Wash my face with what? Oil?
There are many different types of facial cleansers out in the market – cleansing wipes, foams, gels, exfoliates with sand, beads, scrubs, splashes, toners.. the list goes on.
And there’s oil.
“My face is always so oily so why should I wash my face in more oil?”
– small squeaky annoying voice
Shu Uemura pioneered in this new form of cleanser where using oil helps restore the natural balance of the skin and not strip it away. In 1967, Mr. Uemura made history by introducing the first oil based cleanser in Japan, the reputation of the cleanser gained so much popularity that it became the power brand product. In the 1950’s, an oil-based cleanser was given to film stars, to remove makeup multiple times a day, since stars started to develop sensitive skin from the harsh makeup removers. Oil cleansers contain botanical oils like avocado and jojoba, and it’s a much gentler way to strip oil-based makeup and much more effective.
Most waterproof makeup is comprised of some type of wax, which makes it extremely difficult to remove. I’ve found that waterproof makeup remover wipes or liquids, do not completely remove my mascara, leaving nice black lines on my pillow or waking up looking like a raccoon. If you have a longer lasting all-day wear foundation, if you don’t completely remove the residue from your face, it might cause breakouts if you sleep with makeup on. The oils in the cleanser from Shu Uemura contain 3 moleculary oils that trap the lipophilic residue in waxes and oils in makeup, lipcolor, and foundation. Once the oil is emulsified in water, it encapsulates the residue and lefts dirt, sweat, and other impurities from the pores.
Products now in the mainstream usually heavily market after “grease cutting” or “anti-bacterial” or “ZAP all that excess sebum.” When you strip the oil out of your pores, your skin overcompensates for the lack of moistures and pumps oil to the surface, to replenish what was lost. This leaves you in a cycle of extremely dry, flakey skin followed by an oil slick.
Oil dissolves oil. Let’s start demystifying some points about skin. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, and other pore issues are results of combinations of factors, including hormonal imbalance, dead skin cells, buildup of dirt, bacterial, and or diet. Drinking a lot of water helps release toxins and lessons the load for your skin to push the toxins out. Oil is applied to the top layer of your skin allowing dirt to be dissolved.
There 2 ways to try this method.
First way, DIY.
You can create your own custom blend of oil cleanser, which would be cheaper in the long run, but takes a lot of trial and error to find what is a best fit for you. Here are some suggestions:
The Mascara Report: Quest to find the best mascaras on the market
I have asian lashes. They’re short, stubborn, doesn’t curl, not very long, and always becomes straight after I apply mascara. I had previously gone through lengths to achieve that gorgeous full lashes look by doing eyelash extensions, false lashes, and even applying eyelash growth serum. Truth to be told, there are definitely some mascaras that perform well over the others, and I’m here to share with you some of my mascara investigation!
When buying a mascara it is important to know the types of mascara that is suited for your lashes. It can be quite confusing actually. When you look at all their features it all says it will improve your lashes. Don’t get confused with their formula names or their fancy brushes. Before choosing you need to decide first whether you need waterproof or non-waterproof.
Waterproof Mascara
These types of mascara were created to withstand moisture. Tears, rain, or sweat should be no match with a good waterproof mascara. And it usually can last all day. Removing the mascara is quite hard unless you are using an oil based make up remover.
Non-waterproof Mascara
Although lacking the waterproof property this mascara is still considered by many. Mainly because it can easily be applied. Most specialty types are under this category because of its lighter composition allowing manufacturers to apply more special ingredients.
Lengthening Mascara
Mascaras with fiberous formulas can help you achieve that look, or something like a eyelash primer could also help.
Volume Mascara
These types of mascara have thicker composition to provide the volume effect. It is designed to make your lashes appear thicker. If you have thin lashes this is the way to go. Two coats should be enough when applying this mascara.
Curling Mascara
If using an eyelash curler is not your type, you can use a curling Mascara. This mascara can the eyelashes, which can give you a wide-eyed effect. These types of mascara usually lengthens and curls the lashes that should last for quite some time.
The types of mascara provided above is not limited to a single product. Meaning a mascara can have two features like curling and volume feature. You can try different combination to suit your needs.
The Process:
To be honest, these are the mascaras that I currently own and have not purchased any in the last 6 months. Yes.. god damn. that’s a lot of mascara, like… $400-500 worth of it. I’m glad I can share my findings with you so you don’t have to spend this kind of money in search for your own favorites! My post below will be my honest review, I purchased all the mascaras with my own money, and used my own eyes. Nothing is sponsored on this blog.
Get a good Shu Uemura eyelash curler to ensure a good curl to your lashes. Press down on the lower sections, press again at the midsection and then top part, to ensure a better curl.
All mascaras were applied with 2 coats, to the top clean lashes. I basically rate mascaras based on two things. Volumizing vs. Lengthening. In other instances I would also include in Length of Wear time, as that is very important, but for the sake of this test, I didn’t have time to wear all of these for 6-8hrs and come back with the results. You’d have to take my word for it.
fyi. yeah. I know. It’s kinda creepy to see my own eye at such high def. Kinda creepy. HAHA. . . . .. . .. #asianeyes. LOL. These mascaras are not in any order. It’s just in an order where I grabbed them.
1. Chanel Inimitable Mascara
http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Mascara-INIMITABLE-89111
Volume – Length – Curl – Separation : $30
In a single stroke, this mascara delivers it all: volume, length, curl and precise separation. A sophisticated formula and unique brush design combine to deliver lush, long-wearing colour so precisely that each lash, even the finest, is perfectly defined and separated. Pro-Vitamin B5 hydrates and conditions lashes to keep them supple and healthy-looking.
Chanel Inimitable Mascara Before and After
I do like the cleanliness of the brush, but this is more for lengthening, and it didn’t create too much volume for my eyes. In terms of the packaging, it feels very nice to the touch and has a pretty good shape. The wand is ok. Overall, it’s not one of my favorites, despite my loyalty to chanel.
2. HYPNÔSE DOLL LASHES
http://www.lancome-usa.com/Hypnose-Doll-Lashes/10005,default,pd.html
Doll Lash Effect Mascara – Wide-Eye Look. Volumized, Extended, Lifted Lashes. $26
Benefits
•Volumized, Extended, Lifted lashes
•Wide-Eye Effect
•Flirtatious lash fringe for a bold, curved and clump-free finish
•Precise, separated corner and bottom lashes
Technology
•New unique cone-shaped brush for an extremely smooth application, perfect for hard-to-reach corner and bottom lashes
•Nylon bristles combined with the exclusive FiberShineTM formula to sculpt, curl and load every single lash
HYPNÔSE DOLL LASHES before and after
I’m actually quite fond of this particular mascara. It didn’t really do too much in terms of volumizing my lashes, but because of the tapered brush, I could really get inside corners of my lashes and bottom lashes quite easily. It’s also smaller at the end so that no smears could happen. This is definitely a good mascara for bottom lashes because of the shape. I also did not notice any clumping, but in terms of drama. It didn’t really bring any.
Valentines Day 2012
February is beginning to become my favorite month of the whole year. It’s like a double wammy! First, my birthday is on the first of february, second.. february is also Valentines Day. Double the presents and attention! Muahhahah. 
Anyways, this month has been a huge hit on my bf’s wallet, so I have said I would make an effort this year to make the holiday “not about a girl’s day.”
So of course, he gave me 2 dozen roses this year. DOS DOZEN? wow.
What did I do to deserve this? haha.
Therefore, he got DOS games. The two games he wanted pretty bad. UFC3 on Xbox and Twisted Metal on PS3. He played Twisted Metal yesterday while I watched, looks like an insane race/smashing/killing/multitasking type game. I like the art and ruggedness of the UI and the models though.
This is my “ghetto valentine” dinner. Which is a 2 piece Popeyes Meal, dark meat, mashed potato, and grape drank. So fking good. Cheap and good. I’m happy with this. LOL. Who doesn’t like Popeyes, you cray!
Ok yeah. Back to real Valentines Dinner, on me. I felt bad because of all the things he’s done for me and I’d wanted to give back, not just the games. Took him to The Palm for some steak and lobster. (He doesnt eat seafood)
What’s really interesting and gives it an old school NYC Vibe are the awesome illustrations and portraiture of the restaurant. These are really awesome drawings, and covers the entire wall!
This is the reason why I am never eating food again. I was so stuffed that night, I wanted to throw up. That’s how much I ate. So bad. Anyway. This is their famous Nova Scotia Lobster, split in half. The claws are boiled and the body is broiled with clarified butter and light salt. The claws were cracked by the waiter and placed for you to indulge. After I had about 2 claws, i was already full. To be honest, I would much prefer my lobster just in an “inanimate” shape, like.. chunks of meat and not the ENTIRE REAL lobster. The more I looked at it, the more it really reminded me of a cockroach. Very very tasty and scary cockroach. I dont think I’m ever eating lobster again, to be honest. Well, not for a while at least. In case you were wondering how big it is, it’s the smallest lobster you can get, 3 LB-er.
This was my appetizer, before my lobster came. Big Mistake. I shouldn’t of ordered the lobster. HAHAHHAA. I did not know the lobster was going to be so gigantic, and I couldnt share with my non-seafood eating bf. Anyway. These were no ordinary shrimp cocktail, they were shrimp cocktail on steroids. It’s like the schwarzenegger prawn. It’s gigantic, extremely crisp and sweet, very fresh indeed. It’s probably the best shrimp cocktail I’ve ever had in NYC. I would probably just come back to the restaurant to eat shrimp cocktail lol. By the way. The 4 pieces are about $20, so about $5 each. Pricey for this succulent indulgence.
While I thought I was going to be poisoned by the amount of cholesterol I had injested on my seafood feast….. it was time for some cake! I got this cake at Paris Baguette because of the cute BEAR!!!!!! SO CUUUTE The cake wasn’t very tasty though, a let down from Paris Baguette. It’s pretty dry for a chocolate cake. It’s now sitting in my fridge forever.
Another goodie I got for Valentines Day was some sephora items. I got the free “mini” fresh lipbalms for my birthday present, comes in these two tiny tubes of the original Sugar and the new Rose tinted balm. They’re my favorite lipbalms, really heals my super chapped lips, and nothing compares to it’s creamy/easily glides over your lips and heals!
Um and I picked up this lancome palette and lipstick. I am too lazy to check on the name of the color right now, and a blusher. Forgot the name HAHAH. but i mean, as you can tell it’s pretty much light beige + purple + dark black shimmer. I also purchased another bottle of the Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue perfume, my go to perfume!
Speaking about Lancome products. I’ve only started purchasing from them because of Michelle Phan. After owning a couple of the eyeshadows and lipsticks, here’s my initial commentary about this brand.
1. I am still skeptical if the skin products actually works. I haven’t had any luck with any of them. Genifique broke me out, read my past post here… and their “miracle” eye makeup remover – it’s good, better than Estee Lauder, but I’m not sure if it’s better than Shisheido eye makeup remover OR even the Shu Uemura one. Still deciding.
2. Regarding their makeup eyeshadows and blushes. The palettes are quite expensive, about $49 per pop. With that price range, you could buy a Dior or a Chanel or YSL.. I feel that the color, texture of the shadows are good, blendable… and it’s a little better than Chanel’s in terms of hardness/softness of the color..but the downfall of these is the packaging. You are not really getting more product out of these than the others, but the packaging is really cheaply made. There’s absolutely no weight to them, they feel plastic.. and they feel like they could crack if you stuff them into a heavy traffic makeup bag. They’re very lightweight, and I have not tested if they actually “hold up” to travel and daily use. We’ll see Lancome.