Palty DIY Part One etc.

Another point I forgot to add about In2it Oil Control & Oil Free 2-way foundation powder. When I touch my face with it on, a bit of sheer powder comes off on my fingers. This does not happen with Fasio, which feels completely matte -- almost like I have on a rubber mask, if that doesn't sound too weird. In2it also comes off a lot when I remove excess oil, as I think Mistine Diamond does. I think the Diamond is a lighter colour when it comes off though. In2it, like some other foundation powders I've tried (I don't remember which ones), tends to look thick and old after you apply it a second time on top of the first and your face has become oily. So from now on, after applying foundation powders, it's powders only for retouching!

Today I dyed my hair with Palty all by myself! A first for me! I ended up using a bit too much of the cream on the top and front part of my hair because I thought I'd have enough -- the cashier told me so (though in retrospect she probably thought I was only going to use it for my roots). So I didn't leave enough cream for the rest of my hair although I tried to put a lot of cream on the more obscure parts. The roots at the top, then, were completely covered in cream and turned out a light shade of brown that blends in with the rest of the hair -- which has turned a more vibrant shade of the colour I already had. The more obscure bits turned slightly lighter maybe but the underside of the roots on the back of my head are especially noticeably dark.

All in all, not bad for a first-time DIYer. Now I know that I should get two boxes next time for hair of this length (just past shoulders). That way I'll be sure to have enough cream to completely saturate all of my hair, which I think is the trick to get an even colour throughout with Palty.

I know from experience, and confirmation by other people's webboard and blog posts, that the roots of your hair will change colour faster than the rest of your hair -- that's why instructions on DIY hair colours say you have to leave the roots alone first, which is exactly what hairdressers do (yet my roots always turn out lighter anyway -- maybe because they have to leave the cream in my hair for longer than they expected, as my hair is very thick -- every hairdresser remarks upon this, every one). With Palty this time, however, I knew that my priority was my roots, so I simply covered the roots at the same time as the rest of my hair. That turned out well in the case of the top/front part of my hair, and I think it would have turned out fine for the rest too if I'd had enough cream for it.

After reading the forums, I now know why the tips of my hair never turn out quite as light as the middle or near the roots of my hair. It's because my hair used to be dyed a darker colour. Perhaps with more cream I would have fixed this, but maybe we'll know next time. (I did try and put my tips into the bottle to get at the last residue of cream in there, however.)

Next time I might try mixing the colours in a bowl instead of in a bottle so that the cream is easier to reach. A brush would also be easier to use than a squeeze tube and comb applicator.

I'm impressed with the results of my first ever completely DIY hair colour (I've had mostly salon dyed hair and before that I got Mum or someone else to do my hair) but apart from the fact that it covered up most of my noticeable roots and intensified my existing colour -- and I was right about my choice of colour while the cashier was wrong -- I find myself kind of wishing I'd got a different colour. I mean, the red is awesome and brings out the playfulness in me, but I think it's almost time for a change.

Damn. I just found some English instructions online and it says you have to use conditioner too before rinsing and then using the included leave-on treatment.

Anyway for graduation I'll have to dye it a dark colour. I'm kind of interested in trying more Palty in Bitter Cappuccino, but I'm not sure what kind of results I'll get with my red hair. I'll have to check the swatches next time I'm near a shop that sells Palty.

The swatches on the Beauteen website don't appeal to me, and besides, Palty's supposed to be more accurate with their swatches and the actual colour you get. (Beauteen's instructions also says you should shampoo twice, but I thought shampooing just once produced enough foam -- or maybe that's just because of the colour cream?)

When I first washed Palty from my hair, my hair felt dry, just like it felt last night when I washed my hair with the remains of my Sunsilk damage care shampoo without conditioning. (When I woke up, however, my hair felt soft as if I'd conditioned with Asience. Weird.) But as soon as I put shampoo in it, it immediately felt super soft!

So maybe now I haven't washed all the chemicals out of my hair because I only shampooed once.

The colour will change once I shampoo more, inevitably. Some have said that the colour gets even brighter, golder. Interesting.

I think my hair now feels a tiny bit stiffer than it did before dying with Palty, but that could just be because of the chemical residue.

I might wash it soon, when I do the washing. Doing my washing is always a good time to condition my hair. It's also an excuse to use up the Sunsilk as I'm eager to try out the new L'Oreal Elseve with Royal Jelly. It's supposed to be a new deep conditioning formula. I really had a hard time finally buying this as the other formulas were tempting as well. A veteran hair coloring lady on Jeban recommended using shampoo for dyed hair, like the red Elseve. If Royal Jelly doesn't do it for me I might switch to the red. But I'm pretty happy with the Asience conditioner. So indecisive ...

I'm really looking forward to a nice deep dark chocolate hair colour so I hope the Palty does it for me!

Anyway, about makeup ...

Today I wore Lash Enamel Glamour Neo. Still slightly clumpy. I'm pretty sure it's partly its brush (forgive the pun) with Fasio and partly its shelf life. The second brushing helped things. Still, I think the whole problem could be avoided with the help of Lash Bone.

Speaking of which, my renewed red hair colour gives me an excuse to use the golden brown Lash Gorgeous Wing more! *cringes at the thought of fibres in my eye*

Oh -- about the Revlon lip gloss I mentioned earlier -- I read some reviews and found that it doesn't have that see-through look of normal lip glosses. So I felt a bit discouraged. I want a gloss that is see-through but not too shiny or too glittery.

Today I tried a Maybelline lipstick tester -- one of their Water Shine lipsticks, I think. The cream texture collected in the lines of my lips. I'm really craving that Bloom lip collagen!

Today I also tried putting the coral orange Body Shop gloss on with the Liplife gloss on top. This time, the Liplife glided on much more easily! And the two colours blended gave a lovely pale peach colour, almost nude, very nice on me with my current curiosity about peach tones!

Sloth & Spending

Today I went out to MBK and got more toothpaste (I don't remember toothpaste running out this quickly), shampoo (L'Oreal Elseve -- the new one with Royal Jelly) and hair colour (I got Palty in Orange Biscuit at Platinum because the ones at MBK were ten baht more expensive -*-). I also ran into a shoe trap at Platinum and picked up a pair of white snakeskin heels.

I was also tempted by the Lotree, Beauty Credit and Innisfree powders (there was no Etude or Skinfood in sight) but the BC case doesn't cut it for me and Innisfree is so hard to find online -- reviews, I mean. But their cases are quite pretty. All pearly-like. So maybe when I get my paycheck from my translation job I might treat myself a bit. I might even get the Etude BB pact too.

I found a cheap potential buy today: Revlon Beyond Natural cream lip gloss. I'm interested in the peach one. Only 200 baht! That's cheaper than Maybelline lip gloss! ... Okay those are the prices at Boots at least, maybe Watsons is cheaper (as it usually is).

Etude and Canmake both have lip concealers, however. Lip concealers can be used for a nude lip look.

Then there's the MM Honey Pump gloss. I doubt they're as much value for money as the Revlon though -- the latter has about 12 or 13 ml in the tube.

Oh today I used MM Lash Expander Frame Plus on its own -- no Lash Bone. I also curled my lashes prior to application, but somewhat clumsily, as I didn't want to wreck the pink and and peach OP eyeshadows and Navy In2it liner I had on. (Note to self: don't wear very similar lip, cheek and eye colours again -- I had on the Bloom Amour gloss and the Gino Sugar Peach blusher.) Somehow I think either Lash Expander looks better on its own without the help of eyelash curler, or it just looks better with the help of Lash Bone. Gotta test that out later. Haven't tried curling before Lash Bone then mascara yet.

P.S. Just tried adding up known and estimated prices of Etude BB pact, Lotree, Innisfree and Beauty Credit. I know the Etude at Rabbo is 500 baht but I didn't see any at the shop today -- maybe I just need to ask -- but if they don't have it and I really want it, I either have to wait till they have it or go buy it at the Etude House where it's more expensive. I know the Lotree is 750. I don't know the prices of the BC and Innisfree but I know the BC at Watsons is like 888 baht -- and the cashier said something like, "This powder is about 900 baht at the official shop." Whatever the case, the Lotree alone is almost a thousand baht already.

I also saw the black butterfly Anna Sui case at Platinum today but I wasn't really tempted. There are prettier cases than that around.

P.P.S. I still wanna try Mistine Debutant. I didn't see it at Platinum although I saw Mistine Diamond there. Maybe at MBK the stalls have it but I overlooked it.

Trial & Error: Body Shop lip glosses, Natural Collection Illuminating Loose Powder, Sheene blushes, MM Lash Bone with Lash Enamel Glamour Neo &

Tonight I decided to do a little test that I've been thinking of for a little while now. But before I got to the test, I did some side experiments.

Today I didn't go out (I got up about 6pm) so I had no makeup on my face at all. I splashed some water on to remove excess oil, towelling dry. Then I put on the Natural Collection Illuminating Loose Powder. Mine is the green one. It has some tiny sparkles which don't turn out too obvious on your face. I dabbed the powder on with the cute fluffy puff that comes with it. It toned down my redness but didn't completely hide it. Other than that, there is no coverage to speak of, but then, I don't think that can be expected without any use of foundation or makeup base. I tried using my old blush brush with it and I think that helped a bit. Then I put my old orangey-brown Sheene blush on my left cheek and its red, slightly sparkly twin on my right. There is only a slight difference between the two colours.

Then I dug up my old yellow Body Shop lip gloss which I can only remember using once. It's called Liplife Gloss and I think the colour is called Apple. It comes in a tube that reminds me of a test tube (I remember when I first bought it I was afraid it would break like glass -- then I realised I could squeeze the tube) and there's 7 ml of it. I thought maybe I could use it in place of beige-toned lip gloss to tone down the brightness of my real lip colour. So I put some on and, well, it's incredibly sticky, probably stickier than it was last time I used it -- I can't brush it onto the rest of my lip the way I can with the Body Shop lip balm that I'm still using and which has almost run out, or even the coral orange gloss in a tub that I also recently rediscovered. I just tried applying it with the use of a brush that came with my old Oriental Princess eyeshadow/blush palette cases (I think it might be some sort of liner brush but I use it for applying lip gloss) and that helped make things easier. It gives a pale yellowish shimmery look to my lips, toning down the orangey-pink natural colour. So, yes, it does the job, but it's so sticky and I doubt it's safe to be swallowed with food and drink. Maybe it'd be easier to apply with lip balm. I'm keeping it for now.

As for its buddy, Lip Prism, which is about half its size (3.4 ml) and is a pearly combination of yellow and bright pink in its tube, when I brushed it on my top lip tonight (I used the Liplife on my bottom lip), it turned out looking a horrible gaudy shade of fuchsia. I don't remember it being quite this garish. I might be throwing it out as I can't see myself wearing such a colour. Again, I'm not sure it would be safe to swallow it with food or drink.

Now for our main event, the mascara test.

First, I brushed Lash bone on my lashes, top and bottom, on both my eyes. Then I used Fasio Shock Free Curl Volume mascara on my left eye and MM Lash Enamel Glamour Neo on my right.

Turns out that Fasio can be used on top of MM Lash Bone. I think it does make application easier, or maybe it looks that way because I can see the Fasio covering the whitish Lash Bone bit by bit. However, Fasio is still pretty dry and clumpy.

MM Lash Enamel Glamour Neo has always applied smoothly so far and it experienced no difficulty gliding on top of Lash Bone, as I knew would happen from previous use.

The result?

On the MM side, my lashes are well defined, fanned out, long and pitch black. No clumps.

On the Fasio side, my lashes are fanned out and long, not quite as black, and riddled with tiny dry clumps.

The clear winner is MM.

I don't know what I'll do with the Fasio. I'm sentimental so I don't think I have the heart to chuck it out until it's completely dried up, but I can't see myself using it when I go out again.

More mascara-related goss: I did some searches on Canmake Eyelash Essence and found that it's a very good eyelash care mascara. Lots have people have experienced great results -- longer and stronger lashes. It can even be used as a mascara base and it's completely clear. I might get it and use it as a base instead of Lash Bone when that runs out.

Meanwhile, the Fasio Easy Mascara Remover looks just a little bit complicated. After brushing it on, you have to wait two minutes before wiping the residue away with cotton pads. Then you have to wipe the wand clean before putting it back in the tube. And it can only be used with waterproof mascara, not with mascara that can be washed off with warm water.

Maybe it's easier to just stick with the L'Oreal makeup remover.

I still want to get the Mistine Debutant powder and lip gloss (or lipstick). I wonder when they'll stock it at Boots. Maybe in April?

Oh and when I looked at the new Fasio mascaras the other day, I noticed that they'd increased the amount of product per tube to 7 ml. On ya, Fasio.

Makeupdate: Gino is In2it

So today (I mean Saturday) I wore just the new In2it powder foundation, the new Pink Passion Gino blusher applied with the separately-bought Gino brush, my navy In2it eyeliner and MM Lash Enamel Glamour Neo.

It wasn't just the effect of foundation powder upon foundation powder. In2it really is amazingly smooth. It is slightly whiter than my real complexion but I think if I'd bought a darker colour, it would have made me look darker. I'd rather look lighter than darker. (On a side note, I love that widescreen mirror.)

The peach-coloured Gino blush, applied on its own with the special Gino brush, requires a little more effort to bring about a noticeable hue to my cheeks. At the end of the day I tried the Gino brush with my previous Gino blush, the Mystique Potion line one in the palest pink I could find in that line (which isn't too pale, in fact -- looks almost the same colour as my red Sheene blush). With this more obvious colour, it was much easier to achieve noticeable colour -- one sweep on each cheek was quite enough.

The Navy In2it eyeliner does make my eyes look bright and noticeable. I took as much time as I dared applying the MM mascara. Maybe less clumps than yesterday. But at the end of the day, I found that my bottom lashes were half gone and on my eye bags! Plus I experienced slight flaking, as I did yesterday -- but less than the Lash Gorgeous Wing would have produced. Oh, and the Navy In2it eyeliner flakes upon application too, probably because I need to exert more force with it than with its brown and dark brown sisters.

Oh and last night I tried using my old Body Shop coral orange lip gloss again. It's very shimmery. Quite nice. And I might have been hallucinating or something but I think it left my lips feeling moisturised, which I never experienced with this particular lip gloss before! I am sure I was told by the BA that it's not a moisturising lip gloss.

So I think my hunt for the perfect foundation powder is over. I still have to find ways to use up and give away all the other ones though. I no longer feel the need to try Etude BB Magic Pact, Lotree, or Skinfood. In fact, I don't really feel the need to buy more makeup now at all. I am a bit tempted to buy some Bloom lip collagen, as today I realised how lined my lips are. But maybe they're just malnourished at the moment. The Bloom lip gloss in Amour has served me very well. I realise I need to use pale lip colours as when I apply foundation and powder, the colour of my lips ends up standing out and I have to tone it down so as to draw more attention to my elaborately-made-up eyes. My lips are quite full so I don't need lip plumping (the Sexy Mother Pucker notwithstanding -- the name is too naughty, I had to get it!) but I can't really bring myself to use lipstick as I think it looks to opaque. I like the clearness of gloss but I don't need loads of shine and glitter. I think I'll look for a beige and/or coral colour next. When my Body Shop one runs out, perhaps.

Eureka! In2it foundation powder & Gino Pink Passion blusher (and brush)

Yep, that's right, I got those two items I wanted! I got the Gino blush brush too because the BA said I needed to buy 300 baht's worth of their stuff to become a member ... which I did.

I got the Gino Pink Passion blusher in Sugar Peach (No. 4). It does come with a rather nice brush -- very soft -- but I don't set much store by tiny included brushes. I just hope the 94-baht blush brush I bought is worth it. If it is, I can use it instead of the old blusher brush, which I can use for my powders.

While browsing Watsons, I also rediscovered Ziiit toner. It's cheaper than any of the other toners I looked at. Ziiit has all the good natural ingredients, that's why I love it. And I will definitely be buying Ziiit toner once my current Nivea one runs out (half a bottle left now).

Now, I tried the In2it powder over the Mistine Diamond I'm wearing today (which, by the way, has such a strong perfume that I can smell it while I'm wearing it, even if the smell is less strong when I sniff the powder in the case!). It really did seem to make my skin incredibly smooth, but that may just be the fact that it's powder foundation on top of another powder foundation.

The In2it refill is just a tiny bit too small for the Majo case. It's about the size of True Match, actually.

Speaking of which, I think I'll have to give it up. And the ZA too. I checked out True Match testers again today and found that it is actually Vanilla (or something like it) that truly matches me, not the colour I've got. I also tested Maybelline mineral foundation powder as well, finding the same result. Even though their lightest shade looks way too white when I dip my fingertip into it, when I blend it into my skin, it actually doesn't look much too bright for my complexion.

As for oil control? (Back to In2it now.) Not sure. I don't think anything can ever master my super-oily T-zone. At the end of the day, the powder was melting away from my nose and collecting in my pores.

I will try Maybelline White Stay base one day though. When all my liquid foundations run out. I heard it helps a little in the oil control department.

My Lash Enamel Glamour Neo is still clumpy! Is it really Fasio's fault or is LEGN just getting old? I wore it today and the clumps were still there. Plus the formula seems to be a tad drier. I haven't tried it over Lash Bone yet though. Maybe tomorrow. I mean, today. I will also try In2it on its own as well -- and the new Gino blusher :D

BTW the In2it is in Warm Beige, or OCF 02. That's the second-lightest of their yellow tones. I think it's actually a pretty good match for me.

P.S. Just tried the blusher. The included brush is too small to be useful. The 94-baht brush, however, is wonderful! Its width actually fits that of the blusher. A couple of sweeps are enough to put some colour in my cheeks! Oh plus the blusher has a very mild fragrance too. Kind of like cookies, I think.

Maybe I can use these puny included brushes to sweep on eyeshadow instead ...

InsoManiac MakeUpdate

Gah I'm so tired ... Stupid Facebook quizzes got me up all night, addictively doing one after another ...

Just wanted to jot down some makeup searching I did today.

The Beauty Buffet store yielded some good finds that I have either overlooked before, or that are just new. There is the Gino McCray Pink Passion blusher -- about 10 grams worth -- and the colour's nice too. Good value for money. There is another weighty Gino McCray blush but I think it's a cream-based one. I'm not too good with blushers that are not powder. (Speaking of which, the Maybelline mousse blushers are good value too ... but they're mousse, not powder.)

Gino McCray also have this Illuminating powder compact. It's about 13 grams and comes in a bulky black case. But it looks pretty good. Might try it out some day.

I wore Mistine Diamond today and did my re-do with Etude Dream On. The Dream On definitely softened my overall look (the Mistine did look rather bulky, but then I guess foundation powders are bound to do that) but it accentuated the paleness of the Mistine Diamond.

Oh, Fasio have brought in their latest line of mascaras, gradient blushers, eyeshadows (very nice colours and packaging), and -- the mascara remover! The mascaras aren't very exciting, just updates of their old mascara (except the lengthening mascara now has a comb applicator), but the mascara remover, which retails at 300 baht and is designed to be applied just like a normal mascara, is a bit intriguing. But my L'Oreal makeup remover does a good enough job on its own, I think.

No 7 blushers -- 5 grams -- are going for 199 too. But the Gino McCray ones are more value for money.

After looking at all this makeup all day, I thought, did I really need it? When I re-did my powder and put some more blush on -- first the orangey-brown Sheene, then the red Sheene because I could hardly see any change of colour in my face at all -- I thought, do I really need a new baby pink blush and an orange blush? And the powder -- do I really need more powder? I know I have more than enough already, but the new Dream On case looks lacklustre and the powder itself seems to me -- maybe I'm wrong -- even whiter than its predecessor. And the Mistine BB pact is still too light. I don't really want the Lotree that much, and the Skinfood White Grape pact has no sun protection.

I admit I'm interested in the In2it powder foundation though. They're including an extra refill for like 345 a set. I just wonder if the refill will fit my Majo case when the time comes to change refills (it is true that only my Fasio powder foundation seems to be anywhere near running out). I've heard good reviews of In2it.

Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind when I get more money from Mum. I think I really wanna get that In2it powder though. Plus I might need to get a True Match or Ideal Balance case for my True Match refill -- unless I give it away.

Oh, and no sign of the ZA Wide Eyes Mascara, though it isn't waterproof anyway and has fibres (risky). No sign of Mistine Debutant either. There was one Mistine Puffy blusher tester at one of the Boots stores at MBK but the product itself couldn't be found.

Okay, so next on my iWant list: In2it powder foundation and Gino McCray Pink Passion blusher. Oh and the Palty hair colours and a root re-touch when I can afford it.

Still not getting any ...

... makeup or money.

Still obsessively looking up makeup that I can't afford to buy.

Just realised that none of the Skinfood powders I'm interested in have any sun protection. Dammit. But the Etude Dream On Slim & Cover Pact -- the new version of what I've already got -- and their BB Pact both have sun protection. And so does the Lotree pressed powder.

All the more expensive stuff :s

I still want that Mistine Debutant stuff! I admit it's kind of slightly tacky but I'm curious!

All dressed up, nowhere to go ...

... or no money to do anything when I go out, more like.

Yesterday I went and saw Milk with a friend. While waiting for her to show up, I raided Boots and Watsons. At Boots, I found that there was a new Mistine powder on sale -- Mistine Number 1 Diamond Bio Skin Complex Super Powder SPF 18 PA+++ (wow, what a long name ... let's just call it the Mistine Diamond). I of course bought it despite the fact that I have many powders already. Mostly the packaging attracted me. The wrapping has a rather nice image of a popular Thai actress and the powder case is made to look like a huge diamond -- rather hi-so, I must say.

I chose number S2 because my previous experience of Mistine powder -- Mistine Number 1 Platinum -- taught me that S1 is way too light. Plus, it was the only number available at that particular Boots store.

This powder is imported from Korea where it was made by Kolmar, the same company that produces Mistine BB cream. This powder claims to have the secret to Korean women's flawless-looking skin. It claims to, basically, have similar ingredients to real skin, thus blending in perfectly smoothly.

Aside from this, my eye was also caught by some new Maybelline mascara -- the Volum' Express Hypercurl Cat Eyes mascara. It caught my eye because of its packaging -- it looks kind of like the usual Volum' Express tube except it is slimmer, and the lid or applicator handle is shiny magenta or hot pink with black tiger stripes! It excited me a bit because it has a comb type applicator -- the first I've seen in Maybelline in this country! The comb has two sets of teeth, I'm guessing to help build lash volume. And yes, it's waterproof! I was tempted, sorely tempted, but I had to remind myself that I have at least two perfect MM mascaras that need my loving. I told myself that Maybelline is lo-so mascara to me now, and moved on.

I was wearing Fasio powder foundation yesterday but I couldn't wait to try the new Mistine powder when I got home, so I put it on top of the Fasio after removing excess oil. It turned out that the S2 looked no different to the Platinum in S1!! Despite the fact that the powder itself looks darker, it ended up making my skin look vampire-like!

I thought maybe it was just the fact that I put it on over another foundation powder, but no! Today I woke up and simply washed my face with water before trying the Mistine Diamond on and it still looks vampire-like! Oh well ... I guess I gotta blame it on the fact that it's Korean-made powder ... Korean powder is whiter than anything ...

Anyway, a little more comment on the packaging ... I love the "glass bottom" look of this thing, I really do ... so much less tacky than the white bottom of Mistine Platinum ...

And the puff is also nicer than the Mistine Platinum one. Gotta hand it to them for the design. It actually looks good and not like a copy of something else ... although I slightly suspect them of taking inspiration from Shiseido's Maquillage case, which is also kind of diamond-like, but pink. And when I think harder, I realise the "D" logo on the front kind of reminds me of Christian Dior. But no matter. This is one Mistine case I really won't be embarrassed to use.

Anyway I really wanted to go out and buy the Skinfood White Grape pact from Rabbo today, as yesterday my friend told me that Skinfood is better than Etude. And I've read enough rave reviews of the White Grape pact to convince me to try it. And even if I don't have enough for it, I thought, I could just get that Palty hair colour that I've been wanting, or maybe even MM blush, as none of the pink blushes I looked at in Watsons or Boots yesterday cut it for me.

A little mascara musing here. Yesterday I wore just the Lash Enamel Glamour Neo. Wonderful, but where did those solid clumps come from?? I'm blaming the Fasio for the clumps. I'm sure Lash Enamel Glamour Neo on its own would never clump until it was nearly out of date.

And today I'm wearing Lash Expander Frame Plus on its own. Two coats, actually. One coat makes my lashes long, two make them longer and thicker too! Yay! But I don't think it's such a good idea to brush the other side of my lashes on the second coat.

So I might stop getting Lash Bone after my current tube runs out. I don't need it that much except to oomph up Lash Gorgeous Wing.

So what am I gonna do with this too-white Mistine Diamond? Use it on my neck, I guess. I would give it to Mum but the case is too adorable!

Oh I also put my new True Match in G5 on top of the Mistine Diamond, hoping to tone down the brightness. It's much yellower, the True Match. In fact, after comparing Mistine Diamond to my other powders, I found it's a bit more pink than the other ones, which are yellower. Not satisfied, I put the ZA on top of that again. Now I think the True Match and the ZA are slightly darker than my real skin, which is actually a kind of pale olive/yellow. Should I be surprised that when, at the end of the night, I tried to wipe my makeup off with my Boots cleansing wipes, it didn't manage to clean up all of the foundation powder? I made sure I was completely clean with the L'Oreal after that.

Oh, when I did my usual OCD-like searches for reviews on the makeup I just bought, I came across this other Korean imitation Mistine powder -- Debutant. It's also got its own line of lip glosses too. Very interesting. The powder case is average but it's got nice Korean Gothic (as I've just now coined it) graphic designs on the front and a Korean-style plastic tray for the puff. Maybe I'll get a Debutant lip gloss instead of Etude.

P.S. It is all too easy to get finger marks all over the shiny Mistine Diamond case. But meh. It's still too pretty to give up.

P.P.S. I just tried re-doing with Mistine Diamond to see if a fellow Thai reviewer is right about its not caking after re-do. And she's right. But then, I haven't been out today so I haven't really faced extreme weather conditions, therefore not much excess oil. This powder is actually so pale -- or good at covering up -- that I have to re-do my Gino McCray blush too! I might have to get a more orange blush and lip gloss to go with it though: since it's a bit on the pink side it won't do with my pink blush and gloss.

I forgot to add that Mistine Diamond does have a fragrance. A very perfumey one. I can only hope it fades soon.

I might start using Mistine Diamond for whenever I go out, both for before going out and for re-doing.

Oh and there are tiny sparkles in it. You have to look closely though.

P.P.P.S. Okay, upon the third re-do, the Mistine Diamond is starting to look cakey. It does make my face feel soft and smooth though.

I hate being poor. I want that Skinfood White Grape pact. And I wanna buy some orangey and pale pink blush. I want that Mistine Debutant powder and lip gloss and maybe even lipstick too. For the blush I might wanna try MM or even Etude, if I can get them cheap at Rabbo. Or maybe there's some nice Mistine blush I'm overlooking down at Boots. I can't get any of that until I have more money :(

iWant: Boots Natural Collection blush

In my idleness, I OCD-ly checked out Boots.com for Boots makeup. I was already interested in the 17 mineral blush, but I realised I'd forgotten about the Natural Collection blush. I am intrigued!

Tomorrow I'm going out. Hopefully I have time to raid Boots before I meet my friend. Depending on which is cheaper and how gullible I am, I'm gonna get either the Natural Collection blush or the 17 mineral blush.

Natural Collection also has or used to have a Shine Away foundation. I'm interested as their foundation powder (which I used to have but gave away because it was too dark) was good at oil absorption. However, there is no added sun protection.

Their mascara is pretty cheap too, but I have no business buying more mascara at this point. Besides, I don't put much faith in brands that have specifically lengthening, volumising, curling, and a waterproof-only mascara. But if I'm ever caught out with no mascara and little cash, I might just give the Natural Collection waterproof mascara a try.

Oh I'm also intrigued by Natural Collection's tinted lip balm! Their lip gloss looks nice too. But again, I have enough lip products to be getting on with already. Lately I've been using the Bloom in Amour pretty much every time I put on makeup so the Berry Sorbet Natural Collection lip gloss and the Sexy Mother Pucker haven't been getting much attention -- in fact, I can't remember the last time I used them.

So, my makeup pet hates seem to be: 1. non-moisturising (non-SPF is excusable as there are many cheap SPF lip balms available) lip colours (such as my old Body Shop lip glosses), 2. non-waterproof mascara, and 3. non-SPF powder and/or foundation.

P.S. Update: Just checked out Bootsthai.com and found out that the 17 blush powder is 6 grams and the Botanics blush is 5 grams. Plus Boots is having a sale. Must check it out! Oh and some reveiws said the Natural Collection mascara is lacklustre.

P.P.S. Just tried 17 Lash Illusion completely on its own. One coat blackens and lengthens my lashes (the impact on my lower lashes is especially obvious). Two coats give me lovely, almost doll-like, lush-looking lashes. Yay :D Three coats -- even darker, even lusher, even longer :D

Also just remembered I gotta check out the cheap makeup in Watsons too. That's the 4u2, In2it, and what have you.

Quick makeupdates

It's been a while. A lot has happened.

Been using the Etude Dream On over Mistine BB cream for a change. The Dream On gives a lovely soft-looking coverage. But once my face starts to get oily, the powder starts to cake, especially on the pores of my nose. Urgh. I hope the new version is better.

I gave in and bought another In2it eyeliner, in Navy this time. It seems to take more effort to apply than the other colours -- it seems to be a bit drier -- but eventually it delivers. It looks nice with my black mascara -- not too dark but not too light either. Makes my eyes look brighter than brown or dark brown eyeliner for sure.

I decided to take the Fasio mascara out of my makeup bag. I think it's the end of the line for this one. The last couple of times I used it, it was just too dry, so much so that it appeared clumpy. For most of the time I've used this mascara -- I think over half the time -- I've had to use MM Lash Enamel Glamour Neo on top of it to rescue it. So goodbye, Fasio mascara.

I tried using the Lash Expander Frame Plus without priming my lashes with the Lash Bone first. Not bad. But I do think Lash Bone gives it extra thickness.

A "must" trick for comb-type applicators: brush the other side of the tips of your lashes after the normal application (but be careful not to get mascara on your skin), then brush the normal side over again. Fantastic definition.

It seems ZA Wide Eyes Mascara has officially been released now. According to a website or two, it's 350 baht. I'm tempted, but the fact that it's not waterproof is off-putting. What good is non-waterproof mascara to me in this humid weather?

I ran out of Fasio Pure Blush and bought Gino McCray blush number 5 to replace it. At about 150 baht, I get 5 grams of blush, which is a good bargain. I tried to choose the lightest shade of pink possible, which was hard. The first time I tried it, I put on too much, being so used to the really pale pink of Fasio. Now I know that one light dab with the brush on the blush will suffice. But the colour is not what I want. I wanted a pink, but this looks almost like the red Sheene blush I've already got. So I'm tempted to buy some other brand -- maybe an orange, coral or pink MM blush -- or the Boots 17 mineral blush.

I've been using the Boots fragrance-free cleansing wipes regularly now. They're just so convenient. They leave my skin feeling a tiny bit dry, but after that I cleanse it and it's fine. However, it fails to remove mascara. Even the non-waterproof Boots ones, if I remember correctly. So I still need to use the L'Oreal oily makeup remover on my lashes afterwards. But I don't mind. I got the wipes for cheap, and there's at least another month and a half's worth left.

After reading reviews, I'm really tempted to try Skinfood's White Grape Pact. It's supposed to be good at oil control. However, it offers no sun protection. Same with Beauty Credit's Lovely Matt Pact. I also don't really like Beauty Credit's packaging. The silver doesn't work for me.

I might end up trying Lotree's powder pact as it offers good sun protection -- SPF40 -- but the price, even at Rabbo, is a bit high for me (750 baht). Okay, so I got the Dream On for 900+ baht, but that was from an Etude shop, before I knew about Rabbo.

Oh I gave in and bought True Match foundation powder as well because it was on sale. I got G5. I hope it's not too dark. I haven't tried it yet.

I'm also tempted to try Palgantong. It's hard to come across a review that says it doesn't offer good oil control. But their packaging is not to my liking. I saw a pressed version of their powder online. Hope I can find it -- and for cheap.

Heck, maybe I just won't buy any powder at all. I am supposed to be saving money after spending too much and being told off. But I do want pink blush.

I've been using MM mascaras lately. And I use Boots mascaras when I stay in and just want to add a bit of colour to my day. I must say the 17 Ultimate Length does help my lashes stand up high. And the No 7 Maximum Volume, even when put on top of the first, makes my lashes all lush-looking -- and non-clumpy.

I really don't like using Lash Gorgeous Wing. The fibres falling in my eyes really don't make this mascara worth it. Yesterday I layered many coats of it on top of the Lash Bone and I still don't think it covers the Lash Bone completely.

Yesterday I had a nap in the daytime with makeup on. Gotta give MM, In2it and Gino credit -- the mascara, eyeliner and blush stayed on perfectly although I woke up with my face oily. I had to wipe the excess oil off and apply more Dream On and a touch more Gino.

What to do today? *sigh* ... I can't really go and buy more powder, can I.

P.S. I use the Revlon New Complexion in ... umm ... I forgot the name of the colour but it's the lightest one ... anyway I use it on my neck.

Repentance / Lessons learnt

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned...

Today I bought what seems to be an Anna Sui Moisturizing Powder Foundation Case from MBK for 400 baht. It was supposed to be a new home for my Revlon New Complexion refill which does not fit into the Mistine Platinum case and has a case too ugly for my liking.

The Anna Sui case is too small for the refill. Just looking at it, I could tell. But I bought it anyway.

I tried to remove the Garnier Light powder from its case because it looks like it would fit. But I failed. The powder cracked everywhere. My poor Garnier powder.

The lesson is this: I should try to buy cases and refills that are made for each other, if possible. And I should try to buy less makeup because I can't use it all in time. Mostly it's powder/foundation and mascara.

Yet I think tomorrow I'll still go to Rabbo at Platinum and see if I can score Anna Sui powder case with refill or the same by Lotree. And maybe Lash Gorgeous Wing in black if I can stand to lose a few more hundred baht.

Oh -- the Anna Sui case I bought today comes with a cheap-looking sponge that seems to have been dyed purple. Not the trademark Anna Sui kind.

Note to self: when I go to the UK, I should buy some real Anna Sui powder case(s) with original refill(s) in the duty free zone.

Now if I could only find a refill that would fit this stupid overpriced case. Maybe I can get a Skin Food refill tomorrow. They're smaller than the Revlon so they might fit. Or maybe I can get an In2it refill, if it looks like it would fit.

Oh, the Revlon.

As I said, Ivory Beige is too white for me. Today I put on Fasio over Mistine BB. It seemed too bright so I put the ZA number 22 on top of that. Later, out of boredom/curiosity/procrastination, I put the Revlon Tender Peach (which I exchanged with Mum) on top of it all. It still looks a bit funny -- probably because Revlon has a more pinkish than yellow tone -- but after it blended in, it looked not so bad. No more Revlon for me, I think. Asian brands would be better for my skin tone.

P.S. Everything's not lost! Hurrah -- I just tried putting my old Sheene refill into the Anna Sui case -- and it's a perfect fit! :D Hooray~ Now if I can only find a Sheene refill...

Revlon VS. ZA

Out of boredom and curiosity (and, doubtless, procrastination), I just tried on my Revlon New Complexion Oil-Free Wet & Dry Compact Make Up in Ivory Beige on the left side of my face and my ZA two-way foundation powder refill (number 22) on the right side. The Revlon is a bit whiter than my real skin while the ZA comes up slightly darker, almost orange-tan. As for coverage, I think the ZA hides my redness better. Maybe they can be used in conjunction to get the right colour? Maybe I can use the MM Pressed Pore Cover or the Mistine BB loose powder or the Boots Natural Collection Illuminating Loose Powder on top of the ZA. Or maybe I'll give the ZA away. If not, how do I make it fit into my MM case(s)?

So I guess that's a draw.

New target: Lotree

Okay, just in case I can't get Anna Sui cases for cheap, I think I'm gonna try and get Lotree ones because I've seen them at my Platinum makeup dealers' stands. I just took a look at pics of the cases online and they look good -- a mystical deep purple with the kind of gothic deco I love. Apparently the powder's good too but we'll see.

Random rant

BTW I hate the new Apple Safari 4 Beta's "native" look. I liked the Mac OS feel of the previous versions.

I just tried Etude Dream On on my bare (cleansed, toned and moisturised) face and it kind of softens the imperfections a bit but can't cover my redness or the pimple I kind of have on my right cheek. But the colour is a good match for my skin. I put the MM Pressed Pore Cover on top of it and now I look whiter -- but still no redness coverage.

I wanted to go out and get the Lash Gorgeous Wing in black and maybe some Ann Sui cases at Platinum but I heard thunder so I decided to stay in. But it's still sunny out and the thunder's gone away now. Dammit.

I really want a new MacBook. My babe said he wanted to get me one but we know he can't afford that and coming here to see me. And my family can't afford that and Dad's new car and my going abroad either. Not even with iStudio's 0% interest.

A really quick makeupdate just to get my writing glands going...

Okay, so first things first -- the MM Lash Expander Frame Plus mascara. Lengthens pretty well on its own. My lashes are a good length already but this adds a little oomph to them length-wise. The fibres are soft unlike the Lash Gorgeous Wing ones. During the day I do get slight fibre flakage but it's nothing to get upset about. However, the more you apply the mascara and the more fibres get on your lashes, they start to get a little ... cobwebby. A good trick is to brush the other side of the tips of my lashes -- I find that gives my lashes a bit more definition. But be careful not to get mascara on your eyelids.

As my lashes are a bit long already, I prefer mascara that gives me big volume. This one, obviously, is a lengthening mascara. So I use it with my Lash Bone and I get just the right amount of volume and length -- and compliments, of course :D My lashes are almost as thick as with the Lash Bone + Lash Enamel Glamour Neo combo, but they're longer.

What else is new?

Oh -- I bought the MM Pressed Pore Cover at Watsons the other day. I tried it on top of the Mistine BB the other day and today I used Mistine BB plus Boots 17 Skin Perfecting Balancing Foundation with the MM Pressed Pore Cover on top of it all. The puff is very soft and velvety. The powder appears almost white and kind of shimmery. On the puff, it looks a pale skin or cream colour. It goes on slightly lighter than whatever I'm wearing as foundation. But I think it does a good job as a finishing powder. The whiteness isn't too obvious (unlike Mistine Platinum) and it blends in after a while. Today I was also kind of impressed with its oil control capabilities too -- but that may be due to the 17 foundation and/or the Mistine BB. It was really hot and humid today and I was sweating in the faculty library but when I got to the bathroom, my face wasn't as shiny as it normally would be, just moist and modestly shiny. And I think it does cover up the pores -- but that, again, may be the work of the Mistine BB and/or the 17 foundation. And it doesn't cake! That's the best part! However, it offers no sun protection so it must be used with lotion, base or foundation that does.

As Watson is having a Revlon sale with a buy-one-get-one-plus-one-baht promotion, and I'm kind of looking for a round powder refill for my Etude Dream On case (not that it's running out anytime soon -- it's like 12 grams and I don't even use it normally), and Mum was here this weekend, I kind of helped the BA sell us the New Complexion Oil-Free Wet & Dry Compact Make Up. First we got refills for the both of us -- hers in Tender Peach and mine in Ivory Beige (the lightest one in this range) at the suggestion of the BA. That night I tried to put my refill into the Mistine Platinum case but it was a bit too big. Tonight Mum instructed me to get some more of the Revlon stuff (is it powder or is it foundation powder?) because she said it was really good. I suggested we get the case plus refill this time as the refills aren't going to fit into our Mistine Platinum cases. So I got them. And I hate the Revlon case. Not only is it an old-lady olive green and gold, but it is so flimsy. I am considering getting an Anna Sui case or two -- at a cheap price, of course -- instead. Whenever the Etude Dream On runs out, I can put one refill there and the other one in the cheap Anna Sui case (if I can get my hands on one or two).

I plan to discard my Sheene Oil Free sample, my Garnier Light powder in Natural, and my ZA refill (22) by giving them to my mum. The first two powders are too dark for me and I suspect the ZA might be too. More importantly, when I tried to put the ZA refill into my new MM Pressed Pore Cover case, it wouldn't fit. It's just a bit too big. And it put hairline cracks into my gorgeous black MM case T^T

What to put in my MM cases once my Pressed Pore Cover and Fasio are gone? Well, I might just get some more Pressed Pore Cover. Or I could get the L'Oreal True Match or Ideal Balance. Or some In2it. Maybe I'll even get the MM Skin Remaker or some other Shiseido-owned powder from my locale at Platinum Fashion Mall.

P.S. I'm kind of tempted to get Lash Gorgeous Wing in black too. I haven't quite learned my lesson on that range yet. The short fibres sometimes get in your eyes during application and they do flake onto your face during the day but the latter is tolerable and the former can be endured.