Category Archives: Asian Brands

Canmake Cream Cheek Clear Red Heart & Clear Sunset Review & Swatches

Canmake Clear Red Heart

I have some quick swatches for you today. Canmake is a Japanese drugstore brand, and some of their long-time most popular products are the Cream Cheek blushes. I’ve been tempted by them before, but always decided against purchasing due to the colors offered; mostly pastels, with a white base – something I tend to dislike in blush. A few months ago, I heard that Canmake had released a “clear” series with a few additional shades. Clear refers to the fact that these have a clear base instead of a white base, which gives them a translucent, jelly-ish quality. None of the Clear series blushes have any shimmer or sparkle.

I purchased two shades, [CL01] Clear Red Heart, a true red, and [CL03] Clear Sunset – reddish coral; note that this one was limited edition, but is still available on Ebay (and mine has a broken compact, which is why it looks odd).

Canmake Clear Red Heart // Clear Sunset

There are also two pinks – [CL02] Clear Love Song Pink and [CL04] Clear Pink Joy – I’m not sure how they differ. Canmake recently released a fifth shade, [CL05] Clear Happiness, described as a coral orange, but, per this blog post, is sheerer and not as nice as the others.

I think the best thing about these is the texture – pigmented, yet easy to blend, and with a great finish.

Clear Red Heart // Clear Sunset

They also work well on the lips. I bought my blushes on Ebay; they are also available on Ichibankao for a dollar or two more.

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Visee Creamy Lipstick RD400 & RD401 Review & Swatches

Purchased – No Affiliate Links

When the lovely Belly of Wondegondigo -->posted about --> the Visee Creamy Lipstick in RD401, a lemming was born. I ended up deciding that the formula sounded so good that I would order not just one, but two of the lipsticks. I selected RD401, which on me reads a bright reddened pink – it’s the color Belly originally wrote about – and RD400, which I hoped would be a nice neutral / mlbb type shade (and it is!).

Visee Creamy Lipstick – outer packaging

Visee is a sub-brand under the larger brand Kose, and I don’t know much about it – it’s from Japan, and it’s sold in drugstores there. I believe the Creamy Lipsticks retail for somewhere around ¥1500 ($15), and I bought mine for ¥2250 JPY (around $22) each, including shipping, from Ichibankao – not too bad of a markup. They’re also available from eBay and a few other online retailers for around the same price. Continue reading →

Reviews Revisited: Volume III

Purchased – No Affiliate Links

It’s time for Volume II of Reviews Revisited, and I’m going to talk about some of the products I wrote positive reviews about and now – after using them for a while – still adore. Everything in this post is highly recommended.

First up, Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, first reviewed here. I’ve almost finished the pictured mini size tubes, and probably would have finished them had I not purchased & started using the full size ones. I’m saving the minis for travel, because they’re so small / lightweight and a perfect everyday base. I love Missha Perfect Cover for everyday use, because it manages to look very natural, but still cover the redness in my skin quite well.
I wear it all year long, but I’ve been especially loving it this winter when my skin is drier. I tend to wear sunscreen under it these days, but I still appreciate that it contains an all-physical SPF 42 PA+++ since a little extra protection doesn’t hurt (and physical sunscreen can be layered with other physical or chemical sunscreens). At around $12 – $15 for 1.7oz, it’s also one of the least expensive bases I own.

Fergie Daily // Bebot Love // Old School Glam // Saraghina // Fuchsianista // Ferguson Crest Cabernet // Pagan Angel

Next, the Wet n Wild Fergie Perfect Pout lipsticks. A detailed review of one shade is here, and I have swatches of the seven shades pictured above here. I really like the formula of these, and I’m suprised that more people don’t write about them. I find that the Perfect Pout lipsticks aren’t drying (though not moisturizing either) and are very long lasting – several hours, plus a lingering, evenly-fading stain. The colors are also fantastic. My favorite, Ferguson Crest Cabernet is pretty much identical to MAC Rebel – which is popular for a reason! – and Bebot Love is a lovely nude.

And finally, let’s go way back into the archives to revisit Guerlain Chamade Rouge Automatic lipstick. As I said in the post, I love the color, the finish, and the formula – the only thing that’s not great is the price!

p.s. I’m leaving town tonight (for my honeymoon!) and will be back on January 7th. I’ve scheduled several posts, but I may be very slow to approve/ respond to comments, as I expect to have only sporadic internet access.

Black Eyeliner Swatches, Comparisons, Wear Test

Purchased Items & Press SamplesAffiliate Links

eyeliner overload!

I’ve done black eyeliner swatches before, and even did a post with a wear test way back when my blog was new, but I have different eyeliners now and I wanted to see how they compared.

Instead of trying to keep track of which swatch was which, I wrote an abbreviation for the brand on my arm. The follow table has the abbreviation, name of the eyeliner, and type of eyeliner. Continue reading →

Current Skincare Routine

Purchased Items & Press SampleAffiliate Links

Most of my current skincare

Today I’m going to talk about skincare! I really didn’t start taking care of my skin until my mid-twenties, but in the last few years I’ve developed a routine that works well for me. Note that in this post I’m going to discuss cleansers, makeup removers, moisturizers, and treatments, but I’m leaving sunscreen, lip products, and body products for another day.

My skin tends to be normal to slightly dry in the summer and dry in the winter. I rarely break out – I tend to get just one cystic pimple every 1-2 months in the week prior to my period. I’m also starting to see the signs of aging in my skin, mostly in the form of sunspots/ mild hyperpigmentation.

So, I need products that remove makeup/sunscreen completely without drying out my skin; hydrating moisturizers; the occasional spot treatment; and, optionally, products to keep my skin in good condition as I approach 30! Continue reading →

Addiction Cheek Sticks – Swatch of the Day

Purchased

Suspicious // Tea Rose

I love these. Tea Rose has a slightly better (more emollient) texture which is wearable on both lips and cheeks – Suspicious works beautifully on my cheeks, but I don’t like the texture on my lips. I purchased these on Ichibankao for ¥4050 (around $42) each, which includes shipping. In Japan, they retail for ¥2940 (around $30), but Ichibankao is the easiest way to get them if you live in the US. Next on my to-buy list: Rose Bar. You can see swatches of all the currently-available Cheek Sticks on the fantastic blog So Lonely in Gorgeous, here.

*As noted in this review, I purchased both of the featured products. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

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