NARS Audacious Lipstick In Michiyo

It's been 2 months since my last post! I'll be sharing my thoughts on NARS Audacious lipstick in Michiyo (a bright fucshia-pink). I've had the lipstick for a couple of months now. Bought it the first day it was launched in Singapore. 

Description
Debut weightless, color-saturated lips when you smooth on this NARS Audacious Lipstick. It glides on like satin across skin, and achieves single-stroke coverage that leaves lips with captivating colour. 

 Price

At S$43, the NARS Audacious lipstick definitely comes with a hefty price tag.

Texture
Despite the high coverage, the lipstick actually feels really lightweight on the lips. I would describe it as a satin finish, with just a tiny bit of glossiness. 

Scent

Virtually no scent

Packaging
Hands down my favourite packaging in my entire lipstick collection. The sleek black metal bullet with a magnetic closure and the embossed NARS logo is just on point.  Gives me great satisfaction simply by opening and closing the lipstick. I want to hashtag #cheapthrill, but I realise - it's ironic. 


Swatches
Indeed, one swipe and you get a super intense, gorgeous creamy colour.
*There's no glitter, no idea why the swatch on top looks like it contains glitter. 

I tried out a few different ways to wear Michiyo - clockwise from top: WIth gloss, ombre, full coverage, stained.

Longevity 
The lip colour adheres to the lips very well and it leaves a very nice stain even after drinking and eating. I don't think it has any problem staying on for more than 5 hours.

What I like:
The intensity, the pigmentation, the weightlessness, the beautiful packaging. 

What can be improved:
I find that the lipstick can feel a little drying sometimes, but usually, it's just in the middle ground, where it's neither moisturising nor drying.

Overall thoughts:
It's a super luxurious lipstick. BUT the formula and coverage is definitely top-notch. It will make a perfect stocking filler this Christmas and I know i'll be really thrilled to get one! 

Michiyo is also a really good dupe for NARS Schiap, which is a matte formula. Unfortunately, Schiap is too drying for me, and I'm really glad to have found Michiyo, which is just a tad darker than Schiap.

Is it worth the money? I guess if you try to google for dupes, you might actually find a cheaper, similar product out there. This is a splurge, but I think it's fine to indulge and buy something nice once in awhile, especially if it's a high quality product that you know you will use frequently! I can only speak for myself, and yes, it's a little painful when I had to fork out $43 for a lipstick, but it's worth it. I love it very much, and I would like to try out some other shades in the range!

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Celestial

As promised, this is a review of Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Celestial! 

Description on the website:

•                For the first time, the intense, richer color of a lipstick is enhanced by a smooth satin shine

•                Ultra-intense, ultra-comfortable – it lasts all day

•                It's neither a lipstick... nor a gloss... it's BIGGER than both

The earth-shattering lip lacquer from Rimmel London combining the intense color of lipstick with a lacquer like shine, Show Off Lip Lacquer is an explosive make-up phenomenon that represents the end of color as you know it.  Packed with pure color pigments, its lusciously creamy, conditioning formula promises a never-before combination of color, shine and comfort that last and last.

Price:

I bought it at 30% off on ASOS.com. It's also selling at S$13 on Shopping-district.net, which is really affordable.

Texture:

It feels a lip gloss, but it's not sticky.

Scent:

It has quite a queer chemically-fruity scent, but the funky smell doesn't linger for long.

Swatch:

Celestial is a rosy medium pink that is very natural and suitable for daily wear.

Packaging:

The lip lacquers are packaged in a plastic tube, with an unique doe-foot applicator. Unlike Big Bang which has really intense pigmentation, Celestial is more on the natural side,  thus I find that the applicator works pretty well at scooping up the right amount of product.

What I like:

• The product glides on smoothly and it doesn't feel sticky
• Lovely pigmentation
• A very versatile colour that suits almost any kind of makeup looks

What can be improved:

• Lasting power is better than Luna, but as with the other 2 lip lacquers (Big Bang and Luna) I own, it's slightly drying after the initial gloss wears off

Celestial is one of those MLBB(my lips but better) colour. Initially I thought that the shade might be too dark for me, but it turned out to be just right! After trying out Big Bang, Luna and Celestial, I have to say my favourite has to be BIG BANG because it's just so bright and in your face! However, I get more use out of Celestial and Luna because they are just very easy, no brainer everyday colours.

I'm currently trying out another lip lacquer-type product, and I feel that it's BETTER than the Rimmel lip lacquers! More on that in another blog post! :)

Read my review of Rimmel's Lip Lacquer in Big Bang and Luna!

Lush Dream Cream

Body creams, lotions, body butters, moisturizers. Some people struggle to keep up with the mundane task of slapping on those creams after a bath. For me, it's absolutely essential and I'd feel really uncomfortable without my body moisturizer.

I discovered Lush's Cream Cream on my trip to Japan and I'm currently on my second tub!

Description:

Our number one, best-selling product of all time, Dream Cream contains every ingredient nature makes for soothing sore skin. One of our proudest product achievements ever, we love this body lotion because it makes people happy. It transforms suffering bodies into states of peace with our calming blend of oat milk, lavender and chamomile to care for irritations, reduce redness, and banish blotches. Olive oil and cocoa butter are perfectly suited and incredibly effective for dry or chapped skin, and especially gentle for even the most sensitive types. Do your skin a favor, treat it right with Dream Cream.

Price

I bought this in Japan and I think it was around S$24 (240g)? I'm sure it will cost a lot more in Singapore, that's why I bought a backup after my first 2 uses in Japan.

Texture

Quite creamy but not thick, and it sinks into the skin about a minute or two without leaving a greasy layer.

Scent:

Herbally lavender scent. I can't say that it's the nicest smell in the world, but I definitely got used to it, and I think I even grew to like the light lavender scent.

Packaging

I love Lush's packaging. Even though it's not the most hygienic to have products in a tub like this, I really don't mind. I actually like dipping my fingers into tubs compared to pumping products out of a dispenser. That's for body products of course, for anything that comes in direct contact with my face, a pump please.

What I like:

• It absorbs easily, but it's still moisturizing enough.
• That fact that Lush uses a ton of natural ingredients! I have quite sensitive skin and it's just good to know that you're not putting on a layer of unhealthy chemicals on your skin every single night. I mean, I'm sure they use some sort of chemicals to prolong the shelve life of their products or whatever, but at least (I like to think) it's more natural than other some other moisturizers you get at the drugstore.

What can be improved:

Other than the price, i think I'm really happy with the Dream Cream! Nothing much to complain about really. 

It took me about 3months to finish an entire tub with daily usage and I'm currently halfway through my second tub:( Honestly, Dream Cream performs better compared to say Johnson and Johnson, but I get so much more product with Johnson and Johnson and it's a baby friendly brand! I might just go back to J&J after I finish Dream Cream, but if I have unlimited spending power, Dream Cream all the way.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Coral Reef

Even though summer is over (not true: it's summer all year round in Singapore!) and we're going into fall, I'm still pretty much obsessed with corals. 

Sleek has quite an extensive collection of lipsticks. Initially I was looking at getting Papaya Punch, which is an orangey coral, but I passed it up because it has a matte formula. I picked up Coral Reef in the end, a bold pinkish coral with a sheen formula.

From Sleek's website:

Get high impact lips with True Colour Lipstick in a gorgeous matte and sheen finishes in a variety of shades that are highly pigmented, and conditioning to keep lips soft and supple. Enriched with vitamin E helping to hydrate and protect the lips. Comfortable to wear and glides on with ease this is the must have to awaken your makeup look.

Price:

$13.50 at Shopping-district.net

Texture:

Feels slightly waxy and thick, not the best formula is my opinion.

Scent:

It has a very subtle cheap plastic smell, but it's hardly noticeable.

Packaging:

The casing has a matte texture (similar to NARS packaging), and the lipstick itself is super tiny! It's slightly smaller than the normal lipstick size, but I think it has roughly the same amount of product.

Swatch:
Coral reef is a bright coral pink colour with a slight sheen.

What I like:

• Highly pigmented. 1-2 layers is all you need for a full coverage.
• Long lasting. The lipstick adheres very well to the lips and I would say the lasting power is roughly 2-3hours. 

What can be improved:

• Feels a tad drying after the gloss wears off.
• The formula is quite thick and waxy, which reminds me of those brand-less cheap lipsticks we used to buy in primary school for dance performances. 
• Application can sometimes be patchy, and I'll need to use my finger to smooth it out.

Overall, I'm really happy with the colour I picked, but the texture of the lipstick is a deal-breaker for me. I would prefer something that's creamier and more balmy in texture.

Lush Ocean Salt Scrub Review

I always look forward to my weekly exfoliation sessions because I feel like I get a new layer of skin after getting rid of the all the dead skin cells that could potentially clog up my pores.

I got hold of Lush's Ocean Salt when I was in Japan. Having heard many good things about it, I bought the smaller size (120g) just to try it out. I was particularly intrigued by the beautiful blue colour and the fact that it's made from mostly natural ingredients.

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub is one of Lush's best sellers.

It's an exfoliating cleanser that combines fine and coarse sea salt to physically exfoliate the skin. One thing interesting about it is that it is a lime infused vodka-based cleanser. The vodka acts as an antibacterial agent and is supposed to be great for blocked pores/backheads and blemishes. Lastly it also contains avocado and coconut to rehydrate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. 

How to use it:

Use 1-2 times a week.

Lush recommends splashing some water on the face and apply about a teaspoonful of scrub using an upward, circular motion to exfoliate. Afterwhich, rinse with clean water and pat dry. Some people prefer to use it on dry skin. I tried out both methods and I think I prefer using it on dry skin as well! Of course since it's also a body exfoliator, it can be used on other parts of the body.

Price: 

S$24 on Lushsg.com

Smell:

I read reviews saying that Ocean Salt smells like margarita? But to me, it smells pretty fresh and quite manly at the same time, like a men's cologne. 

Packaging:

I got this when I was in Japan, thus all the Japanese words. I like how the scrub is packaged in a little tub. I'll definitely keep the container after using up the product and use it to store little things in my room. The Jap words definitely made it 10times cuter than the ordinary Ocean Salt. But yeah, tubs are not very sanitary. 

The product comes with a layer of salt on top, and a thick cream at the bottom. It is recommended to mix everything together before using!

I saw pictures of Ocean Salt online, and some people have a bright blue mixture, while some have something that is similar to mine- a light blue :( I would prefer a bright blue for sure. Since Lush's products are all handmade in each individual countries, it is quite common to have the same products but with slightly different colour/shapes.

So I tried using Ocean Salt just like how Lush recommends, splashing some water onto my face before applying the scrub. I find that the sea salts dissolved really quickly upon contact with water. Even before I could get a good scrubbing session, I find that all I'm left with is a milky watery lotion.

After another attempts with the same method, and getting poor results, I decided to use the scrub on dry skin.

The trick is to be reaaaallllly gentle. Apply as little pressure as possible, using a small circular motion to spread the scrub onto the entire face. After about a minute of gentle scrubbing, add some water to emulsify the scrub. The scrub will turn slightly milky and most of the sea salt will dissolve in no time. I like to continue spreading the milky solution, for another 10-15secs before rinsing it off. I find this method to be the best of the two. Ocean salt is a physical exfoliator afterall, so the exfoliating capability is totally dependent on friction to physically slough off the dead skin cells.

What I like about it:

The avocado and coconut really help in making the skin feel smooth and soft. I like how my skin feels baby smooth after the exfoliation, and I have to say I'm quite impressed. Even though it is a scrub, it doesn't give me that tight/dry feeling.
The skin looks visibly brighter and less dull.
A little goes a long way! Even though it's not cheap, I think the cost could be spread over a long period of time.

What can be improved:

Personally, I feel that an indicator of a good exfoliating product is how well skincare products get absorbed into the skin after a good scrub. Skincare products such as serums and moisturizers tend to sink into the skin and get absorbed faster and better after the dead skin cells are removed. Unfortunately, I did not experience that with Lush's Ocean Salt. I think that is probably because the exfoliation wasn't thorough enough. This is kinda of the deal breaker for me. As much as I like how my skin feels and look after using Ocean salt, I don't think it makes the cut in terms of its exfoliating properties.

Overall, I think Ocean Salt is pretty efficient at polishing the skin surface, but for more thorough exfoliation, I still prefer my Cure Natural Aqua Gel. Ocean salt is definitely a good product, but for me, it isn't groundbreaking. I will continue using it, however I don't think I will be repurchasing it, just because I personally prefer gel exfoliators. I'm used to gel exfoliants (CURE Natural Aqua Gel), which I feel  is a more efficient and gentler form (because it is non-abrasive) of exfoliator compared to physical exfoliators.
I think if they make a facial cleanser (at a cheaper price lol) with the exact formula, just without the salt, I'll definitely buy it!

I bought 3 different products from Lush in Japan, and Ocean Salt is the only one that left me feeling   slightly underwhelmed. The other 2 are absolute HITS! I'm so glad I got to try them out, and rave reviews of those 2 products will be coming soon!

Ingredients:

Cure Natural Aqua Gel Review

This is a review of my holy grail facial exfoliant. 1 bottle of Cure Natural Aqua Gel is sold every 12 seconds in Japan! I've been using it for more than a year, and I can totally see why so many people swear by it.

I used to have acne-prone skin in my JC days, and that left behind lots of acne scars and hyper-pigmentation. Apart from my prescribed scar removal gel, I also relied on weekly exfoliation to get rid of the unwanted dead skin cells and speed up the skin renewal process.

There are many advantages of exfoliating the skin. I'm sure you can find a lot of information just by googling, but here are a few:

1. It removes dead skin cells that could clog up pores

2. Speeds up skin renewal process and improves skin elasticity

3. Allows skincare products to penetrate better into the skin

4. Helps to even out skin tone and leads to brighter skin in the long run

I have been using Cure Natural Aqua Gel for more than a year now, and I'm currently on my second bottle. It is unlike any other facial exfoliators I've seen before. It is not a physical exfoliator, nor is it really a chemical exfoliator. The ingredients in the gel naturally reacts with the dead skin cells, allowing them to be removed easily by gentle massaging.

How to use it:

1. Wash face with a cleanser and use a towel to pat dry the skin.
2. Use 1 pump of Cure and apply it on dry skin.



3. Spread the gel evenly onto the skin. Apply more if needed.



4. Leave the gel on the skin for about 10-20secs. This will allow some time for the ingredients in the gel to react with the dead skin cells.



5. Gently massage the gel around the face in a small circular motion for about 30secs-1min. White blobs of dead skin cells will be lifted off the skin. I was quite skeptical at first, because who knows, the white balls could just be the solid state of the gel. So I tried exfoliating once more, and the second time round, there was hardly any white particles.

6. Rinse well with lukewarm water. Pat dry and continue with daily skincare routine.

Price:

S$49 at Watsons. It is recommended to use it twice per week. Most of the time I'll only use it once per week and my first bottle lasted me for about a year, with 1 pump per usage.

Smell:

No fragrance.

Texture:

Gel-like texture, with no micro-beads.

What I like:

• Satisfaction of seeing the dirty skin cells ball up into white particles. 
• Gentle. I don't feel like I'm scrubbing off my skin because there's no exfoliating beads in the gel.
• Softer and brighter skin after use. 
• Skincare products penetrate more efficiently. I feel that this is the most immediate and best indicator of how well a product exfoliates the skin. After each usage of Cure, my lotion and moisturizer get absorbed faster, and my skin feels more supple and bouncy. 
• With long term usage, I find that Cure helps to diminished the appearance of acne scars. I stopped relying on my scar removal gel a couple of months after I started Cure, as my skin wasn't breaking out anymore and I find that to be too drying. Even without the help of a scar removal gel, I've noticed an improvement in my skin tone over the past year.
• There is also a handy plastic lock for the pump that is ideal for traveling.

What can be improved:

• This happened to my first bottle. After a few months of usage, I find that the product doesn't get pumped out as easily as before. I'm not sure if its because of the gel solidifying near the pump, but it took quite a lot of force to press down the pump.
• Doesn't remove blackheads/whiteheads very well. I don't have alot of blackheads/whiteheads, just 2-3 stubborn ones that refuse to budge no matter what I do. 

I really highly highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gentle but effective facial exfoliator. It may seem to be quite a hefty investment (S$49), but 1 bottle will last for a year with weekly usage. For people with oily/combi skin, perhaps it will be better to exfoliate twice a week as recommended. This product is definitely worth the money and lives up to the hype!

Ingredients: