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.

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.

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 ...

More Impressions: No 7 Maximum Volume mascara in Navy and 17 Pure Finish Mineral Foundation PLUS First Impression: Natural Collection pressed powder

Okay so today I put on the 17 Pure Finish Mineral Foundation and then the Mistine Platinum on top of that. The Mistine does a good job of lightening up, or covering up, the too-dark mineral foundation. I went out for the afternoon and when I got back in the evening, it seems the whiteness of the Mistine wore off and I could see the tanness of the mineral coming back.

Oh -- today I am wearing a bluish aqua green Chinese style top so I wore some blue-green Body Shop eyeshadow with my dark brown In2it eyeliner and the No 7 Maximum Volume mascara in Navy. The colour of the eyeshadow seemed to bring out the colour of the mascara a bit more. One coat of mascara was enough to define and fan out my lashes beautifully, although I wouldn't say they look uber-thick; I think the right word would be lush. A second coat when I got home made them look a bit thicker -- I could see it in the photos I took. Crimping on the dry first coat enhanced curl and length and produced no clumping :D

I love the lush look I get with this mascara! It also doesn't feel heavy on my lashes.

Last night when I cleansed all my makeup off, I didn't experiment with using just water first, but after I put my Ziiit Milk makeup cleanser all over my face excepting my eyes and splashed water on it, the four coats of mascara on my left eye instantly trailed down my face in a creepy navy streak (my right eye had the cleansing milk on it; maybe that's why that side didn't run). So that's what it's like to wash mascara off easily! I hate to think what'd happen if I cried or got caught in the rain with this mascara on though :s

I finally got my hands on the now discontinued Natural Collection pressed powder which is selling at the low price of 49 baht (at some Boots branches but not all; you have to be careful and make sure you're looking at the right price tag). I got the last one available, in Warm, at the Paragon second floor branch (there were two testers left -- a Warm and a Neutral -- and a farang lady that came in after me was looking at them; poor lady; I'd already grabbed the last one!). It truly is a "Natural" powder with only two main ingredients, one of them being talc, and offers no sun protection. But that's okay, all my foundations have some kind of SPF.

When I got home, I tried it on over my darkening face using the sponge that came with the 17 mineral foundation. Yes, that's one drawback of the Natural Collection pressed powder -- it has neither mirror nor applicator. So what did it look like on top of the evaporating Mistine that gave way to orange-tan 17 mineral? It hardly brightened me up at all. I put some Mistine BB loose powder on top of that. No perceivable difference. Finally I put the Mistine Platinum on top of it all. Now we're getting somewhere!

So I can't really give a full review of the Natural Collection pressed powder yet. What am I gonna do with it? Keep it as a reserve powder to use with liquid foundation. I'm just happy I got it so cheap :) Its usual price is 135 baht for 10 grams.

Then I took a couple of pictures with my camera and phone and the result is an ultra-smooth and ultra-white complexion! :O

Oh I took a look at the 17 teal mascara and, well, it's not the shade of blue I want. And I didn't see the new ZA mascara at the Watsons on the second floor of MBK. Just as well, or I'd be even poorer T^T

I did get the ZA Dewy Effect Emulsion though as a replacement night cream for my Nivea Visage White Extra Cell Repair 5 in 1 Night Cream which is almost out. ZA's Dewy Effect range of skin care is supposed to keep your skin's moisture level maintained at all times. This is supposed to be good for both dry skin and oily skin, as apparently my skin is oily because it is dry -- if that makes sense -*- The logic is, my skin is actually dry so it tries to produce more sebum to keep itself moist, but it ends up being just greasy on the surface while staying dry on the inside. I guess that explains why my nose and other parts of my face flake sometimes.

This ZA Dewy Effect Emulsion retails for 395 baht for 100ml, which I think is a good deal as there are many creams that sell at about that price for just 50ml. Can't wait to try it ^-^

P.S. It seems I have an affinity with Z-named products: Ziiit and ZA :p In fact, once my Ziiit facial wash runs out, I'm gonna try the ZA Dewy Effect gel cleanser.

P.P.S. At Watsons there happened to be a Sheene promotional thing on. Luckily I had my iPod on pause while I was paying for my ZA emulsion, cos the Sheene people just said that anyone who's got any green on them today would get a free sample of Sheene powder. Of course I'm wearing a green top so I went and got one. It's a really tiny sample (1.5 grams) of their oil control wonder. Good for emergencies. My past experience of Sheene has been good coverage but nowhere near as much oil control as they promised. But then my skin is worse than an oil slick.

P.P.P.S. I'm curious about the 17 Lash Illusion mascara. I read one good (though I think partly commercial) review on the net. It only comes in Midnight Black though and is not waterproof.

P.P.P.P.S. I hate that Boots doesn't keep their website, neither the global nor the Thai one, up-to-date on their makeup range.