On my birthday last year, my sister generously gave me various mask, some are body shop and some are innisfree. i have to admit that i did put a wish list consisting all those masks, but i thought she was going to give me one or two from the wish list, not almost all of them! unfortunately, the innisfree one is getting mixed up. i asked for wash off mask and she bought some sleeping pack instead. oh well, since this is a gift, might as well use them all up!

this is the description from their global website: a massage pack that uses rice for clear and translucent looking skin. a capsule recipe containing rice to brighten your skin. brighten and nourish your skin using rice ingredients. enriched sizzling formation provided skin solutions. a night pack that you apply and allow to absorb overnight.

the packaging

the packaging: just like the rest pack in this capsule recipe series, all mask comes in a tiny plastic tub container. the cover is color coordinated according to their type, rice is ivory. although there's some korean text on the cover, thankfully they printed the type of mask (sleeping or wash off) in english. when you lift the cover, you can find a silver sealing to keep the product fresh. now that is the difference between the old version and the new version. in the old version, the cover also acts as the sealing, and you can only slip it through a small slit and it's not air-tight. the new version, the cover is a lid that you can put back on the tub and it's pretty secure. at the back, there's a label with instructions and ingredients list in english.

the back of the tub

the scent: okay, i have to admit that i've been used to numerous scentless japanese products so this one seems to be a bit fragrant for my taste. and it also smells floral, which is weird is rice is the main ingredients. but if you look closely at the ingredients list, you will find orchid extract in it so i think that's the one responsible for the floral fragrance. i'm not saying that this is too fragrant, but since i'm not used to scented products lately, this one seems a bit too much for me. but don't worry, it dissipates quite quickly.

the seal

the product: the sleeping pack is pure white cream, with smooth porridge like appearance. it spreads easily on my face and absorbed easily too. again i found that the sleeping pack consistency is runnier than goodal sleeping pack or my usual sana night cream. 

the sleeping pack inside

the result: once absorbed, the sleeping pack doesn't leave sticky feeling. since my usual night cream is heavier, this one seems lighter, not appropriate to be labelled as sleeping pack in my book. but it does moisturize my skin just as well as my night cream. unfortunately, this one seems to break me out. i get new pimple the next day after using this sleeping pack. i've been eliminating other product and this seems the one that causing the breakout. when i found out that there's orchid extract in the sleeping pack, i think that's the culprit since i also get breakout from their orchid line. there are two other ingredients that are marked as potential acne triggers by cosdna but both are also found in my other products and it doesn't break me out, so you might want to proceed with caution if you have sensitivity toward certain ingredients.

the product on my hand

after blending it in

definitely won't repurchase this one since i'm not able to finish even one pack! it breaks me out badly. not in terms of the amount of pimples, but the pimple that pops out is hard and not easy to banish as well. so i throw it away after trying for about 4 times and always get pimples every single time. i can only say that this is moisturizing but not too heavy so those who have normal to combination even oily skin might enjoy this. but dry skin gals might not like it since it doesn't seem to have the occlusive property that most sleeping pack has. i can't say anything about the brightening effect since i don't use it frequently enough. from price point, it's quite affordable and it comes in tiny capsule so it will work well for people like me, that want to try various sleeping pack but isn't able to finish full size sleeping pack.

my last year lesson plan in makeup including properly draw my eyebrow. although i have quite thick eyebrow, it's not as pretty as those eyebrows in instagram (little did i know that no one should have the same eyebrow as the one you see on instagram!), so i decided to learn how to draw my eyebrow. i've tried their 3 in 1 eyebrow product and i like it, so i want to try the 2 in 1 just to find out which one i like better. let me remind you that i'm a full time mom, and my time in the morning is very limited so i have to draw my eyebrow real quick real fast. that's why eyebrow wax isn't in my wish list. so.. let's find out about this baby.

i believe this is the last tube that i tried from peter thomas roth holiday set. my feeling toward this set is pretty mixed up. i love half of them and the rest are pretty ordinary for me. i was curious especially their pumpkin and gold mask, but the rest.. i'm pretty clueless about them, including this one.

this is the description from their website: take a deep dive into refreshing hydration with this deeply hydrating and nourishing gel mask. glacial lake blue marine algae help defend against the damaging effects of dehydration with vital nutrients and moisture. rich tea sourced from korea's jeju island helps deliver replenishing nourishment to depleted skin. sourced from arctic glacial ice, antarcticine helps create an eco-bubble over skin to help with varying environmental attacks that can increase the signs of skin aging, dehydration lines and the development of visible wrinkles. helps smooth and plump the appearance of skin, leaving it looking soft and instantly hydrated with a dewy, radiant glow.

the packaging: since this is a gift set, mine comes in little light blue plastic tube. they printed the description and other information on the body. the tube is see through so you can see the remaining product inside. they also seal the opening of each tube, even though it's just a small tube. pretty thoughtful and also secure.

the tube

the scent: so far i have no problem with the scent of the other masks, but apparently, this one is pretty fragrant. like a very fragrant loose powder. but it dissipates when you put it on your face.

left: seal on the opening right: the mask on my hand

the product: the mask is a gel type, bluish in color but transparent. it's easy to spread on my face, just like the cucumber and rose one. i think they have similar consistency. since it's a gel, it feels cool when i put it on my face. i have to apply it thickly like the cucumber one or it will dried out before the washing time. again, since it's a gel, it's sticky and pretty hard to wash off using bare hands. washcloth might help, but since i don't like how the irish moor stains my washcloth, i prefer using my hands washing this mask off, although it might take a little effort.

the result: as a moisturizing mask, i feel that this falls short. although it's hydrating, but i don't feel difference with the rose one. i have to agree about the refreshing part, it does feel slightly cooling, but the rest of the gel mask are cooling too. so, nothing special.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

i have to say that most of the gel masks from peter thomas roth have failed to impress me. although i like the cucumber one, but the other two don't feel special to me. this mask is supposed to give hydration, nourish my skin, and i don't feel extra hydrating nor nourishing part. perhaps i don't use this often enough to feel the difference, but it isn't convincing enough for me to get the full size to feel the difference.

i have tried most variants from original lululun series (not the special region one), so when we went back to japan last summer, i didn't want to buy another lululun mask. but then i saw there were new lululun mask. it was labelled as premium, intended for weekly use. the original one comes in a pack, 7 masks per pack minimum and intended for daily use. for this new line, there are two groups, the aroma mask and the nature care mask. i forgot how i didn't buy any from the aroma mask, and bought almost all the mask from nature care. i couldn't find sweet drop at that time. i've tried sunny day before, and this time i decided to try fresh red.

this is the description from their US website: youthful clarity a blend of acerola extract from japan. acerola extract is a veritable treasure trove of vitamins and minerals. it controls the production of melanin to prevent wrinkles and freckles. the fresh red is a potent conduit of nature's own vitamin power. bright red super fruit acerola contains 17 times more vitamin c than lemon. acerola extracted from fruit of acerola from okinawa contains not only vitamin c but also beta carotene, vitamin e, anthocyanin, and other nutritious vitamins. it evens skin tone for a brighter and more radiant you. acai is a super food rich in polyphenols, iron and dietary fiber. acai extract is a highly nutritious ingredient that leaves skin bright and refreshed. in addition to vitamins from acerola and acai, our proprietary formula is rich in vitamin c derivative, a key component of the skin, vitamin e, a gentle skin conditioning ingredient, vitamin b3, provitamin b5, and vitamin a for an all-purpose treatment that leaves the skin bright, moisturized, and refreshed.

the packaging: i bought a box of 5, and the box has the same design as the individual packaging. the mask comes in a red sachet, with picture of main ingredient at front. the description at the back is in japanese.

the packaging

the scent: it smells like wet tissue, it's very subtle, barely detectable. i have to sniff real hard to detect it. but it might be my bad nose. anyway, i don't have problem with the scent.

the product: the mask is made of thick cotton, soft and doesn't feel papery. this is thicker than their original version, which is similar to regular korean mask. the mask doesn't have any slit, but i don't have much problem with it. i do have problem with the nose bridge though. it's too wide and it has this weird opening to avoid the tear duct, but unfortunately since the nose bridge is too wide, the slit is poking to my tear duct. it's also a bit wide on my temples and chin area, but it's manageable. i do appreciate the long nose flap.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: i put this mask on for about 30 minutes, and afterward i can feel my skin is well hydrated, making my pores appear smaller. it doesn't leave sticky feeling after the essence is completely absorbed. as the brightening, i don't see visible brightening effect, but i'm quite pale to begin with, so it might be me.

sorry for frightening you, but i want to show you what i'm talking about why would they make that slit over there? it's just poking my tear duct

i have to say that i like this version better than their daily mask. it's more hydrating and more suitable to use for longer duration. their daily mask only have enough mask for about 10-15 minutes, while this one might last longer up to 30 minutes. as for the price, this version is definitely pricier, but it's understandable. like i said, there are lots of other masks that i haven't tried yet, so i might not repurchasing this just yet. i think this mask is suitable for any skin type, but for super dry skin, you might not like this much because it doesn't give heavy moisture. it might feel too light for you. but, this is cheap, so it won't hurt your wallet if you want to try one.

sometimes around last year, my sister gave me the face shop clay mousse mask but in hoodie ryan version and minnie hand cream. i've been using the clay mask, but the hand cream is somehow being burried in my stash. then around last october, i had no maid at all, so i had to clean my house myself, and help my nanny doing other chores like dishwashing and a bit cooking, so there are a lot of handwashing involved. that makes me realized that my hands are drier than usual. my trusty body butter doesn't help much. i get tiny scrapes and cuts from washing the dishes with the dish sponge, so i decided to take out my hand cream. i used my daiso one and it helped much, but i finished it too quickly so i came back to my stash only to find that this cute minnie hand cream that's long forgotten. so i decided to give it a try.

this is the description on the box: irresistibly cute minnie mouse hand cream. hand cream with a soft floral scent that leaves skin feeling moisturized.

the packaging

the packaging: it comes in a transparent plastic box. there's a black band at the bottom and they put the name at front with a little minnie bow. you can read the description and ingredients list at the back in english and korean and french.

description at the back

the scent: they say that it has subtle floral scent. they also put perfume/fragrance last on the their ingredients list. it's floral alright, but i can't say about the subtlety. i think it's not as subtle as most japanese products, but it's not overwhelming either. somehow i feel that it's a nice break since lately i've been using too many scentless japanese products.

the minnie mouse's head-shaped hand cream

the product: of course it has to come in a minnie mouse's head shape! it looks like a little ball with minnie mouse's head top as the screw top. they put minnie bow at front and disney label at the back. when you screw the top off, you can see the white hand cream. i would say that the consistency is thinner than daiso hand cream. probably same as my sana q10 night cream. it leaves glistening trace after putting it all over my hands. after a while it's completely absorbed.

the hand cream inside

the result: it's moisturizing, but compared to daiso one, this one is less moisturizing. i have to apply it twice to moisturize my hands the way i like it. this one also doesn't leave tacky feeling once it's completely absorbed.

honestly, this is just a cute product to collect. for me, since i found that this one is not moisturizing enough, i hardly reach it when i'm on my desk, unlike when i had the daiso hand cream. thankfully this one is a gift. price wise, daiso is definitely cheaper. plus the shape of the jar is quite difficult to open with one hand, so that's another no for me. i like tube packaging better, flip top is more preferable than screw top since i can flip it open and squeeze the product out with one hand, so much faster. so, definitely won't buy this myself.

if you've read my other posts, then you might have known that i went to japan last year and i bought several papa recipe masks that were on sale. of course i had to get it! everyone seems loving it so i have to try it myself. i grabbed 3 variants that i saw, and i've tried them all. i'm trying to writing all my reviews about them as soon as possible. so.. since my husband has gone abroad in the beginning of december, he decided not to go anywhere during christmas to new year's holiday and went to staycation instead in 5 stars hotel in our town. we didn't bring our nanny along since my husband thought our nanny and maid deserved a holiday for their own, so that means i had to do the heavy work. but i was sure that all kids would be asleep on new year's eve, so i thought i will bring this mask to try. it will be a perfect pampering session for me.

this is the description from memebox website: the latest k-beauty craze over "honey glossy skin" is easily achievable with this black honey mask. crafted with organic manuka honey from new zealand and propolis extract, a single plant-based sheet delivers powerful nutrients, moisture and elasticity to skin. in fact, it double skin's hydration levels while shrinking excess sebum. the result is soothed and restored skin that radiates an irresistible glow. beneficial ingredients: allantoin, hyaluronic acid, propolis extract, licorice root extract, honey.

the packaging: it comes in same design as the other variants, with the honey jar pictured at front, except the majority sachet color is black. there's description at the back in english, so you don't have to worry figuring out what it is.

the packaging

the scent: it has similar sweet honey scent like the other variants, which is good. i like if they put the same scent as the name. i hate when they put something like "honey" or "rose" or "strawberry" on the name but it doesn't have the scent of the ingredients they put in the name of the product. it seems deceiving. so, hooray for the honey scent! oh, and they're not overwhelming so you don't have to worry.

the product: the mask is black, obviously. it's made of thin cotton with black backing too, which is annoying for me since at first i didn't realize that it has backing on it. the mask doesn't have any slit on it but it's okay for me. it can cover most of my face without any difficulty. both mouth hole and eye holes are not too big either. the nose flap is slightly longer than my usual mask too, which is good. the mask is soaked with lots of essence. the essence is very watery. i thought the essence is clear at first, but since i used it inside the hotel bathroom at night, i couldn't see very clearly. it still has lots of essence so i thought i would use it the next day since i only have my kose travel skincare set. but in the morning when i pour it on my palm, i can see that it is black-tinged. and i'm worried that it might mess with my face, so i decided to toss it. it's a waste though, but since i don't bring any clean container, i can't keep it. anyway, i don't know what caused it though. is it the mask color or the mask backing that cause the essence becomes black?

left: before middle: mask on me right: after (sorry about the weird lighting, i'm limited to hotel bathroom to take these pics)

the result: i put it on for about 30 minutes or so, and the mask feels a little bit tight when i took it off. it's very moisturizing and that feelings hold up until the next morning, which is great since i don't bring my usual arsenal with me and we are staying in the hotel where everywhere has AC on. i like how it makes my skin supple without breaking it out.

honestly, this is another great mask that i can see why everybody's loving it, especially for those who have dry skin. unfortunately, i can't seem too see the difference among 3 variants that i have. all of them seems only moisturizing, making my pores appear smaller temporary and probably making my skin bouncier with regular use, but nothing else. but don't get discouraged because of that statement. i can say that it works for all skin types, although for super oily skin you might have to be cautious since this might feel too rich for your skin. for me, i like to have one of papa recipe mask in my stash, whatever it is. i reckon there are couple more options from papa recipe that i can't find, so i'd like to try them all.

Oif you've read my other posts, you might know that while my husband was at europe last december, i asked him to get me some stuff that i couldn't get here. one of them was kiko milano. kiko wasn't quite popular here. actually many european brands are not popular here mainly because there's not so many online shop that sells it here. and if they do, they will sell in such a high price. it might be affordable in europe, but count the shipping cost and the currency rates, and the price could get doubled here. so.. there are two products that i knew it was best seller from kiko, the water eyeshadow and the eyeshadow stick. i've reviewed the water eyeshadow (you can read it here) and the eyeshadow stick. many said that the eyeshadow stick is dupe for the famous laura mercier or by terry eyeshadow stick. i never tried them both, so i can't say for sure. but, let's try compare this eyeshadow stick with the body shop eyeshadow stick that i have in my collection.

this is the description from their website: stick eyeshadow - extreme hold for a blendable intense color. the creamy formula ensures extreme blendability of the line immediately after application. once set, the colour remains uniform and radiant for up to 8 hours, without streaking or smudging. water resistant, long lasting stick eyeshadow gives splendid, pure and vibrant colour tones. application is simple and comfortable, thanks to the special rounded stick and its ultra-smooth and light texture. available in 32 high-impact shades.
blendable and highly pigmented, long lasting stick eyeshadow combines an exceptional chromatic yield with great versatility, for an impeccable result with absolutely no transfer. with just a few strokes, it's possible to obtain full and defined coloured areas or else more blended and sheer tones.
long lasting stick eyeshadow offers the possibility of obtaining multiple effects with just a few moments, ensuring sufficient playtime during application before setting where it will absolutely stay put for the entire day. just begin to apply following the lash line, and if you like, you can fill in the entire upper lid, repeating the application until the desired colour intensity is achieved. for graphic makeup, wait a few moments until the texture dries, or else blend delicately right after application using the fingertips or a flat brush. the result will be luminous, intense and long lasting, so it's not necessary to apply powder eyeshadow to set the texture.

the outer box

the packaging: it comes in ordinary black long box, they put the product name at the front, the shade number on top. inside you can find a black eyeshadow stick in form of a pen with a cap. everything is made of black doff plastic. they put instruction and shade number on the body. there's also a color-coordinated bottom according to the shade. but apparently, i pick very similar shades so there isn't much difference between them both.

they put the shade code on top of the box

the shade: mine are 05 (rosy brown) and 38 (golden taupe). the rosy brown is pretty popular for being touted as dupe for by terry's misty brown or laura mercier's caviar stick in amethyst. when i was looking at the swatches, it looked similar. rosy brown is exactly like the name, a rosy-tinged brown. it has microglitter in it, very glittery and shiny, but in a good way. the glittery finish doesn't look cheap. the golden taupe is somewhat deceiving. it's more likely a dark brown with golden microglitter. slightly darker than my body shop eyeshadow stick.

the eyeshadow stick

the shade code on the body and the color-coded bottom

the product: the eyeshadow is in pen shape, doff black as the box. it's twistable and retractable, so you don't have to sharpen it. the eyeshadow stick has dome-shaped tip that glides easily on my skin and on my lid. it's very creamy and it gives vibrant color in just one swipe. unfortunately, the rounded tip doesn't make it easier to draw precise line. i don't like using brush to use this eyeshadow stick, because i bought it so i don't have to use brush to use it.

the dome tip

the result: as i've stated before, it's very pigmented. i like to use it on my entire lid. and i have to blurred the edges quickly with my finger, or it will set before i have the chance to blend it. it does set very quickly. and once it's set, it doesn't budge. it really stays on my lid, even when i don't set my eyelid with powder. it lasts decently. i can't say that it lasts very long because i don't use makeup that long, 4 to 5 hours max. it doesn't crease even without powder on top. in fact, i never put powder eyeshadow on top of it and it's still fine.

swatch on hand

comparison with bodyshop

how they look on my eyelid

i absolutely like this eyeshadow stick better than the bodyshop one. the color is more vibrant and it's more long lasting while the body shop still shift a bit during the day especially on oily lid. but, application-wise, both are very easy to use. as for price, i can't say since the body shop has large store chain here, while kiko is rare to find even in online shop, so the price is higher than body shop here. but back in europe, kiko is pretty affordable. i definitely recommend this eyeshadow stick for you who want to still bring color to your lid but don't want to fuss on using brushes or bring eyeshadow palette with you. this is definitely something perfect for travelling, or moms! so definitely check this one out.

half a year ago, i never heard of the ordinary. then suddenly i saw these white boxes and lots of glass bottle with dropper on it. then everybody starts to rave about the ordinary. so i did my homework and found out that the ordinary is a branch brand from deciem. they made lots of skincare products and all of them are affordable. i bet you'd already known how it's possible. they stripped the ingredients back to basic, so you can expect short ingredients list. the main ingredient and a few stabilizer or added ingredients for more benefit. so of course i had to try it. because it's mainly about acids and vitamin c, i decided to give myself another shot at AHA. this time i'm buying their lactic acid 5%, retinoid serum (the granactive version one) and their vitamin c, of course. i had tried the famous melano cc but i couldn't see why people rave about it, so i decided to gave the ordinary one a try. they have several forms of vitamin c serum, and i had hard time choosing which one is best for me. luckily since i didn't jump in the first time, i got the chance to read other people's review. after reading extensively, i decided to get their ascorbyl glucoside 12% serum.

this is the description from their website: vitamin c is an effective antioxidant, brightens the skin tone and reduces signs of ageing. in its pure form, vitamin c is unstable in water. ascorbyl glucoside is a water-soluble derivative of vitamin c. it is much more stable in water but it is less potent than direct L-ascorbic acid. being more compatible with water allows for a very pleasant serum texture. it is considered a gold standard of vitamin c derivatives due to its high stability and comfortable use. but it's impossible to achieve extremely high L-ascorbic acid potency with this solution. aside from general benefits of pure vitamin C, ascorbyl glucoside has been shown to offer specific skin brightening benefits.

the box

description in english and france

the packaging: it comes in a white box, there's description and ingredients list on the side of the box. inside of it, you can find the dark glass bottle with dropper on it. the dark glass is expected since vitamin c is known to get oxidized easily. again, the label on the bottle is also white, very simple. it really suits the name, the ordinary. the serum is 30 ml, which is the usual size for a serum. the dropper makes it easier to get the product out, but when it's running out, i don't think the dropper can get until the last drop.

the glass bottle

the dropper

the scent: this is the least acidic/fruity-scented vitamin c serum that i've ever tried. definitely very subtle so you don't have to worry about the scent. but if you're asking me, i think it smells artificial, like some chemical stuff.

the serum inside the dropper

the product: the serum is oil-based serum, so it's on the thick side of serum. it's cloudy white inside the dropper. i usually put one drop on each area, my forehead, my nose, my cheeks, and then my chin before spreading it all over my face. since this is oil based, shininess and a bit greasiness are expected.

the serum on my hand

after spreading it

after being absorbed

the result: at first, i thought it will be too oily for me. too greasy. it seems stay on top of my skin for a long time. but i persisted. i keep using it and then i notice that my skin absorbs it faster. a little bit faster. i don't notice any brightness, and it also doesn't seem to help with my PIH. now, at this point i also think that this serum is overrated. but i keep using it. and then one night i notice that my cheeks is bouncier. in these pictures below, you can see that it helps fade my acne scars, but not as good as naruko essence.

front side: notice the acne scar on my right cheek that comes in week 2 then fades in week 3

right side: again, notice the fading of my acne scar during week 2-3

left side: again, noticeable acne scar fading

the first thing that i have to mention is that i've been using this serum for almost 3 months and it's still in the same condition as when i received it the first time. i didn't store it in the fridge and it still works fine. it doesn't change color or smell so i think it's still safe to use it. although it doesn't work wonder on my PIH or my overall complexion (not that i mind, since i'm pale enough already), but i like how it makes my skin bouncier, more plump. it also works well to fade my acne scar, but not as good as my previous naruko essence. at first, i didn't think it will work well under any cream, but after using it every night i can declare that it works well under my usual cream. both will make me glow the entire night and the next morning i will be glowing and my skin is well hydrated and plump, and bouncy. i will definitely get this serum again if the online shops here didn't sell it with higher price than usual. i will wait for my brother again to get this.

my husband was away to europe last december and i wanted to make sure that he got me things that i couldn't get here in decent price. so i read his itinerary carefully and found out that he probably could get me essence, catrice, and kiko milano products though i was hoping he could get some makeup revolution, but apparently he couldn't. but i'm excited since he could get both water eyeshadow and the eyeshadow stick from kiko milano. in this post i will review the water eyeshadow first and i will talk about the eyeshadow stick in other post.

this is the description from their website: revolutionary eyeshadow from immediate color release with double dry and wet use. a blend of spherical powders of last generation for an exceptional chromatic effect, able to combine extreme writing, pure luminosity and very long hold. the soft and creamy texture allows you to create a makeup with a multi-dimensional effect, for a color with "lively" volume and extraordinary purity. the particular processing of powders gives this kiko eyeshadow a high degree of shading and an immediate and perfectly homogenous color release, in the face of dual use, dry and wet. the unique three-dimensional shape, with a special ergonomic design, suggests the picking gesture, making eye makeup easy and fast. enriched with moisturizing and smoothing active ingredients, water eyeshadow remains light and imperceptible on the eyelids.

the outer box

the packaging: it comes in ordinary black box. you can read the shade name and number on top of it. when you pull the product out, you can find black doff plastic compact with just the brand name at the front and at the back you can see the shade name and number. when you open the compact, you can see tiny mirror there. i don't think you can use it for applying the eyeshadow since it's too small, but perhaps if you're in a rush or travelling, then you can use it although it's not going to be ideal. there's a plastic separator to keep the texture of the eyeshadow intact. the lid is quite sturdy. at first i had difficulty opening it, and it chipped my nail paint couple times. but then my husband found a trick to open it from the side, and it works better. i don't have to worry about chipped nail anymore.

shade number on top

the product: the eyeshadow is very pretty. it has this pattern like fingerprint and it looks like you push your finger to the pan and make it that way, with all its hill and slope. if you're using it as eyeshadow and you use your finger to do it, then it will be okay since the slope is perfect to place my finger on it and then swipe the pan to get the color. but since i use this mostly as highlighter, the slope is too small for my brush to get the color. but i can manage. as both eyeshadow and highlighter, it's super pigmented and buttery and soft to touch. although i have to say if you pick it up using a brush, it might give you a little kick off. a bit powdery, but if you're using on your lid, it doesn't give much fallout. personally, if i would use it as eyeshadow, i would use my finger since it will show the color better that way.

the compact

left: 208 - light gold right: 200 - champagne

the shade: mine is #200 (champagne) and #208 (light gold). i don't think champagne is dupe for anything else, but light gold is being called as dupe for laura geller gilded honey or mac whisper of gilt. now, i don't own any of those two, so i can't say whether it's true or not.
#200: on pan it looks rosy silvery shade, but on swatch it looks a bit brownish. on my cheek it looks silvery champagne with glitters.

close up look: plastic film to cover the pan and mirror inside

close up on the pattern

#208: this is less complicated. both on pan and on swatch it looks true to the name, light gold. it also has micro glitter, but it's less obvious than the champagne one.

close up look on 208

again, gorgeous pattern

the result: as eyeshadow, both colors look pretty and stunning on my lid, even when being used dry. i haven't tried it wet yet, but i bet it will make the color even more bold. as highlighter, the light gold is more forgiving on pores when being used on my cheekbones. but i have to be careful to do it light-handedly since too much of it will look like yellow gold streak on my cheekbones. but for medium to dark skin, this will be a great highlighter. it lasts decently too. usually i only put my makeup for about 5 hours, but today i got stuck outside for about 9 hours and it still holds well. i also have combination skin and this one sticks better, but if you have quite oily skin, it might vanish quicker.
the champagne one is tricky too. if i put too much, it will look like silver streak on my cheekbones. it's also not that forgiving on my pores when i use it on my cheekbones. again, the durability is decent, pretty much the same as the light gold one.

arm swatch

on my cheekbones both applied dry

obviously this is a good purchase. both shades work well for me and i can use it as eyeshadow and as highlighter, which is super good, but i mostly use it as highlighter. i like how it gives shiny glow without being too much, just the way i like about my highlighter. not too subtle, but not blinding either. if you're using this as eyeshadow, then you will get massive color options since this one comes in 22 shades. some of them can be used as highlighter and even blush too, so if you're into multi tasking product, this eyeshadow might serve you well. as for price point, it might be cheap in the US or in europe, but here... there aren't many online shop that sells this, so the price is quite expensive for a single eyeshadow. but considering this is a multi tasking product, it's worth the buy. as for me, since i want to try other powder highlighter, i probably wouldn't repurchase it soon. but i do recommend it. i can see why it's such a best seller.