makeup skincare review

Review: Nars Red Lizard

So I nearly have given up on trying out red bold lipstick. Why? I already have thick lips so I did not want to have them appear fuller…In my family, fat lips are regarded as ugly…

I originally wanted to try Chanel Dragon as many have placed it as the Queen of all red lipstick.

However, all these have been changed once I watched  Blush Is the New Black on Youtube.

She immediately convinced me to grab Nars Red Lizard! It looks amazing on her lips! Well, it helps that she is gorgeous already!

So, I wore it to shopping this past chilly Saturday.

Here’s Nars Red Lizard on my lips.

At first, the red is overwhelming! I was really not used to such vibrant color on my lips. But after a few stares at the mirror, I slowly adapted and then fell in love with it….

It is majorly a matte finish with a hint of sheen. Therefore, I was afraid it would be very drying. However, this mindset was wrong! Surprising, my lips did not peel at all even in such chilly weather.

I applied this without any lipliner or using a lip brush. I simply applied directly through the tube. The pointy side of the lipstick gives enough control to draw a precise line.

The red appears to be more orange toned on my pictures. However, it really is a true neutral red. The swatch can be viewed in my previous post.

I really love red bold lips now! I’m officially a convert! Please be prepared to receive some stares…which is exactly what happened to me. I don’t know if they were good kinds of stares or bad kinds…but as long I feel comfortable wearing it, it shouldn’t matter!

Zuuchini

Maximum Lash Eyelash Conditioner Review

I purchased Maximum Lash Eyelash Conditioner in the hopes of having full long lashes. I’m just so envious at those who have them naturally.

There are many lashes serum out there, but it seems Maximum Lash Eyelash is one of the most affordable and just as effective.

How did it turn out?

 I noticed difference after 2 weeks of trial. I am at the end of my third week. I do have to admit that I do forget to apply on some night…

What are the differences?

My lashes are longer but are not thickened. There weren’t more lashes growing out either. Therefore, there is only length but no volume.

A week ago, my mom stared at me like crazy and said “your eyelashes are so long! are they real?” You know it’s effective when your close ones can notice the difference!

Any side effects?

From the first night I used, the morning I woke up with very sensitive eyes. It doesn’t hurt. Just sensitive as in very puffy kind of feeling. It has become not as sensitive now but it still puffs my eyes slightly a bit. The sensitivity still remains every time I use it. There isn’t any sign of darkened lid where the product is applied as many people have experienced from lashes serum.

Repurchase?

I love the effect it gives on my lashes…but I am not sure if these products used in prolonged period are safe for the eyes… I will finish the product first and see if I can live without it. The price of the product is not expensive as Lilash (100$ or around that price range). This product costs me about 50$. It was bought from ebay, where it seems to provide the best bargain. 50$ sounds a lot at first but I am certain that this little tube can lash me about 3-6 months, which is not bad.

Now onto the pictures. I need to add that I had incredible difficulty at capturing my lashes. It made me think “Gawd, my lashes must be really non-existant before using this product”. Why? Because the pictures do not show my lashes that much. But I have to state that my lashes are more prominent in person than appeared in the pictures.

Before

After 3 weeks

 Curled (after)

With mascara (before)

 With mascara (after)

I may do some updates after I finish the product 🙂

Zuuchini

Revlon Carbonite

I heard it’s a dupe for Chanel’s Graphite!

1 coat already gives full coverage, but I added a second coat to give longer lasting result.

Spot any surprise on the nail? 🙂

Actually, I want Chanel’s Peridot pretty badly…but there’s no way i’m pouring $30 ish for a nail polish! Nothing justifies it …until one day I have too much to spend…riiiiiiight.

Zuuchini

Benetint review

Benetint is a lip/cheek stain by Benefit cosmetics.

I have only used for the lips only; I don’t trust my skills to use on the cheek just yet.

How do I like it? I looooove it!

Why?
-Gives the “I just ate a popsicle” slightly red stained lips!
-Easy to apply
-Non-drying
-Buildable to a certain extent
-Natural red, more easy to work with than a dramatic classic red lips

The only 3 things that bother me are
– taste…i tried to lick my lips…and let’s say it taste rather not delicious
– price: It costs 36 CDN$… very expensive, but my sis bought it for me in the US, which is 29$. Why do they jack up the price so much in Canada…
– very easy to spill if carry away.  Sometimes while applying with the brush, I forget my other hand is holding the bottle. And I’m afraid a day will come where I would spill it all!

Other than this…I really love it!

Here are some captures…not the best ones…

 Benetint
Bare upper lip
One layer of benetint on lower lip
Multiple layers of Benetint on lips

I wanna try the other lip stains from Benetint!

Zuuchini

Make-up Brushes: Shu Uemura and Hakuhodo

I was always tempted to buy sigma brush set. There are so many reviews that assert that their quality is very supreme given to their price tag. However, there are always some reviews that say that they are not the best, that they shred after a few washes…

I’m looking for really good quality brushes that can last for a while. I do not want many brushes. I just want a few that serve all my needs and extremely good quality. Therefore, I decided to invest in some reputable brands: Shu Uemura and Hakuhodo.

Shu Uemura still has their stores in Canada such as Holt Renfrew. Their products are so marked up so much higher than U.S. though.

Shu Uemura Kolinsky 5r

It’s the best size for my crease! Many brushes from other brands that serve the same purpose are way too thick for my eyes. This one applies very precisely. It can also serve as a blending brush on the eyeliner area. It is rather stiff, not fluffy at all. I was disappointed that it’s not soft at all! It scratches the eye skin a bit when i use it, even i’m very light-handed. But the application is definitely very great! I think it’s the most expensive brush I have….if i could find another brush similar i would go for that option due to the lack of softness and hefty price tag.

I also became very curious about the brand Hakuhodo. Their reviews fare very good. Many said that they are the best brushes are there. So I decided to invest in some! Plus, they are really not that expensive…their price range is similar to Sephora’s brushes, that aren’t even that nice in quality.

If interested, you could buy Hakuhodo in this site: www.hakuhodousa.com
They are the official distributor! Their service is impeccable. Personalized message and very prompt at replying m questions.

Hakuhodo k005

So petite and precise! Perfect! Very soft too! I’ve been searching for a very precise application eye shadow brush, so i could concentrate the eyeshadow to line my eyes and while smudge it upwards. This brush simply is perfect! It does such a difference. The price for this brush is only $18! 
Hakuhodo S111

When i ordered this brush, i thought it would be more flufflier. But it’s rather flat. The application is very light. It’s perfect to apply for very pigmented blushes! However, it’s rather frustrating when the blush is not as pigmented because i would need to apply many times. I apply it by patting on my cheeks. Nothing especially special…but it’s definitely very soft.
Hakuhodo Portable Kokutan brush

This is a short handle brush. It’s flufflier than the previos one. I use this one to apply my bronzer, i like to buff out my bronzer, which explains why i did not buy their popular tampered brush. And it’s also perfect for traveling, i could use it a blush brush and bronzer blush at the same time! 🙂 It’s very soft also.
Hakuhodo brushes are very affordable. Their quality is is great! Obviously, some specific brushes are more expensive, but there’s usually a more affordable of a similar brush in another range. 
Hopefully, you’ll be an owner of some Hakuhodo brushes too!!
Zuuchini
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