2012 Favorites

Hi There! It's almost the end of the year already, good times fly by so fast. I'm hoping I could share some of my yearly favorites with you guys before I go off to a trip to Korea. =]

Skincare Favourites
Bioderma Sensibio Micelle Solution
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo
Ettusais Lip Essence (Deep Moist)
Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic

The Bioderma Sensibio was an instant favourite the moment I first tried it, it cleanses without leaving a film like sensation on the skin and now act as my favorite morning cleanser when I am lazy. Effaclar Duo really helped with my comedomes, I'm not sure if it works on whitehead acne though. I usually follow with a dab of  tea tree oil over broken acne/whiteheads after moisturizer, if my acne is bad, i use it as an allover face oil (becareful, the smell stings quite a bit if its too close to the eyes)

Makeup Favorites

UGB Premium Crystal Beblesh Balm

Max Factor Lash Extension Mascara/ Covergirl Lashblast length

MAC Blot powder in Medium

Shiseido Translucent Loose Powder

Koji Eye Talk

The UGB BB cream is actually my mom brought me from her earlier trip to Korea, I like my BB creams to feel a bit thick (so that it does not go all liquidy and dries to an unflattering oily wet finish like some of them do) and this feels great on the skin. It applies a bit too pale on the skin, but give it five to ten minutes and it will gradually adjust to your coloring (not sure if the same applies to medium to dark skin tones). 

The Shiseido Loose Powder is actually a sample pot i got long ago, it does not make you look white or cakey and its perfect for winter to preserve that slightly dewy look, but this does almost nothing in summer. 

MAC blot powder is the BEST powder I've ever tried, since Hong Kong's weather is such a bitch. I'm quite oily in the T-zone (especially the nose) and this (although does not maintain matte appearance for the whole day) actually controls my oiliness and does not make me look like an oil slick after a few hours (on good days, one application in the morning can last me the whole day, only looking slightly dewier in the evening)

The Max factor mascaras are basically just more expensive versions of the covergirl mascaras. This lengthening formula is gives length and volume in the most natural way, it lengthens but it does not scream MACARA HERE! It's like an undercover mascara. Gotta love this stuff.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Asian eyelid enhancing products, Koji Eye Talk is actually an eyelid glue (helps create double eye lids) I only use it as eyelid glue when I need to apply eyeliner (my crease on the right eye is more hooded and actually covers the lash line, making even eyeliner on both sides extremely difficult) other times I use it as lash glue. I prefer this over regular lash glue because I find that some lash glues are very difficult to remove and leaves an undesirable 'sticky stain' on eyelids and fake lashes. This, however, dries to a clear finish and is easily peeled off or washed off and still holds fake lashes perfectly. Plus it has a brush applicator so no fuss involved. It has been a great companion for my dance performances.

So here are my favorites for 2012, tell me what's yours in the comment section!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Review

Okay first, I have to talk about how bad my skin was.

I think it started when i accidentally used a brush that I have neglect far too long to apply some contour on to my face. Then like a gazillion skin coloured bumps (comedones) started invading my face. These bumps are not inflammatory and just sits on my skin making it look gross. Then stress rolled by and with other combining factors, they turned into all sorts of different acne (but hey, at least they went away after they turned into angry acne) and my face looked like a battle field.

This is when I decided I need more help other than my trusty old tea tree oil treatment.

So I went in search of what can help with not only plain old acne (whiteheads/cystic) but also get rid of the comedones.

And I found Effaclar Duo

I have heard a lot of good stuff about it before, but only thought of it as regular spot treatment gel that works by drying out the spots. A lot of brads do a spot treatment gel (e.g. Clinique, Shiseido) but most of them just smell strongly of alcohol and dry the spot to death.

Effaclar duo is different.

This is the description from the La Roche-Posay US website:

Breakthrough Technology

Patent-pending combination of Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide [5.5%] to reduce acne and Micro-exfoliating LHA [0.4%] to exfoliate and even texture.

As seen in the published clinical study of the June dermatology journal issue of Cutis

Description

Results in only 3 days. Dual action treatment reduces the number and severity of breakouts, improves pore size. Minimal irritation. Apply all over face one to three times daily.

Effaclar DUO has won the following Awards:

• 2012 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner: Acne Treatment
• 2012 All You Best Beauty Buys: Acne Treatment
• 2011 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner: Acne Treatment
• 2011 Real Beauty Gold Star Awards: Best Face Products

Recommended For

Mild to moderate acne-prone skin.

Benefits

• As effective as the leading acne prescription²
• Visibly reduces inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne in only 3 days
• Fragrance-free, oil-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic
• Dermatologist tested on sensitive and multi-ethnic skin types

Effaclar duo has a milky gel like consistency and feels actually feels like a moisturizer or a serum. It is NOT drying at all, some nights I just put that on and go to bed without following with a moisturizer, skin feels fine the next morning.

I am not going to scare you all with a freaky before and after photo because my skin gives even me the goosebumps. But I have to say that thought it is not an overnight miracle (nothing really ever is), it does slowly clear my skin up, although now I'm left with a bit of post-acne pigmentation, my skin is really starting to feel mush smoother (the bumpy-ness has reduced phenomenally) after the 10+ days of using effaclar duo twice a day.

I'll most probably purchase it again. It retails in Hong Kong for HKD$260 for 40ml, which is like about 100hkd more expensive than getting it from the uk (13 pounds for 30ml). But the HK price is actually more or less the same with the US pricing (USD$36.95 for 40ml). It is also very interesting to note that the US effaclar duo is made in USA and the HK one is made in France. When I repurchase I will most likely ask my friend in the UK to get it for me.

Overall I really like this product although I am a little cross that they price it so much more expensive in HK and the US. But I think its performance still worth the heftier price tag in HK, and I am willing to try more of La Roche-Posay's products.

November Favourites 2012

Yay! December is coming! Sad thing is that I've already gotten rather sick, so please excuse the lazy polyvore assemble of my monthly favourites.

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer --- Light 02 Alaska

This stuff is amazing, although it provides very sheer coverage, you can tell your skin looks better and more even. But you definitely need a concealer if you have any spots or dark circles. This retails at Hong Kong for HKD$420, which is a lot pricier than what you can get at UK (£27) and US ($42)

Nars Blush --- Douceur

This is a pinky-brown blush (more to the brown side) that gives natural contours to the face. I think it's more like a contour than a blush (gives small amount of color to the face, but contours more). Great for subtle definition, plus it's kind of like a two in one product. Very sheer, but buildable. Retails at HK Nars counter for HKD$280.

Max Factor Lash Extension Effect Mascara ---- Washable Waterproof Black

First, this is not waterproof. I'd say it's water resistant, so don't be fooled. But what I like about this mascara is that it gives length and slight bit of volume ever so naturally, it does not clump my lashes together and people will barely notice you have any mascara on, but makes your lashes significantly longer than with no mascara on. It's also incredibly easy to wash off in the shower, another plus for lazy people like me. It is also quite a good dupe for cover girl's lash blast length, they have the same brush. Retails for about HKD$138.

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain ---- Honey

This balm stain is a pretty pinky rose my-lips-but-better color, it looks very natural and also quite pigmented, one swipe gives back the life to your lips. It does stay quite long as a stain, and fades evenly. Almost no touch up is required because this color is so natural, another plus again for lazy people. Retails for HKD$98.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

I've been really spotty this month, plagued by some less evil cystic acne, regular acne and comedones. Although it does not look incredibly horrible, it's bad enough that my regular tea tree oil treatment can't handle, I remember I have a small sample of this thing lurking around in my samples pile and decided to give it a try, although it did not clear away everything over night, my bumps felt significantly less rough and I went to get the full size. Althoguh I have only been using this for a few days to a week, this is definitely one of the favorites of the month. Retails for HKD$260. 

NARS Exhibit A Review

NARS's products are well known for its high pigmentations. This is what I love about Nars, you get what you paid for.

Exhibit A is very bright orangy red colour, when applied on the cheeks with a very light hand, it does looks pink. It is a Satin finish in my opinion, there are no shimmer in this product which I love about! If there are shimmers in it, it would appear too dramatic and it wouldn't be as awesome as it is now.

Exhibit A is an orangey red colour, very bright and vibrant. 

This is one application, see how bright it looks! You can also use it for an eyeshadow, for Chinese traditional qipao. or even a very fun party look.

On the left was the swatches with my finger and on the right i swiped it on with a brush. I do recommend using a foundation underneath this blush, as  you can see it my viens are showing through and you can see it's a little uneven on the swatch on the right hand side. 

I've used Mac's 168 angled face brush to apply that.

This is how it looks on me! It is really not that dramatic if you apply it with a very light hand. It has a pinkish tone to it.  But of course, with this blush you can build it up into a really vibrant colour! I paired off this look with a strong brow and winged eyeliner to match with the blush color. 

Again, this is not an easy blush to use for beginners, it could appear patchy if applied in a wrong way. I definitely need to use a foundation underneath just to even out my skin colour before using this blush, to avoid patchiness. Do not use it on the apples of the cheeks if you are doing an everyday look, it will make you look old! or make you look like a clown!

This product is very diverse, you can use it for many things and many looks! Do not think that just because it's a bright colour you cannot wear it everyday, you can! I've been wearing this for a day and it is still as vibrent as it looks when I applied it in the morning, this gives you a health glow in day light even though it's a satin texture. I definately recommend this product!

xxx
Vanessa