Product Review: MUFE Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara

Ok, let me start by saying that I fought long and hard to like this product. I mean everyone I know in the beauty community told me that this is the "best" mascara out there. I went to Singapore to get the mascara and was told that this is out of stock world wide. Then another friend went to S'pore and found it and got me 1.

I was soooo happy when i first got it and I told myself that I'll only use it on special occassion. But ManFriend at that time open it thinking it's his and obviuosly I have to start counting my 6M expiry date from the day you open the product... so I have to use it ;)


First Impression:
1. Brush looks superb and huge for tiny eyes
2. the Formulation is not too thick - you can see it through the bristles of the brush
3. the length of the mascara is quite long compared to normal ones
4. the packaging is very classy (in my opinion)

Disappointment #1 It gave me panda eyes!

like i said the brush is huge and no matter how careful i am in applying mascara that brush still gets my lid but this is not the issue really, it's the "after a few hours" thing is the issue.

the mascara formulation is great. my lashes looks perfect after 1 coat and even more in 2 coats! It's sooo dark and long and thick. I was IMPRESSED already.

so with my new mascara, off i went to a friends bday. On my arrival at their place, the soon to be wife told me "you have some smudge hun". I ran to the bathroom and to my horror I had smudges on both lids and under eye! PANDA-Eyes!!!

Lesson of the day: better use a mascara base i thought.


Disappointment # 2

with Panda-eyes still in my head, my next attempt to like the mascara is a trip to the mall. I wack my Shiseido Mascara base on and then apply the MUFE mascara.

The intensity is better (of course) and my eyes really opened up. Once again I am IMPRESSED and a little bit worried about panda eyes.

So off i went to the mall and after an 1 hr, i went to find a mirror and to my horror once again, i've got panda-eyes!!

I was soooo heartbroken. I thought even with mascara base it's not working.

I was almost conviced that it's not meant for me and I am already going to get me a new mascara that i know works for me.

Lesson of the day: don't lose hope

Hope # 1

after 2 weeks of not using it, i decided to try again and see if this time i'll love it.

it was a cool day compared to the heat wave we've been having 2 weeks ago.

I had my mascara base on then MUFE HD.
I totally forgot to check myself on the mirror until it was lunch time when i remembered! I ran to the bathroom to check my panda-eyes and to my surprise! NO PANDA-EYES!!

I thought WOW! this is hope.

Hope # 2

the following week i decided to use it again. I thought i'll wack on some nice eyeshadow this time and do the full eye thing.

7 hrs later - everything is still in place and no panda eyes!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

1. MUFE Smoky Lash mascara can be considered one the best. Not my holy grail but definitely one of the good ones. It's very dramatic and intense which is ideal for small eyes so it really opens up. I can actually see flirtatious lashes!

2. MUFE Smoky Lash mascara is not friends with heat and humidity. I do get panda eyes when the temperature is above 35 deg C. In heat and humidity it melts together with my makeup.

3. You have to use a mascara base - it stays put more - at least for me :)

4. It's a pain to remove so you have to use a eye makeup remover.

5. will i repurchase? - well maybe... right now it's not easily accessible where i am living but if given a chance to be somewhere with MUFE store and probably :)

In and Out (Jan-Feb Edition)

the queenbee of In and Out (Lollipop26) has spoken hence this post :)

IN

1. my new place - it's cozy and very home-y :) i am still renting but still i can't help myself but create this tiny place as my home

2. Revlon's Red nail polish - I love love love this polish! i was "told" that Christian Louboutin used this polish to decide which red to go for :) true or not, I really love this red polish. it's a classic red (in my opinion) and reminds me of Twilight....(beeep!) there i said it, it reminds me of twilight that's why i love it.

3. MAC Cherish and Rimmel Nude Delight - 2 of my nude lipsticks that always make me happy when i apply it :) i get compliments galore :)

4. Lanvin Eclat de Arpege perfume - i can spray this 100x a day and never get dizzy or tired of it. maybe not in winter but right now, this is what wakes up my senses in the morning :)

5. countdown to my 30th - well it's around 4 months more until my 30th but the countdown now begins! and this is purely on getting my "savings" up so i can get that "bag" that i sooooo wanted to get :)

6. LDR (long distance relationship) - as much as i am not a fan - i am now in a long distance relationship. i miss my partner so much and at the same time i am happy to be able to experience living on my own :) it's going to be hard but it's going to be rewarding :) i heard from someone that "you have to be your ownself first before becoming somebody else's wife"

OUT

1. moving houses - it's a pain and very stressful. you have to have great set of friends to help you and I do (i've got great friends) and i love them dearly :)

2. having no internet - i can't imagine how i survived 10 years ago without it - but then again 10 years ago all i know is IRC and yahoo so there wasn't a "need" to be constantly online. but it's different now!! I am hoping i get connected asap!

2.1 my TiVo isn't recording too due to no internet scenario! boohoo! so i've been missing out on The Hills, Vampire Diaries and Oprah!

3. missing my other half - it's really hard :'(

4. summer - i am over it and i am just waiting for fall and then winter wooopeee!

What's yours?

Finally found a dupe!

Have you seen Sephora by OPI Metro Chic swatches online and decided you want it but you don't have sephora where you live?

Did you try online shopping only to know that your country rejects any nail polish packages? ie Australian Post?!

Have you perused every nail polish aisles hoping you'll find a dupe and fail?



If you answered YES on all of that then *high five* to you!



We are on the same boat!!



Here is some good news:



I MsChikee of Excellent Makeup dot Com hereby announce that I have found a dupe for Sephora by OPI Metro Chic nail polish!!!!!!!



Woooppee!!

It's by Kit Cosmetics and it's called Wild Ride. It is very very very similar to Metro Chic. It's purple-grey-brownish aka "dirt" colour which is what Metro Chic is!

It's not really a cheap dupe but it's cheaper than OPI nail polish :) (Note: I am talking about Australian Prices here).

OPI Nail polish is sold $19.95 AUD in David Jones stores and Kit Cosmetics nail polish is sold at $15.95 AUD.

It's not cheap I tell you but worth the money if you're into "dirt" coloured polishes! Thanks to gift vouchers I was able to score one. :)

What other nail polish are you dying to get your hands on but you couldn't find it in your area?

PS.

Kit Cosmetics is also available in Myer Stores :)

Gone Fishing :)

I am just in the middle of moving houses and as usual my internet is being transferred too.

I'll be back with more posts and reviews as soon as i am connected back to the world wide web.

Until then, I hope you are all doing fine :)

New Love: MAC Cherish

I will trully cherish this one! :P So after watching MakeupbyTiffanyD's video where she mentioned about Back2Mac-ing (new word!) expired lipglosses and all that gross-yucky business! I decided that it's time for some of my lipglosses to go back to mother MAC :P

I have a few lipglosses that are not even half way but i know for sure it's expired.

A few things to check:

1. Smell - if it smells like a crayon then chances are it's expired. (i am talking MAC lipglosses here)


2. Texture - you'll see that oil separates from the colour and it is stickier than normal


3. Date - if it's been sitting in your drawer for more 12M then time to let go. Some girls chuck them out at 6M.
   

So i've got 3 lipglosses that were expired and 3 other MAC items that I've used up and just waiting for my Back 2 MAC.

What lipstick did i get? surprise surprise! another nude lipstick :) -- MAC Satin lippie in Cherish

I am really into nude lipstick these days and this is one is another new love. My Rimmel one is more nude/peach while this one is nude/brown/pink and both are equally flattering to me skintone (NC42). Satin finish is my next favourite after cremesheen :)

Here's how it looks like on my lips:

I think I've been good. This is my first MAC non-purchase in 2010. I hope to be just doing this for a while... just Back 2 Mac-ing :) but you'll never know..

ManFriend - if you're reading this, gifts are still welcome :P miss you!

New Love: Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight

"oh nude lips! how i love thee!"

I am totally converted to nude lips thanks to Lollipop26 and hundreds of other women on the YouTube beauty community.

For a while I was on pink/peach lipsticks and lipglosses. I was obsessed with it and it's the first thing I try on every time I am at a makeup counter.

And now I am into Nude lipsticks.

I bought a few and most of them left me looking dead like Revlon's Smooth Nude - pretty but didn't work on me :(

Anyway, I think I found my nude lipstick :)

Lo and behold....Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight

I am NC42 in complexion and my lips are quite pigmented (reddish/brown) and this by far is the best nude that is flattering to my skin and lips complexion :)

I can say that it's more peach/nude which is a little bit warmer hence more "lively" as oppose to looking dead which is what a nude lip can do (sometimes).


It's very moisturing and glossy enough to just use it on its own or pair with a complimenting lipgloss.

The only down side for me is the smell ... it's very baby powder / rose scented! It actually reminds me of Kenzo Flower perfume :) so it's not really bad. I think I am just used to MAC's vanilla scent on lippies.

This is sold in most chemist across Australia, Target, Kmart, Big W and Priceline for $13.49 AUD.

Will I repurchase? --- YES.

Product Review: Palmer's Line Smoothing Eye Cream

I've finished my eye cream - remember this post? I think it was about 3 weeks ago when I chucked it out.

Question! What am I using now?

I am using this one.. Palmer's Line Smoothing Eye Cream - Rich anti-wrinkle eye cream

If you're familiar with this brand, you'll know that they are best known for removing stretch marks. This product totally took me by surprise. I was just at Priceline doing my usual routine (browsing the aisles on my lunch break) when I spotted this together with other Palmer's skin care products. I was sooo intrigued because it was new released at that time and they were having some promo.

New Release + Promo + free stuff = MsChikee spending money

What do I think?

Packaging

I actually love the packaging because i don't have to stick my finger in i, you jsut need to squeeze the product out. My last eye cream was a pump and I LOVED it due to the same reason - very hygienic.

Consistency

It's very thick (rich) compared to my last one. You can compare this to Kiehl's avocado cream in consistency. So if you're one of those ladies that hates thick eye creams then stop reading now :P

Even though it's thick, it sinks in the skin quickly.

It's has peptide complex and retinol which combats wrinkles :) (good stuff I tell you)

Smell

If you've used Palmer's lotions before it has that cocoa scent to it. This is one doesn't have that. It has a scent but I am terrible in describing it - let me try - it's not sweet and it's not cocoa and it's not medicinal - let's just say it's an OK smell :) it won't kill you.. :P

Price

Very affordable. I think it's only $12.95 but that was the promo price so I am not sure how much it is. I don't think it will be uberly priced.

Do I see results?

After 3 weeks of using it day and night, i can say that it's improved my under eye area.

I feel that the skin is not as fragile as it was and as for the my fine lines - well they are still fine lines. I think i need to use it for a few more weeks or months :)

I dont have crows feet just yet so I can't comment on that.

Will I repurchased?

Yes unless i find something else that I'd like to try.

This product really surprised me. I wouldn't even think twice of buying if it wasn't for the promo and the sign "New Release" :) So i am glad I bought it.

In Australia, you can get it in Priceline outlets :)

Product Review: Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate

I got this little pot over Christmas or maybe just before New Year. We have our major sales on 26th December and we call it Boxing Day. I can say that this is our equivalent of Black Friday :)

So since most of the stuff are on sale I thought why not?

Why buy this?

I was watching MakeupbyTiffanyD video on 2009 Favourites and she raved about this lip butter. I then searched on YouTube who has it and watched some other vids. I also went and searched blogs reviews on this baby and I was convinced to try it.

Why Pomegranate?

I am not a fan of the fruit but this one is the cutest pink and most natural looking on my lips.

"A buttery lip balm that melts on the lips and offers a shiny, tinted finish. The combination of Shea butter adn Rice wax offers deep hydration and softness. Ideal for chapped lips" - Korres Natural Products

That's how it looks like on my lips... it's a bit blurry but you can see the colour.. (I really need to get a new camera.. or a new iPhone :P)

The Verdict

OK, I want to LOVE this product so much but I can't.... I only LIKE it.

I like it for the colour pay off on my lips - very natually pink

I like it for the scent - it's not overpoweringly sweet

I like it for the size of the pot - so tiny it can fit on my coin purse

I like it for the prize - it's not that cheap but it's still less from what I expected it to be.

I CAN'T Love it because..

it's not hydrating contrary to what they promise.

my lips flake out after I apply it. It's like one of those lipsticks that dries out your lips after a few minutes or so.

Sad to say that I am not entirely satisfied with this product and will not repurchase in the future.

If you're interested - i got this at Kit Cosmetics - for $17.50AUD

Aims for 2010 :)

First of all - Happy New Year!

let me just say that it feels good to have a clean slate for the year.. at least on purchases.
I am happy to report that my last makeup purchase was on 31/12/2009 :)

for 2010 I have the following aims:

1. Save, save, save. It's going to be tough year for me financially speaking (unless i win some kind of lottery). I've got some personal projects going on and some holidays planned and a big 3-0 bday celebration... so yeah save, save, save.

2. Use most of my makeup - i told myself that there 3 ways that i am getting new makeup; first, if it's a gift; second is if it's given to me by the company; and third is Back 2 Mac programme :)

3. Do more makeup gigs to enhance my skills. probably do some proper lessons and get a proper certificate. that is if i really want to pursue makeup as a career more than a hobby.. it's still a big jump for me.

4. Be healthier. I hope to get back in Pilates and walking and just eating healthy.

5. Invest only on good quality clothing pieces. This way I am saving more because I know the item is going to last me for years.

6. Smile, sleep and drink water more.

7. Learn a new language. Haven't decided which one yet but i am choosing between Arabic and Spanish :)

8. Do more EOTD or FOTD or Review blog posts

9. maybe some IPL treatments :)

10. Stay happy and positive and make 2010 better than 2009 :) (i can just say listen more and talk less)

What are you aims/goals/resolutions?

Makeup Giveaway Contest #1 - Winner is....

Giveaway #1 - MAC Colour Form - Warm Eyes Palette

According to Random.org, comment 10 wins :)

The winner is --- Saucy.eff.baby

To you Saucy.eff.baby - please email me your mailing details at mschikee(at)gmail(dot)com

Thank you everyone for joining and I wish all a very Happy New Year. All the best for 2010 :)