if you guys read my other blog posts, then you will know that i recently bought a wet n wild foundation and i like it so far. unfortunately, i like using it with my sponge. but using sponge for daily makeup is too much. i needs more time and time i don't have. but it's such a waste not to use the foundation and i love my cushion so much. so i remembered there's a tutorial about making your own bb cushion. unfortunately, i can't get an empty cushion, but i do have unused cushion, my previous innisfree cushion. so, i look up for how to make a bb cushion using your previous cushion and i found it!

so, if you didn't know, here's the step:
1. wash your sponge and entire container. yep. you can wash that sponge. i use my daiso puff cleanser and soak it overnight, rinse it a couple times before getting rid all of the bb cream in the cushion sponge. don't forget to sanitize the empty container with alcohol rub. and air dry everything.
2. make your own formula.
the combination is usually consist of foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen. if you want more skincare properties, use 1:1:1 ratio. but if you want more coverage, then up the foundation ratio. you can also add serum to boost the skincare property. now, usually sunscreen will brighten the foundation shade, so it's up to you whether to add it or not. after all, i believe you've already known that using separate sunscreen is wiser.
3. once you're happy with that mixture, fill 2/3 the container with that mixture, and mix well.
4. soak the already-dried cushion sponge into the container and leave it upside down overnight.
5. the next morning, if the cushion doesn't get soaked by the mixture, you can simply push the sponge to get it out. and there you have it.

the component of my DIY bb cushion

now, here's my way. i use foundation, sunscreen, and.... a serum! i mistakenly use a serum instead of a moisturizer. luckily, my daiso serum is quite runny and not sticky at all, so it doesn't jeopardize the mixture. at first i use 1:1:1 ratio, but it is too sheer so i add more foundation until i'm happy with the coverage. and the sunscreen doesn't lighten my foundation up. but, the end result is brighter than my usual cushion shade, which is 21. but somehow it matches my skin well. oh well, i don't know if i'm getting brighter or else. all i can say i'm quite happy with this DIY cushion since i get to use my foundation with bb cushion method. remember though, since this is DIY, use it quickly. it doesn't have the preservatives included in the original bb cushion, so you might want to use it as quickly as possible. do you make your own bb cushion? tell me your favorite combination..

all soaked up!

me using my DIY cushion (do you think it's too bright or not?)

when i went to japan, i already made a decision to do my own makeup on my sister's engagement. so i was hunting for additional makeup property that i will need to do the proper makeup that looks like beauty salon-made. i do have double eyelid, but it's too small and i think i have hooded lid, so i need eyelid tape to make my eyes look bigger. i don't think to learn more, all i know is i will grab whatever brand that i found, as long as it's cheap, clear and the single sided one. so, i grabbed this one without knowing anything about it.

fortunately, i can find the description and instruction from alphabeauty website: an easy to use double eyelid adhesive tape, available in clear and nudy/skin color, made of material bandage kind material which is comfortable to skin even wearing for long time. the "skin color" tape gives a natural looking finish with long lasting performance. available in combinations of single-sided, double-sided, regular width 25 mm, point size 23 mm, and clear/nudy color.

the packaging: it comes in plastic bag, with the label of surround it. every texts on the label is written in japanese, even i can't figure out whether it's single sided or double sided without having google-translated it. it has a little transparent window on the left so you can see the product inside. under the brand-title, there's a little label in japanese, but then there is a text to indicate whether it's a regular width (25 mm) or point size (23 mm). on the bottom right, there's a picture of an eye after using the product and it's color coded with the amount of the product inside. for the single sided, regular size and clear one, it's blue, and the label indicates 72 pieces or 36 pairs. the double sided-regular-clear one is pink (88 pieces or 44 pairs), both the single sided-regular-nudy and single sided-point-nudy are brown, but the regular comes in 36 pairs while the point size comes in 44 pairs. when you opened it, there are two plastic sheets where all the eyelid tapes are attached to, a pamphlet with the instructions that's written in japanese, and a plastic stick to probe the eyelid tape onto its place on your eyelid.

the product packaging

the product: the eyelid tape even though it's regular size, somehow it's a little bit short for my eyes, but i can manage. the clear type one though.. i thought it's the perfect type since it's clear, i can add colors on top of it. little did i know that even though it seems matte when i put it on my eyelid, it gives reflective when i put eyeshadows on top of it.

inside the plastic bag

the result: i can use it easily, even on my first try, i can put one side easily with the helps of the probing stick. but balancing both eyes is a different story. if you have to re-do the application, then the eyelid tape won't be as sticky as the freshly-applied one, so you might want to do it in one go for best result. now, since i did a number of practices, i can tell you several stories about it.
- with only foundation on top: the colors won't stay, especially the darker one. the shimmery one will only leave the glittery part on top of it, and blending the dark and light color is hard.
- foundation and eye primer on top: okay, perhaps my eye primer is expired, since it's too runny and it won't stick on top of the tape. i get better result with just foundation on top of it. the same result though, hard to blend, the color won't pop and the dark color won't stick.
- foundation and concealer on top: it's similar as the foundation only.
at this point, i was devastating. i thought i was buying the wrong type. perhaps i should buy the nude one. i was tempted to buy another eyelid tape, but i decided to give it another try. i have two other options at that time, trying the cut crease method or damping my brush. i've tried the cut crease method but hasn't been able to do it properly, so i gave the second option a try.
- foundation only + damping my brush: somehow it works! finally the shimmery colors stick on it. but still, blending is another story, so i managed to put the darker color on my outer corner, just barely at the end of the eyelid tape.

left: before (my natural eyelid) right: after using the eyelid tape (voila.. bigger eyelid)

so, this is a good bargain product. i didn't remember the exact price, but it was quite cheap in japan. plus it comes in 36 pairs. i don't use eyelid tape regularly, so it is too many for me. it is easy to use and sticks well, although putting eyeshadow on it requires a bit exercise. other than that, i'm okay with it. now, i never read about this brand anywhere and i don't have any experience with other brand, so i can't recommend it right now. but if you saw this one and don't mind the trouble that comes with it, then grab it.

sooo.. i'm down to my several lasts of freeman and peter thomas roth masks and it seems like i find another two similar masks, the peter thomas roth pumpkin one and freeman pineapple one. both are exfoliating masks, both has fruit/vegetable as its main ingredients, and both ingredients contain AHA as its exfoliating component. let's see who will win the battle this time.

peter thomas roth claims: pumpkin enzyme - a natural enzymatic exfoliator that helps smooth the skin's surface. AHA - chemically exfoliates to help reveal a fresher, more youthful and radiant appearance. aluminum oxide crystals - provide an effective physical exfoliation to polish skin, rejuvenating the appearance of lackluster complexion. this contains AHA that may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.

ingredients: WATER/AQUA/EAU, CUCURBITA PEPO (PUMPKIN), ALUMINA, GLYCERIN, TRIETHANOLAMINE, CARBOMER, LACTOBACILLUS/PUMPKIN FRUIT FERMENT FILTRATE, SODIUM LACTATE, ASCORBIC ACID, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, RETINYL PALMITATE, BHT, SODIUM HYALURONATE, LEUCONOSTOC/RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, BENZOIC ACID, SORBIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, CHLORPHENESIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZYL ALCOHOL, CINNAMAL, FRAGRANCE/PARFUM.

freeman claims: this enzyme-activated exfoliating mask revitalizes and reveals your most radiant skin. pineapple extract and exfoliating AHAs stimulate skin renewal. skin is revived and refreshed. 

ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Polyethylene, Glycerin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Carbomer, Vinyl Caprolactam/PVP/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract Carica Papaya Fruit Extract (Papaya), Cocos Nucifera Extract (Coconut), Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract (Sea Kelp), Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract (Mango), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Tea Tree), Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Green 5 (CI 61570).

as you can see above, there are several common ingredients between those two, but i don't think it's significant. the main ingredients, however, listed differently. in the pumpkin mask, pumpkin and alumina listed in the second and third place, indicating that they are larger in concentration in the mask. while the freeman one listed in the middle, after several other chemical ingredients. and it's not only pineapple extract. i also notice it has glycolic acid, lactic acid, pineapple and papaya extract, all of which have exfoliating properties. i don't see any paraben in peter thomas roth's ingredients, however, both masks contain fragrance, but both listed near the end of the ingredients list. 

left: before middle: side by side application right: after (notice that the PTR side is slightly brighter)

both mask are exfoliating mask but has different texture. the PTR one is cream and has grits in it, while the freeman is gel-like (like pineapple flesh after being grinded) and doesn't feel gritty. when i apply PTR on my face, after massaging a few minutes, i start feeling the heat from this mask, while freeman feels slightly cool, perhaps because of its gel-like form. no heat at all during using this mask. and even though the grits in PTR is pretty small, somehow it feels harsh when being massaged. the freeman though, it doesn't feel harsh at all. and talking about the scent.. ugh.. PTR smells amazing.. many people said it smells like pumpkin pie, but i never have one, so all i can say it smells good and always make me hungry. while freeman somehow falls short. it smells fresh alright, but not exactly pineapple-like scent. and it's quite subtle compared to PTR.

both delivers well. i can feel my skin is smooth afterward, and a bit brightening too. sometimes i think the PTR works better, more brightening and smoother. but freeman is way cheaper than PTR. a lot cheaper. so honestly, i have to say it's a tie. the PTR works slightly better in my opinion and it smells nice, while freeman works just as well and cheaper. if you're tight on budget, then grab freeman (but i thought it was discontinued, which is a sad news), but if you want to splurge, grab PTR for sure. you'll get what you pay for. have you tried both masks? tell me what you think, who should be the winner of this battle?

close up on PTR result

close up on freeman result

i wanted to do my own makeup on my sister's engagement day, so i decided to hunt for new makeup things that i haven't had, such as foundation and highlighter. i have a highlighter that comes in a contour set from catrice, but it's too frosty white and it seems to be too subtle. so i decided to search for more affordable option out there. and i was torn between the catrice highlighter (the single one) and elf baked highlighter. although i was tempted to buy makeup revolution highlighter palette (oh gosh.. why do they have to have such a broad selection of highlighter palette?), but i decided to buy the elf first. there are four shades available and i decided to get the moonlight pearls one since i'm quite fair. i was afraid that the other shades are too dark or not suitable for me.

this is the description from their website: this highlighter creates a radiant glow with a sheer wash of shimmering color. infused with vitamin e and hydrating jojoba, rose hip, sunflower, apricot, and grape oils to nourish your skin. the highlighter can be applied wet for a vibrant effect of dry for sheer pigmentation.

the box

the packaging: it comes in simple black cardboard box with an open panel at the front side since the pan has a dome shaped lid. at the back of the box you can read the description in english, of course. the highlighter itself is in a simple compact transparent plastic pan with dome shaped lid. since it's transparent you can see the color of the highlighter inside. i have no idea about the sturdiness of this pan, but considering my catrice pans are fragile, i suggest you not to drop this.

the highlighter pan

the highlighter pan

the pan when it's opened

the color: mine is moonlight pearl, which is a shimmery champagne metallic shade. it's shimmery, but it doesn't have chunky glitter. i think it will suit any skin tones, even the fair one. but i think it might look a little bit too frosty for deep skin.

left: swatch on my hand - shimmery champagne on me right: comparison with catrice - catrice is icy white, cooler than midnight pearl

the product: the dome shaped lid is there since the highlighter also has dome shaped surface. perhaps because it's baked. i don't know why most baked products have dome surface. when i rub it with my finger, i feel it's a little bit coarse. on many reviews, they all suggest to scrub the surface off so you can feel the more soft surface underneath. it swatches okay without scratching the top off, but it doesn't pop out the color. and it's super powdery. there's a lot of fallouts when i use my brush to pick up the product.

close up on the pan. look at that shimmery champagne dome shaped surface

the result: i only need one or two swipe to make it works. mostly i use it dry, since i don't have lots of time. and it works just well without scratching the top off. it's perfect for daily use and daytime. but if you want more intense result, spraying your brush will do the work. although it's not that blinding compared to newly launched highlighter.

on full face

left: apply with dry brush right: apply with wet brush (more intense when wet)

overall, i'm satisfied with my purchase. the color is okay for me, and this time i can see the highlight on my face easier. it's perfect for daily use and it's not that blinding so i don't look like a walking lightbulb. plus it's affordable too. but.. i still want to try makeup revolution highlighters, but i can't decide which one to try, the vivid baked palette or the goddess line one. the goddess one seems similar to elf, but i'm afraid the vivid is not suitable for daily use. so, i guess i will have to satisfy myself with elf for now. what about you guys? any favorites? have you tried this one? please do tell me about it...

before i departed to japan, i decided not to buy too many hadalabo and more sana products. so i was searching a lot and couldn't find enough review, so i went blind. i bought the haritsuya and wrinkle one since i wanted to try their anti aging line. the haritsuya line has added coenzyme q10 aside from the main ingredient which is soybean milk. i bought the cream to replace my night cream since it was going to end anyway.

the description from tokiwayakuhin website: cream containing fermented soybean milk and encapsulated coenzyme q10. with its rich pack effect, it packs in moisture as well as hides small wrinkles caused by dryness.

the packaging: it comes in tiny plastic box. it has description on it but everything is in japanese. and the text is white! how annoying it is since the plastic is transparent. the cream itself comes in a tub. simple pink plastic tub with black screw cap. no spatula included. perhaps that's why it's so affordable. no fancy glass packaging. it's just an ordinary plastic tub with sticker label on it. it's only 50 g and looks tiny, but it takes a lot of time to make dent into it. oh, and the color indicates the line. the original one is white and a bit orange spots, while the haritsuya line is pink.

the outer box

the scent: definitely scentless, or perhaps soy scent? it does have similar scent to the face wash, although i also pick some synthetic plastic scent in it. i just hope it has subtle floral scent because this is the last step in my night routine, so i'm hoping it has subtle relaxing scent that last a little while before i fall asleep. oh well.. i guess that's why so many sensitive skin have better luck with japanese products. they are really scentless!

the tub

the product: it is a pristine snow white cream. pretty thick. i think it is thicker than my previous TFS cream. i think it is similar to my sulwhasoo sleeping pack. it's thick enough so it's a little bit harder to spread. if i use too little, it won't cover the entire area that i dot it before. but if i put too much, it will just sit around for quite a long time. and since this cream is pretty thick, it takes a little bit to sink in.

more close up on the tub

the result: after i put it on my face, i can feel my face becomes a little bit sticky afterward. this cream manages to moisturize my face without breaking it out. usually my face will get break outs if the product is too heavy, but not with this cream. in the morning, my t zone will be greasy, but rest of my face is okay. i've been using this cream for about 2 months, and i didn't notice any difference with my previous TFS cream. no added lines or wrinkle either. this cream also contains fermented soybean, but i didn't experience any purging either.

been using it for two months and i still got plenty left

honestly, i'm a bit torn about this cream. i do like how it works well. it moisturizes my skin well without breaking it out, but sometimes i think this cream is boring. scentless.. and seems too ordinary. and although it has the same weight as my TFS, somehow this one seems never ending. i used this cream every night, and skip it when i used my sleeping pack, but it doesn't seem to end anytime soon. i think it will be too much for combination to oily skin, but i think dry skin will love it. i just wish it has a little bit scent, something relaxing.. after all, this is the last thing that i put on my face before going to bed. other than that, it's an okay cream for me. i won't decide whether to repurchase or not until i've tried all my cream that i brought back from japan.

i bought this one along with several other pure smile masks when i was in japan. i didn't know what to expect since there's only a handful of review about these masks. all i know that they are affordable and everyone seems to grab this one besides lululun when they went to japan. so i did too. little did i know that this one doesn't too special.

description from prettyandcute website: contains anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. royal jelly extract stimulates cellular renewal and promotes synthesis of collagen and elastin. natto gum provides antioxidants while sodium hyaluronate promotes nutrient absorption to create a healthy glow.

the packaging: it comes in rather boring regular plain white sachet with the picture of the main ingredients at front. at the back there's some descriptions and perhaps instructions, but it is written in japanese.

the scent: i do hope that this one might smell different, just like the strawberry one that a little bit has strawberry scent in it. but nope. this one doesn't smell like honey at all. it smells like wet tissue just like the rest of other types from this line.

the product: the mask is made of thick cotton, which feels similar to etude one and although it's thick, it doesn't feel papery. it does comfortable to use and it adheres well. the fit is okay, it's the same as the other type. it has slits to help adjust the mask. however, it has useless eye flaps which is annoying for me. the essence is clear and enough to soak the whole mask but not dripping wet. i only put this on for about 10 minutes before the mask starts drying out on me.

the result: after i taking it off, i only need 5 minutes to massage the remaining essence into my face. it does hydrating my skin without making it sticky. but unfortunately, it doesn't do anything else.

once again, this is just an ordinary daily mask sheet. it does hydrate your skin, but it won't do anything else. it doesn't brighten or do anything else. as for the anti aging, i can't say anything about it since i only have one. so, if you're in japan, please grab something else. or if you want to try this mask, just grab any flavor and it will do. they are really similar, so no matter which one you pick, it will be just the same. but if you're looking for daily mask, then this one might be sufficient. after all, it is cheap, so you can collect as many as you like.

the packaging

left: before middle: mask on me right: after

i knew that there are several local brands launching liquid lipstick lately, and i'm curious about them. i remembered the hype before BLP and RR's launching. i was excited and wanted to buy them, but knowing the price, it makes me refrain from buying them. personally, i didn't have any problem with local brand. i am glad and proud that there are so many local brands coming out with their excellent products. but i have my own policy regarding the price of the product that i bought. i usually put a mark on 100rb for a lipstick or any lip product. being a mom of 3 makes me consider a lot before buying makeup, which happen to be used only at weekends. so no way i would spend more than 100rb for a lipstick. that's why i keep postponing on buying local liquid lipstick.

but then, there's rissa from @lippielust. she reviewed #locallippie every friday. and couple weeks months ago she reviewed just miss ultimatte lipcream. she praised it being a super affordable cosmetic and praised the owner too for testing it on himself. yes, you read that right. the owner is male and he tested the product too! you go, sir! anyway, since i still had so many other lipstick on my drawer, i decided to pick just a couple to try. but then it will be expensive for ordering it online. but last weekend i decided to walk to strawberry just to find out whether they sell it here in surabaya too, and they did! i was excited and grabbed two before thinking twice. hahaha..

anyway, this is the description from their website: lipcream dengan pilihan warna-warna favorite, membuat bibir tampak cantik dan elegan dengan formulanya yang kaya akan pigmen, mengandung vitamin E yang bermanfaat untuk perawatan bibir karena mampu bertindak sebagai antioksidan, yang berarti mampu mencegah kerusakan sel kulit yang disebabkan oleh radikal bebas dan juga waterproof. miliki bibir cantik dengan tampilan matte and tahan lama dengan Just Miss Ultimatte Waterproof Lipcream!

the packaging: it comes in transparent body and black cap. Looking at it at a glance, it seems similar to famous brand packaging, but i can't point one. the wand is attached to the cap. there's only a sticker label that also doubles as the seal. so once you twist the cap open, it will automatically broke the seal. since the body is transparent, you can see the color of the lip cream inside. They also put the shade name on the seal label so you can grab one easily. The applicator has slanted tip. I don't experience any trouble using the applicator. it comes in 5 ml tube, a little bit smaller than my nyx lip cream which is 8 ml in size, but this one is liquid, so it might last longer than nyx.

dolce vita tube and applicator

desert rose tube and applicator

the scent: i notice a subtle sweet scent but i couldn't describe it, pardon my bad nose. all i can say it's not annoying and it's not overwhelming. once you applied it on your lips, you can barely notice it.

the color payoff, the product and the result: originally, there are 12 shades ranging from nudes to reds, pinks to plums, so i bet there's one for everyone. i picked desert rose and dolce vita. but lately, they released two more shades, creme toffee and dusky ruby, both are similar to dolce vita and desert rose.

left: dolce vita on my hand right: desert rose on left and dolce vita on right

dolce vita is a peachy nude, which i think will be suitable for fair to medium skin and warm in tones. it is more orangey than the other nude, the naked fudge. compared to nyx zurich, this one is more orange and brighter. the color payoff is good. the formula is on the liquid side. one swipe is enough, and you have to wait for it to be completely dried before putting another layer or you will risk getting a patchy lips. i also don't think reapplying on the remaining lip cream is a good idea. i suggest you remove the remaining lip cream and put a fresh layer on clean lips. after freshly applied, it will feel sticky when you put your lips together. but the stickiness will vanish once the lip cream is totally dry. it will turn completely matte after dried, and it doesn't transfer. although it does vanish with eating and drinking. but i don't mind. it does a bit drying than my nyx lip cream, but it doesn't too drying that i need to put on lip balm before using it. it will stay on my lips around 4-5 hours minus eating and drinking.

dolce vita full face swatch

dolce vita lip swatch

desert rose is a reddish-brown/mauve. although light skin might pull this off, i think medium to deep and warm tones will love this more. i once use this a little more opaque than usual, and my husband didn't like it. he said it's a bit too much for daytime. it does a bit darker and more opaque than nyx cannes. the color payoff is also very good. even with half swipe, it cover my whole lips. you have to work faster since this is liquid. once it's dry, it will remain matte and will be patchy if you try to correct it. since i use this mostly as stain, i have to work quickly. usually i will swipe half layer on my lower lips and put my lips together and then smudge the remaining colors to my whole lips. just like the dolce vita, it's sticky when still liquid. it also doesn't transfer after completely dried. staying power is the same, and this one leaves berry stain on my lips. somehow i feel this one is dried quicker than dolce vita. when i tried to get the swatch photos taken, i have to remove and reapply this shade a couple times before getting it right.

desert rose full face swatch

desert rose lip swatch

overall, i like this lip cream. it is cheap with 35 rb price tag. i don't think other brands can beat this. and it does offer a lot of shades, but not too similar. i once want to buy make over liquid lipstick, but i got confused since some of the shades are too similar to each other. it is painful to see different swatches on different skin tones before deciding which one is true. i keep postponing buying their liquid lipstick because of that reason. if the other two shades are available at strawberry, i will buy it. after all, it won't hurt my wallet.

this is the last two freeman beauty travel size that i bought. i want to try it sooner but i got the body shop masks from my sister, which accidentally, both of them are also exfoliating mask. so i have to take turn trying them since i can't use exfoliating mask too soon. unfortunately, by the time i try this mask, they discontinued it.

this is the description from the back of the sachet: this enzyme-activated exfoliating mask revitalizes and reveals your most radiant skin. pineapple extract and exfoliating AHAs clear away dulling skin cells and stimulate skin renewal. skin is revived and refreshed. perfect for normal to combination skin. to use apply generously to face and neck, avoiding contact with eyes. leave on skin for 5-10 minutes. rinse with warm water.

the packaging: i only have the travel size one so it comes in irregular sachet, and it has the same design as the full size tube. it's yellow with the picture of pineapple at front. at the back, you can read the description and instruction written in english.

the scent: usually this is what i enjoy from freeman mask. each mask smells nice, and this one too. although it doesn't exactly smell like pineapple, it does smells fruity and fresh. but synthetic. oh well, it's enjoyable and not too overwhelming.

the product: the mask is a pale yellow gel-like with grains in it. it feels like blended pineapple flesh. since it's a gel-lish mask, you have to put generously on your face. if you don't, it will be dried on your face. now, the instruction doesn't say anything about massaging it, but it feels ridiculous not to massage an exfoliating mask, so i did massage it after putting it on 10 minutes. no hot or tingling sensation. i even feel cool sensation since i use it inside an AC room. pretty weird since all of my exfoliating mask is giving me burning sensation on the first try.

the result: at first i didn't notice anything special. my face looks just the same. but on the second time using this mask, i start noticing my face looks a bit brighter. though not that smooth, unlike other exfoliating mask. the third time, i can see my face is brightened and smooth. and a little bit dry as usual, so i have to hydrate my skin immediately afterward.

it does feel refreshing to use. i like how it gives cooling sensation and not burning hot as other exfoliation mask. but i don't like how i can't see the result from the first try. i might be impatient, but most of the exfoliation mask give me satisfying result from the first try. on budget side, this one is friendly to your wallet. comes in a full size tube with decent price, if you're tight on budget, then pick this one. this is even cheaper than the body shop one. but unfortunately, i think freeman discontinued it. i don't know whether they replace it with something new or not. i think anyone can try this mask, even those with sensitive skin. as for me, i have enough exfoliating mask on my closet already, so i won't be adding this one into my closet.

the packaging

the mask transferred to a clean container

left: before middle: mask on my face right: after - my face is much clearer and brighter, and smoother when i touched it

this time around, i decided to get some makeup too when i was in japan. and besides mascara, i decided to spend my money on eyeliners and eyebrow pencils. i didn't buy any foundation merely because they are expensive. and no eyeshadows either, they're too glittery. no lip products either because i have way too many back home, plus they like shiny sticky lip products, that obviously transfer and that's a big no-no since i still have baby. so, when i was in osaka, i dropped by cosme store, and they put excel eyebrow pencil as their best seller. so the next time i saw it, i decided to grab a one or two. then i remembered that i intend to color my hair so i bought another one that i thought would match my hair.

this is the description from sasa website: powder & pencil eyebrow ex is a 3-in-1 eyebrow makeup too, which can perform as eyebrow pencil, eyebrow powder and eyebrow brush. its innovative design and wonderful makeup effect makes it to be the no.1 best eyebrow makeup product of @cosme in japan. you can create natural and beautiful eyebrows with it.
3-in-1 function:
- eyebrow pencil: pencil with soft texture can easily fill in the gap of the brows and refine the eyebrow shape.
- eyebrow powder: powder with natural radiance enhances the 3D effect of the eyebrows.
- eyebrow brush: soft and spiral brush allows the hairs look more natural and smooth.

the packaging: it comes in transparent plastic box. there's number and shade name at the corner of the box. they also put a picture of the colored brow, which a little helpful to get the idea of what color you will get. and a bit instructions too about how to use the product. at the back there's more text, but again, everything is in japanese.

the outer plastic box notice how they managed to give illustration, shade number and name and the instruction how to use the product

the color: i was hoping that this one is reddish brown, considering that i will color my hair to rose tea brown, but when i swatch it, it's a more golden brown. i was afraid that it might be too light for my new colored hair. the pencil is quite opaque, while the powder is lighter and somehow a bit shimmery.

the product: it comes in dual ended pencil just like the one that i have from face shop. one end is the pencil, one end is the brush or spoolie. both has transparent cap so it's easier to figure out which end has what. the pencil is elliptical, quite pigmented and creamy. since it's very creamy, it's easy to wiped off. and since it's creamy, somehow it feels like a soft chalk, and i make a dent pretty quick, so i don't think it will last long if i use it daily. the spoolie is fatter than my face shop one. i like this one better. since it's bigger, it's easier to brush my brows using the spoolie. and it's softer too so it doesn't prick me. the powder is hidden in the shaft. you have to twist the body so you can reveal the sponge. the powder is deposited in the sponge. you have to tap the sponge to your brow to use the powder. the color of the powder is very soft, and easily removed too. which makes me wonder, how will it help create 3d effect?

top left and middle: the pencil part (it's oval shape) bottom left: the powder sponge bottom middle: the spoolie right: the whole product

the result: i like how the pencil is creamy so it's easy to use. although the shape is new for me, so i have to learn to use it. it can't draw precise hair unlike eyebrow brush, but at least it colors my hair okay. the powder however, doesn't give any difference. whether i use it or not, i don't see the difference.

left: swatch on my hand both the powder and pencil right: on my eyebrow

overall, i like this better than my face shop. it's easier to use and blend since the spoolie is bigger. but i don't see the usage of the powder. which is disappointing because the reason that i bought this stuff is the powder. the label 3-in-1. price wise, it's average. more expensive than face shop. but the color range is broader. it has 8 colors selection to choose from, unlike face shop and etude which is limited to only 3-4 shades. so, i'm okay with this. although i was hoping i didn't grab that many. probably will give one to my sister. definitely try it if you're beginner. this is beginner friendly. pencil eyebrow lover. but if you like eyebrow gel better, then skip this. this might fall short to you.

i was planning to do my own makeup for my sister's engagement party, so i decided to hunt for new foundation. i also wanted to try contour cream, since a lot of tutorials that i watched on youtube mostly use contour cream. i want to see the difference with my contour powder. i also want to get another highlighter, but after watching all the swatches, i decided that pass on the greatly-raved megaglo highlighter. i was afraid that the famous precious petal is too dark for me. so i decided to skip it and just bought the foundation and the dual end contour stick.

again, at first i thought the dual ended one is better option since it's like having two products in one. but i was hesitating mid way. most tutorials use concealer to highlight the face and use contour cream to contour. i was thinking perhaps i should just buy the contour cream. they have separate contour cream from the same megaglo line. they have 3 different shades, but i can't decide which is the appropriate shade for me, so i changed my mind and get the dual ended one.

this is the description from their website: contouring made easy and portable! this amazing highlighting and contouring stick is dual-ended for precise application to easily enhance your features. the contouring shade helps define and chisel while the highlighter illuminates your best features.

the packaging: it comes in a box. the box has description with picture and instruction about how to use the product. the stick itself is similar to nyx's which has launched their product earlier. way earlier than wet n wild. it has contour stick to one end, and the other has the highlighter stick. each one has transparent plastic cap so you can see which end has what. although they also put name on the neck of each end. all you have to do is twist the end to get the stick out. the contour stick has round tip, while the highlighter has tapered tip. i don't know why it has different tip. will it help the application? i don't really know.

the box notice the graphic illustration that give suggestion on how to contour and highlight

the color: the highlighter is matte white cream, it doesn't have any shimmer or glitter. it's lighter than my skintone, which is perfect for highlighting, but somehow it doesn't work well on my under eyes area. so i think i'll stick to concealer for my under eyes. as the contour stick, it is medium brown, slightly warmer than i was hoping for. so i have to be careful. if i applied too much, i will end up looking muddy. but it's okay so far.. it warms up my pale face without looking too orange. my catrice contour powder is cooler.

mine is light/medium shade

the product: both are creamy. it's easy drawing the lines on my face without difficulty. although i think the highlighter is slightly drier than the contour stick. both can be blend easily too. too easy i think. sometimes i have to re-do my nose contouring because it disappears after blending it. the round tip is also too big for me to draw thin line on my nose's side. but i can manage sometimes if i was too lazy to grab a brush.

top: the dual sided, there's a text informing which side is contour and which is highlight bottom: contour tip (round) and highlight tip (pointed)

the result: both works well, blends nicely. i can blend it well using my sponge. i've tried using air puff, and although i can blend my contour stick, i have difficulty blending the highlighting cream.  on my face edges, the contour cream can gives the contouring effect that i need from one drawing, but on my nose, sometimes i have to apply it twice because i blend it too much that it disappears.

left: swatch of the stick on my arm right: the comparison between the stick and the powder (notice the contour powder is cooler and the highlight stick is not shimmery)

this is a good product. for the price and the practicality. i can bring it with me everywhere i go. i can blend it with my bare finger, my sponge or my air puff (although it's slightly more difficult, but i can manage). but lately, i've been reaching my concealer to highlight, and not touching the highlight stick. which make my purchase slightly useless. somehow it slightly confirms what i originally thought before buying it, that i only need the contour stick and not the highlighting stick. will i recommend? if you're looking for contour/highlight product for travelling and on budget, then yes, grab one. but i don't think it's suitable for everyone since there are only two shades available, light/medium and medium/deep. if you have problem with dark under eyes, and need concealer, then perhaps you should just buy one contour stick and use concealer for highlighting, so don't buy this product. it will be a waste since you will only use the contour side and not the highlighting side. anyway, whether to buy or not, it's really up to you, it's not that pricey anyway.

this is one of the gift set mask that i got from peter thomas roth. to be honest, i got the mask set because i'm curious about several masks, namely the black moor mask, the gold mask, the pumpkin enzyme one and the rose one. i don't quite care about the rest. but each mask comes in tiny tube, i just hope one tube can give me good impression. so let's see about this one.

the description from their website: the ultimate luxurious anti-aging treatment, this rich mask is infused with pure 24K gold and colloidal gold to help improve the appearance of firmness and impact an opulent glow. known from the time of cleopatra to have powerful anti-aging benefits, 24K gold helps firm, lift, brighten and calm the appearance of skin. caffeine helps skin appear firmer and tighter while peridot, an exquisite gemstone rich in magnesium, reenergizes and helps reduce the look of aging and stress. hyaluronic acid and glycerin deliver intense hydration for a more lifted appearance. this lavish, pampering treatment helps to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin looking silky smooth, firmer, radiant, revitalized and youthful.

the packaging: this is a 6-pieces set. each mask comes in tiny tube, color coordinated according to its type. the gold one is obviously cold. the tube is made of see-through plastic, so you can see the remaining mask inside. each tube is sealed which is impressive since lots of gift set or samples don't get the same treatment as the full size one. there's description at the back of each tube.

the scent: i don't think it has distinctive scent, but even if it does, it doesn't smell weird or too fragrant.

the product: it's gold cream with gold sparkle, baby.. feels getting midas touch every time i use this mask. it's easy to spread to my whole face. the instruction say to put it thickly so it won't dry out. the first time i use it, i tried to put it thickly, but it's quite hard to layer it. but i learn the trick. you have to squirt a lot then spread it and not squirt a little then add more later. i put this on for about 15 minutes. since the black moor stains my washcloth, i try to avoid using washcloth to wash off the mask, including this one. but unfortunately, the mask forms a layer of slippery film that's difficult to wash off. i have to rub it to wash it off my face.

the result: the tube is small so one tube might only last for about 3 uses. all i can say that this mask moisturizes my skin, a bit brightening, but i don't see anything else. i don't get breakouts from using this mask either. since this is an anti-aging mask, i think it needs more than 3 uses to see the result.

i'm not saying that this mask is a waste. all i'm saying is the sample is too little for me to see the result, especially an anti-aging one. i think you should use this long term to see the result. but i've read a lot of good reviews about it, so don't be discouraged yet. as for me, the full size one is way out of my budget, so there's no way i'm buying this stuff. i'm quite happy that i get the chance to try this mask, and hope that i get the chance to try it long term, but there's no way i'm buying it or asking my husband to buy it for me.

the tube

left: before

my husband liked the result from using babyfoot, so he told me to buy some more. unfortunately, he was surprised knowing that it was sold at Rp.150.000,- here in indonesia. quite expensive. so he decided not to buy more. so i was told to search something else, something as effective but cheaper. so i remembered tony moly and holika holika had similar product. so i went online and found holika holika. i bought 3, kept one for myself and then gave the rest to my in laws.

the outer box

the foot-shaped sachet and plastic socks

the condition of my feet before. i have calluses and dryness around my ankle and on my soles.

day 4-5 starts to peel off

more peeling

even around my nail bed

still going on even after a week

around my toes too