PRODUCT REVIEW: K-PALETTE 24H REAL LASTING EYE PENCIL

DISCLAIMER:  This product was sent to for review.  I am not paid by BeautyBoxCorp/Kpalette Ph or Beauty Bar Ph to review this product and my likes and dislikes are my own opinion.

Product Description:

K-Palette 24H Real Lasting Eyepencil
"1 DAY TATTOO brings you the best of K-Palette once again. We now have the 24H Real Lasting Eyepencil; another promising product for its richness of the color, glossiness, and making it longer lasting! In addition, it is comprised of soft pencil tip to make application easier. K-Palette 24H Real Lasting Eyepencil is waterproof and holds strong resistance against water, sweat and sebum. In addition, the eyepencil now contains beauty essences for your eye care while you apply make up! This is a must have product if you want to complete your eye look.
More lasting and easy to draw! Newly launched 1DAY TATTOO has a formula for both smudge and water-proof.
Bears a formula for smudge and water-proof functions. High molecule polymer repels water and prevents eye line from getting smudged (can be removed using make-up remover).
It only takes 1 minute to get a “tattoo-like” eye line. Repels water, sweat and oil on skin all day long
Takes care of your skin while you put your makeup on!
3 types of beauty essences are added to the formula to take care of the delicate skin around the eyes, while creating impressive eye makeup. (Hyaluronic acid Na, water soluble collagen & Swertia Japonica essence).
Easy to draw with softer lead
Softer lead enables easy drawing on the roots and fills in the gaps between the lashes. Deep solid color enhances the eye makeup, making them look impressive!"
The product itself:

thank you beauty box corp, for the English product description at the back and instructions how to use.

the ingredient list below

seeing the 2mm tip up close

waterproof demo

after full day's shift - some fading

melting and and smudging

but during the first 4 hours after application, i get a really solid black liner for my waterline and lash line.

LIKES:

• already in the Philippines for PhP795 at the beauty bar philippines
• no need to sharpen, just twist
• the lead is stiff enough for the lead not to melt all by itself and / or not break easily
• BUT  the lead is soft enough for an easy and smooth application on your waterline and lash line
• did not give me any eye irritation either on my sclera (the whites of my eye), my waterline, or the skin where my lashes grow out of
• no weird scent
• small packaging for easy handling during travel
• printing on the packaging won't scratch off
• it's waterproof, so cry, get rained on, get into a bar brawl and have water based liquids thrown at your face, this baby will stay put
• didn't transfer to my upper lid
• true and solid black upon application so long as the lead has an even tip

DISLIKES:

• on me, (so it doesn't mean YOU) the thin line i made on the outer corner of my lower lash line melted spread around the outer corners of my eye
• from the pics above it also looks as though i have flakes under my eye (no, not from the mascara used, i used the hello kitty one which doesn't flake off my lashes)
• PhP795, but it's a Japanese product so such items are more expensive than the same product from korea or the west.
• i'm no longer a fan of lead pencil liners, for a while now.  i prefer felt tip liners and gel liners.   - i feel as though i leave a goop of product in between my lashes when i use these.  ALBEIT, this one is particular is really soft compared to the pencil liners in the market.
• apart from which if you apply this after you apply eye shadow, it pickup the shadow so you'd have to run the liner again on your lash line.  

RECOMMENDATION(S):
I recommend this pencil liner to those starting out with makeup.  i think the lead is not soft enough for you to poke yourself in the eye and hurt yourself, BUT IS soft enough for an even and solid application with no blotting or skipping.  try to use an eye primer even on the outer corners of your eye.  the eye primer will catch the wax seeping away from the liner pigment and keep it high up as possible that way the tint of the pencil liner will not follow downwards where the wax melted (separated) - again in vernacular.  pwede ito sa mga taong nagsisimula pa lang sa pag apply ng makeup.  ang lead/gitna nito ay malambot para naman di ka masaktan habang ina-apply mo ito sa iyong mga mata nang hindi pinapahaba ang mga talukap ng mata (without stretching the eye too much) aminin! :P hehehe at hindi rin ito nag-skip or blot.  maglagay ng eye primer na rin sa gilid ng mata sa para di kumalat pag nainitan na yung liner.
I think I covered everything, but if you happen to have any questions, just leave a comment below ^_^

FACE OF THE WEEK: NATURE REPUBLIC SUPERIOR ORIGIN COMPLETE CONTROL CREAM SPF301 PA++

DISCLAIMER: I bought this product in Seoul last April.  I do not know if this is not being sold in the Nature Republic stores in the Philippines, but you may message Nature Republic Ph here and ask them directly if they have this in stock and how much it is.
Forgive me, i know i said this review will be posted by yesterday, but everything was STANDING STILL because i finally saw star trek: into the darkness (and all i can say is thank you benedict cumberBEYOTCH for being there and i do think it's time for JJ to 'improve' something else other than the star trek franchise).  and naturally when i got home it was kpop sunday with eli and we got married global edition LOL.  daming excuses ano?  but here it is. my second cc cream review.  
if you could click on the pic below you will be able to read the description and instructions on how to use this particular CC cream.  this cc cream is very similar to bb creams where it promises you the moon, the sky, and jang geun suk :P (it has whitening, sun screen, restores skin healthy stones, anti-wrinkle and a partridge in a pear tree)

the ingredients are below, kindly click on the pic below to enlarge.

the box is recycled paper(?) and the ink used is soy so that it's biodegradable (nature republic nga eh)

what it initially looks like out of the tube (before blending)

and after, looks a tad orangey :'(

but once it's settled

just the cc cream (nature republic has not one, not two, but THREE as in 3 variants of cc cream).  i chose the variant of cc cream that has coverage so that i can skip applying foundation or bb cream on TOP of the cc cream. but it's light enough that you can apply a light layer of bb cream or foundation on top as per product description.

hay, i, think though it's the powder i used to set it that reflected the flash.

in day light.

i love love as in LOVE this cc cream.  it has just the right coverage for someone as lazy as me.  so this is just like a bb cream in my point of you.  it doesn't stay orangey brown, though on the brush or your finger tips, after it has changed color it's scarily orangey brown.
BUT WHAT IS A CC CREAM: it has its own wiki page here, and i quote: "While BB cream was manufactured primarily as a skincare product, CC cream was developed to retain all the skincare benefits of BB cream with added nourishing ingredients and the additional aim to provide more effective skin coverage. CC cream was formulated with technology originating in Japan and further developed in Korea" - ah ok, whereas bb creams was originated in Germany etc and so on and so forth.  i do not see anything different with this nature republic superior origin complete control cc cram from any of my awesome bb creams.  so yeah! this thing is awesome, too, just named differently.
LIKES:

• packaging, eco friendly
• pump tube - yes, hygienic
• the scent, i really like the scent, it's a tad floral with a hint of newly mown grass that smells nice, imho
• easy to blend, not too creamy, not too watery, not too gooey
• pore coverage is fantastic
• discoloration/blemish coverage is medium to buildable, i still use a separate concealer for my under eye circles.
• doesn't not cake up throughout the day
• does not oxdized on my skin
• does not affect or change the color of the blush or foundation i wear on top of it
• does not break me out
• does not smudge or smear on to the rims of  my glasses
• easy to remove at the end of the day
• has at least spf30 pa++
• didn't see any parabens [for those who are particular about that] in the ingredient list
• shelf life of a year
• semi-matte finish 
• ADDENDUM: OIL CONTROL - moderate to good in a scale of 1-for almost no oil control and 5 which is matte for life - i give this a 3.5 ♥
• relatively CHEAP! yes, it's only SKW14000 compared to its competitor, which is at SKW19000.

DISLIKES: NONE
RECOMMENDATIONS: depending on what you use to set this with, this will look very natural, and of all the promises of bb creams, cc creams and now, even dd creams, this one by nature republic, will give you the natural look that many of these koreans and japanese sport and aspire to look when going out of the house, the barely there but still polished look.  this cc cream, blush, and lipstick and you're good to go!
well? what you think?
I've got one last cc cream to try, and that's it. hehehe

BLUSH OF THE MONTH: NATURE REPUBLIC DOME BLUSHER IN PINK APPLE

Nature republic, this is one of those brands i unfortunately haven't had the time to make too much room for in my blog.   Hopefully, that will change.  I think Nature Republic has a good range of skin care and cosmetics and whose prices are competitive, specially if you buy them in Seoul.  this is only SKW7700 and there are always discounts or lots of freebies so it doesn't feel like i felt i paid that much for this blush.  Got this at myeoungdong last april.  yes, this is available here in da pilippeens, kindly ask Nature Republic Philippines for pricing and availability. 

the packaging is a bit tricky, i have a habit of twisting the cap off when all i need to do is to pull it off. still, even by just pulling it off, it's still tricky and it gets jammed.  but at least there's a diagram at the back of the product insert and a demo of sorts on how to use it.

the ingredients are below and are in English

i'll tell you two things i dislike about this blush, the silly pull out cap, it's gotten so tricky that there was this one time (at band camp) i pulled it out but i ended up digging one of my nails into the product, it's a cream product so it got in under my nails. this is NOT like the maybelline sorta dome-y bouncy blush where it actually does bounce (back) if you press it long enough and make a finger impression (it will form back to its original dome-y shape).  so this nature republic dome shape blusher is a cream type of product but isn't spongy to the touch, it's just packed like a dome.  so don't hit your cheeks too hard with this item, it can hurt.

BUT I TRULY TRULY love this cool PINK blush.  i've discovered no matter how i love orgasm-y like shades, you know the sorta golden peachy or want to love those kinds of shades, those shades just doesn't love me as much back.  my face oxidizes blush and eye shadows (but not so much face products like bb creams, cc creams and foundations).  so blushes like angelika that's actually cool pink ends up looking peachy on my face.  and theBalm's hot mama ends up looking like a bronzer on me. i never ever wear bronzer.  i'm too pale and i end up looking muddy.  so me? no to bronzer.  jaz lyk tEh fez below, NOOOOOO to bronzer for me please.

LIKES:

• the shade this number 1 pink apple is very similar to my lioele pink tint but this is more opaque
• matte finish for those who are avoiding the oily shiny look this 'summer'
• lasting on my oily cheeks, so there is still some blush left even at the end of the day while waiting for a cab
• no weird scent. no scent
• doesn't give me zits, black or white heads, or milla (the white tiny bumps that suddenly appear and just as suddenly, disappears)
• does not oxidize stays pink the entire day
• i don't need to set this
• makes me look healthy and not like a clown
• doesn't smear or melt off
• doesn't transfer onto the rims of my glasses
• goes with any lipstick, imho, or eye shadow look
• a little goes a long way
• can be applied with a synthetic brush
• and it's not too pricey when i bought it in myeoungdong (i don't know how much this is in our nature republic boutiques in those malls i try to boycott)
• quite easy to remove at the end of the day with just makeup remover wipes even if it's a long wearing type of blush (at least on me it wears long)

DISLIKES:

• as mentioned above, the packaging, it's bulky
• the cap, it's tricky to pull off its base, BUT  it wasn't tight on the lid i'd be complaining that it's too loose, so this can't win :P
• not springy, so if your mind is wandering while applying makeup (ahem, ako nagmumuni-muni) you might hit yourself too hard with this blush, and like i mentioned it isn't spongy springy like the maybelline one so be more mindful when you use this.

OVERALL - i really love this blush, in fact i'd buy it again, i can live with the dislikes i mentioned above, i just have to be really care opening it and not poke myself in the eye with this.  i like the color, the lasting power, the fact that it's not a pale sort of pink yet does not turn orange on me the way many a pink blush do.
that's it for now.  sorry i've been away so long.  aiissshhh i've been sick!

PRODUCT REVIEW: THE FACE SHOP BYE BYE DARK CIRCLE CONCEALER AND BRIGHT COMPACT

I got wind of the GWP with leader's face on the freebie so i just had to get one of the latest items from The Face Shop Philippines.  I forgot how much each cost, just know that buying these two didn't take more than PhP1100.
I will review the concealer and setting powder in one post and I will start with the concealer.

the product description and ingredients at the back of the box

since the concealer is packaged in a metal pen type of casing, it was nice of them to provide a window for the user to see if there's any product left inside

ingredient list below

unlike other pen type concealers where you twist the end to push the product out of the brush,

and here are the synthetic bristles of the pen brush

the product comes out nicely IN THE MIDDLE not squirting out the side of the spout tip of the pen.  AND even after use like the bristles all stuck to each other, the product still goes through the bristles enough for a smooth application and not just squirt out of the tip of the pen (and skip going thru the bristles entirely)

swatcheeeee

now, to be honest, i my under eye area is not as dark as compared to other women's dark circles but we all have those days when we need it extra.

and now for the setting powder

product description below

the ingredients

a compac with a mirror

that has a lid separator and a section for the puff

the puff, i really really love this puff

it set the swatched concealer on the back of my hand

and here's the finished product

and the finished look

this is a fairly new product from the face shop and with the recent gwp this was the best thing i could think of to buy.  each item is around 500 so i got the post it with leader on it without having to add any other purchase
LIKES:
CONCEALER

• very creamy to apply but not too watery
• didn't cause any skin irritation 
• didn't crepe up or give that elephant skin looking skin at the corner of your eyes like some other concealer
• didn't cake up
• didn't transfer on to the rims of my glasses
• or move around or slide off
• didn't oxidize
• lasted all day
• no funny smell
• didn't feel heavy
• that window indicator allowing me to see how much product i have left in the container
• the bristles is just really soft and spreads the concealer just fine and not streaking the concealer
• has a faint but nice scent
• spf, not a lot of concealers for the under eye have spf and at spf30

COMPACT:

• well, it's compact! (small, i can carry it around as a regular compact to for touch ups when i'm going out and when i have a small bag)
• the packaging has a separator / compartment for the puff to keep it hygienic
• powder is very finely milled
• can be used wet for a more matte finish, according to the sales girls from the face shop
• doesn't make me sneeze (when powder gets into my eyes, i end up sneezing)
• doesn't give the skin around my eyes any irritation
• medium to buildable coverage

DISLIKES:

CONCEALER

• the coverage - it's light to medium ONLY, now if you're a girl with much worse under eye circles than i then this might not work for you at all
• the packaging, the metal thing surrounding the plastic container inside, the paint for the label will scrape off eventually
• the spring loaded pusher (at the end) to squirt the product out.  i prefer the twisty type, we can always accidentally press down on the spring tip and i'd have a surprise when i open a cap

COMPACT:

• if i apply too much it makes my wrinkles look deeper and much more obvious than when i didn't have any concealer to begin with

RECOMMENDATIONS:

I'm a big fan of the compact, even if it can make my wrinkles look deeper and obvious.  i can control the application by using a light hand or use a fan brush instead. it can be used as the compact you do use to set your foundations and for touch ups.  the concealer could do with a little more coverage if women with much more serious dark under eye circles but for just light concealing this concealer is the right product for you.

HAND LOTION OF THE WEEK: GLUTA-C INTENSE WHITENING BODY LOTION

DISCLAIMER:   I was sent this and two other Gluta-C products as a gift and review. unless i otherwise specify, i am not paid to do these reviews.

As you know i work in an office environment where the airconditioning is set to really low temperatures and the liquid hand soap provided at our loo is really drying to the hands, so when given the chance, i often take the opportunity to do a write up on the hand or in this case body lotions that are given me because i and my office mates really use these.  

product description is below

ingredients are below, it has arbutin a known whitening agent. vitamin c in itself has been used as a whitening agent for a long time now.

what it looks like, it's rather thick which is good for my purpose

unlike other products with spf this one isn't shiny after application and it isn't greasy 

LIKES:

• has some spf, so it reinforces the whitening and gives us some protection
• did not give me any harsh reaction
• the moisturizing effect is lasting
• it has a flip cap so no twisting of the cap just to get the product out of the bottle
• kept my skin from drying after washing my hands with our really corrosive liquid hand soap at work
• readily available at drugstores and department stores groceries

DISLIKES:

• the smell, it smells like papaya or some kind of fruit vege, idk, i just don't like it much
• the container is opaque, i can't tell if i have any product left in the bottle

RECOMMENDATIONS:

I am not into whitening but a lot of you are, you can try this product and see if it works for you.  i and my office mates use it for it's moisturizing properties and spf ^_^  so if you are looking for a lotion with sun screen with moisturizing properties AND can whiten you then go for this.  if you wanna try it out first do check out SAMPLE ROOM if they still have this on stock.