August - December 2011 Collective Haul

This post is a bit late but better late than never! :]

I think I did a pretty good job controlling myself in the later part of 2011, compared to the earlier half. No? In the past, I've bought this amount of products in one-two months alone heh :X

Let's see if I can control myself better in 2012. Must try to use my stash!!

Onward with my haulage ~~
*Picture heavy!!*


Maybelline Fit Me line haul


Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 210 Sandy Beige and 220 Natural Beige


Swatches of Maybelline Fit Me Foundations
L to R: 210 Sandy Beige, 220 Natural Beige

I have since returned shade 220 because it seemed a bit too dark for me. Even 210 doesn't exactly fit my skin tone but I have many BB Creams that are too light for me so I justified keeping one so I could mix products.




Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder in 220 Natural Beige




La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment

I got this after a few bloggers recommended it, especially because of Lil Lady's Life. I've tried a few acne treatments before and they all stung or made my face very feel dry/tight wherever I placed it. Also, I never saw a lot of results from those. However, this one didn't have any of those problems! Maybe it's because it doesn't contain salicylic acid like the other acne treatments I've tried. This isn't a miracle product for me (yet) because it does take some time for the product to do its job. But I can't ask for too much from a product :P I just wish it wasn't so expensive for one tube.




Maybelline Lasting Drama Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

After trying a few pencil & liquid liners and not having much luck with either, I decided to venture into gel liners. I've only used this a handful of times. It felt strange applying liner with a brush. Probably need to practice more heh...I don't quite remember if this also smudged on me or not. Will try to report back on it later on!


Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm in Sheer Peach Tint and Sheer Pink Tint

Again, I got these after reading reviews on it. I'm always looking for lip balms, tinted lip products that are sheer. This seemed to fit my criteria. I used these a few times (but not when my lips were very dry so I cannot say how well it hydrates). For someone like me who doesn't wear much lip product & is self-conscious whenever I do wear colored lip products, I think these do a good job of providing just a little color. A small step to get myself more comfortable with wearing lipstick/gloss xD




Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Temptress & Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Peach Petal


Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Temptress

I got these when CVS had their Extrabucks deal on Revlon lip products a while ago. This was probably the first time that I actually went to CVS trying to get products for Extrabucks. It wasn't a pleasant experience though. I went in thinking all the lipstick/gloss shades were a part of the deal but in reality only a few were. It wasn't marked or anything and the only way was to check the price (which I didn't do). I ended up buying I think one of the two at full price and realized I didn't get the Extrabucks...so I returned and bought someone that was a part of the deal and repurchased my return =.=Ahh...incident #1 of me spending more money that I probably should have. A great example of my impulse buying.

Anyone want to share their money saving tips with me? hehe :P


Target Sample Bag #2




Target samples

When Nouveau Cheap posted about the Target sample bag a while back I rushed to fill the form out. It was very hectic. I didn't even think I would receive anything because the site didn't say my form went through.

The makeup bag's design is very...interesting...heh. Definitely not something I would purchase, not my cup of tea xD But I shouldn't complain too much since it was free. This bag, if I remember correctly, is actually a little bigger than the last one (blue, purple, and white one).


My first Sephora online purchase during the Friends and Family sale






I was so surprised to see all the paper that was in the box!
I think they probably could have just used a smaller box :P




Clarisonic Replacement Brush Heads 2pk - Sensitive

Best friend and I split this particular item. I've mentioned before that we got our Mia's at the same time, so we needed replacements around the same time. The brush heads are pretty expensive so I waited for some kind of sale before I bought a replacement.




Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF40+

After using up my Shiseido sunscreen and trying a Japanese milk sunscreen for a while, I really wanted to purchase a new sun protection product. I've been eyeing this particular one for a long time because of its size and since it is a natural sunscreen (my personal preference). I've been using it more lately during my break and I'm not sure if it's the Genie in the Bottle serum...my moisturizer...or this SPF, but my skin feels very soft lately! Makes me want to try the Argan Oil as well hehe Maybe in the future...


The samples that I picked. I haven't tried them yet though.

Has anyone used/tried these products before? If so...how are they?




Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid

I realized I have been purchasing a lot of products that Lil Lady's Life recommends xD The strange thing is most have worked pretty well for me too. I bought this when I was running low on my Hada Labo Arbutin Milky Lotion. I've recently started to use this exclusively to see how it faired. Although I don't like the immediate feel (tight) after some time when my skin fully absorbs it, my face is very soft and doesn't feel as dry. The best part is it isn't too expensive!


Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF42 PA+++ in No.27 Honey Beige

I think this is a new shade, correct me if I'm wrong. I actually got this for 'free' during their labor day (?) promotion. The reason for 'free' is because I had to pay for shipping which was around $9-10. I had some trouble with this order because I didn't receive any confirmation from Missha. I thought I was just unlucky and it wouldn't come! But to my surprise, it arrived. No.27 is more yellow/golden undertone than 23. It also doesn't have much gray either, which is always good. However, it is a bit dark for me so I use it to mix with my lighter BB Creams. I never formally compared this shade with the other darker BB Creams I own but I think it is similar to the Hadalabo BB Moist Emulsion SPF50+ PA+++ in Natural Ochre or Nanoce BB Moist Cream...I'll try to post swatches soon!!


Sephora Haul
Sephora Pro Foundatio Airbrush #55

This purchase came about because of the Beauty Insider's gift card I received (through e-mail) a couple of months ago. I just couldn't pass it up =X I went into the store with one list and walked out with a bag of different products! How often does this happen to everyone else?


Clinique Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon

I wasn't expecting to find this at Sephora but after I spotted it I couldn't resist. I have a soft spot for sheer lip products :X I can't comment too much on its lip balm properties because I haven't used it enough or consistently to see the effects. I probably wouldn't purchase more until I use most of this one or if I have another gift card from Sephora.


Jack Black Lip Balm SPF25 in Black Tea & Black Berry

My lip balm collection just keeps growing! I decided I should probably take care of my lips with SPF products since I do so with my face already. Picking a flavor was a little overwhelming. I wanted to have all of them but I realized it was a bit much, therefore I only got one (for now xD). I must say it works well and the flavor isn't bad. The plus is it doesn't have any mint in it! However, I did notice that the sunscreen ingredient it used was Octinoxate, which if I remember correctly is a chemical sunscreen that could cause some sort of bad effect (but don't quote me on that...I should do more research on this!).


Sephora Glass Nail File







The American Apparel warehouse sale came to New York in mid-December. I went twice the first week it opened. I didn't pick up many pieces because the prices of the prettier items were still out of my preferred price range. I ended up purchasing only two hoodies, two pairs of leggings, and a tank, & of course these three polishes. Many of the polishes available weren't very well mixed. These were considered the few good ones. You could see in Factory Grey and Peacock that there are two colors in them.



I purchased this at a nail supply store. I've been searching for a spatula-like product. I don't know the real purpose for this item but it works well as a spatula so I have no complaints :P


OPI Natural Nail Base Coat

At the nail supply store, I also purchase this base coat. I was actually looking for a top coat but hastily said "What is a good base coat?" instead *smacks head* I didn't realize it until I came home that night. *sigh* Well I'm set for a base coat for the next year or two! hehe

Any recommendations for a top coat? Besides Seche Vite and Essie Good to Go?


Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser

Yet another purchase made after reading Lil Lady's Life's blog! I was running out of my Hada Labo cleansers and wanted one that had some acne fighting ingredients in it. I must say this cleanser is drying! But the smell is nice, just like grapefruit. I don't know how I feel about this product yet...must use it longer to see how it does for my acne.

Empties from the last half of 2011

So many other bloggers shared their amazing finished products lists for the last couple of days. It reminded me of all the empties that I had in comparison...haha. My collection is very modest, embarrassingly to say. For the last 6 months, I was only able to complete 10 products. Many that I have currently are on the verge of being finished as I type this, but I tend to leave them hanging because I think I'll get to reviewing it soon so I'll need to revisit the product...My bad procrastinating habit got the best of me. *sigh*


What I was able to finish:

1. Garnier Fructis Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
I got this, I believe, shortly after it came out and many people started to review the product. I thought it was okay while it lasted. It was nothing to run and scream about. It made my skin nice and soft after I applied it, but didn't do much for my flakiness during the winter months that I used it. Also, if I remember correctly, it contained alcohol (?) of some sort which made the product dry down ("soak in") quickly but I'm pretty sure it's not good in the long run...I will not repurchase this because I like something better :] and this was just an average product for me.

2. H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment
I've reviewed it already. Click to see review!

3. H2O+ Night Oasis Oxygenating Rejuvenator
Same as No.2 :]

4. H2O+ Face Oasis Cleansing Water
Click click click! ^^

5. Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub
This was my first lip scrub and it wasn't a very pleasant experience. It smelled and tasted nice...since it was basically just sugar and some oils, I assume, put together. But it didn't really do anything in the exfoliating department. I would rub and rub until my fingers were sore and the chapped skin on my lips just wouldn't come off. I had better luck rubbing my lips with my fingers =X Also...maybe it was just this particular version...but the product had a lot of stages. First, the texture felt nice and fine. As I finished the topmost layer it started to I guess dry out and become rather chunky and difficult to use. When I dumped that layer out it became the slightly emollient texture it originally was. I think for the price, I could have just used sugar I had around my house and it may have worked as well...However, I am considering trying the Bon Bon lip scrub just out of curiosity heh =]

6. Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, & Coriander Skin Quenching Body Lotion (mini-size)
I found a few of these lotions hanging around and decided to give it a try as a hand lotion. And I LOVE how it soaks in without leaving a film of any sort!! This rarely happens for me with lotions (I wonder why...). The only negative is it's not a one time use and bye bye dryness sort of product. I have to keep remembering to reapply to keep my hands nice and soft. However, layering doesn't seem to leave a film either so it's alright (for me)! Also...Crabtree & Evelyn is on the expensive side so I am a little more hesitant on buying the full sized. I probably will though despite that fact. Right now I'm just deciding on whether or not to try a different version since I have some more of the Citron ones at home. Any recommendations?

7. Genie in a Bottle Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Serum
I finally got around to start using this serum when the Fall season kicked in. Although the weather was oddly warm for the past couple of months, my skin still suffered (in addition to using an anti-spot treatment again). I went through one of the four bottles that came in the set and I can say that I like it. It helps keep my face moisturized, but it isn't deep moisturizing. Because after I wash my face and such it would be dry again =.= But whenever I put it on, my skin feels very soft and supple. But just for the fact that it has a low price for 4 30ml bottles of serum, I would consider repurchasing. My one complaint is after I opened the second bottle, I actually had to pour the product into the empty bottle because the dropper wouldn't fit into the new container. If I was rash and threw the empty bottle away I wouldn't have any way to keep the new one closed.

8. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick
This was one lip product that I really liked. If I remember correctly, I kept my lips very soft and moisturized without drying it out. Due to the size of the swivel stick, I found it hard to finish completely because the product wouldn't completely swivel back down and I had to forcibly close the cap to prevent it from drying. It created quite a mess. I do not know if it's because mine was faulty or not but that was the only unpleasant part of this product. There may be a smaller lip balm version of the product but I'm not too sure if it's still around. I may repurchase this if I come across it (it was difficult to find!) but not soon since I have a gazillion other lip balms to finish up.

9. Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream for Face SPF55 PA+++
Sunscreen takes forever for me to complete. I was very glad I finished this one! Not because it was bad but because I was tired of it and wanted to try something new =X I really think this product worked because while I was using this my face stayed pretty light throughout the summer and my doctor kept saying I was Vitamin D deficient. The only thing really bad about this product was the white cast it could leave behind if not blended well. After I apply this my face does look rather white...but that could also be because I tend to apply it heavy-handed. I may go back to this product. Depending on if I come across something I like better or not.

10. Hada Labo Tamagohada Daily Face Wash
A cleanser that I really liked! I was very sad when it got to its end...I've had many good skin days with this product. Although it didn't give me the hard-boiled egg skin that I was hoping for haha It also doesn't completely stop me from breaking out but my skin felt very clean and fresh whenever I used it. The main winning point was it did not dry my skin out. This is also rare when I use cleansers =.= I just wish it was easier to get and the price isn't so jacked up. *sigh*

11. Laneige Pore Trouble Cleanser
Click!!! :D
It isn't shown in the picture because I cut it open to get the last bits of it...but my mom thought it was garbage after a couple of days =.=

Happy Holidays!!


First...Happy Holidays!! ^___^

My family doesn't celebrate much but this year we put up our fake tree again heh A little holiday spirit going on...xD

Second...I'm so sorry I was MIA for sooo long. School got the best of me. I was moving to a new house. Everything was just so stressful. Now that I'm settled into a new place and it's winter break, hopefully, I'll be able to post regularly again.

Third...Thank you to everyone who stayed with me and all the new followers!! I lost some and gained some during this time period...it was a little upsetting but I definitely understand so no worries! :] Like I said, I'm aiming to post more so everyone won't be too disappointed in me.

I hope everyone had a great time today celebrating whichever holiday you observe! Or just had a great day for those who don't celebrate at all like me :P
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