The Face Shop Face It Oil Cut Pore Balm

The Face Shop Face It Oil Cut Pore Balm

I think I have finally found the perfect thing to keep my oiliness at bay! After buying a few mattifying primers and seeing no results (Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Primer, Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment, and Becca Cosmetics Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector) I was on the search yet again for another mattifying product. I saw Youngblood's Anti-Shine Mattifier, but the price ($36) was too much for me and the samples from the April Birchbox weren't being sold on ebay yet. I realized that The Face Shop had a similar item as well and immediately went to the store which is only 10 minutes away. (Kind of off the topic, but whenever I want to try or get something I feel like I have to get it now like I have to get in my car and get it and I can't wait for it to be mailed lol). 

I found out that one of my classmates works there which was awkward for a minute because we were looking at each other like "wait....they look like someone I know but I don't want to be wrong", but afterwards it was great! She gave me 10% off and a ton of samples! I'm so glad she gave me a discount because the pore balm goes for $18. I cringed at the price when I saw it (on ebay it goes for $11-13), but thought "Heck, I'm already here and I don't have to wait for it to arrive". 

Description on box:

Oil Control Balm perfectly filling visible pores and fine lines for porcelain-like skin.

This magic balm prevents sheen caused by excessive sebum and keeps the skin soft all day long. It improves adherence to the skin of products used in subsequent stages for a velvet-like smooth finish. Oil-Cut Complex: A patented phyto-complex containing mung bean extract, birch extract and curly dock extract to prevent skin problems by controlling sebum production.

Directions: After completing skin care and before beginning make-up, use a puff included in the package to apply lightly to areas that have troubled pores or appear excessively shiny.

Ingredients: Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Aluminum Starch, Octenylsuccinate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tribehenin, Hydroxyapatite, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Phaseolus Radiatus Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Water, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool

The product is housed in a cute circle tin and contains 17 g/ 0.6 oz.  I can't describe the smell, but I love it! I'm betting it comes from the last few ingredients. It's not super strong, but you do notice it when applying the product. I don't notice the smell after a few minutes. I like the plastic part that houses the puff because it keeps it separate from the product. The puff gets pretty dirty with use so cleaning is a must especially when the product starts to cake on it. 

This product immediately mattes and blurs pores. It does a way better job of not emphasizing dry flaky skin compared to powders, but when it does show with this product it is usually because I haven't exfoliated in a while. 

My oiliness starts to show after 5 hours compared to 3 to 4 hours with other powders. It doesn't last all day, but I don't mind reapplying this because I love the scent and it mattifies nicely. It also looks more natural compared to a powder. One con is that fibers and baby hairs get stuck in the product if you can see in the following picture:

I would definitely purchase this again!!!

Mineral Fusion Brush Cleaner

Mineral Fusion Brush Cleaner

I was planning on making my own daily brush cleaner until I saw this at Sprouts (a grocery store with natural/organic foods, kind of like Whole Foods). I felt too lazy to make my own and this was all ready, plus it had oils and extracts so I thought why not! It contains 3.45 fl oz/ 60ml and was $8.99.

This brush cleaner does the job but the alcohol scent is really strong. I also notice more shedding, but maybe it's because those are my cheap brushes. Still, I'm glad I have something to clean my brushes with after every use! I also like the grapefruit scent it leaves on the brushes. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude

I was finally able to get my hands on this after going to 3 different stores. I got it at Target for $3.99. NYX also has a nude pencil, but the closest Ulta is about 15 minutes away. 

I picked this up to use on my waterline to brighten up my eyes. It is super creamy and I have to be careful in applying it so that I don't get it in my lashes. I haven't worn this out yet, but after 10 minutes I can see that it's starting to wear off. Still, I'm glad Rimmel has given us a drugstore option for nude eyeliners!

Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Primer

My T-zone has been super oily lately even though it's winter so I got this after reading the reviews on Makeupalley. I purchased this set on ebay for $5.50 and it included free shipping.

Left: Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Undereye Concealer in Light

Right: Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Primer

Although I got this set to try out the primer I use the concealer for contouring. The concealer has a stick and liquid end. I use the stick end and draw a line where the contour should be and blend it out.

The primer comes in a small (0.84 fl oz/25 ml) tube. The consistency is like lotion. It applies easily and clearly. For the past few days I've been putting 3 (yes 3. one layer didn't help at all) layers on my forehead and nose. I found that it doesn't help with controlling oil as I hoped it would. I still get oily after only 3-4 hours. Even when I get to work an hour after I apply it my forehead is already shiny. I do notice that my forehead doesn't get as oily as before. Before it was an oil slick, but now it just looks dewy. I also notice that it doesn't blur my pores/imperfections like other primers do. So overall it wasn't a complete fail but I'm still on the lookout for something to control my oil!

Ben Nye Banana Powder

Ben Nye Banana Powder

I got this recently to see if it would help out with the foundations/BB creams that weren't working for me. I bought this at a local theatrical store (Fun House Theatrical in Mountain View if any of you are from the Bay Area!) for $8.99. It contains 1.5 oz/42 g. The packaging isn't the greatest so I dumped the powder in the Etude House Princess Etoinette Crystal Powder container into a plastic bag and put the Ben Nye powder!

The main reason I purchased this was to help with the foundations/BB creams that weren't working for me because of the color (either they are too pink and/or beige). I haven't noticed a difference using this except with Skinfood's Peach Sake BB Cream. I think it worked with that because Skinfood's BB cream is more on the tan side and this powder brightened/lightened it up.

I've been using it to set my under eye concealer and I don't know if it's the powder or concealer, but after a few hours it looks dry and powdery. Overall, this powder just lightens my skin. It doesn't help with color correcting foundations/BB creams. 

Make Up For Ever Makeup Bag Remix Event in San Francisco

Yesterday I attended the Make Up Forever Make Up Bag Remix Event in San Francisco at the Stonestown Galleria. I first heard about it from Musing's of a Muse and immediately signed up!

What I wore:

Jacket: Gmarket, Shirt tunic & Bag: Zipia, Leggings: Forever 21, Shoes: thrifted

People bring their makeup bag and the makeup artists show them how to use the items. I focused on my gel eyeliner, contour powder, and the L'oreal Caresse Wet Shine Stain. The makeup artist who did my makeup helped me out with all of that and more! I learned so many new tricks and tried items from Make Up For Ever.

I took an After picture at the event!

Hours after the event when I got home. I don't know why I was posing with my hand -__-. 

I purchased their new Pro Finish powder along with the makeup bag. I posted my After picture on Facebook and got a free mascara!

Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Powder in 128

Overall it was a great event! I'm so glad I went. I learned so much about my own products as well as Make Up For Ever products. It gave me a new view of Make Up For Ever and now I appreciate it even more.

Etude House Princess Etoinette Crystal Powder

Etude House Princess Etoinette Crystal Powder

When I first saw the Princess Etoinette collection from Etude House, my first thought was "When can I get this?!". The collection is so adorable and cute! I looked on Gmarket and they had most of the items, but the one I wanted the most was the Crystal Powder which they never sold (weird : /). I was initially planning on buying it from ebay, but they bumped up their prices after a few weeks so I ended up purchasing it from kpoptown. I bought it for $21.90 and shipping was $3.90 with no tracking number. It took about 3 weeks to ship which was a bit longer than the first time I ordered from them. 

When I first saw the powder my first thought was "Holy shit, so much glitter! I don't want to look like a vampire!" From far away (like an arm's length) it looks fine. It actually gives a nice satin finish, but once you get up close you can see all the tiny glitters! I might use it as an all over powder if I'm going out to the club/bar, but most likely I'll use this as a highlighter. Other bloggers mentioned that the container can be reused by putting a different loose powder which is a great idea since it's so cute!

Adambeauty Haul #2!

Kate Frame Impact Marker & Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner

Made another order at adambeauty.com because I wanted to try the Kate Frame Impact Marker. I was tired of having raccoon eyes from lining my upper waterline with the Milani Liquif'eye Metallic eyeliner pencil. Each item was $11.50 which includes shipping. I paid $2 for registered shipping and received it a week after it shipped.

Kate Frame Impact Marker

This is meant to be used in the lash line, but I'm sure you can use it to line as well. I apply it by dotting it into my lash line. You do have to wait for it to dry. It smudged onto my lower eyelid when I used my makeup setting spray. It also smudged after a few hours : (.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner

I was getting frustrated with the liquid eyeliner I was using (pa Liquid Eye Liner from the Japanese supermarket) so I decided to try this out. It's much better than the one I was using! It was difficult to make a nice line with the pa one because it dragged my skin. This one just glides over making it easier and faster. You do have to go over a few times to get it opaque. I'm glad I bought this and would purchase it again especially at this price!