MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Magic Marc'er Precison Pen

A liquid eyeliner inspired by the classic calligraphy pen for drawing the finest lines and achieving perfect definition. 
This waterproof liquid eyeliner pen features a calligraphy-inspired proprietary capillary system that draws thick and thin lines for accentuating the lash line or building a bolder look. This never-seen-before shade was developed in Japan to create the shiniest and blackest black on the market. The fast-working, no-transfer, no-fade formula lasts all day. This sleek liner begs to be held and is suitable for the boardroom. 

~AG~
I bought this liquid eyeliner in the last Sephora Family & Friends Sale. I am always a big fan of Marc Jacobs products, mainly their handbags and accessories. This eyeliner is felt-tip eyeliner with a very fine tip. It looks very similar to the K-Palettte 24h Eyeliner. Since my sister is a VIB and had 20% off for the sale, I decided to go ahead and try this eyeliner. From the MARC JACOBS Beauty collection, this was one of the more Hot product. I haven't tried it yet since I am trying to finish using up my FaceShop ExtremeLiner and Eyeko eyeliner. Since I typically don't use eyeliner everyday  it has taken a while for me to use them up. But I cannot wait to try this eyeliner and compare it to the other felt-tip eyeliner I've tried.
Please stay tuned for reviews on it. 

Where to buy: From Sephora USA website. USD $30

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick

Angelic Nude (pinky nude)

Pink Peony (blushing pink)

Coral Blossom (salmon pink)

Tulip (mauve rose)

A moisturizing, creamy lipstick infused with sustainably pressed Amazonian butters.

Inspired by the whimsical colors of the Amazon and infused with naturally derived ingredients from its lush vegetation, these Amazonian butter lipsticks add a splash of rich color and creamy shine for a perfect pout. Each skin-flattering shade is enriched with sustainably harvested cupuacu and murumuru butters to deliver intense moisture and help restore and soothe even mature lips.

What else you need to know:
Cupuacu Butter: Contains essential fatty acids and sterols that help firm while drenching lips in moisture.
Murumuru Butter: Contains essential fatty acids and ProVitamin A to help restore elasticity and soothe lips.
-Shea Butter: Helps retain skin elasticity and protects against degeneration.
-Mineral Pigments: Soothe and soften lips.


~AG~
NEW from Tarte!
I am a big fan of Tarte's products. And especially love the cute packaging for the Amazonian Butter Lipstick. Each shade has a different design packaging. The colourful patterns are refreshing for the upcoming Spring season. There are a total of 8 shades. It retails for USD $16. You can find it on Sephora.com and Sephora stores.

A New Use for Bioderma

~AG~

I'm so excited to share this new tip that I found.

Cleaning my makeup brushes have never been an priority on my to-do list.
I maybe wash my brushes once every three months with baby shampoo. I know it sounds disgusting, But I am too lazy to take the time to wash my brushes weekly or even monthly.

The other day when I was looking at my dual-ended Beauty of Essence concealer and foundation brush, I saw that there were noticeable residue left on it. It was in need of some cleaning. I didn't have time to soak it in the baby shampoo mixture. So, I decided to try to use my Bioderma Sebium to spot clean my brush. Since Bioderma is very effective in removing makeup and also designed for sensitive skin, I thought there will be no harm on using it on my makeup brushes.

There are special makeup brushes cleaning spray on the market that can be bought to spot clean makeup brushes. However, I find that those cleaning sprays contain alcohol which is not good for the makeup brushes as well as for my sensitive skin. The makeup brushes cleaning spray that I tried before was from ELF.

When I clean my makeup brushes using baby shampoo, I have to soak it in shampoo for a while and then meticulously sweep the brush in a criss-cross motion to remove any makeup residue. However, with the Bioderma, I just have to soak a piece of tissue with Bioderma and then sweep the brush head across. Instantly, the makeup residue will be transferred to the tissue. I did this twice and my makeup brush looked cleaner. I was pleasantly amazed.

Sometimes, even after washing my makeup brushes with baby shampoo, I still find that there will be makeup residue left. Spot cleaning with Bioderma is a more effective way to remove those makeup residue.

This is a convenient and effective way to spot clean your makeup brushes for lazy people like me. :)

Dermatologist Journey Part II

~AG~

As mentioned before, here is the acne treatment regimen:

Step 1: Vitamin C serum all over the face day & night

Step 2: Antioxidant Moisture Solution all over the face day & night 

Step 3: Dalacin gel (an antibiotic) for spot treating acne day & night

Step 4: Retin-A Cream to be used every other night.


In the morning, I just use the Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. For cleansing at night, I use the Bioderma Sebium H20 first and then Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. 

After one week of the acne treatment regimen, I cannot see any noticeable improvement. 
However, some comments about the regimen.

• There was some slight dryness around my nose and chin area after the second time I used the Retin-A Cream. 
• My cheeks are the most sensitive area. So I did not apply Retin-A-Cream there.
• I noticed that my skin became tighter too. I made sure to apply the moisturising lotion generously. 
• For the Dalacin gel, I find that it is very effective for whitehead pimples. I applied the Dalacin gel on my pimple twice, and it was dried up. 

 I will be seeing Dr. Joyce for a follow-up this Friday. I will let you know what she says.

Dermatologist Journey Part I

I started seeing a dermatologist, Dr Joyce Lim, to help achieve the good skin I had before. My skin was breaking out quite badly in my nose area after my trip to Indonesia. While in Indonesia, my cousin told me about this dermatologist that she has been seeing. My cousin has problematic skin and has seen many different dermatologists before. But she mentioned that Dr. Joyce Lim's treatment works effectively without any negative side effects such as bad breakouts, peeling or dry skin. She said in one week she noticed difference in her skin condition. This made me want to try Dr. Joyce Lim's treatment. I asked her about the price and she said it was between $200-300 in total, which I think is reasonable priced for a dermatologist. 

A picture of my skin condition without any face makeup. This is after one week of using the steroid cream for my sensitive skin. There is some redness around the nose area. Plus some tiny pimples on my T-zones especially between my eyebrows and on top of my eyebrows. 

When I got back to Singapore, I made an appointment to see Dr. Joyce Lim. During the consultation, I told her about my ultra sensitive skin and acne breakouts. A few points I like to mention about what she said.

1. She said sunscreen is a common cause of acne. So she told me to stop using sunscreen for a while unless I will be outdoor for an extended time. 
2. For oily skin, using cleansing oil to remove makeup is a no-no. She recommend that I use Bioderma cleansing water especially the one for oily/combination skin. 
3. She said that since my acne was around my nose area, it was due to hormonal causes. By the age of 30, my acne will disappear. But she said it should be treated to prevent scarring. 
4. For sensitive skin, I should NOT be using masks and scrubs. 
5. It may take up to 3 months to get my skin to a good condition. In the meantime, my skin might breakout all at once. Because the treatment is "getting rid" of all the acne that is trapped beneath the skin surface. She said that my once a month huge pimple might pop up all at once. That seriously put me off for a bit. But no pain, no gain right?

So here are what she prescribed for the acne treatment: 

Step 1: Vitamin C serum all over the face day & night

Step 2: Antioxidant Moisture Solution all over the face day & night 

Step 3: Dalacin gel (an antibiotic) for spot treating acne day & night

Step 4: Retin-A Cream to be used every other night. 

I've only started this regimen for two days. Before that she gave me a steroid cream (Desonide Cream) to treat my sensitive skin first. I was using it for a week before starting on this acne treatment. During that week, I only used that steroid cream and no other face products. 

I will update you all again in a week about my skin condition. Wish me luck!

Benefit Lollitint

A new tint product from Benefit Cosmetics. It is a Candy Orchid

Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner

~AG~

I bought this eyeliner recently in Taiwan. It is one of the most popular Japanese eyeliner brands. My Taiwanese friend, Janet, told me that this eyeliner is really famous because it was showcased in a television show there.  It is a felt-tip eyeliner that is water resistant and smudge proof.

I have seen this eyeliner being sold before in Singapore. They sell it at Watsons and Sasa here.

In the States, you can find it at beauty stores in Asian towns. I have seen it being sold at Rowland Heights, CA and also at Little Tokyo, CA.

It retails for $18-20. I bought it for slightly less than $18. 

I still have quite a bit of eyeliner to try and review. So, please stay tuned for review on this product.