2017
And here was...another long post that was deleted from blogspot for some magical reason... ;3; But that's alright~ haha . Anyway this year was a rather surprising discovery of finding makeup products I actually like . Usually I only opt for the BB cushion and lip tint and that's it, but I think there was something in Japan's makeup scene that really made me want to try it out . And I'm glad I did ! So here's my overall list:

► MISSHA The Original Tension Pact Perfect Cover (in #21)
► MISSHA x LINE Poptastic Jelly tint line
► KATE TOKYO Eyeliner EX-1
► BANDAI La Rose de Versailles Mascara
► CEZANNE Natural Cheek #05
► MAKE UP FOREVER HD Microfinish Face Powder
► INNISFREE No-Sebum Mineral Powder
► EXCEL Powder & Pencil Eyebrow EX PD01

MISSHA The Original Tension Pact Perfect Cover (in #21) 

I literally bought this a month or so ago but despite this I absolutely adore the product . It's colour is not a ghostly looking white, it is extremely long lasting without a primer or a finishing powder, and it really makes your skin looks gorgeously smooth . The only downside of this product is that it does tend to move around a bit if you put more than two layers on, but it has a wonderful natural finish . It is the very definition of 'your skin but better' . I've also done an extensive review of this which you can find here .


MISSHA x LINE Poptastic Jelly tint line 

I've reviewed this line before, so this may not come as a surprise to anyone who's been reading this blog for a while now . But unlike the Banila co. Dual tint's that I also really like, I feel as though the 6 colours are more diverse and will suit more seasons and occasions . It leaves a natural finish and colour on the lips and best of all, doesn't dry the lips out .

KATE TOKYO Eyeliner EX-1

This product has converted my apprehensiveness of wanting to use eyeliner, and has really made me comfortable with it . Since it's not pitch black it gives a nice makeup look that's subtle . Oh and did I mention that it also has a powder side which makes it easy for making a fantastic smokey look ? It's as awesome as it sounds, and if you feel like getting a versatile product a highly recommend this one .


BANDAI La Rose de Versailles Mascara

Apart from the fact that it's made by BANDAI which is a gaming and anime goods company which I find painfully ironic but funny, this mascara delivers a really wonderful natural but voluminous finish . I've never liked makeup that was obvious or mascara that looked heavy, so if you are all about super eyelashes this product may not be for you . For people that want to slowly dip their feet into make up water or prefer a natural look, I definitely recommend this one if you get the chance to visit Japan .

CEZANNE Natural Cheek #05 

For around $3-4 you get a long lasting blush which you can't over apply, which makes it a very excellent and beginner friendly makeup item . If you've seen me talk about this in my videos, you'll know that I'm not exactly a fan of shimmer in my makeup, but because it has so much pros for how much it costs, I really don't mind it . I think of it as...a nice soft shimmery finish . xD

And for anyone who missed it here's my video for my makeup favourites . ^^

MAKE UP FOREVER HD Microfinish Face Powder 

With its exceptional finish which literally makes you look flawless in photos and videos, it felt immediately worth its weight in gold . Even though it doesn't exactly cover up these imperfections in real life, it does it so well in front of any recording device . With the amount that you get it'll last a really long time, and it also controls oil considerably well . Because of this not only do I use it when recording videos, but I actually use it daily in the crazy humidity of the Japanese Summer .

INNISFREE No-Sebum Mineral Powder 

For those who don't have an oily skin problem, or do not live in extremely humid climates, I definitely recommend this product . This is because it has the ability to do the same thing as the MAKE UP FOREVER HD powder for people without these problems, and it's only $5 . Compared to the Microfinish powder it is literally a steal !

EXCEL Powder & Pencil Eyebrow EX PD01 

This has recently become apart of cosme's hall of fame and if you want to know why, it's because it IS literally an eyebrow pencil, eyebrow powder and eyebrow brush all-in-one . It is a wonderfully versatile product for only $10 USD, comes in a variety of colours as well, and has very little colour fallout . I honestly really, really recommend this product for any and every makeup lover out there .

Made it from the top now we here

This year was amazing in terms of the discovery of makeup for me, and it was quite the adventure finding a lot of the Japanese makeup . I actually started trying it out since I was walking in the department store cosmetic section so a lot of makeup I bought at first was just because I was curious . For any of you planning to go Japan, I definitely recommend just strolling around the cosmetic section of any department store or supermarket, because you'll definitely find a cosme no. 1 somewhere or something that you'll want to try out .

The favourites posts aren't over yet though, since the pop culture one will be next . So stay tuned ! And while you're at it tell me what your makeup favourites is and why (brownie points for any natural finish makeup haha) !




Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

I actually wrote this before but blogspot deleted it after I decided to tweak it a bit...wow do I feel like throwing a chair . But it's ok, because any post to do with skin care is a good post~ haha . Now let's get right down to it ! The overall list is:


► WISHTREND Vitamin C 21.5
► MIZON All In One Snail Repair Cream
► KRACIE HADABISEI Wrinkle Care Mask
► ROSETTE Cleansing Paste - Kaidei Smooth
► KIEHL'S Lip Balm #1 (Mango flavoured)
► SU:M 37 White Award Micro Whipping Deep Cleansing Foam
► ANGFA ScalpD Beauté Scalp Free Eyelash

I will go into a quick summary as to why I like each one of them, and provide any links if I've done a review on it . So on to the first one~

And here's my video incase you missed it . :D

WISHTREND Vitamin C 21.5 Serum

I've actually used this product before in its early days known as the Vitamin C20 serum and have even made a review on it, but I do believe that old review won't really mean much to this product since they're quite different . I love this product for the fact that it seeps into my skin well and easily, and really keeps my acne at bay . I think lightening the pigmented dark spots would do better with the Vitamin C 9-5 cream, but I'm impressed with this alone anyway !

Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream

Bought, tested and loved, I must be on my fourth tub of this now . It's the first skin care product that I've ever reviewed on Youtube and admittedly I can't say it's the best, but what I do know is that it gives sufficient moisture to my skin and it always helps in in calming acne down . In terms of being a good safe product for acne prone or blemished skin, I've found that this cream has always just been 'the safe bet'. So even though I feel as though nowadays it doesn't really improve my skin, it still prevents acne from happening or prevents my skin from becoming dry. This product doesn't wow me but it's not very bad either . In general, it's very, very good . haha .

KRACIE HADABISEI Wrinkle Care Mask

At this rate I really consider this product one of my holy grails, as I always need to have it on me . Not only is it a good primer for makeup in the morning, but it greatly helps in reducing redness as well as eye bags (if you use the eye mask, which I do) . It's also excellent as a moisturiser as well . Ok, I can keep going, clearly . But this product is a must have for me whenever I need some skin fixing up in the morning . 

ROSETTE Cleansing Paste - Kaidei Smooth 

This is a cosme (a popular cosmetic ranking in Japan) favourite, surprising since SHISEIDO's Perfect Whip has a great reputation outside of the country despite the fact that it's a Japanese brand . But I definitely agree with Kaidei Smooth being chosen as one of the no. 1 cleansers . I remember when I started breaking out, this immediately really calmed it down after 2 days of continuous use . Even though there's a blue formula in the line that's meant to target acne, Kaidei Smooth (the green one) is much, much, ten times more, better and effective . lol .
Growing up I was a pretty chronic dry-lips sufferer . For some reason Lip balm never exactly moisturised my lips, but I find that this does a superb job in doing so . If you put too much of this on, it will leave some odd residue on your lips so it'll be best to make sure to set it by putting your lips on some tissue . Despite this I like it a lot for the fact that it actually moisturises my lips . It also gets awesome brownie points for smelling absolutely wonderful and coming in a tube, which means you don't have to use your fingers (nice and hygienic~) !

SU:M 37 White Award Micro Whipping Deep Cleansing Foam

It's kind of funny how I had this product for a long time but didn't use it until this year . What I like about it is the fact that it really brightens the complexion as well as cleanses the skin . I have a more in-depth review here, but because it's not a heavy weight cleanser I like using this in the morning . Doing this ensures that my skin doesn't go dull for the rest of the day .

ANGFA ScalpD Beauté Scalp Free Eyelash

Oddly enough, the product name doesn't describe much, but this is basically an eyelash serum to help lift your eyelashes if they are just sticks based above or below your eyes (y'know what I'm saying ?) . This serum helps to make your eyelashes fan up, and isn't harmful to your eyes . Since I have really short, stick-ly stubborn little eyelashes, this product has helped me a lot in the curling process  when doing my eyelashes . This product is around 1600 yen in Japan as well (approximately $15 USD) which makes it wonderfully inexpensive for an effective eyelash serum . After the product goes into effect you don't have to use it again for around a month or so, which makes it wonderfully easy to maintain .

And that's a wrap !

I'm sorry if each description seemed really short, but if I went into depth with all of them then this post would literally go on forever, and this isn't a review post lol . There's actually a lot of products I'm liking at the moment, but these are products that have really been trialled and tested, so consider these the highest tip of of a beautiful golden iceberg . 

And that's especially true since make up will be next ! But what are your skin care holy grails ? Let me know . :)




Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

Because here at The Teacoast, we like embroidery (as I'm sure you all know haha) . 

I'm a huge fan of BTS (Bangtan boys or 방탄소년단) so when I saw this type of design it really reminded me of their theme in Blood Sweat Tears (lovin' the whole Asian aristocrat vibe in that MV too, I've just gotta say .)

Knit top: Romwe.com | Skirt: UNIQLO | Flats: yesstyle.com

I recently got this top and I absolutely adore it . Its warm, stylish and best of all, looks absolutely classic . Its sleeves are long which is my favourite part, considering the fact that usually when I buy tops online one of my pet peeves is the fact that the sleeves are always a tad bit shorter than what I want I want it to be #SweaterPawsAddict . Paired up with some flats and a modest skirt, it makes for a cute outfit, wouldn't you agree ? Mixing chic with modesty is always one of my favourite kinds of fashion styles .

And how about you ?


Signing Out,


-THE TEACOAST .

There is something I particularly like about meticulous embroidery and street style jackets that just suit so well . Perhaps it reminds me of the graffiti in a street alley ?  
Two Tone Funnel Neck Graphic Chunky Sweater - $18.50

I lowkey would love to wear this on an aeroplane, heh .

I am actually a really big fan of shirts like these . I usually don't like buying these sorts of shirts online because it's usually far too small for my liking, but I'm glad that this site has finally included model stats, yay !

After hearing that there were releases of BB cushions that were highly raved about, I decided to buy these three BB cushions on a whim (despite the fact that they weren't empty yet, which is what I usually do *heavy sigh at naughty spending habits) .

The thing is, I've been a BB cream and cushion user for a long time and I've used BB creams since I was 14 years old (which makes it what, nearly 9 years since I've been using that sort of product now ?) . If there's anything that I know, it's that the BB cream and cushion formulas are excellent, but they suffer from things such as oxidisation, being far too white, and/or not having a great long lasting finish . So to here that there were affordable products that could finally eliminate that, was something that got my wallet out far too quickly haha .

I made a video about these products recently so you can see how long they can last for around 6+ hours . In this video I put about 3 layers on to let people see what the product looked like when you completely covered the blemishes . I also wanted to test to see if the products would cake up, since when I was using these BB cushions in my everyday wear I wouldn't put 3 layers on my face .


In this written review though, I'll go more into depth of how they were like overall and mainly when I was wearing these for daily wear . To be honest I actually don't dislike any of these products and would actually recommend all of them . But there are different pros and cons to each product so I think it's really up to your sort of tastes .

CC Cushion APRIL SKIN Magic Snow Cushion White

Average Price: ~$20 USDTone used: #21 (light beige)Finish: MatteCoverage: Medium-HighWhere to get it: here~ :)

Pros: 

  • The finish is really amazing . It's the smoothest most loveliest finish and this finish will last for around 2-3 hours . After that the smoothness fades .
  • It has this nice sort of foundation-like finish
  • Best coverage amongst the cushions in this review
  • Overall this product can easily last 6+ hours on the skin without uncovering blemishes or redness
  • Even after oxidisation the finish makes the skin looks bright instead of dull
  • Doesn't cake up in drier weather conditions
  • claims that with continued use it can remove wrinkles and brighten/lighten the face

Cons:

  • In the first couple of hours it's a rather unnatural pasty white, and the colour seems more pinkish than beige . 
  • Actually overall it's a pasty sort of colour, so it doesn't really look natural (but hey maybe you're into that) .
  • It says it has the ability to remove wrinkles, but amongst the other cushions that were reviewed, this settled into the pores and lines in the face the most .
  • It's not too bad and I'm not really surprised, but after 3 or so hours the matte finish will fade away for those who have normal/oily skin . 
  • I think it gets quite cakey in humid conditions, even with one layer on . It will also tend to transfer more .

Overall:

Do I think this is a bad product ? No . But out of all the other cushions I liked this one the least just due to the fact that the finish looked so unnatural . To me BB Cushions should just make the skin tone brighter, not whiter . Also it really settled into my smile lines which I have quite a bit of a complex with .

If anything I recommend this to people who have much paler skin that don't suffer from fine lines . If you don't have a problem with your skin being a bit shiny after 3 or so hours as well, then I think this cushion will be your new best friend haha .

MISSHA Signature Essence Cushion

Average Price: ~$14 USDTone used: #23 (natural beige)Finish: DewyCoverage: Low-MediumWhere to get it: here ! :D

 Pros:

  • Least likely to settle into the fine lines or just settle into your face in general
  • Though its coverage is the least out of the cushions, the smoothness of its finish will last for a really long time
  • On that point, I think its the cushion that keeps to its original finish after hours of having it on, the most .
  • Doesn't cake
  • Easily lasts even after 8 or so hours

Cons:

  • Doesn't cover redness and/or blemishes very well
  • If your skin is dull, this will definitely show after 3-4 hours
    • This probably means that its oxidisation doesn't do so great either
  • If you don't clean the place where you put the puff or replace the puff in a span of two weeks, it will really  break you out
  • Accentuates dry spots (surprising since this cushion is targeted towards dry skinned people)
  • For the oily skinned people it will make you look like a disco ball after 3 hours, especially in humid conditions

Overall:

I was sooooo fond of this product until it broke me out like a mother chucker . @_@ Seriously if you don't clean that puff and the surface that you put it on it will not bode too well for you . I consider myself to have normal skin, but I got super oily when I was using this product . This was during an extremely humid summer though . But even using it in the drier times I still get those blasted breakouts . It's such a shame since out of all of the other cushions this one has my most favourite finish . 

But to me skin care comes first, so because I prioritise preventing breakouts first, I wouldn't get this product again . You might think "just replace your cushion every two weeks" but that's easier said than done . It's not like I don't clean my products, however if you want me to be completely truthful I probably clean them after a month or so, because I simply don't remember at times . I don't want to breakout simply because I forgot to do something, you know ?

So for those people that don't mind the super high maintenance products, I definitely recommend this BB Cushion . I want to recommend this to dry skinned people, but it's unfortunate that it will accentuate dry patches if you have any (which I find kind of odd, especially since this product has a dewy finish) .

I can't hate on this product because damn, that long lasting finish in dry conditions is to die for . T_T

MISSHA The Original Tension Pact Perfect Cover

Average Price: ~$13 USDTone used: #21 (light beige)Finish: Matte/Semi-MatteCoverage: Medium-HighWhere to get it? here~! :O

 Pros:

  • Easily lasts 8+ hours
  • Doesn't cover blemishes so well, but it does cover redness very well
  • Brightness of product will easily continue after 8+ hours
  • Coverage will fade a bit, but for the most part will continue even after 8+ hours as well
  • Spot covering is possible and not obvious
  • A little goes a long way with this product, and is the most easiest to apply out of all the cushions in this review
  • Doesn't usually transfer
  • Great natural finish
  • claims to also have anti-wrinkling and whitening properties

Cons:

  • Seems to have a tendency to accentuate the bumps in the skin after 3 or so hours
  • Transfers the most when more layers are applied- I liked this product the least when I applied 3 layers on
  • Though it has the ability to cover your imperfections, I think it won't do it quite as well as the Magic Snow Cushion

Overall:

Out of all the cushions in this review, this was the one I liked the most, mainly because of how natural the colour of the finish was . Another thing I really liked about this product was also the fact that it doesn't break me out nor oxidise badly . While the other products has different pros to it, I think that as good, hassle-free, everyday wear, this product is the most fitting to these ideals (which are basically my highest priorities when applying makeup) .

Again though, having 3 full layers of this on my face was a nightmare lol .

All these amazing Cushions, and so little money . 

So that's it for my review and overall I was thoroughly impressed with all of them ! But at the end different tastes have different preferences right ? So when reading this review I hope you do keep in mind that my skin has a tendency to get oily, and the climate I was using these BB cushions in was predominately during hot weather conditions with high (so very high T_T) levels of humidity . 

Those are my final remarks on these cushions and I'm glad to see the makeup world evolving so fast ! I wish these were invented when I was in high school, since they're are so convenient haha . Anyway, which BB or CC cushions do you prefer ? I'd love to know . :)



Signing Out,


-THE TEACOAST .

Featured:


Bomber jackets have become a huge trend lately, and with the bold and wild statements you can make (as well as the designs that you can create on them), I can see why . I love the fact that they're a really great way to look both edgy and street at the same time . To be honest, I always thought to myself that I'd never wear an army jacket or a denim jacket, but gosh these designs do it so darn well . The denim jacket got me especially since I'm a huge fan of Roy Lichtenstein !

Of course I'd add sweaters since right now, is definitely the definition of 'sweater weather' . I've been dying to share the choker sweaters though, as soon as I saw those designs I was like that looks sooo gooood !! Chokers and sweaters are an excellent combination and what's better than literally having a product that's essentially a two in one ? 

It's the end of the year so I wanted to add lovely dresses for the end of season parties that are to come in December . I've always vouched for really classy designs that had some sort of floral pattern integrated into it, so when I saw these dresses I really fell in love with them . I also like the fact that since these are all A-line dresses, you don't have to worry about your gut or looking fat . A trick I like to use every time, heh heh .

So what are your seasonal picks ? Oh, and remember to stay warm for the upcoming Winter !



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .



*anything marked with this is sponsored .
Great story, I just finished doing a skills assessment because me nor my family couldn't find my Higher School Certificate stuff (which is the certificate you get once you complete your final exam in high school at Sydney Australia) . I spent a couple of good hours studying for it, so if I don't pass I know well and truly, that at the age of 23, graduating from high school was just a fluke .

Whether I'm amused by the thought or not, I'm not quite sure . Anyways, let's move onto the favourites, shall we ?

Cosmetics

MISSHA x LINE Poptastic Jelly Tint (Maple Latte & Salsa Red)

I've really been liking these colours since they're excellent for the colder months . I've always liked this line (and I've done a review of it which you can find here) . They are the darker and more mute sort of shades you'd rather use for daily wear . Another thing that I really like about these tints in particular though is the fact that it never seems to dry out my lips, and they're very comfortable to wear .

BANILA CO. Two Kisses Dual Tint (01 Red Princess)

If I don't feel like wearing a 'mute' sort of lip colour then I like using the emulsion part of this tint . It has a clear sort of red colour and isn't bright, which makes it more appropriate for Autumn and Winter . I've also reviewed this tint line and quite enjoy it for the fact that it doesn't dry out the lips as well, and it doesn't feel like you're wearing this tint either .

MISSHA The Original Tension Pact #21

I bought a bunch of BB cushions due to their much raved about reviews, but I found that I liked this one the most . To be honest, I think the other two BB cushions I used were also of really good quality, but essentially just didn't suit to my needs . 

What I personally really like about this BB cushion (or BB cushion pact I suppose ?) is the fact that its colour isn't sort of snow white or pasty white, as that is simply not my skin tone . It also has a matte finish which is the sort of finish that I prefer, and a little goes a long way with this product . I can go on and on about why I like this product, but that can wait until the review haha . Because there's not much oxidisation with this cushion though, I'm considering of getting it in #23 once my current BB cushion (pact ?) is finished .
SULWHASOO First Care Activating Serum

It was kind of funny because when I first used this product I wasn't particularly wow-ed by it, but I wanted to keep using it in order to not waste the product (Sulwhasoo is an expensive brand after all) . I stopped using it during the Summer because I felt it would be too much for my for my skin, and started using it again once the drier moments of fall came about . 

What I immediately recognised with it is the fact that it absorbed products that I used after it so fast . Since I use this in the morning and I use a mask as my sort of moisturiser and primer, it helped save a lot of time in terms of getting ready in the morning . I think if you want a mask to do an effective job and absorb better, you might want to try out this product (I won't lie to you though, this product be expensiveeeee @_@)

WISHTREND C20 Pure Vitamin C21.5 Advanced Serum

Since my skin has gotten particularly oily this year (it has finally met the definition of humidity, unfortunately), I got a lot of breakouts and acne happening here and there . Because of this the blemish clearing, acne preventing, and acne scar fading product has got me using it once again . I've done a review on the old version of this before, so I'll probably make a different review for this one since it is quite different from how it once was .

Products

VOLUSPA Crème de Peche
(available in the mini travel candle trio sets)

After buying this candle I'm not too sure whether I'll buy another type of candle ever again haha . I love the smell of this so much !! It is the embodiment of peaches and cream and I am so devastated that I can't buy a big candle version of this . I truly am . :( haha .

STARBUCKS Origami Drip Coffee 

So in an attempt to save money I've been going to Starbucks less, and I think this what led me to finally buy the Origami Drip Coffee available in the Japanese grocery stores- and boy was it one of the best choices I've ever made . For around 500 yen you can get a box of 5 of these drip sets, and best of all it is a self made drip ! This means you don't need any extra equipment apart from your cup, and you can simply throw it away after . And the best part is the coffee is exactly the same quality as the stuff you buy in-store, it's fantastic . 

Pop Culture

Glass Animals - How To Be A Human Being (Album)

It was kind of funny how I found this album, since I was just letting Spotify go through its random shuffle in the game songs section . When I heard a song I was like "oh, this sounds like Glass Animals ?" and turns out it was haha . One of the things I really liked about Glass Animals is the fact that their sound was really unique, so I always kept an eye and an ear out for them .

Admittedly their first album kind of suffers from the 'same sound' syndrome, but I was really impressed with how varying the sounds of this album was ! On the cover of this album, you see 12 people on the cover, and apparently each song from the album represents one person on the cover . I think that's an excellent concept and adds more depth to the album . Regardless of their more diverse beats, they've still kept the strong bass and primal sounds that makes their sound unique . I really like the songs 'Youth' and 'Life Itself' especially !

The Neighbourhood - When I Get Back (ft. G-Eazy)

The Neighbourhood always had this sort of chill, but sad as hell sort of sound to it . Hearing this song I feel like they've kept the chill but it was less sad, and I really liked that ! I feel as though The Neighbourhood are at least having better days haha . 

Apart from that, that laid back sound and testament to what you call truly home is something that resonates with me (especially since I'll be coming back for Christmas in December) . I grew up in the warm and sunny area that was Sydney, and that place may not exactly be California, but I had fun in my Sydney Summer's and its Summer sun .





And that's it for my favourites ! I had quite a bit of a haul this month so I think that was more than I expected haha . What are your favourites for the coming colder months ? I'd love to know ! :)



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .
I decided to try something different with the video of this review so I truly hope you guys enjoyed it ! Because it was a PAIN to edit LOL . Final Cut Pro looked like layers upon layers of something, and oh how it lagged my computer . oh how it lagged it . T_T Despite that I hope the video review was useful to you guys and now here's the written version of it ! 

Here's the video for anyone wondering what I may be talking about ! haha

General Overview

The price tag of each of these are approximately $15 . Before you think to yourself that this may seem a bit expensive for a tint, each tint does come with both a gel and emulsion . So if you really think about it you're buying two tints for that price- which I don't think is a bad thing at all ! And lucky for us it's pretty easy to find on big retail sites such as eBay and amazon too . :) Do take note that there's an older version of this lip tint so don't confuse it, the packaging of the old and current version is very different .

There are four colours available which are 01 Red Queen, 02 Pink Princess, 03 Bride Coral and 04 Bride Coral . I did not go in this order in the video, though . xD"

Bare colour swatch~
One side is the emulsion which is the milky and lighter coloured side, while the other is the gel which is a much more stronger and bolder colour . From what I've noticed the emulsions don't last for long, but the gels tend to stain the lips with the same colour as the emulsion once it fades out . So even though the strong colour of the gel won't last on your lips after you eat, it will at least leave some colour on your lips . Oh ! And another excellent thing about this product is it doesn't leave that too obvious colour stain on the glass (if not at all) when you drink or eat food (it's little things like this that makes me like a product a lot haha) .

These tints were made with the intention of doing the gradient lip more easily, which is one of the biggest makeup trends at the moment in South Korea . The brush makes it really easy to apply this gradient sort of style to your lips . Actually in general, the brush is really good for applying this product to your lips . ^^

What I've found with all of the tints in this line is the fact that they're all not drying on the lips . Whenever I've worn this lip tint I rarely apply lip balm . In addition when you wear this lip tint it really doesn't feel like it's there either . In general this line may not have the most excellent staying power after you eat, but after you drink the tints will stay for a good amount of time as well .

Swatches

01 Red Queen


This colour is a true red which is pretty much good for all sorts of skin types . The emulsion is a really pretty colour and my favourite from all the other emulsions too ! It makes my lips lighter with a lovely red shade that I've never seen from another tint, and rather than being a bright colour it's a soft colour . The gel on the other hand is a Hollywood sort of red, and really great if you want to wear red lips that are a little bit toned down, it's an elegant sort of red .

Usually red lip tints tend to settle in the lips, and this lip tint is no different . I guess the good thing though is that this lip tint also tends to last the least compared to the other lip tints, so I guess you won't have to worry about it settling into the lines of your lips for too long since it will fade away very fast haha . 

And I may be wrong with this one, but I feel as though the emulsion is good for warm skin tones while the gel is good for cool skin tones, which is why I think it would probably fit for all skin types ? But don't quote me on that haha . 

02 Pink Princess


If there's anything I immediately knew, it's that this shade is very well suited for those with cool toned skin lol . It may not seem like it here but the emulsion is really bright, though it also seems to be the weakest colour compared to the rest of the line . When I put it on my arm I could barely see it haha . Apart from being suitable for cool toned skin, this colour is veeeery vivid so I think it really gives a youthful sort of look, and super excellent for people who want to look young, make a fashion statement, or are high schoolers . I think the gradient is pretty great for making you look young while the gel really helps to make a bold sort of statement . The gel is a very party or summer-y sort of colour, while I think the emulsion suits quite well for the winter .

I've also just got to say, that the staying power of the emulsion of this must have transferred to the gel or something because the gel's stain lasts forever . Like, forever . I used water to take off the tints (where the emulsion of this was already gone by the first wipe), and then I used lip tint remover...and lip tint remover again . I think after cleaning my arm like 5 times the stain of this gel still stayed, so to you this can either be a blessing or a curse lol .

03 Orange Chew


Interestingly, the first thing I realised with this tint (contrary to the last one), is the fact that this is a really suitable colour for warm toned people . And since I'm warm toned- this is probably the tint I love the most from this line ! It'll do a really excellent job for flattering you if you're a warm skin toned person . ^^ Apart from the emulsion and gradient being great as everyday wear for those that have warm skin tones, the gel is also really great for making a statement with your makeup . When I see the gel I think it's a very fiery sort of red, which is another excellent choice for bold fashion statements !

When I said that the colour stain of the gel still stays even after you eat some food and what not, it especially applies for this tint ! The gel fades into a slightly stronger version of the emulsion, so I really don't mind eating with this lip tint on . ^^ haha

04 Bride Coral


For some reason I find it surprising that this tint seems to be much brighter than the Orange Chew lip tint . Is it because this colour is a combination of pink and orange ? Either way I'm also a pretty big fan of this lip tint as well . I currently use it for everyday wear for some reason (I guess it's because this is the first lip tint I bought from this line ? haha), but because its vividness is really similar to the Pink Princess tint, I think it's the most suitable for everyday wear in summer and spring . 

The gel of this is pretty interesting, and I think it's the first time that I've seen a coral gel tint this dark . The gel is a bright, unique colour and it's like a very bright red . If you want a red that will really draw attention I think this gel is really suitable for that !

Colour Comparisons

*I forgot to film the gradient lips for orange chew by the way, I'm so sorry lol . ><

Final thoughts + Would I repurchase it again ?

Compared to other lip tints I've used, these are at the better end in terms of quality for me . The fact that they don't dry out my lips and that for the most part it stains the lips evenly, makes me fond of using this product . 

I think out of all of these, I'll be most likely to purchase the Orange Chew again, since I will probably use it the most as it suits my skin tone very well ! I'm also fond of the emulsion in Red Queen haha . In terms of the colour range of this product line though, it is quite limited .

So there are my thoughts on the product, and how about yours ? Also did you find this review and the pictures helpful, and if not how can I improve ? I'd love to know your thoughts ! :)



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

Choker: sammydress.com | T-Shirt & pants: yesstyle.com
Jacket:  romwe.com

'Tis the season for thicker jackets which means I finally get to show off this one haha . I really adore the print at both the front and the back of the jacket, it's so gorgeous . This is the first type of jacket I got like this as well, and I am super impressed with the embroidery off it all . <3



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

You see the cream as well as the box, right ? The SU:M37 White Award Ultimate Whitening Ampoule cream basically only comes in a box set with other products, so instead of just reviewing the cream I decided to review all the products that came with the set that I bought . After all if you're planning to buy the product you should know the quality of all the products that you're buying, right ? haha .

Also the product name is ridiculously long, so I'm just going to go with "the white award cream" if that's alright with you LOL . Anyway let's begin !

General Overview

Price: $100 (it was $70 when I bought it though, which was around this time last year)
Accessibility: Easy to find on sites like eBay and amazon, not so easy to find in the small asian cosmetic specialty sites
Expiry date: approximately 2 years after purchase
Main ingredient: Micro Fermentation Pearl Protein Complex
Like I mentioned previously, you can't buy the cream on its own, and there will be other SU:M37 products along with it . In my set there was the White Award Ultimate Whitening Spot Essence Ex, White Award Micro Whipping Deep Cleansing Foam, and of course, the White Award Ultimate Whitening Ampoule in Cream . I'm aware that there's another set that has other products apart from these ones though . The $100 price tag may seem very expensive but both the cream and essence are full-sized products, while the foam is in a sample size . Along with these products there's also the spatula and ampoule for the cream .

In general, SU:M37 is known as a high-end department brand which is also the reason why its so expensive . XD" In addition the products seem to be targeted to a more older audience, but I really do believe that for the most part they make very excellent products for repair of the skin . I think it's also important to note that all these products should be used in your night time skin care routine only .

The really excellent thing about this product is the fact that it comes with a very thorough instruction manual that tells you how to correctly use the products, and the English instructions are seriously well written (nice work, translators !) . Because of this you'll be able to use this product with accuracy and know what it will do .

Here is a quick overview of the products separately:

and this is my video review if you don't feel like reading ;)

White Award Whitening Ampoule In Cream

 In this product you'll have to mix the pearl ampoule in before you start using it (the instruction manual will tell you how to do so) . Can I just add that the manual tells you to use the fat part of the spoon to mix but DON'T- use the skinny end to mix it thoroughly, trust me on this fam . Trust me .

White Award Ultimate Whitening Spot Essence EX

 For this one you can choose to apply it all over your face, but the directions suggest that you should apply it to the problem parts of your face . If you choose to apply it all over your face, you should apply the essence once more on areas that are problematic .

White Award Micro Whipping Deep Cleansing Foam

 As mentioned before, this is the only product to be a sample size in this box . There's no special gimmick with this product, so just use it like you usually use a cleansing foam haha .

Claims and Results

First I'll start with the White Award Whitening Ampoule In Cream:
  • treats dull skin- YES .It's fascinating to note that as soon as you put on the product, you will immediately see the fact that it brightens your face up, instantly . The brightening effect really lasts until the next day, so if you have a really important event you're going to want to use this the night before haha .
  • This product doesn't claim this, but a really important thing about this cream is also the fact that it is very moisturising . So much so that when I was using this product I was able to clear up my dry patches .
To be honest I think the biggest problem with dull skin is the fact that it needs to be treated consistently, and you can't ever really get rid of it . Some products do a so-so job with brightening, but with this product it really is like your face is much more brighter, as though it's rather refreshing to look at . Even though it wont completely get rid of dull skin, it will definitely get it out of the dull slump when you're using this product .

This product is also very excellent for moisturising, but I think because of this there are a lot of oily skin people that do not enjoy using this product . In general, a lot of oily skin type people don't like using SU:M37 and I think this product is no exception from that .

Now for the White Award Ultimate Whitening Spot Essence EX:

  • intensively treats shady spots of the skin- yup !
    This product is great, but I've found that differing problem spots take differing times to heal . For example when I used this product on a recent problem spot I noticed that the same spot never darkened as bad as some parts of my face, and healed much faster compared to other scars that have been there for longer . I can't give an exact timespan on how long a problem spot takes to heal with this product as I admittedly have never used the essence consistently enough for that . But usually I've seen that the essence takes into effect from 1 to 3 days of consistent use .
Last but not least, the White Award Micro Whipping Deep Cleansing Foam:
  • remove impurities and pollutants from pores- ..I guess ?
    When using this product I've found that it doesn't do a good job with cleaning off makeup . If you're a fan of doing the two-step cleaning routine though this probably wouldn't phase you . But I think this says a bit about the cleansing power of a product . REGARDLESS I do think this product does clean the skin, since whenever I use this product I've noticed that my skin is less likely to develop blemishes or bumps on the skin .
  • whitening action & refreshing sensation- yes !
    I've actually come to really like using this product, because I can tell that when I use it my skin just looks soooo... SOMETHING . I never understood the definition of "clear and translucent" until I saw what my skin looked like after using this wash . The skin just looks brighter and not only do you feel refreshed you also look refreshed too .
Because I realised that it doesn't do too much of a great job of washing off makeup, I've found that this is the perfect cleanser to use in the morning . I feel as though it does an excellent job of cleaning the minute imperfections that the skin might gather on the face, as well as brightening up the skin for the rest of the day .

Final thoughts + Would I purchase it again ?

I think all of these products do an excellent job at what they're meant to do . Originally I didn't necessarily buy this set for the whitening factor of the cream, but the moisturising factor of it . I'm not sure if I already mentioned it but the reason why my skin broke out of the dry spell it had for so long was because of this product . But because the cream worked so well for me I don't think I'll need to purchase it again because quite frankly...I don't need to . 

However I know that if ever I suffer from the dry patches again, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the first item I looked up to buy !

This set is pretty from head to toe too~
Do I think the product is excellent for whitening ? Yes, of course . But I just feel as though there are cheaper alternatives if I wanted to keep my skin from being dull . In terms of repurchasing the essence and foam though, I definitely would want to . The essence does a really excellent job in fading acne scars and the foam's brightening effect is very wonderful when you're using it in the morning . When I run out of the foam I really am thinking of repurchasing it again .

My final thoughts on these products is definitely a positive one, but I definitely want to warn people that have oily skin that they probably wouldn't want to use this product set . SUM:37 in general seems to not have a good reputation with oily skin conditioned people, as it's very moisturising . And even though yes, the reason why oily skin happens is because the skin is technically dry, I think what an oily skin conditioned person would want is something that not only moisturises the skin properly, but something that will control oil and sebum . Unfortunately these products do not focus on that, and apart from the foam, whenever my skin became oily I'd really refrain from using both the cream and essence .

So yes, there are my thoughts on the product, how about you ? Have you ever used this product ? Because if so I'd love to know your thoughts on it ! 



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

I've always been a sucker for interesting quizzes haha . Getty recently did a quiz about what the images you find most interesting say about your personality, and it was pretty refreshing as it definitely has different questions to your typical quiz .

In all honesty I actually took this quiz because I wanted to know what images I was attracted to so I could find out a good design style to use . But it turns out, that this quiz is more about your personality rather than how you design or work haha (my bad !) . Since it tells you about what kind of images attract you and gets your attention, it really helps to figure out what your inspiration habits are . So work wise, I guess this quiz was still very useful to me haha .

Even though the answers are still a tad bit vague, the way they break down your personality was really different to other tests that I've seen . I think this is a pretty good thing though because at least you get to learn about new facets in your personality . I think doing such things are really important in learning the capacity of who you are as a human .

The individual breakdown of your personality...look at that conscientiousness though smh LOL.
 I was a bit disappointed that this quiz wasn't about design sensibility . XD" But I didn't feel like I wasted my time either . So if you feel like learning more about yourself in taking a quiz that doesn't feel so stock standard, I really recommend you try it out ! Here's the quiz . :D




Signing out,

 -THE TEACOAST .

So when I asked you guys what you wanted to see as my next post, the most requested topic was beauty tips ! That actually came as a bit of a surprise actually, considering the other things I asked was a post about fashion or a product review (yes I also do lifestyle stuff as well, but I recently did a post about travel so I was like, I'd rather not LOL) . I've also been thinking about tips about beauty as well, so I guess it was good for helping me to stop procrastinating on the topic haha . :P

Now the things that I'm about to suggest are mainly things I've either learnt, recognised or saw when I was watching a beauty show . The tips I'm about to say are also... more like superstitions that I have in terms of taking care of my skin, I guess you could say ? haha . But still, these are the top things that I've kept in mind when taking care of my skin and I also think it's greatly helped in the overall maintenance of if as well . So here's some clear skin tips on how to have good skin, and how to keep it that way .

1. Don't use Vitamin C products in your daytime routine .

If you were unaware of it, Vitamin C is a popular ingredient for prevention of melanin, UV damage, and an excellent choice for not only brightening the skin but also evening out the skin tone-so much so that certain Vitamin C products do an extremely excellent job of clearing acne skin scars . It's an excellent ingredient, right ? So this skin care tip is rather unfortunate, but it's important that you only incorporate this very important ingredient to your night time skin care routines only .

If you use Vitamin C products during the daytime it can actually do more harm than good to your skin . If you're looking to whiten your skin for example, if you use Vitamin C during the day time it could make you darker rather than whiter (which is why it is extremely important to note that using papaya soap or lemon on your skin during the day has a lot of bad feedback) . This tip can have rather adverse affects to your skin, so it's really important for you to remember this one .

2. Don't mix whitening products with anti-wrinkle products .

This was something I learnt when I was watching a beauty show . To be honest, there's  a lot of science behind this one...so much so that I can't really explain it LOL . XD" After the end of a very long explanation though what I got was this; if you use whitening products and wrinkle care products at the same time, it will cancel out their effects . This means that your skin will get neither the whitening benefits or the anti-wrinkle benefits from the products that you're using . 

In short, if you're looking to brighten your skin, whiten your skin and take care of your wrinkles all at the same time- it'll be a good idea for you to separate your skin care routine instead . So for example have one month dedicated to the brightening of your skin, then one month for taking care of wrinkles . At least with this one it just cancels out the positive effects rather than causes adverse effects to your skin though haha .

I think the only instance you can get away with this is if you use anything that has snail as an ingredient, as snail is very good for not only brightening your skin, (only in terms of making it less dull though) but also for preventing wrinkles .

3. Acne problems ? Try to cut down on the dairy .

Sure, there are loads of factors that come into play when you start having acne breakouts . Stress, sleep, hormones, la di da, whatever . Even though I have like no actual scientific evidence for this, I swear dairy is one of the leading reasons why my skin gets INSANE acne breakouts . I remember talking to a friend about this (whose job is in the science field) and even though they said that there's no actual scientific evidence to prove that acne is linked to dairy..they did realise that they had a milkshake the day before talking to me and now they had a massive pimple on their nose when they were talking to me . XD

On personal experiences I remember I ate a dessert that had cream, butter and ice-cream included in it and the next day ? Broke out . There was also a time where I would use almond milk for my everyday smoothies and I would consistently get white heads and acne for the whole span I was using almond milk in my smoothies . I haven't completely cut the dairy (I still have milk in my coffee and eat cereal before I work out- which is 3 to 4 times a week), but I think it should only be consumed as a small portion rather than a staple . I really think you shouldn't have dairy in every meal you have . I also think if you eat a large portion of dairy during the night time...you should prepare for consequences lol .

4. Weather is important .


I used to live in Australia, and for a lot of years my skin had consistent problems with dry patches and overall dryness . I then moved to Japan . I came in the winter so that continued, but then summer came and suddenly..breakouts . Oily skin . Oily skin and more breakouts . I didn't understand it since Summer through to Winter in Australia was just dry patches for me .

Turns out that I didn't know the definition of 'humidity' until I came to Japan, and the fact that the Japanese summer is incredibly humid . Because of this I found out that Australia's weather is actually very dry and that's why our Summer's seem to be more comfortable . 30 degrees in Sydney is hot but it doesn't feel bad, whereas 30 degrees in Japan is hell . Actual hell .

Anyway disregarding how nice the weather feels, humidity in the air plays an extremely important part of how your skin will be and how you'll treat it in the future, that's why it's important to know if your seasons are humid or not . The best way to find out about humidity is to check the daily weather, and heck even google it- this is important if you're traveling especially . Things like sensitive skin can't be helped, but knowing the origins of why your skin is troubled will help you a lot in terms of planning you future skin care routines . 

5. Hot Water or Cold Water ?

Using hot water or cold water is a very important component when you're cleansing your face and each has their individual benefits . 

Hot water:

  • Good for loosening your pores, which help with the extraction of solid white heads more cleanly .
  • Really important to use when washing with cleansing oils . Just like how cooking oil is easily watched off with hot water, it is much easier to wash off cleansing oils with warm water as well .

Cold Water:

  • Excellent for closing and tightening the pores . After extracting solid white heads I tend to wash my face with cold water after in order to close these pores from further infections .
  • Good for de-puffing your face if it's swollen .
  • Good for reducing redness .
Of course, please don't use scalding water, and don't use water that would freeze your face and hands either lol . I usually start my washing routine with warm water and end it with cold water, actually . 


And there it is, 5 important superstitions I abide by when I am doing my skin care ! They might sound really random, but I think that's why I decided to do an article on it; because these aren't things you really think about until you encounter it . As much as I love makeup, to me skin care is the number one, most important thing when it comes to the face . 

Happy skin means easy makeup and win ! XP haha 



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .
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