Best of Beauty 2009

January 2, 2010 | 8 Responses

Here are my absolute favourites of 2009. I hope you find this list useful, and let me know what your favourites are, too!

Skincare

Best Body Scrub: Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Cocoa Butter, Nutmeg & Cardamom Body Scrub

I honestly believe that no other scrub will ever come close to Crabtree & Evelyn’s ($30). It sloughs off dry skin and moisturizes at the same time. Plus it smells incredible!

Best Face Cleanser: Philosophy Purity Made Simple

I tried to find a drugstore substitute for Purity Made Simple ($26 for 8 oz), but I failed. I went through a few bottles of this cleanser this year, and my skin loves me for it. It takes off all the gunk without drying out my skin.

Best Face Exfoliator: MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

I only need three words to describe this exfoliator ($22): Blackheads. Be. Gone!

Best Skincare Tool: Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser

This is my great drugstore find of the year ($23). Because the exfoliating pads are soaked in salicylic acid, this battery-operated tool is fantastic for treating acne and blackheads.

Makeup

Best Foundation: FACE atelier Ultra Foundation

No surprise here. I loved FACE atelier Ultra Foundation ($45) on first try. It is weightless and takes away minor imperfections. And psst, if you need a heavier coverage, try using a duo fibre brush (like Quo Bronzing Powder Brush).

Best Brush for Face: Coastal Scents Synthetic Wide Buffer Brush

This is an inexpensive brush ($15) that is great for buffing in my setting powder, speaking of which…

Best Powder: MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural

This super lightweight powder ($32) has low coverage, which makes it great for setting your makeup or for buffing in on a no makeup day.

Best Brush for Eyes: MAC #217 Blending Brush

A true multi-tasking brush ($27): great for cream products like concealer, as well as blending out eyeshadows like a pro. This is one of those things that I would take with me if I was to live in an island.

Best Eyeshadow Palette: MAC Passions of Red Fascinating Ruby: 6 Smokey Eyes

Technically this was from 2008, but I just got my hands on it this summer. This is the most versatile palette! Great for neutral everyday looks, to a smoldering smoky eye. It’s hard to get a hold of this now, but if you are itching to try an eyeshadow from this palette, MAC Satin Taupe is amazing!

Best Eyeliner: Lancome Gel Artliner in Indigo Charm

This shimmery blue ($24) makes brown eyes pop. And who doesn’t love a gel liner? I’m addicted.

Best Lipgloss: Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Candid

This sheer gloss ($24) is great on its own because of the pink and gold shimmer swimming through it, but is also a great boost over your favourite lipstick.

Best Lipstick: MAC Lipstick in Patisserie

My no-fail, everyday creamy pink lipstick ($16.50).

Best Makeup Remover(s): Alcone Makeup Remover Cloths and L’Oreal Gentle Waterproof Makeup Remover

Whatever the makeup remover cloths ($35 for 80 cloths) leave behind, i.e., waterproof stuff but not any residue, the L’Oreal Makeup Remover ($10) takes off easily. This is my one-two punch combination for taking all my makeup off.

Hair

This is where the great drugstore buys come out!

Best Shampoo: Pantene Brunette/Red Expressions

I just love Pantene’s colour expressions line. It smells so good that I become a crazy hair sniffing girl.

Best Conditioner: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeeep

This is still my best conditioner for really dry, damaged hair.

Best Hair Treatment: Alberto VO5 Hot Oil

A very moisturizing pre-shampoo treatment. I wish this comes in a box of 100 tubes.

Best Styling Product: None

Nothing stood out this year in hair styling products. Help? I have straight hair that tends to fall flat. I need volume and hydration.

Perfume

Favourite Eau de Parfum: Dolce & Gabbana The One

Surprise surprise!

Favourite Eau de Toilette: Dior Addict Shine

While it means absolutely nothing to me, here are its notes: cedrat, gardenia, raspberry, cedar woods. It smells good, ‘kay?

Lip Swatches: Smashbox WISH For The Perfect Pout Lipgloss Set.

December 10, 2009 | 4 Responses

Hi ladies! Remember my massive collective haul when I was supposed to be not buying makeup? Today I present to you lip swatches of the Smashbox lipgloss set. Enjoy!

From L to R: Luster, Pout, Candy, Aura, Radiant, Tease

Luster

Pout

Candy

Aura

Radiant

Tease

But Wait… There’s More!

My other beloved Smashbox lipgloss: Candid!

Candid

Quick Overview

Scent/taste: Varies. I loved the scent of Candid, so I was excited to get these hoping that they will be the same. Two of these are just downright nauseating for me: Pout and Candy. Yuck!
Sticky Factor: All of them are slightly sticky, but I like it because it keeps them on my lips longer.
Texture: Radiant and Luster have gritty glitter. I found Aura to apply the smoothest and most opaque, and the rest are sheer.

So?

Skip the set. Find the colours / scents that agree with you. I like Candid, personally.

These Lip Swatches was Made Possible By…

Alcone Make Off Makeup Wipes. Holy lip swatches Batman, LOL!

For the Lazy Ladies: A Makeup Wipes Face-Off.

November 29, 2009 | 14 Responses

When I was deciding on which IMATS product to review first, whatever it is, it really needs to stand out from the rest.

Well ladies, Alcone Makeup Remover Cloths are it.

I’ve been known to take 30-minute-turned-into-4-hour-long naps at the boyfriend’s, so by the time I get home, washing my face is the last thing I want to do. Besides, if you’re sneaking in to your house at 4 am, washing your face will probably leave you busted!

Alcone Makeup Remover Cloths

I have previously been using MAC Wipes, so I think it’s best to compare the two.

Texture and Scent

Alcone: Ah-mayyyyyyzing. You need to believe me! The scent is clean. The cloths are very thick, so it does feel more like a cloth than say, wet facial tissues.
MAC: One of the annoyances of MAC wipes is that it feels rough on my face. The scent is very trademark MAC (about same as Fix+).

Price

Alcone: 80 cloths for $35 = $0.44 per cloth ($0.31 per cloth in IMATS)
MAC: 100 cloths for $31 = $0.31 per cloth

Effectiveness

Alcone: Gotta give it to Alcone, hands down. It takes off everything that isn’t waterproof. Keep this in mind if you wear waterproof makeup! It leaves no residue so I can actually hit the sack right after using it.
MAC: Although MAC Wipes are just as effective in taking non-waterproof makeup off, it leaves an oily residue after using it. So what’s the point of using a wipe if I have to go wash my face anyway? *shakes head in disappointment*

Final Tally

Alcone: 2 points
MAC: 1 point

No question, I will buy Alcone again despite the steeper price (probably at next year’s IMATS ). This gets a holy grail status from me. A word of caution though: this burns the eyes pretty badly, so stay away from your pretty peepers! You lazy ladies will love me for this, I swear!