunch.

Hoola is matte medium cocoa brown that can turn orange when oxydized, so i don't wear it that often.

I know there's a new shade from Benefit named Rockstar out there. It's such a pretty shade but i don't think i'd put my little paws on it. Benefit blushes are getting more expensive per oz these days, and i think i have too much experience with them now.

Benefit Box O'Powder are retailed for $28 (i don't know how much does it in Indonesian Store).

Last, here's the link for my review of :

Benefit Box O'Powder Dallas, Coralista & Hoola

Benefit Box O'Powder Dandelion

Benefit Box O'Powder Hervana

Benefit Box O'Powder Sugarbomb

The Beauty Haul

Hello September!

I don't really have any favorite make up product in August. I don't even regularly wearing make up, but yes i do hauling some new product. They're arrived on my doorstep yesterday.

Most of them are "new" product for me.

First, there's MAC Illustrated by Rebecca Moses Nude Lip Bag. It contains of a make up bag, a lipstick, a lip pencil and a lip gloss. I've tried 2 lipstick from MAC and i could say that i love them. But lip pencil and lip gloss from MAC is new for me.

From Tarte, i bought Tarte Maracuja Oil Rollerball Set and Tarte Air brush Powder Foundation. I have tried the sample size of Tarte Maracuja Oil, i like the product but not the packaging. I decided to get rollerball set version since it's easier to use and kinda cheaper.

And since i'm sooo lazy to use liquid foundation, i got an under rated but loved powder foundation from Tarte. I've tried it this afternoon and by the first impression, it's fantastic.

The latest one is mini lip cover from Burberry. I got mine in Antique Rose. It was unplanned but i can't help my self. This sample size is usually given for free for burberry beauty purchase. I haven't visit any Burberry counter yet so i think buying a sample is good option.

I could say that it's so unusual for me to buy a lot of beauty product in same time, spending kinda a lot but well, i need them. And i could happily said i've ordered them before USD raising high ^^

I wish i could force my self to do more review soon..

See ya!

An Indonesian Product : Wardah Pore Tightening Toner

August is nearly reach it's end, and i feel like i'm going to be more patriotic in this independence-month. Ugh well, USD is raising high compared to IDR during this month. So why not trying a local product?

Wardah is one of Indonesian raising cosmetic brand. They're mostly using woman with Hijab in their advertising even they doesn't get they Halal label yet (i think it's just about time). Their product are easy to get, not-so expensive and has a good quality. I haven't try their make up line, but i've read some really good review about it.

I was in search into alcohol free toner when i heard about Wardah Pore Tightening Toner. By it's description, i sounds like Etude Wonderpore Toner (my review is here, and yes i've emptied that one), without alcohol.

Brand : Wardah

Product Name : Pore Tightening Toner

Price : IDR 21,000 - 25,000 (depend on place, promotion etc) for 100ml

Limited Edition : No

Okay, again, no picture of it's box since i've thrown it.

The bottle is made from clear plastic, so you can see product inside between it's label. The closure is made from white plastic.

In my own opinion, 100ml toner for (let's say) IDR 25,000 is cheap. But compared to another local brand, Mustika Ratu, which has a long history in indonesian beauty market, Wardah sit in expensive side.

For comparison, Mustika Ratu's 150ml face toner are usually retailed for IDR 16,000 - 20,000 makes it approximately IDR 133,500/lt while Wardah is about IDR 250,000/lt.

In the other hand, Etude Wonderpore Toner is about IDR 400,000/lt (the 500ml size is about IDR 200,000 in most online shop). 

For my indonesian readers, you can read about the product directly from my picture.

For my international reader, here's the translation for you ^^

Pore Tightening Toner

An enriching toner with Aloe Vera extract (as moisturizer), Zinc Gluconate & Witch Hazel Extract (overcomes excessive oil production and tightens pore). This formulation would makes skin fresher, and less shiny.

How to Use

After cleansing, use Wardah Pore Tightening Pore all over your face.

For optimum result, use the whole Wardah Acne series line

(i wouldn't state the whole line).

And there's the ingredient list. I wouldn't translate again, because they're clear enough for indonesian and international reader ^^

As i said above, it's an alcohol free toner. The main ingredient is Water, followed by Glycerin. As the main introduce said, it's also contains of Witch Hazel Extract, Aloe Vera and Zinc Gluconate to tighten pores.

It contains of Benzyl Alcohol (3rd lowest in list). While Benzyl Alcohol is originally an natural ingredient, many companies are made them synthetically to lower the cost. It's mainly use as preservative, solvent and anesthetic.

 I don't know the one in Wardah's Pore tightening toner are natural or synthetic, but to prevent bad things, don't use it around your eyes (it could make sensitive area itching) and don't let children use it (it could be particularly dangerous).

Oh well, it's also contains of fragrance and coloring agents. I don't like it but at least it doesn't on top of list.

Even it does seems blue in the bottle, when it's thrown out, it's not that blue, if you know what i mean. It has a refreshing scent due to fragrance in the ingredient list, not strong as easily gone.

No alcohol doesn't means it's stay long on your face. In fact, it's absorbed pretty quick.

I can't say if it does do it's job to tighten my pores, but it doesn't causing breakout either. I wouldn't repurchase since i've found another local toner i'd like to try :)

Hope my review is helpful for you, have a nice day!

Tarte Clean State 12 Hours Primer : Brightening & Perfecting, an Opinion

I am not a big fan of Tarte.

I've tried some of their blush and palette (eye shadow, bronzer, highlighter, eye pencils and lip color), i like them but i think i am happy enough without them. Then i tried their Clean State Deluxe Primer Trio. This set contains of mini sample of 3 primers (clean state 12 hours brightening primer, clean state 12 hours perfecting primer and an eye primer). I think they're nice.. but not somewhat amazing.

I don't like the eye primer since it's easily separate inside the tube. And it doesn't work for me. Simply said, i don't like it and i've lost it. So this review is only for 2 mini sample of face primers.

I think this set is not available anymore. Tarte has change the mini set with the one with mini mascara.

Back to my blog, then here's our today's product :

Brand : Tarte

Product name : Clean State 12 hours Brightening Primer & Clean State 12 hours Perfecting Primer

Price : $30 for full size product (product shown here is 7.5ml size sample)

Limited Edition : No

Both are in plastic, tube packaging. Nothing so special about it's design but it's shown how Tarte is a natural brand.

The ingredients are not written in the mini tube.

The ingredient list :

Tarte Clean State 12 hours Perfecting Primer

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasilixane, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Passiflora Incarnate Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinsensis Flower/Leaf Extract, Mica, Echinacea Angustilfolia Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol.

Tarte Clean State 12 hours Brightening Primer

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisopentadiene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Silica, Mica, Tin Oxide, Lecithin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Arbutin, Glutathione, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

And since it's from Tarte, it's free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan.

 In their full size product, the closure is made from bamboo. Here, they only give another plastic closure. Well ~ you got what you've paid for :p

heavily swatch on my back hand

lightly blended

Since it's a primer, i think back hand swipe is better, because it has more texture to help you see product better.

The brightening one is kinda runny (maybe because water is it's main ingredient), silicon free, and has slight yellow undertone. It turns out clear after blended and wouldn't change your skintone. It also has a slight lemony scent.

It has low oil control, only help a little bit in blurring pore, gives dewy finish and help foundation stay a lil bit longer.

I suggest to use foundation over it, it would calm down the brightening effect a lil bit, makes you ended with healthy glow.

The perfection one is clear and silicone-y. It leaves slick finish but does a great job on filling pore and fine lines. It slightly makes foundation stay longer.. but not that much.

No scent detected in this one.

Light and Heavy foundation can be use over this one. Even tinted moisturizer can do. It's better not to use foundation or TM with matte finish since it's would make you deadly matte (in my opinion).

i haven't combined them so i can't say about how they're while use together, but i think that might be good!

Let me know if you've tried it ;)