My Everyday Makeup Routine | JUNE 2019

Hello June! Yes, posting regularly was the goal I set out in my last post, but again, life got in the way. Apologies! But I’m treating June 1st and my January 1st, so let's get right to the first makeup post of 2019!

I have no idea whether people are still interested in posts like these, but I am! So here goes nothing. These are all the products I've slapped on my face for the past few months without fail. I've really tried to prioritise my spending and limit my beauty buys (#adulting?) and I think you can probably tell - most of these are old school products that probably only I still swear by.

The Ginza Hybrid Day Protector SPF 30 |

I would repurchase this forever and ever if it didn't cost an arm and leg. Lightweight and creates a perfected and smooth base for makeup application. Love!

Maybelline Matte Poreless Fit Me Foundation | 128 Warm Nude

Just a solid choice for foundation - blends seamlessly, offers medium buildable coverage and lasts throughout the day without fading or creasing. Bonus is that it's affordable too!

Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging Concealer | 20 Light

I don't hear much buzz about this concealer, but I've been using it religiously for quite a while. It offers good coverage, blends easily (better with a BeautyBlender) and brightens the under eyes. It doesn't completely erase zombie eyes but instead like you got a good night's rest.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder | Diffused Light

TBH, I don't know if this really makes that much of a difference but I have to dust this all over the face after base application for me to feel like I've completed my look. It does seem to blur pores and lines and the tiny flecks of shimmer look quite flattering on the skin.

Jordana Sculpt N' Go Creamy Contour Stick | 01 Light and 02 Medium
Yes, these are very well loved. The lighter shade is my go-to contour shade, even over my Fenty Beauty Match Stix in Taupe (it also helps that it's less than a quarter of the price), and the medium shade is perfect for bronzing. So blendable and easy to use - just use your fingers, blend and voila! Great for travel too.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder | 720A Sunny
One of the OG bronzers (I don't even think it's sold anymore) and it's easy to see why it's so loved. The orangey undertone warms up the skin and makes you look sun-kissed and healthy.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush | Exposed
A really pretty, neutral nude shade for those of us who aren't super into blush but still want a hint of colour on the cheeks. Perfect shade to complement any makeup look.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil | 06 Acorn
I made an entire post on this so no need to say more. Holy grail status.

Kevyn Aucoin The Contour Duo | Medium and Candlelight
This is such a useful little duo - I use the contour shade all over the lids as eyeshadow and lightly down the sides of the nose. The perfect contour shade, IMO. The highlighter is also very aptly named - not as intense and blinding as the Becca highlighter in Champagne Pop, but soft and pretty nonetheless and perfect for everyday.

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara | Waterproof formula

I'm not the pickiest with mascara, but this makes my lashes look long and fluttery and doesn't smudge. So a win in my books!

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat | Pillow Talk
This lip liner deserves all the hype - a gorgeous nude-pink that really does perfect your pout and the creamy formula feels uber-comfortable on the lips.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick | Pillow Talk
This was the only new makeup item I bought this year - was in love with the liner so obviously had to pick up the lipstick as well. I use this everyday without fail - perfect MLBB shade and a matte formula that isn't drying on the lips. Eyeing the nude-taupe shade Very Victoria next!

A little BTS action with Rileymoo. Until next time!

REVIEW | Fenty Beauty By Rihanna

I'm pretty sure that I'm the last person on planet earth to be doing this review, but it's with good reason! It's been well over a month (almost two) since Rihanna slayed the makeup game - and our existence -  by dropping her new makeup line, Fenty Beauty, and it's taken me this long to finally get this post up because: a. work has been absolutely nuts and b. I ended up making a second, follow-up order for a lighter foundation and two previously out-of-stock items to give you guys a better review. So le'go!

Fenty Beauty officially launched on September 8th, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that their products also dropped on the same day on Sephora Hong Kong's website! I'm not usually one to buy into all the hype with celebrity makeup (I have never purchased a single Kylie Cosmetics or KKW product) but this is RiRi, and I just couldn't help myself. Her initial launch (her second launch - the galaxy holiday collection - already dropped two weeks ago and I can barely keep up) was complexion-focused and offered products to create the perfect base, so that's exactly what I got - the foundation, the concealer, contour and highlight match sticks, and in my second order, another foundation in a lighter shade, one of the duo highlighters, and the lip gloss. I think we can all agree that Rihanna's makeup is always on freakin' point, so if using her makeup products means I can look half as good as her, I'm sold. Just take my money.

Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

$280 HKD at Sephora HK | $34 USD at Sephora

40 shades | 32 ml

First things first - Rihanna launched a whopping 40 shades of foundation during her initial launch (say whaaat), catering to a huge, inclusive range of skin tones and undertones. Bravo! But, I must say, picking my shade online was an absolute pain in my behind - the swatches provided on models of different skin tones (shown below) did help a bit, since the names of the shades are all very similar. After watching what felt like hundreds of youtube videos and checking to see what shades other people purchased, I narrowed my choices down to either 230 or 260, both described as 'medium shades with neutral undertones'. Considering the fact that everyone was saying this foundation oxidises a shade darker, I finally made the painstaking decision to get 230. Aaaaand, you guessed it - it was still. way. too. dark. Heartbreaking, I know. I also got a deluxe sample in the shade 210 with my first order which, disappointingly, was also too dark. This is why I made a second order and chose shade 140 - after another stressful deliberation - described as 'light warm', and it turned out to be significantly lighter (a bit too light, actually) than shade 230. So now, I just use a mix of 140 and 230 to get my perfect shade and it works like a charm.

Image from Sephora Hong Kong

The foundation is packaged in a beautiful frosted glass bottle and comes with a pump (thank youuu), and is described to be "a soft matte, long-wear foundation with buildable, medium-to-full coverage, in a boundary-breaking range of shades". I've had this on almost every single day for the past month or so, and I've decided (drumroll please) that I have a love-hate relationship with this thing. It has a nice, liquidy consistency that blends nicely but dries down quickly in comparison to other bases. It does offer a solid medium coverage upon first application and is indeed mattifying, leaving just a slight sheen on the cheeks. Although this foundation is wonderfully catered to a diverse range of skin tones, I don't think it will complement all skin types - if you are dry, normal or even combination, more likely than not you'll find this drying and that it clings to dry patches, so you must prep the skin incredibly well to be able to wear this comfortably throughout the day.

Even after setting my T-zone with powder, my nose and forehead gets very shiny after just three hours to the point where I can't not blot. On my oily-combination skin, I looked dry in certain areas (mostly around the chin) and found it also emphasized some texture around my nose and on my cheeks - if you looked close enough. I will say, my skin looks absolutely flawless from far away and also phenomenal in pictures, but the closer you get, the more flaws you can detect.

However, this foundation is truly long-lasting, and is still pretty much intact at the end of the night before I wash my face. Even on days when I am sweating profusely, beads of sweat will just seep through and sit on top of the skin while the foundation manages to stay put, undisturbed. So as you can see, there are different aspects that I love and hate with this foundation and it'll probably take me a while to decide which side I'm leaning towards.

140 | 210 | 230

The shade 230 comes out yellow-toned straight out of the bottle, but then oxidizes - well, more accurately 'dries down' - after a few minutes to a much darker, peachy shade. Oh, the horror! I was honestly quite upset as soon as I saw the shade discrepancy as I thought I had already picked a light enough shade and accounted for the oxidisation. Shade 210 also dried down darker and shade 140, although at least two shades too light, turned out to be the closet match to me out of the three. FYI, 210 is the exact same shade as my Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Powerless Foundation in 128 Warm Nude straight out of the tube, and dries down to be half a shade darker.

Match Stix Trio

$450HKD at Sephora HK | $54USD at Sephora

4 different sets

So I was probably a little more excited about these match sticks then I was about the foundation solely based on the packaging - 'cos look at them! Pink, magnetic hexagon tubes that stick together and form a honeycomb design - super cute, and super easy to store and travel with. The Match Stix are sold individually as well as in trios with pre-chosen shades to conceal, contour and highlight, and I decided to go with the trio in Light, which came with the shades Linen, Amber and Starstruck. These sticks are of a creamy yet stiffer consistency - it requires a bit more pressure upon application - but nonetheless they still blend seamlessly into the skin (for the most part), and its cream to powder formula seems to work in sync with the foundation.

Linen | Amber | Starstruck

Linen | "fair to light cool pinky undertones"
As a concealer for under my eyes, this is a no-go - the consistency, colour, and coverage all don't work well under the eyes. However, using this to highlight my forehead, down the nose, as well as underneath my contour has been working wonderfully.

Amber | "contour shade with cool undertones"
My favourite shade of the three, hands down. It is the perfect contour shade for my complexion, with the perfect balance of grey and warm tones, creating the perfect shadow in the hollows of my cheek. Obsessed. And I actually prefer the drier consistency with this stick because it doesn't feel like my contour will slip off as the day goes on. A month on and this has been my go-to contouring product.

Starstruck | "iced-out pearl"
This has the driest consistency of the trio and applying it directly from the tube onto my skin actually disturbs my foundation underneath, so the best way to apply this is warming it up on my finger then tapping it on my face, or applying it using a small, tapered highlighting brush. This is an icy pink shade that looks quite soft and pretty on the skin, and while I usually prefer more gold and champagne highlighters, this one works well when I want a subtle, "feminine" glow.

 Linen | Amber | Starstruck

Lastly, I noticed that inside each of the match stick caps is a thin, foamy insert that 'cushions' the product and prevents it from getting all mushed up and destroyed if twisted up too high when capped off. That's just a tiny design aspect that shows incredible attention to detail and I had to point it out! Sometimes, it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference.

Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo

$280HKD at Sephora HK | $34USD at Sephora
4 shades

I didn't get to buy this highlighter in my first order, and could not stop thinking about how much I wanted it in my collection. This particular duo in Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby called out to me (although I was also contemplating over the duo in Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal) and the pearly, golden shades are right up my street. The formula is described to be a weightless cream to powder, and application is so easy and effortless with either just fingers or a brush. Mean Money is the lighter, more subtle shade of the two (perhaps too subtle for some, but a great highlighter for work days), whereas Hu$tla Baby really packs a punch and instantly lights up the face (aka the go-to shade for a blinding highlight on girls' night out or weekend adventures).

Hu$tla Baby | Mean Money

My apologies for the poor swatches, but it was a struggle to capture the radiance of the two shades, especially when they are quite similar to my skin tone.  Hu$tla Baby turns out to be a close dupe to Becca's Champagne Pop - a long-time favourite of mine - with Champagne Pop being just a slight bit darker and more pigmented.

Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

$180 HKD at Sephora HK | $24USD at Sephora

1 universal shade

I can count the number of times I've worn lip gloss this past year on one hand, but this just looked way too pretty to resist. Plus, almost every review and video I came across gave this absolutely glowing reviews, and it keeps on selling out online! Fenty Glow is a universal rose nude shade with "explosive shine" that is supposed to look (and feel) amazing on everyone, and has an "addictive peach vanilla scent" that truly smells quite delish. My lips are quite pigmented on their own, so while this doesn't add too much colour, it does provide a beautiful, moisturizing sheen to my lips, making them look fuller, plumper and more kissable (although I do advise against this while having this on) and it doesn't have the dreaded sticky texture that most glosses have. Staying power isn't great, but I don't mind reapplying since both the scent and the look it gives my lips are so yummy.

Well, I think this has to be one of the longest reviews I've ever posted on this blog - huge props if you're still here! So let's try to end this massive review with a short yet sweet conclusion - I'm really pleased with my first venture into Fenty Beauty, and mark my words, this definitely won't be my last. My standouts from this haul would have to be everything except the foundation (in which I will continue to perform intensive testing). It'll be exciting to see whether Rihanna comes out with another foundation formula that is more moisturising and catered to drier skin types, cos I'll be all over that. It's so lovely to see Fenty Beauty make a statement on inclusivity and diversity through their makeup, and I cannot wait to see what other products Rihanna comes out with next. Keep slayin', RiRi!

HAUL x REVIEW | NYX Cosmetics Lip Liners

The perfect way to cap off a full morning of exploring Tallinn's Old Town was to venture into the nearest shopping center, Viru Keskus, located right across the gates of Old Town. I came back out with a backpack full of snacks and a handful of lip goodness from NYX Cosmetics.

Just like my Inglot haul, I took these pictures the second I got back to my hotel room so that I could finally try them on. I've always had a thing for NYX lip liners - they are very affordable yet high-quality - and the range of colors that NYX offers is huge. The Slim Lip Pencil range by itself has 50 shades, not to mention another 36 shades in their Suede Matte Lip Liner range, and dozens more in other styles and finishes. I firmly believe that lip liners are one of those products you don't need to splurge on (you still can if you want to) and I often just wear lip liner on its own instead of lipstick. After swatching every single shade the store had to offer - my arm was literally stained up to my elbow for the rest of the day - I narrowed it down to these final five (and yes, I do love my neutrals and mauves).

Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely A Turn On Waterproof, Extreme Color Lip Liners in Sugar Glass | "true nude with yellow undertone"
This is a pretty browny nude that really suits my complexion and complements any makeup look. It looks better when applied on dry lips as opposed to on top of lip balm, as the slip can take away the pigment. The closest match to anything in my collection is my No7 Precision Lip Liner in Nude, which is a tad peachier and deeper.

Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely A Turn On Waterproof, Extreme Color Lip Liners in Nude Suede Shoes | "nude with pink undertone"
This shade is the most similar to my natural lip color, and makes my lips looks more perfected and pouty. It's a close dupe to my Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk, which is just a bit darker. I'm also very pleased with this formula - this and Sugar Glass definitely have the longest staying power and the smoothest application.

Suede Matte Lip Liner in Soft-Spoken | "ash rose"
This also has a super soft and velvety consistency, but doesn't last as long on the lips as the Slide On formula. The shade is just up my street - a smidgen darker than one of my all time faves, MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl, and pretty much identical in shade to my Sephora Collection Color Lip Last in Brown Is Back.

Slim Lip Pencil in Mauve | "mauve"
This is a beautiful purple mauve that is perfect for when I want a vampy look that isn't too intense. The formula is a bit more drying but still comfortable to wear. The color is identical to my Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Colour in 3 Light Rosewood.

Slim Lip Pencil in Ever | "warm mauve-brown"
This is the warmest, reddest shade of the bunch, and because it is so similar to my MAC Lip Pencil in Soar, I gave it away to my mom who looks gorgeous in it. This helps brighten your face and makes you look more put together.

Sugar Glass | Nude Suede Shoes | Soft-Spoken | Mauve | Ever

If you don't own any of the NYX lip liners, I suggest you go to their nearest store, have an epic swatch fest and haul a bunch for yourself - with so many shades and finishes, you are bound to find a few (or more) that you'll love!

HAUL x REVIEW | Inglot Cosmetics

We arrived in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, around sunset after a long day of driving and exploring, and decided to stretch our legs at Akropolis, a massive shopping centre right outside the city. I walked straight into Douglas, the European equivalent of Sephora, to look for new brands to try out, and that's when I spotted Inglot Cosmetics.

I recall hearing some chatter over Inglot's Freedom System palettes a few years back, where you could mix and match all your favourite makeup products - eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, concealer - into one sturdy, convenient palette, but the brand hasn't been on my radar since. As I've mentioned before, I'm usually not one to splurge on makeup that I haven't done my research on. But of course, my wifi decided to stop working on my phone, and my dad was impatiently sulking in the corner of the store, so I just settled on three products and quickly got outta there. I wanted to try these on as soon as possible, so I improvised and took these pictures on the window ledge of my hotel room the next morning before slapping everything on my face for a test run.

I picked up the Under Eye Concealer in shade 92 which looked like the closet match for me out of the four shades on display. It's a very lightweight, liquidy concealer that feels hydrating under the eyes and dries to a powdery finish. It blends out with ease but loses its coverage once smoothed out - sheer to light coverage at most, and doesn't cover my dark circles. This shade also oxidizes a smidge darker and turns a tiny bit grey, which is odd, and looks rather dull and not at all brightening for under the eyes. Looking back, the first shade in 91 would've been a much better option. It's a shame as I do enjoy the moisturising formula, but the coverage just isn't there and the shade isn't the best match. I'll still reach for this (cos I ain't about wasting money) but only for days when I'm lounging around the house.

Swatched | Blended out

The Freedom System Camouflage Concealers in 124 and 125 also caught my eye, especially with the cooler undertones that I thought would be ah-mazing for contouring. 124 is a warmer milk chocolate brown, whereas 125 is a very cool-toned greyish brown. The consistency of these are stiffer and takes a bit more work to blend out for that seamless finish, but they are hella pigmented and will not budge once set and stays on all day. I use 124 for a more natural contour, and 125 for the rarer occasion when I want to carve out my face and create angles and bone structure I don't even have. Slay, gurl. But do be reminded that 125 can look a tad unnatural if you go overboard - the grey undertones have the potential of looking slightly ashy and muddy - so less is definitely more.

124 | 125

Top 124 | Bottom 125

All three products are decently priced - the Under Eye Concealer retails for 11.50€ and the Freedom System Camouflage Concealers are 5€ each. I wouldn't recommend the Under Eye Concealer if you prefer full coverage, but it could be worth a try for drier skin types and natural makeup days. And if you're contour-obsessed like me, these Camouflage Concealers could be a great (and inexpensive) addition to your arsenal!

REVIEW | Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

Sweater weather is officially over in Hong Kong, and it's now been replaced with unbearable, insufferable humidity. Yuck! The warmer climate has not been doing my oily combination skin any favors, obviously - my face is getting so greasy so fast, and it seems my beloved Laura Mercier Translucent Powder just isn't cutting it. So my desperation to rein in that shine ultimately led me to picking up the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder, and I'm finally ready to give y'all my thoughts!

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

$7USD at Innisfree
5g | 1 shade

As some of you may recall, I did a review on the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion SPF 50 last year and commended the brand's eco-friendly approach to all their products and packaging. This time around, I noticed that even my receipt was printed on recyclable paper. Sweet!

I was told by the sales associate that the No-Sebum Mineral Powder is one of their best sellers, and with a name like no-sebum I just had to try it out for myself. It comes in a small, portable jar with a sifter and a soft powder puff on top. When I buy new powders, I always tear off just half of the sticker on the sifter - you can better control the amount of product to dispense out, and it doesn't get quite as messy. I tap out a tiny amount of powder into the lid and either use the powder puff or a fluffy brush to apply it all over my face.

The powder is incredibly soft and finely milled - like flour - and you can barely feel it when you rub it between your fingers! Although the powder is white, it blends out to be translucent with just a slight brightening effect. The first thought I had after applying this on my face was how smooth and silky it made my skin feel. Wow. Definitely impressed. It doesn't settle into my fine lines, and I can even use it to set my under eyes - I just dip the pointy end of my damp BeautyBlender into the powder and dab dab dab.

After some trial and error, I discovered that instead of just using a fluffy brush and lightly dusting the powder all over, I get a much more long-lasting and shine-free result when I use the powder puff and push the powder into the skin. Not only can I visibly see the shine disappear right before my eyes, but I also get a shine-free T-zone for up to five hours before some dewiness starts to peek through. This, in my books, is a total win - I usually get shiny in just under two hours - and even afterwards, my skin just maintained a natural, dewy glow, with none of that gross, greasy nonsense.

Innisfree offers another version, the No-Sebum Blur Powder, that has a natural beige tint and a blurring effect that claims to smooth away pores and wrinkles, and would perhaps be a better choice for those of you desiring a bit more coverage but also a more natural, undetectable finish with no brightening effect. Once I'm done with this jar, I'm definitely considering getting the Blur Powder to compare the two.

Swatched | Blended out

The only other product in my collection that I consider to be comparable would be my Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Super-Translucent Mattifying Powder that I hit pan on a looong time ago. It used to be a favorite of mine, but just got pushed to the back of my makeup bin as time went on. It comes in a pressed compact, and although I find the Innisfree powder to be more fine and silky in texture, both powders are similar enough in performance to be pretty much interchangeable in my routine - both have the same lasting and mattifying power, with the only difference being that the Innisfree version offers an illuminating quality, and Soap and Glory's pressed version is more convenient for touch-ups. It's currently priced at $16USD for 9g, which is more than double the price of the Innisfree powder but also almost double the amount. Innisfree also offers a pressed version of the no-sebum powder, the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pact at $12USD for 8.5g, that would also be a great option for traveling or touch-ups.

At just$7USD, the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is truly a great bang for your buck, and it would be a handy addition to any makeup collection, especially if you have oily skin and need that extra help with oil control. In this current humidity, I predict that I'll be running out of this powder very soon...

HAUL | Sephora VIB Sale 2017

So my dad just came back from Beantown after running his third consecutive Boston marathon, and it just so happened that he was scheduled to fly back to Hong Kong the day after Sephora's VIB sale officially started. So - yes, you guessed it - I sent my dad detailed instructions (pictures, maps, floor plans, blueprints, the whole nine yards) and had him venture into Sephora on his own to pick up a few items on my wishlist. What a champ!

The first item on my list was the Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash that I had tried out and reviewed in a previous Sample Sunday, and I knew I needed it in my life after just one try - it's a gentle yet incredibly effective scrub that makes my skin feel new again. I had instructed my dad to get the 8oz bottle, but he went ahead and got the 16oz instead because "it worked out to be a better deal"... Asian parents, I'm telling you. Next up was the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer that I had heard rave reviews about ever since it launched two months ago. I've been a longtime fan of their Radiant Creamy Concealer, but reviews kept referring to this as even smoother, creamier, and long lasting with full coverage. I picked up the shade Cannelle, which is actually a shade darker than its counterpart in the other formula, so using it under the eyes is a no-go (until I get more tan). But so far, this is working wonders on the face (I'll be comparing the two concealers in an upcoming review so stay tuned!). Since it's approaching summertime, I thought it would be a good idea to repurchase an old favorite in a darker shade, the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Ginger 06. The last tube I used up was in the shade Buttercream 03, but because this base blends out to be quite sheer, the shade difference isn't too drastic. I love how natural and healthy this looks on the skin, while also providing SPF protection - a definite win for effortless, summery makeup! I also repurchased my trusty Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel that I swear by for helping treat and clear up any breakouts, and another tub of the BeautyBlender Solid Cleanser that is the only product that I feel thoroughly cleans out my sponges and brushes.

The only other item I wanted was the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Poreless Finish Airbrush Press Powder - phew, that's a long one - but unfortunately it was out of stock in stores. I've heard somewhat mixed reviews on both this and the loose powder version, but I was intrigued about the poreless and airbrushed perfection claims, so I definitely will keep an eye out for it to test it out for myself!

Lastly, my dad went off script and brought back this Lancôme Say It With Your Eyes Essential Eye Kit that, and I'm trying hard to hold back tears as I write this, he had accidentally used my Beauty Insider points to redeem - 500 of them! And keep in mind, I have never redeemed anything with my points ever, 'cos I just wanted to accumulate and save up for something epic. Sigh. I am not a big Lancôme fan - only because I haven't tried much from the brand - and could've definitely lived without this set, but, I'm just going to take a deep breath and be thankful that my dad went to Sephora for me in the first place - and grateful he didn't use up all my hard-earned points. This set comes with the Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara, Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base, Génifique Yeux Youth Activating Eye Cream and the Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover. I sincerely hope these are good products and that they can make up for all my quiet sobbing and silent tears. Keep an eye out for these in upcoming Sample Sundays!

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation x Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask

Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation |

I'm always psyched to try out new products from Bobbi Brown - especially their base products - and my expectations are always sky high. The words "nourishing" and "glow" may sound a tad intimidating for someone with oily skin, but I am always down to try anything and everything. Bobbi Brown claims that this "richly emollient yet lightweight hybrid cream foundation delivers moisture and luminous coverage for a polished, lit-from-within look", and that it contains the skincare benefits of a rich, luxurious moisturizer that makes skin look instantly plump, smooth and radiant. The shade Sand 2 is yellow-toned and matches me to a tee, despite it oxidizing a smidgen darker after application. The gel cream consistency feels very weightless and comfortable on the skin, although I found it a bit streaky in application with a brush and much better with a BeautyBlender. Although it claims to have high coverage, to me it's more of a light to medium buildable coverage, and there are tiny, barely-there shimmer particles that help achieve that lit-from-within, glowy complexion. This wasn't particularly long-lasting on my oily skin and my T-zone got shiny after just two hours - it does advertise to be catered for normal to dry skin types - but it faded away evenly and didn't emphasize any dry patches. This is just one of those products that is very pleasant to use, but too pricey for what it does - the foundation costs a whopping $75USD here in Hong Kong, and my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation can essentially achieve the same natural, luminous effect, with both better coverage and lasting power. So reluctantly, I'm going to have to pass.

Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask |
WEI is a skincare brand that I've wanted to try for ages - the products are created based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which really tickled my curiosity, and the Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask is their best seller. This ultrasoft mud mask is formulated with seven herbs that claim to deeply penetrate the skin and help counteract cell damage, minimize pores, diminish breakouts, refine skin texture, and renew lifeless-looking skin. And let me just cut to the chase and say that I am officially obsessed. This has a nice, subtle scent - an earthy, herbal, perfumy mixture - and has a smooth, velvety consistency that feels oh-so-soothing to apply. It's slightly cooling (and tingly) upon application and dries down quickly, but isn't at all tight and stiff like other mud masks - you can talk and laugh and make facial expressions without feeling like you're creating bloody wrinkles! I rinse it off after the recommended 10 minutes, and the water transforms the mask into a rich, oily consistency that makes my skin feel ultra nourished, soft, and firm. I was sold after just one application, and will definitely be dropping the $42USD to get the full size, which consists of 8 individually packaged pods and an application brush.

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream SPF 30 Complexion Corrector x Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion

Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream SPF 30 Complexion Corrector |
After my first (failed) attempt with Clinique's CC cream, featured in my first Sample Sunday, I was convinced CC creams wouldn't be for me. But this sample from Peter Thomas Roth caught my interest - it claims to be everything in one - sunscreen, complexion corrector, moisturizer, tint as well as anti-aging treatment. The formulation contains camu camu berry, which is an Amazonian superfruit that provides 30 times more vitamin C than an orange, which "evens out the skintone and supports natural collagen, creating the appearance of firmer, brighter, younger-looking skin over time". The sample included three shades - Light To Medium, Medium To Tan, and Deep - and just like the Clinique CC cream, the consistency is much thicker than most foundations, and I personally found it a tad too stiff to blend out nicely. Although it provides good, medium coverage, it felt heavy on the face and emphasized texture and flaws on my face I didn't even know I had! And perhaps the worst part is that the shades oxidized like crazy! Within minutes of applying the lightest shade to my face, it turned orange and two shades darker - I looked like a freakin' oompa loompa. So I'm going to keep this short and sweet - this made me look, straight up, like a hot, orange mess, so no thank you! I guess I was right - CC creams just aren't for me!

Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion |
The Origins Super Spot Remover has been my long-time beauty essential for treating pesky blemishes, but I haven't ventured too far out in terms of Origins' other skincare products and ranges. I received this sample as a birthday perk last year, and I was instantly intrigued by the main ingredient - mushrooms! I love eating them, but slathering them on my face was certainly a weird notion. I wrongly assumed this lotion would have a gel-cream consistency ('cos, lotion) and spilled the toner-like liquid all over my couch and floor, and Riley had an absolute field day sniffing and lapping it up. I'm not the biggest fan of the scent - fresh, earthy mushrooms with an herbal note - but it dissipates soon after going on the face, and I was pleasantly surprised at the cooling sensation upon application and how soothed and refreshed my skin felt almost instantly. It's very lightweight and absorbed quickly, leaving my skin slightly tacky to the touch. I tried this out at night, and the very next morning my cheeks, which occasionally can get red and slightly flushed, had zero redness. It also didn't break me out, which is always a relief. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this sample (and recommend anyone with sensitive, easily irritable skin to give it a try), I just can't say that I have a place for this in my normal skincare routine, since my skin isn't overly sensitive, so I'll have to take a pass.