Tuesday, April 28, 2009

More Hair Product Wars & Sneak Peek: In2it Light Reflecting Liquid Eyeliner in Caribbean

Okay so today I went to MBK and hunted for Palty but I could only see one box of Juicy Peach left among the dodgy-looking shops. Then I looked again at the Beauteen in both Watsons outlets. I decided that if I was ever going to use Beauteen instead of Palty to darken my hair, I'd use Caramel Chocolate instead of Natural Brown because they're about the same colour and I don't want to look completely dull. What really decided me against buying Beauteen was the fact that it clearly states that it cotains Hydrogen Peroxide. Some websites claim that Palty does not, but I can't know that because all the writing on the boxes is in Japanese.

If I can be bothered, I'll go to Platinum and see if I have better luck finding Bitter Cappuccino or Ganache Tart this time.

While I was at Watsons, I also had a good look at the potential replacement shampoos and conditioners that I might buy after Asience and Elseve Royal Jelly are gone. Asience remains the only product on the shelf that contains Camellia/Tsubaki (if you don't count the old versions of Herbal Essences, which I'm sick of). Elseve is more expensive. But there was something else: Herbal Essences now has a new shampoo, conditioner and treatment trio called Long-Term Relationship -- it's a formula for long hair! I sniffed it; it's nice. It's got raspberry and satin, apparently. It's supposed to strengthen your hair against split ends. I might be interested, but next I might be more interested in protecting the colour of my hair, in which case I'd better get the Elseve for colour-treated hair. However, Asience conditioner is cheaper. Or maybe I'll throw caution to the winds and just get those huge bottles of Shiseido Golden Repair??

Nah, when I'm abroad, I won't be able to get Asience, so I may as well use it while I'm here. However, some places sell Elseve shampoo for 99 baht and you get 250ml as opposed to 138 baht for Asience's 220ml. I still want to try the Asience shampoo though! ... All right, all right, I'll try the Asience shampoo and leave the Elseve until I get overseas :D

Phew.

I also finally gave in to curiosity and bought In2it's Light Reflecting Liquid Eyeliner in Caribbean RL 03 -- a pearly deep sea blue-green that looks darker or lighter depending on the angle of the light. I've read good things about In2it eye makeup so I'm confident this will be a winner. It should be better than its cousin, the Navy eyeliner, anyway. That's so dry I'm giving up on it.

Speaking of dry, I think my MM Lash Enamel Glamour Neo is finally drying up :-( It definitely feels more congealed than it used to and I can see more clumps. It's still good, though, but it won't stay good for long if it's drying up. I'm using it past its advised shelf life anyway.

Can't wait to try this eyeliner out.

Oh today (Tuesday) I wore the Sheene Oil Free on my cleansed, toned and moisturised face. It's a pretty good match for my skin colour, not too light at all, but not too dark either.

I can't wait to dye my hair! When I tie it up I can really see the black roots on the underside and the back where I didn't put enough cream! And the difference between the red-brown roots and the lighter orangey-red of most of my hair is much more noticeable now than when I first dyed it.

I just remembered something. I have to look for the new MM Summer 2009 collection. I want to get that solid perfume if it's nice. I didn't look at the MM stand at MBK today because the BAs were in the way, waiting for victims to come along. Brrr.

If I ever really need a light nude lip gloss, I'm gonna get one of MM's beige ones.

OMFG I just remembered at Watsons today I saw Palgantong's Zebra Eyes Mascara or whatever it's called in a paper tube at the counter! Must search!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Where art thou, Bitter Cappuccino & Ganache Tart?

So last night -- well, actually, Saturday night -- I emailed the Rabbo people and asked when Palty in Bitter Cappuccino and Ganache Tart would be available. On Sunday, they replied, saying that the colours would be available "by the end of the month" -- I'm not sure if that means this month, April, or next month, May.

It's annoying that I can't find pictures of those who have actually used Ganache Tart -- or even the rough guides at the back of the box that tell you approximately what colours your hair should turn out. At least I've seen a couple of the Bitter Cappuccino results and swatches -- even held a real box and looked at the back of it. (Should have bought it then, dammit! Grr!)

I'm so desperate I'm even considering trying Beauteen!

I seem to have used up a little over half of my Asience conditioner now. I wonder if I should switch brands when it runs out. But Elseve is more expensive (although I think there is also more of it, which should justify the price) and Shiseido Golden Repair comes in a really huge bottle.

The Elseve royal jelly shampoo seems to be running out a bit fast as I wash my hair approximately every two days and need to shampoo twice each time. I seem to have used up a quarter of the bottle now, or almost. Wondering if I should switch to Asience shampoo next. Asience is pretty good but I'm getting sick of it -- the sight of it and the smell of it. I get bored easily.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Cosmetic Rant

First of all, let's address a problem, albeit a small one, that popped up a while ago (this is long overdue): the Mistine Diamond -- the glue that holds the refill in the case seems to have melted a bit and seeped out so that it makes the plastic film that came with it sticky! How yucky and annoying. I would quite like Mistine Diamond if it didn't have this problem -- and if it didn't have that overpowering perfume!

Today (read: Saturday) I went out to Platinum, hoping to get my hands on Palty Bitter Cappuccino and get a look at the three new Palty colours, especially Maple Donut and Ganache Tart. However, Rabbo only had the bleach colours and, I think, Honey Brown. Even the upstairs one only had the bleach ones and I think Orange Biscuit. The shop next to the downstairs Rabbo had more colours. They even had Maple Donut, but that was the only new colour they had. No Ganache Tart. And no Bitter Cappuccino. And the last time I checked MBK, they only had like two boxes of Palty left -- one a bleach and the other one, I think, Caramel Brown or Juicy Peach. I guess I should have bought Bitter Cappuccino when they still had it T^T

Watsons also didn't have the new Majolica Majorca collection. I wanted the solid perfume. It's lucky they didn't release a new mascara because I still have so much to go through.

I want that Palty! I don't want to use the semi-permanent L'Oreal Creme Gloss because I don't have the equipment for it. And I'm reluctant to use Beauteen because apparently the colour isn't as even or as long-lasting as Palty.

I'm impatient, I really want to get my hands on it really soon, but I guess I'd better not buy anything I'll regret later. I'll keep my eyes open. Hopefully the colour(s) I want will turn up later, perhaps closer to the time I actually want to use them.

Oh and still no Mistine Debutant around. And I bought that Axe limited scent -- yay :D

Monday, April 20, 2009

Miscellaneous Makeupdates

It's official. I think my hair colour, recently revitalised by Palty in Orange Biscuit, has started to lose its ravishing redness. Only a little, though. A very tiny bit. The red is more visible at this time of night in the bathroom light for some reason. I remember I managed to deliberately tone down the rampaging red after the first couple of vigorous washes.

I dyed my hair on the 31st of March. It'll have been exactly three weeks since then tomorrow. So the colour has lasted pretty well. I hope it doesn't go really dull or ugly before I have to colour it again. And I can see almost a centimetre of dark roots coming through.

I'm pretty much decided on getting Palty in Bitter Cappuccino (two boxes this time!) for the graduation season. Today I searched the Boots and Watsons at Siam Square and MBK but couldn't find a DIY hair colouring equipment kit (I don't fancy using the lame nozzle that L'Oreal Creme Gloss has -- I'm much more confident with Palty's comb applicator) so I think I'll have to abandon the L'Oreal Creme Gloss idea. I'm just really hooked on Palty, I'm not confident trying anything else. I really hope Bitter Cappuccino turns out dark enough for graduation so that I don't have to go over it with Beauteen in Natural Brown or Natural Black.

I think my L'Oreal Elseve royal jelly shampoo and Asience conditioner have worked together to make my hair softer than it was just after I last coloured it. I wash it once every two days usually. The shampoo is in a 250ml bottle so it might just last me until I have to go abroad. If not, I'll try Asience shampoo when the Elseve runs out. Today the sun and heat dried my hair out, I think, and I'm starting to scratch my scalp, so I'll wash my hair tonight.

I made a mistake today. I gave in to my curiosity and bought Maybelline Moisture Extreme lip colour in Iced Peach Tea. Due to a lack of any light nude colours that would suit me, I had to get this one, the orangest one in the selection (which is a bad one -- mostly pinks and dark colours). And it turned out too bright orange on me. Ick. I'll have to try and sneak my unwanted lipsticks and powders into Mum's makeup bag without alarming her with the vast amount of such items.

And it does not smell like watermelons as foreign reviewers say. In fact, I can't pick up any smell at all. Or maybe that's just cos I'm still a little sick.

I don't want to risk disappointment with another lipstick but I already spotted one: L'Oreal Star Secrets in Guava Crystals. It's a lovely pale shade of coral that I think should suit me well. I hope I'm right because 350 baht is a little expensive for me, and the lippie doesn't even come with special properties, as far as I know.

The other night I decided to crack open the Nivea Q10 Lip Effect instead of using the old Body Shop lip balm for a change, cos I felt my lips were in desperate need of it. The formula is thick and a pearly white colour and smells faintly, I think, of grapes. As it's so thick, it's not as easy to spread as regular lip balm, but not too hard either. My lips feel instantly pampered, moisturised. It might be my imagination, but after a couple of nights of use, the deepening lines in my lips seem to be less severe. That may have something to do with my sleeping pattern, which I've been trying to get back to normal (whatever that is -- I don't remember going to bed before eleven since ... in fact, I don't even remember when I started going to bed late and what time I used to go to bed before that!) and with my lack of vitamin C -- I haven't been drinking vitamin C -rich fruit juice for a while now and I've just started again.

About the Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen -- yes, number 244 is closer to my natural lip colour while number 204 is a bit brighter, a bit more garish. So I'd really like to get some nude lip colours next time. I've been reminded by these lip colours that any colour close to pink seems to accentuate the yellowness of teeth -- even though I always use whitening toothpaste!

Saw some new Axe today -- their limited edition summer scent. Very fruity and lovely, from the test whiff I took. I want it.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen in 244 & 204

Okay, so I caved in and bought not one, but two more Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen lip colours. First I bought number 244 at the second-floor Watsons at MBK, then when I went to the Watsons on the sixth floor, I realised that number 204 looked more orange -- or darker, anyway -- so I bought that too, as well as Nivea Q10 lip care (which advertises "UV Filter" but doesn't actually say how much SPF).

Anyway after some tests (including photos) I've decided to take back the number 201 from Mum, keep number 244 and give Mum number 204. I don't think she'll notice.

201 is the lightest pink of the three and has mostly gold shimmer, 244 is more orange with mostly purple shimmer, and 204 is darker than both, on the reddish pink side, with gold shimmer.

Gosh, lipstick is so hard to buy! Maybe next time I should opt for nude/beige colours. I actually picked up the MM Honey Pump Gloss testers in the beige tones. 6.5g each @ 220 in Watsons and 200 at Rabbo. Not bad. Maybe next time. (I heard MM lip products are quite sticky though.)

Oh, what ever happened to Moisture Extreme? Well, I picked up Iced Peach Tea, tested it on my hand or forearm (can't remember which) and just didn't like the colour -- too dark red -- and the texture -- nowhere as moisturising a feel as the Water Shine 3D Collagen ones, and going on less easily. The colours available were a bit on the dark or pink side.

Out of all the lip colours I have at the moment, I think the best colour is my Bloom gloss in Amour. The website described it as a barely-there pink, and that's exactly what it is. Not too showy but just enough shine and colour -- and it feels smooth and moisturising.

Anyway back to the Water Shine 3D Collagen. It really is very shiny. And the colour intensifies the more you layer on. It certainly feels moist when on.

Maybe when Moisture Extreme releases its purported collagen range, I'll be brave enough to pick out a new colour. But for now, that's enough lipstick for me. I've already bought three of the four coral shades in the Water Shine 3D Collagen range - -"

Oh -- a little Etude mineral BB pact follow-up here. I put it on once while I was doing my makeup, wiped off excess oil and put some more on before I went downstairs and didn't retouch again for the rest of the night. When we came home from MBK I asked Mum if my face looks less shiny and oily than usual and she said I was right.

Retouching the first time did not cause visible problems but now, so late at night, I can see evidence of caking. But that's okay.

Could this be my HG powder foundation??

I'll have to try it with my other stuff first -- the Mistine BB, the Maybelline Clear Smooth Gel Foundation, the 17 balancing foundation. And later, the Maybelline White Stay Base, and maybe even Kiss base once I get around to trying it (after I've used up the rest ... is that even possible?).

How the hell am I going to get through all this makeup??

I keep hearing ZA is good but the colour I bought is too dark. Gah.

Mistine BB is selling at 99 baht at 7-Eleven. And Watsons nose pore packs are now selling at 69 baht instead of the usual 99. So tempting!

P.S. 10 April: Just tried the Water Shine 3D Collagen number 244 without putting on any makeup at all. It's quite close to my natural lip colour so I think it must be the best colour for me. Still not sure if I should keep number 201 or number 204. One is too light a pink and one is too red.

Day Two with Etude Precious Mineral BB Pact

Face (after cleansing [Ponds Perfect Matte; Ziiit Wash], toning [Nivea for oily/combination skin] and moisturising [Olay Complete lotion SPF 15])
- Etude Precious Mineral BB Pact
- Boots Natural Collection Illuminating Loose Powder (green) -- because the BB pact didn't do a good job of covering up, especially my redness
- Etude Dream On (but not on nose) -- to relieve the greenness!
- Mistine Diamond and In2it on top for neck

Cheeks
Gino McCray Pink Passion blusher in No. 4 Sugar Peach

Lips
Bloom lip gloss in Amour

Eyebrows
Fasio eyebrow mascara in Golden Brown

Eyes
- Oriental Princess eyeshadow in white for brow bone and a sort of peachy pink for lids
- Brown In2it eyeliner
- MM Lash Bone
- MM Lash Gorgeous Wing in Golden Brown (about three coats)

Top
A peachy pink top/short dress I recently got from UFO on sale

The results
Gorgeous!

My face even looks a more natural colour, not too white!

I just retouched my face with more mineral BB and it looks a bit brighter, which I can live with (it's not as obvious as the In2it) but also smoother. My skin isn't as oily as it usually is. One thing I forgot to mention the other night was that the powder collects in the sides of my nose, but that happens all the time with me. I can live with it.

I did a bit more research and decided I should get Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen in number 244 which is a more orange coral colour than my first one. I might still get Moisture Extreme in Peach Colada or Iced Peach Tea if I can stand to spend that much. I'm pretty sure, from my need to use the Boots green powder today, that I should get the green White Stay UV Base now.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

New: Etude Precious Mineral BB Pact [Sheer Flawless Skin]

So I finally got it -- the new Etude mineral BB pact. At the Paragon cosmetics counter they had all three versions of the powder but at the Etude shop in Siam Centre they only had the brightest colour and the darkest colour. And it isn't even that dark -- the cake actually looks lighter than my number two Etude Dream On! But that may just be the pearl powder in the mineral BB pact.

After getting my pay, I saw the new Etude mineral line at the Paragon branch. The ladyboy BA told me that they were on sale -- 20% off -- and the pacts were about 800 baht each. Luckily the Siam Centre branch was just a bit cheaper -- about 795 baht. I did debate with myself whether to go to Rabbo instead, but my feet hurt from my purple heels, and the last time I went to Platinum, there was no Etude or Skinfood to be found. I didn't want to go there and be disappointed, so I bought the pact at the Siam Centre branch.

Also at the Paragon cosmetics counters a BA helped me try one of the new coloured Lip Plump lip collagens. I believe the colour is called Viva Va Voom. It's probably the lightest colour, a sort of orangey red. It looked a bit scary just out of the tube but it looked fine on my lips afterwards. I almost bought the original Limp Plump but realised it has no SPF! I'm a bit OCD about SPF, so I passed. I do still need something to erase the wrinkles out of my lips though. Boots have a line of cheap lip care. Their CoEnzyme Q10 one doesn't have SPF though; they have a stand-alone SPF lip balm stick. Maybe Lip Ice has an anti-aging plus SPF one? Or maybe Nivea, even?

So, the Etude mineral BB pact. It's SPF 30/PA+++ and comes in a dark, pearly, maroony purple case that resembles a clam shell. It's about the same size as the Dream On pact but the mirror inside is bigger, which is more convenient than Dream On. Like the Dream On, there is no built-in tray to put the puff, but it comes with a removable plastic tray that I must be very careful not to lose! The powder itself has a strange smell, I think -- reminds me of dish washing detergent or bathroom cleaner -- is this because it's mineral, or because of the mineral water, or is this the way Etude's BB usually smells? I remember their normal BB pact smells different to the Dream On, but it doesn't smell like this. And I've never smelt their BBs.

Anyway, being excited to try it out, I put it on over the In2it I was wearing. I think it made my face look a bit brighter (I think the In2it darkened or was wiped off as the day wore on) and if you look closer you can see the sparkly pearl powder.

And this is the kicker.

I fell asleep for about an hour. And when I woke up -- my face was only slightly shiny -- more moist or dewy or shimmery than oily! I couldn't believe it. Was it just the mineral BB or was it the help of the In2it?

I wiped off the excess shine and did a test: mineral BB on one half of my face and Dream On on the other. I think the colour came up pretty much the same but Dream On might have been slightly more natural-looking and seemed to give more coverage in some places. BUT Dream On cakes horribly on my nose while the mineral BB doesn't. That first day, anyway.

I might try the mineral BB as a base with Dream On for redo's next -- but with mineral BB on the nose and some cheaper powder, maybe Mistine Diamond, on my neck.

I still want that Maybelline White Stay UV base. The 30 baht off promotion at Watsons is until the end of this month so I still have time. Not sure whether to get the green or the purple. I guess I have redness that needs erasing but I'm curious about the purple.

I saw some pictures of some Castledew case and realised it resembles the Mistine Diamond case. Hah.

My Navy In2it eyeliner is getting even harder to apply, I think. Must be because I lost the cap so it dries out much more quickly :-(  Might try their liquid liner instead though -- they have a sparkly navy one.

The last mascara I wore when I went out was Lash Enamel Glamour Neo. One application. It was quite dry and natural-looking :-s  Must need the help of Lash Bone or a couple more applications to give it more oomph. But it has served me so well, oh yes ...

I'm still in search of something to moisturise my lips and help erase the lines that are becoming more noticeable. I just tried the Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen again, this time applying thinly, and it looks fine except that it's too pink for my liking -- maybe I should get a more orange one -- but it does collect a bit in the cracks still. Should I get a more orange one and give it another try?

Okay I've just been convinced by web and two YouTube reviews that I should try the Maybelline Moisture Extreme lip colour. Like the name says, it's supposed to moisturise and it also has SPF 15. For some reason it seems collagen and sun protection never go hand-in-hand in lip products. So maybe I'll get this for the sun protection and the cheap Boots lip balm for the collagen. Hell, maybe I'll even get another Water Shine Collagen one too, a more orange one this time.

The Maybelline site is helpful in that it has a "Color Advisor" -- you pick your skin colour (it only has "Light", "Medium" and "Dark" -- no mention of pink or yellow undertones though) and your eye colour and the site will highlight the colours that will suit you best. One of the Moisture Extreme colours that it recommended (the American, UK and Australian site don't have Water Shine 3D Collagen and the Asian sites are not in English) is called Peach Colada. The Thai reviews have mentioned Iced Peach Tea, and I suspect they are the same colour or similar. Must check them out.

I think I'm sold. Orange lip colours, here I come ...

P.S. Maybe I'll get the Maybelline White Stay base in purple, as I have green powder ...

P.P.S. Changed my mind -- I'll get the green base as the purple is supposed to make your face brighter. I have foundation and powders for that.

And the Canadian Maybelline site reckons Moisture Extreme now has collagen ... hmm ... that would make it THE lipstick, then :p

Monday, April 06, 2009

Blogging away the time ...

So last night I washed my hair with the last of the Sunsilk and started using the Elseve with royal jelly extract. I conditioned with Asience as usual and went to bed with a towel on my pillow. My hair is noticeably softer, but that may be the effect of sleeping on a towel, and maybe because I didn't use Mum's leave-on crap (which seemed to actually make my hair feel drier and fluffier :s).

Funny thing is, my hair seems to be a little less shockingly bright red. On camera-phone with flash it looks the same, though. Maybe it's just the gloomy rainy-day light. But if the colour is indeed less vibrant, it must be my unusually frequent washing.

I've been reading some pointers from Kirari @ Jeban. She did this kind of famous review of sixteen hair colours she's had in the past couple of years and people keep asking her stuff as if she's a hair colour guru, which I think she sort of is. She says she heard from some hairdresser that it's good to change your shampoo every three months or so, which is a good thing because I'm always changing shampoos :-) I think next I'll try Asience shampoo or the Elseve colour care one. More leaning towards the Asience as it's got Camellia/Tsubaki extract, which is good for damaged hair. I'm more interested in making my hair soft and nourished than keeping the colour vibrant.

More tips from Kirari: Palty is indeed better than Beauteen. Its cream is thicker and its colour is more consistent. So I hope to get Palty in Bitter Cappuccino for graduation. Hopefully Rabbo @ Platinum has enough boxes of that, or I'll have to get them more expensive (+10 baht) at MBK. If worst comes to worst, I'll have to get Beauteen in Natural Brown instead. I'm afraid to try Natural Black because I hate the artificial-looking blackness of black dye. I just hope Palty in Bitter Cappuccino is dark enough for graduation -- but not so dark that I look totally ordinary and boring.

Still no sign of the new Etude collection on the Rabbo website. And when will Mistine Debutant hit Boots??? Grrr ...

P.S. Yesterday at Watsons I saw this cheap (about 70 baht) pack of 30 cleansing wipes. Very interested.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

MakeUpdate: Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen

It feels like such a chore to write now, for some reason. Maybe I'm just in need of refreshment(s).

Let's see ... So today I actually got up at like 8.30 in the morning after half-accidentally drifting off to sleep last night while reading Tuesdays with Morrie. I would have liked to read on but I was so inexplicably tired -- I still kind of am today -- must be the bad sleeping and eating patterns I've adopted. I'm sure my physical condition is tied to my emotional condition, and vice versa.

Anyway so I did the washing and showered, washing my hair with as much Sunsilk as possible, hoping to finish the remaining supply, and conditioned with Asience. After doing my makeup, I put on the green leave-on conditioner Mum brought. I also put on the Sweet Princess SPF50 sunblock with its Strawberry Scent and its tiny glitter. It is easy to put on and not sticky. At the end of the day I feel my skin is still hydrated and soft.

So this morning I had time to cleanse, tone and moisturise my face properly. After doing all that, I used the Boots 17 Balancing Foundation and set it with the Natural Collection Illuminating Loose Powder (even tinier glitter than the sunblock and not over-the-top at all). I wore the orange Sheene blush, Sexy Mother Pucker lip gloss (whose lid cracked -- noez!!! T^T), brown In2it eyeliner, Lash Bone, and golden brown Lash Gorgeous Wing.

I realised there's a trick to applying Lash Gorgeous Wing without getting a load of fibres in your eye. All you have to do is look down while you apply it. I find this really helps. Although I still get some fibres flaking off onto my face during application and fewer fibres during the day, I only get one or two fibres in my eyes at most. Oh and I had to brush on two coats of Lash Gorgeous Wing on each eye today. I must say the effect is not as spectacular as Lash Enamel Glamour Neo or Lash Expander Frame Plus. Maybe it's just the light colour. Lash Expander would, of course, beat it in terms of lash length.

Today I raided Watsons and finally bought Maybelline lip colour -- the Water Shine 3D collagen one. I thought I could use this instead of the Bloom lip collagen. This is pretty much the first lipstick I buy myself, and I think it will be the last. I chose the lightest colour I could find, number 201, which is a kind of young, sweet pink. It is too bright. And the lipstick cream collects in the cracks/creases in my lips! Even if I'd chosen a better colour, this tendency to collect in the creases just will not do -- accentuating my creases is exactly the opposite of what I want!

So hopefully when I get paid for my translation job I'll go get myself a good tube of Bloom lip collagen.

I guess I'm just not made to wear lipstick. I hate their obliqueness. Only glosses and balms for me. I love their transparency.

Oh and I retouched my face with Etude Dream On today. I don't know if it's because the puff isn't clean, but this powder keeps caking up my face, especially my nose! Or maybe it's the combination of moisturiser and foundation that makes it happen. Or is it the loose powder? Not sure. But I think I'll be glad when I've gone through the whole powder pact.

While at Watsons, I checked out the Beauteen Turn Colour in Natural Black and Natural Brown. I think the brown looks nicer. I don't want to go too black. The Caramel Choco also achieves similar results. But I think Palty is supposed to be better. Luckily I saw a box of Palty in Bitter Cappuccino today. I think it looks a tiny bit lighter than the Beauteens, but you never know. And I trust Palty. I don't know, but their packaging with pictures of human models instead of Beauteen's manga models just seems more assuring to me. I know, I know, I'm superficial!

Bases that I'm interested in at the moment:
- Maybelline White Stay UV Base (in green)
- Biore SPF50 (the white, oil-controlling one)
- Kiss Mat Chiffon Base
- Etude Precious Mineral BB Base (the oil-controlling one)

Gosh ... I still have Mistine BB, the Boots 17 Balancing Foundation, and Maybelline Clear Smooth left ...

I also heard, according to Musings of a Muse and Lotus Place, that the Etude Precious Mineral BB Pact is also good and oil-controlling. I'm interested in getting it once Rabbo carries it. No sign yet.

Gahhh so much makeup to get through and get to T^T

P.S. Last night I put on the 17 Teal mascara just for fun. I used about three coats. Pretty good. Long and lush and thick. Slightly dry and clumpy once you start layering though. I fell asleep and woke up and it was still on -- no smudges, but some flaking off (the clumps fell off). In the shower, the water dampened the mascara but it wouldn't go liquid and trickle off. Rubbing wouldn't remove it completely. Cleansing did. But I wouldn't go out in the summer heat and rain with it though.