PURE LABEL: Raseberry Sheet Mask Review

     Have you ever experience skin that feels like they are suffocating and your skin is just shouting for help??? It's not ache, or wrinkles.... maybe dehydrated, but not only that..... you just can't pin point what problem it is??? You just hope that there will be something that can rescue your skin quick and get them to stop screaming for help?? You want your skin to calm down and feel comfortable again on your face??

     This mask is what you are looking for! I had very dehydrated skin, because the weather is changing from winter to spring which made my skin become extra sensitive =( This mask soothes my skin with moisture that is not too rich or strong for my sensitive skin. I do not have very sensitive skin myself (it depends on the time of the year) but I would recommend this mask to those who does as it is very gentle on the skin. After one night, I am very pleased when I woke up with soothe skin again!!! I only had one sheet mask, so I can't test the long-term effects :( But usually, if you use it regularly for some time (even 2-3 times) you would already see the effects of the products maximize =)

 

Product Description: Give your dry skin an intensely hydrating infusion of moisture plus vital nutrients and experience the dramatic firming and cooling results.

10-20mins 

 

Pros: 

-Very Soothing with cooling effects (like the description claims)

-Good for sensitive skin

-Moisturizing

-Gentle on skin

Cons:

-hard to get in Western countries. But you can always get it online =)

Price: $12.00 HKD

Rating: 4/5

JOE: Lip Gloss Review

     This brand is exclusively sold at superstore. Yes, the supermarket superstore, but that doesn't make it a bad product!! =) The lipgloss comes in many colors, as well as a big tube ^^  It has a thin, light texture. The brush and its' bristles aids an easy application =) I love the brush. Unlike many lipgloss where you find it hard to get the product on your lips, this brush does a good job at that =) It also evenly distribute the gloss. ^^

However, the shine of the gloss isn't very long-lasting :( But the color stays longer.

Nude: This is the perfect gloss to give your lips an extreme natural look =) So if you have dramatic eyes or cheeks and want to tone down your lips to make your eyes/cheeks pop, you'll love this gloss <3 Not only does it tone down your lips, but it adds a bit of shine to prevent dullness. Other than looking good on it's own, it is great on top of any lipstick. I usually top off my lips with this gloss to tone down a bolder lip color =)

Pros: 

- Light and Creamy

- Cheap

- Good Brush

Cons: 

- Not long-lasting

 Price: $10-12 CAN

Rating: 3.5/5

LIOELE: Fresh Sun Screen Review

     Lioele's packaging was the first thing that captured me =) After I tried using this brand's products I fell in love with this brand. (I won't deny that this is partly because of their "princessey" packaging ><) I notice that most of Lioele liquid products have thicker textures, which some people may not be too comfortable with. If you like your products to feel like nothing on your face, then this may not be for you. However, if you're like me and don't mind feeling products on you, then this is worth a try =)

The description of the sunscreen on Lioele's official website states that it is blended with rosemary extract, green tea water, and portulaca extract. Suitable for all skin types. Click here for the official webpage of the product. 

   

 

It has SPF 45 PA ++. SPF refers to the protection for UVB rays, PA for UVA rays (credits to Pretty&Cute for this info! =) Click for more info about SPF and PA =)). I find it a good suncreen that keeps me from getting burn or tan. It also has a white sheen (more than normal suncreens) when you apply it, which serves as a slight coverage for me XD so I don't mind it much. But if you are looking for something that looks exactly the same before and after you apply it, then I won't recommend this to you. But I do think it makes your skin looks better without makeup! So why not??!

It has a creamy texture and doesn't dry your skin up. I really enjoy using this product in Edmonton, where it is less humid and hot. However, if I were to go back to a warmer and more humid country, such as Hong Kong, where I'm from, I'll imagine that I would use this product less (in the summer) due to the humidity. I would still purchase this product when the season changes though =) 

 There are no shops that sell this product in Edmonton, but you can purchase it online from various websites. One of them is Pretty&Cute.com. Click here for their website  (I am not sponsored by them right now, it's just a good site I know that has many Asian cosmetics that you don't find in North America)

I got mine from Hong Kong in Colourmix. It is better to get it in Asia if you can, as Asians "things" are more expensive overseas. 

Price: $ 120-160 HKD

          $26.95 US in Pretty&cute.com (click for the product)

Pros: 

-Soft texture

-Doesn't dry up skin

- Generally Good blockage of UV overall

Cons:

- Thick texture

- Only two ++

Rating: 4/5

MAC: Paint Pot Review

     A famous brand in Western cultures, I only came into contact with Mac when I move from Hong Kong to Edmonton. It is never a mistake to purchase cream shadows with a natural beige colour because you can use it as a primer, a base, highlight or just as is on your lids. Out of all the shadows I have, I use this the most (as well as Mary Kay's cream shadow in beach blonde. 

Click here for Mary Kay's Cream Shadows Review

      MAC's paint pots comes in 9 colours. Sometimes, they'll have limited editions. This cream shadow is very creamy, long-lasting and bendable. Application is simple, with fingertips or a brush. Compare to Mary Kay's beach blonde, bare study is slightly more out there because of it's frost finish.  There's also alot of product in each pot, it'll take me forever to finish it if I ever do. It also haven't shown any signs of drying up and I've been using it for around a year now =)

"Bare Study" 

 This natural beige colour goes with any look, yet adding a frost finish to brighten your eyes *.* This is a great product for natural eye makeup without leaving your eyes bare. I can also use this colour under most products =) 

Bare Study

Pros: 

-Extremely Creamy Texture

-Frost finish

-Long-lasting

-Crease-proof

-Doesn't dry up for a long time.

Cons: 

-Sometimes the fact that it is very frost finish prevents me from using it for some looks. But technically, this is not a con, it's just a matter of choice. HAHA 

Price: $ 17.50 US

Rating: 4.5/5

MARY KAY: Cream Eye Shadow Review

        Mary Kay cream shadows comes in 5 colours. I was first captured by the "glacier gray" colour on the left. These cream shadows are good, but I don't feel like there's anything special about them. The are not especially creamy nor dry. Don't get me wrong, I like them and use them but I just don't find that "O WOW, THIS IS SO GOOD" element in them. I think they're worth the money and I would recommend it to others.

These shadows are waterproof and works well as a primer or just alone. They are long-lasting as many cream shadows are. One thing worth noting is that they ARE generally CREASE-PROOF as Mary Kay claims it is =)

Glacier Gray: this is a very metallic greyish colour that is perfect for a smokey look.

 Beach Blonde: These types of colours are definitely worth it to get. Out of all the shadows I have, I use this one (or the MAC: Paint Pot.)  the most, as I can use it under all my shadows, to brighten, highlight, and prime my eyes. Beach Blonde, is very natural, not too shiny or over the top. I would recommend this to people who likes light makeup to use it as is =) Of course to those who want a more sophisticated look, it is perfect for a base. 

(Between metallic/satin finish)

Click here for Mac's Paint Pot Review

Glacier Grey, Beach Blonde

Pros:
-Creamy texture 

-Blends easily

-Waterproof, long-lasting

-Crease-proof

Cons: 

-comes in a plastic jar

Price: $16 CAN

Rating: 4/5

SHU UEMURA: Drawing Pencil Review

     Shu Uemura is my all time fav. makeup brand. Personally, I find that their makeup lines is more outstanding than their skin care lines. Although I think they're both good, I think Shu's makeup lines are more worth the money. 

     This drawing pencil is basically a pencil eyeliner.  It comes in 7 colours, some that I find very unique. It is very creamy and doesn't dry out fast. I've been using it for a long time already, and I am still in love with the color and liner! The good thing about pencil liner is that if it dries out, you can just sharpen it and its good to go again! =) Shu Uemura's liner, or actually their makeup products, has long-lasting store-brought quality, which is one of the reasons why I'm so in love with Shu ^^

     These pencils are waterproof. The retailer told me that you can even go swimming in it! I haven't tried that haha, maybe you can tell me after you give it a try XD

The drawing pencils are also slightly smudge-able and blends easily with other makeup, so it gives you the option for making a clean stroke, or smokey look =)

01-Me Black

     This colour is similar to the colour of your pencil. I like to call it the "graphite" colour ^^ Since it is not solid black, it is great for those who wants a more natural smokey look.  It is a great alternative to the classic black eyeliner.

09-Me Khaki

     I like to call this the "olive" colour XD Technically, olives aren't even this colour.... but anyways..... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this colour that I went to look for an eyeshadow that has this colour. This "olive" colour is dark enough to define your eyes, but earth-tone enough to give you a natural look *.*

 

09- Me Khaki, 01-Me Black

 Both pencils give a metallic finish.

Pros: 

-Waterproof 

-Unique Colours

-Long lasting store-brought quality

- Creamy, Blendable, easy to apply

- Dries out slowly 

- Slightly smudgeable 

Cons: 

-Price 

Price: $21.00 US

 Rating: 5/5

LIOELE + TONYMOLY: Water Drop BB, Expert 3D Collagen BB Cream,ExpertTriple BB cream

The BB cream phenomenon had long since sweep Asian women off their feet. Recently, this wave is starting to penetrate into the rest of the world. However, there are a wide selection of BB cream some with very different properties and effects. It is important to choose the BB cream that fits you the best. 

BB Cream Introduction and Difference with Foundation:
For those of you who are not familiar with BB cream, BB cream (Blemish Balm) was initially use by a German dermotologist " to protect skin after laser procedures and surgery, while also providing light coverage" (Source from Wikipedia). BB cream is most know for it's multi-purpose properties. most BB cream act as a sunblock, slight skin care, foundation, base/ primer.

BB cream is different from foundation. Unlike foundation that stays as one colour, BB cream adjusts to your skin colour after application on your skin. (Of course, within a certain range). This makes BB cream more natural and BB cream is also more creamy in texture which makes application more smooth and creamy than foundation. BB cream is less prone to dryness and has skin-benefiting properties. However, it is important to note that BB cream cannot be use as a skin care product.

I love BB cream so much that I ditched foundation almost completely. However, foundation is also a good makeup that shouldn't be completely substituted by BB cream. But I do find BB cream better for everyday use. =) If you can only choose to have one makeup, BB cream is something I can't live without.

(From Left to Right)

1. LIOELE Water Drop BB (SPF 27 Pa ++):  <3

This BB cream is lightweight and moisturizing. It has very high water content that locks moisture in your skin. Because it is extremely light to a point that you forgot you have BB cream on, it has little to no coverage. This is good for people that already have fair skin and wants to enhance their skin tone and make it more luminous. But don't expect this BB cream to cover any imperfections. My mom doesn't care much about coverage and hates stickiness; she loves this product. 

Pros: lightweight, extremely moisturizing, not sticky.

Cons: little coverage

4/5

2. TONYMOLY Expert 3D Collagen BB cream (SPF 40 PA +++, 50mL) :  <3

This BB cream contains collagen and golden peptide and have anti-wrinkle and whitening properties. I really LOVE this BB cream because it has good coverage, and evens out your skin tone. It smooths out easily. It is a bit thick in texture, which makes it a bit sticky in warmer countries but perfect in dryer places like Edmonton. I'm more in favor of good coverage BB cream because I have bad acne spots, uneven skin tone..... basically skin problems are my main concern. That's why I can't live without BB cream XD

Pros: Excellent Coverage, Smooth and Creamy, High SPF, Doesn't dry out skin, Evens out skin tone. 

Cons: Thick, a bit sticky.

Rating: 4.5/5

3. TONYMOLY Expert Triple Blemish Balm Cream (SPF 45 PA +++, 50 mL):   <3
Product Description: Protection against UVB rays, and the addition of PA+++ indicates optimal protection against UVA rays that may lead to premature signs of aging, dark spots, and wrinkles.

I again LOVE this product because of the coverage. This BB cream is alot like the one above. Smooth, excellent coverage, evens out your skin tone, smooths out easily with creamy texture, a bit thick but perfect for dryer countries, it has whitening properties as well. This BB cream has a lighter shade than the one above. I find that this may have more whitening properties than the one above even if they both claim to be whitening.

Pros: Excellent Coverage, creamy, high SPF, evens out skin tone, doesn't dry out skin, whitening.

Cons: Thick, a bit sticky.

Rating: 4.5/5

Left: Expert 3D Collagen   Right:Expert Triple Blemish Balm Cream (light)

I don't like the light version as much. It isn't as thick but finishes sticky and it doesn't have good absorption to make the BB cream feels like it is part of the skin, as if nothing is there. (if you know what mean? I don't know the term >< lol)  It does still have good coverage =) I still use it but won't purchase it again and don't recommend it to you. The original version is better =)

Pros: 

-Good Coverage

Cons:
-Sticky

-Not breathable

Rate: 3/5

MAKI MAKI: Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine

My friends and I arrived a bit later than lunch hour. Maki maki is a restaurant near the university with Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant has a Japanese name with a Japanese interior, which fooled me that they serve Japanese food as their main dishes. But apparently, my friend told me that they are better at making Vietnamese food, AFTER I ordered.... ==" And sure enough, their Japanese cuisine aren't that good.  

 

Bento Box 1

This is a bento box 1 they have for their lunch special. As you can see they have very cheap quality sushi: cooked scrimp, tofu wrappings. It doesn't look appealing to me at all.

Price: $10.75

My friend's Rating: 2.5/5

Eel Bowl

This is the dish I ordered. And i regret ordering it before I even ate it. There is alot of rice... but VERY LITTLE EEL. The side vegetables aren't attractive either, it's just cucumber that is slightly dried up, and badly preserved ginger. Since I like to eel with the rice, I had to eat very little eel each time i put a mouthful of rice in my mouth. The texture of the eel is horrible, it is too soft and obviously not fresh. They put alot of sauce on the eel to try to make it "taste better" but the sauce doesn't taste that good compare to the average eel sauce. I would never order it again.

Price: $12.95

 Rating: 2/5

Bento Box 2

 Again I don't find this very attractive. My friend let me try one of the tempura. It is edible but below average. The tempura sauce is quite weird... different from ordinary sauce, and doesn't taste as good. I would not order this. 

 Price: $11.75

My Friend's Rating: 3/5

Dragon Roll

Out of the Japanese food we ordered, this is the only decent one. It has eel on top of a sushi roll with varies fillings. I would consider eating this again if I go to maki maki. But I still find it a bit on the pricey for the quality. But it's worth a try =)

Price: $ 16-17

Rating: 4/5

Bun bo hue (Spicy Lemongrass Beef Noodle)

Being a mainly Vietnamese restaurant, their noodles are way more appealing than their Japanese food. This bowl of noodles is HUGE. I think most girls would find it hard to finish it up. There are noodles AND BEEF in that bowl so if you're hungry, this would be perfect =) 

My Friend's Rating: 4/5

Pho tai nam, sach (Rare steak, well done flank and soft tendon with rice noodle soup)

Again, the bowl of noodles has great quantity. This soup is non-spicy. If you're not use to Asian food and wants to try something new and Asian, I would recommend this noodle. 

Flanks have an attractive texture. How should I describe it... um... it's almost crispy? but not crispy in a sense like potato chips... haha. In Cantonese, there's a particular word "song" for it, but I'm not sure if there is in English. Flanks are almost tasteless but with sauce or in soup, they taste awesome =)

Soft Tendons, they may sound not that appealing if you're not use to it, but if you are the type of people that like to try new things, they are actually not that bad =) (it is a great way to enhance your experience from your ordinary routines, if it is not your routine already haha). They are tasty as it absorbs the flavor in the soup. Did you know that whenever we move our limbs, our bones rub at our joints? Did you know that this will damage and joints and without enough collagen to protect them, your joints can be severely damaged? Tendons are filled with collagen and helps restore your joints =) Of course, it is good for your skin too ^^

Rare Steak: By "rare" they are not serving you raw steak XD The chef will cut the steak in extremely thin pieces and put it last on top of the noodles before pouring boiling water in the bowl. This way, the steak will be cooked by the boiling water.

Price: $9.95

 My Friend's Rating: 3.5/5

Overall, I wouldn't order Japanese food in this restaurant anymore. Don't be fooled by the name of the restaurant like me! >< 

JILL STUART: Jelly Eye Color Review

I bought this when I had an obsession with cream shadows. I love how creamy textures makes application so simple and SO SO long-lasting. Then, I bump into this unique product that made me fall in love with it. <3

This product has very pretty packaging, just like other Jill Stuart makeup products. I won't say is exactly a cream shadow. Like the name, it does have a "jelly" texture. As in... it actually bounces when u touch it!!! It's VERY VERY VERY water-based and has LOTS of moisture in it.

Descriptions: "Jelly eye color with a fresh and moist texture gives a long-lasting diamond sparkle and shine".

Application: "Take an appropriate amount on fingertip and spread on eyelids"

I was told that it may dry out quicker than other cream shadows by the retailer, but so far, mine haven't dry out at all and I had it for sometime now. But it may also be because I don't use it much. It also has this fruity smell to it ^^

I purchase  09 midnight shine. The actual colour is a bit more blue than the picture. It's like a light navy blue colour with sparkles and shimmer. There's also a bit of shine in it. It is very easy to spread due to it's high level of moisture but because of that, the colour isn't very pigmented. You can build it if you want a more pigmented look, but generally this shadow is more light so there's a limitation to how much you can build it to. Overall, I still love how the colour and texture are. The moisture helps the shadow stay put for the entire day~

 

Rating: 4.5/5 

Pros:

• Long-lasting
• High in moisture
• A good balance of shimmer and glitter
• Easy application
• Smooth texture
• Nice fruity smell

Cons:

• Not pigmented
• may dry out easily 
• A bit hard to blend with other shadows.

MIKADO: Japanese Cuisine

After driving a friend to the airport yesterday, my friend decided to take to me to a Japanese restaurant: Mikado.

  We arrive a bit after noon, the store isn't busy at all. The high ceilings of the store provide an open and fresh impression of the general enviornment. Large paper lights, interior roofs, individual tatami rooms (not all seats are like that), and waitresses dress in Kimono enhance the oriental atmosphere of the store. It's a very comfortable and relaxing place to enjoy a meal =)

When you sit down, they will give you these small hand towels to wipe your hands. These remind me of when I was young, I go "yum cha" with my family back in Hong Kong and they always provide these hand towels. They don't do that anymore now. It's interesting to see them again here. haha.

 

The restaurant claims to be fully owned and operated by a Japanese chef and have fresh fish flown weekly from the world's largest fish market in Tokyo.  

Dishes

The Beef Tataki is pretty good. The sides and sauce enhance the beef. However I don't really like the seaweed that much with the beef. To me, they don't really match >< but that's just my taste. The other 3 sides tastes good with the beef. 

Price: $ 9.95

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Beef Tataki

  

 I didn't try it myself but this is what my friend says: 

"The uni sushi is as good as other places. Uni is expensive but not many places have them regularly. $3-4 is the standard price. Uni Lovers will be willing to pay for it." 

I love uni too, but i still find it quite expensive >< lol. But I also know that it is impossible to find cheap uni in Edmonton :(

Price: $3-4.00

My Friend's Rating:  4.5 / 5

Uni Sushi

Both my friend and I ordered Chirashi. Why I like to order Chirashi when I don't know what to order is because 1) I love ALL types of sashimi. ALL. 2) It has a bit of everything so I can taste everything, 3) it's usually a better deal than ordering sushi or sashimi separately. I especially like the Saba this time, it has alot of fish oil in it! Yum! The quality of the other fish are also pretty decent =) But the egg wasn't that nice : ( But that's only one of them. Overall, it's a really good bowl of Chirashi :D (Edmonton standards). It is a bit more expensive than other places though, but there seems to be more pieces of sashimi with better quality. However, the quality of the sashimi may fluctuate due to the selection that was shipped to the store; depending on your luck! ^.^ 

Price: $ 22.95

Rating: 4/5 (Ed standards)

Chirashi

Mikado has three locations in Edmonton. I went to the southside one.

Downtown: 10350-109st. 

Westside: 9942-170st.

Southside: 1903-98st. 

MARY KAY: Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover Review

 The current eye makeup remover I am using!! =)))  What is special about this makeup remover is that it claims to kill/remove eyelash mites. So I went to look it up if those things actually exist. And YES, they do and they are so gross! If you don't believe me, here is Wikipedia talking about lash mites! :S

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex

I even went on youtube to look for documentaries about them and man.... they are SO GROSS that i'm not even going to post it! >< 

Other than that, this makeup remover does a good job removing my eye makeup (mascara included) while leaving the skin around my eyes moisturized. Even though it says it's oil-free, there is a bit of oil left after I use it on my eyes, in a good way =) It even makes my skin smoother! ^^ Eyeshadow goes off easily. Eyeliner and Mascara involves holding it for a few seconds and gentle tugging. 

Directions: Shake until blended. Apply onto a cotton pad. Gently wipe away all traces of eye makeup. 

Price: $17.50

Volume: 3.75 FL. OZ./ 110 mL

Pros:

-Suitable for Dry to Oily Skin.

-Removes waterproof makeup easily

-Leaves a thin layer of oil to prevent skin from drying up and smooths skin.

-Kills/Removes eyelash mites

Cons:

-I can't test if my eyelash mites are gone lol

-A little hard to get, Mary Kay does not have a store, you need to contact a beauty consultant or order online. Here is their link.

http://www.marykay.ca/cbalser/default.aspx?gclid=CJ-1p-uR4q8CFQ4zhwodfzxUCw

Even though this is a good product, I will probably try other makeup removers for comparison =) I won't hesitate buying it again though.

Rating: 4/5