CVS Mini Haul: Revlon Limited Edition Nail Polish, Lip Gloss, St. Ives Cleansers

Recently did a mini CVS haul. My original intention was to get my hands on one of the limited edition Revlon Super Lustrous Lip glosses that Hollyannaree was raving about but they were totally out. :( But I didn't leave empty-handed, while I was there I picked up other goodies.

I picked up the new Revlon Limited Edition Super Lustrous Lip gloss in Firecracker instead of the pretty pinks and corals that Holly had. I was afraid to pick it out at first, because it was such a bright bold red, but it came out looking pretty nice. Smells candy sweet and goes on sheer! =)   Perfect for some summer pop of color.

Revlon Limited Edition Super Lustrous Lip Gloss - Firecracker

Here it is with the wand

Before and After - Left, I have only the Softlips Lip Balm on. Right is with the Firecracker lip gloss on top.

As this is part of Revlon's limited edition, you can check your local drugstores to see what they have left. I saw one color in Pink Pop still available here. 

 From left to right - Mint, Gum Drop and Cotton Candy

My local CVS still had the limited edition Revlon Nail Enamels in Gum Drop and Cotton Candy and I picked up Mint as well. The reason for these candy names is because they're actually scented nail polish!!! (Mint's not scented though) These nail polishes actually smell sweet straight from the bottle, it just makes it that much better that they smell equally sweet once dried on your own nails.

 Revlon Limited Edition Nail Enamel - Gum Drop

Gum Drop is actually a matte opaque lavender purple color with no shimmers or glitter. I'm not sure if I'll categorize the scent as gum drop, but the scent is definitely very sweet like candy. ^_^;; I got paranoid that bugs would start getting attracted to my hands. It was THAT sugary sweet. Although I find it kind of hard to work with, it comes out very streaky. =( So I had to do with 3 coats.
 

 Revlon Limited Edition Nail Enamel - Cotton Candy

Cotton Candy is a pale sheer pink with tiny gold shimmers, something more wearable for work. The scent was not as strong as Gum Drop so I find it more pleasant. It was also easier to apply. Definitely going to be one of my go-to nail polishes.

Revlon Nail Enamel - Mint

Mint is not part of their Revlon's summer limited edition, but I thought this was such a cute color. Haha, not sure when I'll actually wear it though. I'm more used to the normal neutral colors. =P This was also more of an opaque color. I just need 1 coat for the color to come out. Not sure if it's discontinued as I don't see it listed on Revlon's site, but i saw you can still get this color here.

Here are the swatches on my nail:

Swatches on my nails with base coat - Natural Light vs Flash

Besides all the makeup, CVS had a sale on St. Ives skincare products. So I picked up Fuz's current HG face wash - St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Cleanser and St. Ives Fresh Skin Moisturizing Olive Cleanser.

 St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Cleanser & Fresh Skin Moisturizing Olive Cleanser

The Green Tea Cleanser contains 2% salicylic acid for acne treatment. I have normal/dry skin and acne is usually not a problem for me (knock on wood). But during those times of the month when my hormones go haywire or when I get stress out at work, I tend to breakout on my chin and around my forehead. So I started using the Green Tea cleanser during those days to prevent more severe breakouts. It's lightly scented, but I can't pinpoint what it smells like, but it definitely isn't a pleasant smell, not bad, just not great either. It comes in a pump dispenser and 1 pump is all the product I need. It's not a foamy cleanser, but most acne treatment cleanser don't foam anyway, I think. Check here for ingredients.

The Olive Cleanser has now become my go-to cleanser. It doesn't dry out my skin and it removes makeup sooooo well! Like the Green Tea cleanser, it is lightly scented, but it's not all that great. It comes in the same bottle as the Green Tea Cleanser and all I need is also just 1 pump. The Olive Cleanser isn't a foam cleanser either.

And that's it for my mini haul!

Updated: I think Revlon is actually keeping their Limited Edition lip glosses permanently, I still see these glosses around drugstores all over NYC. Hope that helps! 

My Closet Overflow - Japanese/Korean Styles

Trying to clean out my room but my shopaholic outbursts are overflowing my closet and drawers! Here's a haul of all my new outbursts. Now I'm contemplating if I should keep them. They're all brand new and just stuffed in my closet. I didn't even get a chance to wear them yet. Leave me a comment if you are interested. I can post it up on eBay for purchase.
I bought all of these online from authorized Korean and Japanese Fashion sellers. They're pretty good quality items, I was pleasantly surprised. ^_^ enjoy!
For more products, go to http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/mellies.closet.

Peasant Top $19.99 (A little too cute for me)

 

Bowknot Sweater $24.99 (not really my color)

 Chiffon Dress Tunic $24.99 (Too frilly for me)

Off Shoulder Tunic $24.99 (SOLD)

Wool Coat $45.99 (I have too many wool jackets!)

Wool Jacket $44.99 (Too many wool jackets! but this one I really really like. Haha, I might keep it.)

Off Shoulder Lace Tunic $24.99 (Really cute, I want to keep this too ^_^ )

Review: Mascara Showdown - Clinique, Missha, Revlon

I have very short, straight lashes, no matter how I curl them, they end up sticking out straight. Kinda sad. I've tried out numerous mascaras, here's a few that I'm currently trying out. Just want you all to be clear, I don't always praise the things I review. I can complain too. =P

Mascara Showdown - From Right to Left - Revlon Double Twist, Missha The Style HD Viewer 270 Mascara Setting Volume, Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara, and Clinique Lash Definition Mascara

1. Missha The Style HD Viewer 270 Mascara Setting Volume & Professional Volume $5.99 - I got these during one of my Missha hauls. It's actually not that bad. Volumizes and extends my lashes pretty well. Formula is not too dry. Did not smear/smudge on me at all. Lasts me all day long. I really like it, except it's hard to wipe off. This is not a waterproof mascara, so generally I would think it'll come right off with warm water, it actually leaves residue when I try to wash it. You will definitely need makeup remover to get rid of it. Both the Setting Volume and Professional Volume seem to have the same effect on me. They have the same brush comb too except the Professional Volume one is a bit bigger. <3<3<3
   
   
   
   
   Missha The Style HD Viewer 270 Mascara Setting Volume & Professional Volume
   
   
   
   Missha The Style HD Viewer 270 Mascara Setting Volume (top) and Professional Volume (bottom)
   
   
2. Clinique's Lash Doubling Mascara $14, High Definition Mascara $14 - I have a bunch of Clinique sample mascaras, (thanks to my mom and her friend's shopping sprees). I've tried these both so far and I really love them. Not that I see a difference between the two. I think they have the same exact effect on me. Don't really volumize, but they extend my lashes and really spread the individual lashes out. Very long lasting also, but it smudges a bit through out the day. Easily washes off with warm water, so don't cry! <3<3<3<
   
   
    
   Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara
   
    Clinique High Definition Mascara
   
   
3. Revlon Double Twist Mascara $9 - I got it as part of a special 2 pack deal at CVS for $9. I thought it was a  great deal and w/ Jessica Alba's picture on it, I bought it right away. It has a huge comb to supposedly thicken lashes and the longer bristle sections to define individual lashes. The result: clumpy eyelashes with smudge spots all over the eye area. The comb was way too big and oddly shaped, by the time I have one side touching the roots of my lashes, the other side of the comb already smeared all over my eye lids. Horrible mascara and it leaves clumps. Needless to say, I got rid of the other one right away. I think it would probably work for those who already have long lashes.
   
   
   
    Revlon Double Twist Mascara (the bristles look scary!)

I finally found my holy grail eyelash curler! I've tried out numerous curlers and haven't found one that I really liked. This curler I actually got during my sasa.com haul. It's the Kai Teeny’er Lash Curler ($2.60). It's a Japanese brand, and sasa.com don't seem to sell it overseas anymore. At first glance, I thought this was a horrible curler because the arch was just sooo curvy. Little did I know, it fits my eyes perfectly. It doesn't pinch my eyelids and it covers my entire lashline with 1 curl. I guess I have curvy Asian eyes.=P

 

Kai Teeny'er Eye Curler

 

Kai Teeny'er Eye Curler's Curve Arch

Taiwan/Japan Trip Beauty Haul

Back to the home sweet home, though I do miss those 2 countries already. Definitely will be going back, everybody was so polite! How come people in NYC isn't like that? =P

Did quite a lot of shopping in those 2 major cities (Taipei and Tokyo). Everything was so pretty/cute/cheap! Yes even in Tokyo! Now I realize how much people jack up the prices on Asia-imported beauty online stores.

 

Beauty Haul from Taipei/Tokyo

Here's my beauty haul from the 2 countries. I actually didn't get a lot, nothing was too appealing to me. But I definitely saw BB creams everywhere! Most pharamacies in Taipei had a special beauty section just on BB creams alone. I didn't find any Kevin Beautymaker products! Grr.. that was one of my planned must-buys. Sigh. It's ok, next time. ;)

1. Rosette Hello Kitty Collagen Face Wash (500 yen = ~$5.00) - Found this at Tokyo's RanKing RanQueen (they sell the top 3 products of various item types). This face wash was voted #2 face wash in Tokyo. =)  Plus it was so cute! I tried checking some US based beauty websites and they are selling this exact face wash for US $12!
   
   
   
   
    
   Rosette Hello Kitty Collagen Wash
2. Shiseido Majolica Majorca Honey Pump Gloss Neo (NT 150 = ~$5.00) - During my studio picture shoot (yes, I took them in Taipei!) my makeup artist was putting on this beautiful lip gloss on me, so I had to go get one for myself. It's in a nude beige color. Very nice lip gloss, not sticky at all. <3<3<3 I saw this selling here for US $15! (crazy)
   
   
   
   
    
   Shiseido Majorca Majolica Honey Pump Lip Gloss
   
   
3. Laniege Water Sleeping Pack_EX (NT 798 = ~$20.00) - Saw this at the Taipei International Airport's Duty Free shop, I've been wanting to try this brand out after seeing Bubzbeauty Youtube channel. A more detailed review to follow later (I know, I owe many), worth the money!
   
   
   
   
   
    Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX
   
   
4. L'egere Whitening Anti Dark Circle Eye Roller Pen (NT 300 = ~$10.00) - Saw this in the Queen show and I wanted to try it out. Can't reallly find L'egere products here in the US, but Taiwan's very big with them.
   
   
   
   
   
    L'egere Whitening Anti Dark Circles Eye Roller
   
   

Got a few beauty magazines. Yesasia really jacks up the price on the magazines. The Japanese Beauty magazines I saw in Tokyo like Nonno was only 698 yen (~US $8.00)! I can't read Japanese, so I got the magazines that gave out the best goodies. Most of the beauty/fashion magazines give out bags! =) Got 2 really cute ones, bags that is.

 

Japan Beauty & Fashion Magazine

The With Magazine even shows you how to use the bag!

Though the Taiwanese magazine I wanted most is the Queen Magazine, I couldn't find it anywhere, except the really old editions =T  Oh wellz, Yesasia it is! The Japanese magazines I picked up were mostly fashion magazines, the Taiwanese ones had more beauty and makeup how-tos.

 

Taiwanese Magazines w/ celebrities I know

 

Taiwanese Makeup How-To

Review: O'slee Clear Spa Sleeping Mask

As most of you know, from my first cosme-de.com haul, I got a bunch of what they call "sleeping masks". So what are sleeping masks? Well, they're basically masks that you can use in your sleep. Haha =P  Okay, so some more detail, sleeping masks usually come in a cream/lotion form instead of paper masks and you can leave it on your face for a much longer period of time than the usual 10-15 mins. Perfect for lazy people like me that just can't ever find the time to chill out for 20+ mins with paper masks.

First sleeping mask I tried: O'slee Clear Spa Sleeping Mask USD $13.00 for 2 jars.

 

O'slee Clear Spa Sleeping Mask

 

Seriously "Clear" Spa Sleeping Mask

 

Jello like Sleeping Mask in the Jar

Mask Description

• Brand - Not sure, but it looks like a Chinese/Taiwanese brand. Only available overseas.
• Specification - For purifying, hydrating, relaxing and anti-oxidant
• Size - 50mL (1.75 oz.) size in a plastic cream jar.
• Directions - Use 2-3 times a week
• Ingredients - Aqua, Rosehip extract, Allantoin, 1,3 - Butanediol, Glycerin, Lubrajel LG, Proteasyl, VB5 Vitamin E, Licorice extract, Humecto Am-20, Triethanolamine, Germall plus, Perfume.  (all gibberish to me except the first 2).

Mask Review

• Scent - Rose scent. I think this is the brand's iconic scent. All their products have Rosehip extract. But I don't like the smell, haha mostly because it reminds me of the air freshener my mom uses in the bathroom. It's just a very plain rose smell. 1 star *
• Mask Essense - The mask is more like a gel. It looks really clear, but as you can see from the inside of the jar, it's blue. Very pretty just by looking at it and cool to the touch.
• Overall Experience - I apply the mask on my face after cleansing. I'm not sure if I'm using too much, but I realize I need to get about half a ring finger of the mask 3 times in order to cover my entire face. It applies very smoothly and feels really nice and hydrating. My entire face becomes all shiny because of the gel. I put my hair up with my Dariya Hair Pads to keep my bangs and hair away from my face. When I wake up the next morning, most of the gel is gone (probably rubbed it all over my sheets since I move around so much in my sleep), but when I wash my face, I can feel the slimy essence on my face. My skin looks very radiant afterwards! This is definitely a hydrating mask, I don't feel the need to put on any lotions or creams after I wash my face. My face doesn't feel tight like it usually does when I just wash it with plain water.
• Will I buy it again? - Probably, but I'll like to try the brand's other line first. =)

On a Personal Note~

I'm going to Taiwan & Japan next month! In less than 3 weeks! I'm so excited. I've been so busy planning and trying to find hotels and places to visit. BUT one thing for sure, I'm packing an EMPTY suitcase with me! Haha, can't wait to bring all those beauty goodies back from those 2 countries. =P