Canmake Cream Cheek Part V + Clear Series

I've been kind of dragging my feet a little with Canmake, because their last few releases were sorely disappointing. However, this fall saw to an interesting darker ruby theme among a few lip and cheek products, so I thought I'd might as well save the couple of Cream Cheek and Cream Cheek Clear Series I had on hand to do a longer group review.

The 13 Love Peach might have been the very last of the Cream Cheeks, save for the Clear Series. Since this color came out in fall 2012 (I think...), there has been no new colors in the regular line. And might as well, because I think they were running out of color options -.-" (see comparison swatches below)! Anyway, I won't be reviewing the formulas and will go straight to the colors themselves. All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

- 13 Love Peach: a pigmented and opaque milky peach. Despite the pigmentation, the color itself is so light after blending I just get a fresh flush. This is nice for daytime as I don't want anything too obvious, but the color pretty much disappears at night, which is the reason I do reach for equally pigmented but darker colors. So unfortunately, this color will probably be mere highlighters for some people, so I'd say it's safe to skip.

Patricia Wexler MD MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum

So I read a while back that this Patricia Wexler MD MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum is really great. That said, it's also really expensive, $150 for a 100mL jar, which is huge, yes, but still $150. Good thing Bath & Body Works often have this item on sale for less than half price at $65, and sometimes with additional discounts on top of that. I got my jar with an extra 20% off during a summer promotion, when I finally ran out of Astalift Jelly Aquarysta back in October, I started using this.

L'Occitane Fabulous Serum

Having done with the L'Occitane Divine Extract, I am now using the 7mL.0.2fl. oz. bottle of Fabulous Serum from this Shea Delight Collection, which I received as a GWP in a recent purchase. Also from this collection is a 15mL jar of Shea Butter Ultra Rich Face Cream, which I don't even know if I'll ever get to because I still not finished with the jar from 2011 :X As the name says, it's really very rich and I only need a tiny little bit each time.

Paul & Joe Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo

These Paul & Joe Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo were also a part of my summer purchase. I've read good things about Paul & Joe Eye Glosses and am totally curious but been stayed away. I have very oily lids that are difficult when it comes to liquid eye colors, so I didn't want to spend $34 for a pair of lip gloss and liquid sheer lid wash that will crease within half an hour. But then of course ASOS ran an excellent promotion during the summer and I bought these for $15 each minus an extra 20%, so $12 a piece! Hell, sure, I'll try them now :P

These came out summer of 2013 and there were 5 colors available. I only bought 4 colors, 002 Nice, 003 Monaco, 004 Maui, and 005 Bahamas. The color I didn't get was 001 Santa Monica because it's a pair of beige pink eye gloss and mauvey rose lip gloss, and I wasn't sure whether the beige pink will turn red on my lids (yes, I have that problem too...).

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Eyeko Visual Eyes Liquid Eyeliner

These Eyeko Visual Eyes Liquid Eyeliner were part of my September Eyeko purchase. Since I love the Skinny Liquid Eyeliners, I thought I'd give these Visual Eyes ones a try too. There were two available colors, Ebony and Mocha, and I bought both.

Left to right: Skinny Liquid Eyeliners Black and Brown, Visual Eyes Liquid Eyeliners Ebony and Mocha, Brow Liner (one color), and Liquid Metal Eyeliner Black Onyx. Will review the others soon. All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Pixi Beauty Endless Silky Eye Pen Part III

Spotted a new Pixi Beauty Endless Silky Eye Pen in Glimmery Black at Target so I picked up Emerald Gold too while at it. 

Chikuhodo Brushes Part II

Why, more Chikuhodo brushes so soon after the last post! I actually bought these two batches one week apart ^.^, with this batch purchased after the price reduction and so no before and after prices.

As usual, a few notes for this batch: 

1. All brushes were photographed pre-wash. The smallest Chikuhodo brushes are starched, and the measurements are off for those. I did take post-wash pictures though. 

2. Again, cameras don't have the same depth-perception as our eyes. Measurements are only estimates and not so much engineer-precise, plus the starching.

3. Brushes are listed by collection, then model number. 

4. Again I broke my no-squirrel rule again, I'm so terrible +.+"

Brushes in this batch, from left to right: Artist 8-4, Artist 10-1, Artist 12-5, BP-7, Passion Edge, R-S2, R-S3, and R-S4. 

L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence

Got this 7mL/0.2fl. oz. bottle of L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence from the L'Occitane Brighten Up Collection and I finished it up in snap. Like, may be in less than 2 weeks?

From this Brighten Up Collection, I've review the Pivoine Flora Shower Gel and Beauty Milk, Immortelle Precious Cleansing Foam and Essential Water, and this Brighening Essence which is the last of them.  

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner Part II

I love my Eyeko Mini Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black so much when Eyeko ran a BOGO promotion I bought a full size Brown (and got a full size Black for free). Then with a purchase over $50 I also received another full size Liquid Metal Eyeliner in Black Onyx as GWP. So overall I bought 4 things and ended up with 6 ^.^

Left to right: Skinny Liquid Eyeliners Black and Brown, Visual Eyes Liquid Eyeliners Ebony and Mocha, Brow Liner (one color), and Liquid Metal Eyeliner Black Onyx. Will review the others soon. All pictures taken in natural light without flash.  

Paul & Joe Lipstick CS Part II

These new Paul & Joe Lipstick CS were a summer purchase from Beauty Habit. I bought 3 colors, 081 Once Upon A Time and 082 Far Far Away from fall 2013, and this past spring's release 086 Rosebud (of course I'm reviewing it now, when it's winter :P).

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

From left to right: 081 Once Upon A Time, 082 Far Far Away, and 086 Rosebud.

Astalift Nurturing Eye Cream

I have 2 of these 7g deluxe trial tube of Astalift Nurturing Eye Cream, one from the Discovery Collection and the other from the Radiance Boosting Trio below. I have been using one tube for the past month and it's about time I review it. From both of these sets I've already reviewed the Day Cream and, of course, the Jelly Aquarysta. I just used up the last of my Jelly Aquarysta last month and have decided to take a break, trying out a different serum from Patricia Wexler MD (will review later).

Discovery Collection (top) and Radiance Boosting Trio (bottom).

Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment

I'm not new to Clinique Superbalms, but I hadn't noticed they now have a Superbalm Lip Treatment! So when I did stumble upon it last holiday season, I added the 7mL/0.24oz. full size tube to my cart during the Saks 5th Avenue Holiday 2013 GWP event.

Dr Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel Enrich Lift EX

Update November 6, 2014.

I placed an order with Beauty Habit recently and received a pair of Dr Ci-Labo Aqua Collagen Gel Enrich Lift EX, each 1.5g/0.05oz.

Having had the ammonia-filled experience below with 2 of my mini 10g jars from Japan, I tore open these two sample packets to see whether they would stink. Well guess what, they DO! Granted they weren't as overpoweringly odorous like my two jars, but the ammonia stench is present and still obviously discernible. My god, I just don't understand who would buy this stuff! Who would knowingly apply a gel that reeks of ammonia? Not me. I tossed these two packets into the trash after taking a sniff (and photos for proof, of course). So I guess this is it for me, no more Dr.Ci:Labo anything.

----------------------------------------
Original post September 4, 2014.

I had a total of 2 mini 10g jars of Dr Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel Enrich Lift EX I received back in 2012, right before I left Japan. They were from 2 separate sample packs, the Gold Lift Set and the Gold Lift Sample Set. Last week I finally took one out, intending to use as a daytime moisturizer.

I have been storing all my cosmetics and skincare products very well. I had to. As you can see from some of my reviews, it could be a couple of years until I can get to using a product. To keep my items fresh, my rule of thumb is that until I'm ready to use it, its manufacturer's shrink wrap and/or sticker is not to be removed. In the case the product is not sealed, the jar/bottle/tube/what-have-you is not to be opened up and the product inside exposed to the air. This is how everything degrades - exposure to oxygen!

Dr Ci:Labo Gold Lift Set

Decleor Aroma Cleanse 3 in 1 Hydra-Radiance Smoothing & Cleansing Mousse

This 100mL/3.3fl. oz. pump bottle of Decleor Aroma Cleanse 3 in 1 Hydra-Radiance Smoothing & Cleansing Mousse (wow, what a mouthful!) was actually a GWP from Beauty Habit from a Paul & Joe order earlier this summer.

Boscia Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment

From the Boscia Surprise Beauty Box, I got a 15mL/0.5fl. oz. full size of Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment, which I didn't get to until now :( Boscia has been having this promotion every year I think. Basically, spend $75 and get a surprise bag worth $250, which was how I got this loot that took me this long to use up, and that's after already giving away a few full sizes! And then between here and there I bought smaller things, which got me even more samples and deluxe trial sizes and whatnot. I guess there are always friends and family to give to ^.^

Beaua Organic Link Cleansing Oil

I've been using this 300mL pump bottle of Beaua Organic Link Cleansing Oil for a few weeks now. I bought it while in Taipei, at the same time as Beaua 10 Essences Cleansing Oil and PharmaAct Additive Free Cleansing Oil.

The bottle says this Organic Link Cleansing Oil has "essential oil fragrance," and that it's "infused with organic rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, rose hip, bilberry leaf, cucumber, crataegus, and yarrow," so I was expecting it to have that nice herbal scent like the Beaua 10 Essences, but it turns out to smell like generic soap, very similar to the PharmaAct Additive Free! In terms of texture, it's almost identical to PharmaAct Additive Free, a cushy gel-like feel that isn't thick or greasy, and it doesn't melt into an oil after some massaging like the Beaua 10 Essences.

So if I have to choose, I would pick the Beaua 10 Essences, not only because it smells nice, but also because the PharmaAct Additive Free and this Beaua Organic Link feel like the same product in different packaging. And given that Kumano Yushi owns both Beaua and PharmaAct, they might very well be the same product in different packaging ^.^

Chikuhodo Brushes

Among the big names of the Japanese artisan makeup brush world, Chikuhodo (竹宝堂) has two decades over Hakuhoho, having been established in 1952 (Hakuhodo was founded 1974). Chikuhodo started with calligraphy brushes, and makeup brushes didn't come along until 1960's. Still, the later venture proved quite successful as they are now the brush maker for high end brands such as Suqqu, Lunasol, RMK, etc. Check out this New York Times feature on Chikuhodo last April!

Anyway, when I was preparing for my first foray into Japanese makeup brushes, I skipped over Chikuhodo as I thought their prices were exorbitant. In general, between 2 similar brushes the Chikuhodo one will cost roughly 20-25% more than the Hakuhodo one. And honestly, I think the two brands are on par when it comes to quality and craftsmanship, so Chikuhodo's markup put me off somewhat. Then fast forward just this past August, distribution for Chikuhodo outside of Japan switched from Now-Eproject to Visage USA, and along with this switch is a roughly 20-25% reduction in price. To further sweeten the deal, the Visage USA ran a 3-months long promotion for an extra 18% off to celebrate new management! So yup, I finally got my hands on some Chikuhodo brushes, and at a fantastic price too! xD

A few notes for this batch and we'll move on to the goodies: 

1. As usual, all brushes were photographed pre-wash. Like Koyudo, the smallest Chikuhodo brush is starched, and the measurements are off for that brush. I did take post-wash pictures though. 

2. Again, cameras don't have the same depth-perception as our eyes. Measurements are only estimates and not so much engineer-precise, plus the starching.

3. Brushes are listed by collection, then model number. 

4. I totally smashed through my no-squirrel rule again ^.^"

Brushes in this batch, from left to right: Artist 12-2, G-03, G-04, G-05, G-10, Passion Eye Shadow, and R-S1. I've noted both the before and after prices, to give you an idea how significant the reduction was.