NEW BUY: Drugstore Haul

 My haul from Target

~AG~

My favorite place to browse through drugstore products in the United States is Target. It has a great selection of beauty products at reasonable prices. As I write this post, I miss Target beauty aisles even more. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara 

US $6.99 (S$10)

-- It is the first patented fanning brush with 10 layers of bristles to create a full fan effect.

EOS Hand Lotion in Berry Blossom 

US$1.99 (SS$3)

-- The palm-sized packaging is cute. This hand lotion contains shea butter, aloe and oats to keep hands soft and smooth. It is fast absorbing and also non-greasy. 

Aquaphor Lip Repair 
US$3.97 (S$4)
-- This drugstore favorite relieves dry and chapped lips. It provides long-lasting moisture for the lips. Formulated with Shea Butter and Chamomile for well-moisturized lips.

Physician Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush 
US$10.63 (S$15.50)
-- This blush is infused with Happy Boost Blend containing Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins (feel-good hormone) and protecting the skin against environmental aggressors. 

Physician Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum 
US$9.63 (S$14)
-- This special product enhances the appearance of lashes while providing definition an eyeliner. Lash Boosting Complex targets the base of the lashes where it is most effective. The eyeliner claims to be water-resistant and smudge-resistant.  

Yes to Miracle Oil primRose Oil Mud Mask 
US$2.50 (S$3.70)
-- This mud mask contains primrose oil to soothe skin and calm redness. The mask leaves skin feeling cool and hydrated. 

Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Waterproof Mascara 
US$6.99 (S$10)
-- I am a big hand of Covergirl mascaras. This is mascara has petal-shaped brush and soft mousse formula to create full lashes that are not stiff nor brittle.

REVIEW: Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly Eyeshadow Palette

  ~AG~

This is my second Too Faced eyeshadow palette in my collection. Many years ago, like in 2009, I bought a Too Faced eyeshadow palette. It was around the time when they were popular for their Natural Eye Neutral Eyeshadow that came in a boxed packaging. 

 

This Peanut Butter & Jelly Eyeshadow palette was a birthday gift from a friend. First thing I noticed was the familiar scent of eye shadows. It really smells like PBJ! This palette contains 9 matte and shimmer shades that are inspired by peanut butter & jelly. The shades: Spread the Love, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Cup, Bananas, Peanut Brittle, Jammin, Extra Creamy, Jelly and Nuts About You. The eye shadows are infused with antioxidant rich cocoa powder. The palette comes with a handy booklet that shows you how to combine the shades.

REVIEW: Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer

Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer

~AG~

This Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer is my new makeup must-have! This sponge-tip applicator concealer is handy to have in your makeup bag. It is easy to use and great for on-the-go. Having been plagued with severe dark circles ever since I was a teenager, there is this never-ending quest to find THE perfect under eye concealer. I have tried more than 10 under eye concealers/correctors - Bobbi Brown Corrector, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer, Laura Mercier Camouflage Concealer, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, Benefit Cosmetics Fakeup Hydrating Under Eye Concealer, Benefit Cosmetics ErasePaste, YSL Touche Eclat and many more. 

After trying a few other concealers at Sephora, the saleslady there recommended Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer. The shade she selected for me is Light Medium which has peach undertones. The saleslady mentioned that Too Faced Radiant Concealer contains Coconut Water which replenishes skin's moisture level. She noticed that my under eye area was dry and said that this concealer would be suitable for my skin type, as it also contains Hyaluronic Acid. When she tested Too Faced Radiant Concealer on my under eye areas, it matched my skin tone well and did not accentuate my dry patches. The texture of this concealer is not thick at all. It has a lightweight consistency and does not feel creamy. 

The true test of this concealer was whether this Too Faced Concealer will stay on well in Singapore's humid weather. Surprisingly, Too Faced Radiant Concealer was long-lasting. It did not crease in Singapore's hot and humid conditions. Even after 8 hours of wear, the concealer did not crease nor did it melt off. I put 3-4 dots of concealer on each under eye area, and then blend it with my ring fingers. I do not even use a powder to set the concealer, and it lasts all day! True to its claims, my under eyes area does not feel dry at all. It also contains Alpine Rose to brighten and boost skin's radiance. This concealer has medium coverage and works great for covering dark circles and minor blemishes. It blends well into the skin and creates a smooth finish. 

Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer is available in 10 shades. It comes with 0.7 ml of concealer and retails for US $28 (S$40). It is a rather expensive price tag for a concealer but you only need little product to cover your blemishes and dark circles. I highly recommend this concealer to those that have dry under eyes area or have dry skin. The lightweight texture is long-lasting and looks natural. 

NEW BUY: Ulta Haul

 ~AG~

Let me introduce you to Ulta Beauty which can be found in the U.S.A. Ulta Beauty is similar to Sephora though they also carry drugstore brands such as Maybelline, NYX, Cover Girl, as well as a variety of hair care products. I <3 walking through Ulta Beauty to browse their mini-sized version of beauty products.

Here are some things that I purchased from Ulta Beauty:

1) Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo US$12 (S$17)

For days when I wake up late and do not have time to wash my hair. I have tried several dry shampoo before and this dry shampoo is my favorite yet. It does not leave any white residue on dark hair. Plus, it really absorbs oil and leaves hair feeling fresh. 

2) Benefit Dandelion Mini US$15 (S$21)

Sharon Park, my makeup artist used this blush on me for the prewed shoot and it surprisingly showed up well on my skin. Since I still have a handful of other blushes in my collection, getting a mini version makes me less guilty. Hehe ^_^

3) IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Corrector in Medium US$29 (S$41)

My sister, MG, asked me to try the IT Cosmetics Undereye Concealer. 

What really attracted me to this product was the claim that it is "8 hours of sleep in a jar". It contains green coffee extract, cucumber, avocado, aloe, peptides, niacin and hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed collagen. All these beneficial ingredients must be of some help to my dark circles. *cross my fingers*

The corrector has a creamy texture that is lightweight. 

4) Eco Tools Deluxe Fan Brush US$5.99 (S$9)

A fan brush has been on my wishlist for a while. A fan brush is great for applying a light finish of highlighters or powders. Eco Tools is a great drugstore brand for brushes. I bought some Eco Tools brushes 4 or 5 years ago, and it still works well! The bristles are soft and it does not shed much. 

5) Eco Tools Eye Perfecting CC Brush US$5.99 (S$9)

This is part of Eco Tools new collection, Complexion Collection. This rounded tip brush mimics the shape of a finger for easy application of cream, concealers and moisturizers around or under the eyes. This brush results in less tugging around the sensitive eye area.

REVIEW: Skin Inc. My Daily Dose Custom-Blended Serum

My limited edition Daily Dose in Serenity packaging 

~AG~

This custom-blended serum from Skin Inc. has been part of my skincare regimen for about two weeks now. My Daily Dose contains three different types of serum:

1. Vitamin A Serum for uneven skin tone and dark circles. This serum combats skin dullness and sign of tiredness around the eyes. It comes with a patented pink seaweed capsules.Pink seaweed capsules
2. Licorice Serum to calm sensitive and irritated skin and pimples. Licorice Serum contains Green Tea Extracts that calm the skin and has antioxidant properties. It comes with patented purple seaweed capsule. Purple seaweed capsules
3. Ceramide Serum solves roughness, dry and skin sensitivity. Ceramide Serum features four different types of Ceramides that strengthen the skin barrier and soothe dehydrated and sensitized skin. It comes with patented turquoise seaweed capsule. Green seaweed capsules

I was most excited to use this serum because it could solve all skincare woes. My skin is prone to pimples especially around the T-zone areas. Also, my severe dark circles have been a constant concern. On top of that, my skin is ultra sensitive and tend to react negatively to certain skin care products. According to the saleslady, the serums from Skin Inc. are water-based, and thus it is safe to use for my under eye areas.  The pure active ingredient is contained in the different colored seaweed capsules. 

So what are my thoughts on this S$169 customized serum?
From my experience, there should be more capsules included in the serum. If you look at the serum, you would think that there is plenty of capsules. However, when you use the dropper, there are times when there are no capsules in each drop. You are supposed to use 3 drops of the serum for your entire face. Often times, one out of the three drops does not contain any capsules. Then, I would have to add in another drop - using more serum that recommended. Since the capsules are the ones containing the active ingredients target skin issues. 

I would not repurchase this Skin Inc. My Daily Dose Custom-Blended Serum because different skin areas have different issues. For example, Vitamin A serum was supposed to be for dark circles but it ended up . However, because the seaweed capsules have been mixed, I cannot target the pink seaweed capsules solely for my under eyes area. The same can be said for the Licorice serum which was supposed to be only for my acne-prone areas such as forehead, nose and chin.