Miniso Eyeshadow REVIEW + SWATCHES!

Hi Beauties!
Today I'm bringing you my first MINISO REVIEW + SWATCHES! I have discovered this brand last year in Singapore and owned a few of their makeup products, which I will review over a few weeks!

Let me give you some heads up about this brand. Obviously, this brand tried to replicate DAISO. But be wary, this is not a Japanese brand! I've been told this is a CHINESE brand trying to put off as a Japanese brand. Most if not all of their products are made in China or Taiwan.

First of all, I have tried this Quadro Eyeshadow kit a few times already and have some thoughts on it. I bought this at a discount at $3.90 in January 2017. Its really a good price.

However, I did feel some form of sensitivity on my eyes which went away about 1 hour after I have finished my makeup, nothing to worry about. The pigmentation is really great! However, me being me, I do not like dark coloured shadows as they add age to my face.

Miniso Eyeshadow kit

Comes with a nice brush and applicator

Gorgeous shimmery colours!!!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the colours except the darkest colour as I do not like to wear dark colours, BUT all Miniso Eyeshadow Kits comes with a dark shade (Got on my nerves)

My favourite colour is the copper colour as the trend now is to wear copper coloured shadows.

In the pictures below, I took the lightest yellowish shade on my inner tear duct and my brow bone, the reddish wine colour on the eyelids, the darkest shade on the outer V of my eyes and lastly, the copper colour as my transition shade. Very nice indeed, So pretty.

Sorry, a bit blurry

Eyes closed

All in all, I love these eyeshadows, and if i see another EYESHADOW KIT from MINISO with light to medium natural shades, I WILL BUY IT! Meanwhile, I'm troubled over how to use the darkest shade in this palette. I may not even use it again if I do not need to.

Rating: 3.5/5  (Colour selection and sensitivity)

Price: $3.90 

I hope you found this review helpful! Stay tuned to my next post!

XOXO!

Be a smart beauty!

Essence Match2Cover! Cream concealer Review + Swatches!

Hi Beauties!!!!
Today I have another product from Essence which is still in the permanent line! It is the Essence Match2Cover! Cream concealer! I have bought this about 1.5 years ago from Watsons, but only started using it recently because I do not want to wait any more!!! I have held this back because I still have not gone through my Maybelline concealer. However, I was trying to explore a smokey eye look, that's why I decided to open this concealer.

I bought it in the colour 10 Natural Beige because it was the only colour left on the display!

I take the lighter shade under my eyes

Beware! It is made in Taiwan, not Europe!!!

Quite smooth and pigmented

To be honest, I feel a little bit disappointed because this product is not made in Europe, but it was made in Taiwan! Generally, most of their line is made in Europe. I would feel safer if it was made in Europe, but oh well, I can't do anything about it...

The concealer is pretty smooth, albeit a little bit oily, so remember to set it with face powder ok! I used the lighter shade on my dark circles and the darker shade to cover zits all over my face

After foundation, but before concealer

After I used the lighter concealer

My skin looks more evened out! Nice effect

Actually, I like the concealer as it makes my skin tone better! I think it covers quite well, but it does need a little building up. I don't mind the slight oiliness as it goes away after powder. I definitely will use it again! It also does not crease under my eyes and mouth lines.

Overall, I like the concealer, doesn't matter where it was made
Rating: 4.5/5
Price: $ 4.90 (Found at Local Singapore Guardian and Watsons)

Hope you found this review helpful
Stay beautiful!
XOXO
Be a Smart Beauty

Should I make my own MakeUp setting spray???

Hi beauties! Today I've tried and tested a makeup hack and I shall give you my opinion on it. Today's makeup hack is on making a DIY Makeup Setting Spray!!!

As many of you know, most of the make up setting sprays are not to be used on top of make up, but rather, should be used below makeup like a primer! I've only heard that Urban Decay's All Nighter is the only on that really sets your makeup in place all night long! Others are probably not meant to set your makeup, but either to assimilate your makeup into the skin, or used as a primer.

Today, I'm trying to make a product that is similar to a makeup overall mist to assimilate my makeup (Not claiming it would act like a Urban Decay All Nighter).

As proposed by most people who posted hack on this, the materials they used are:
1) Glycerin
2) Water
3) Vitamin E

I have personally omitted Vitamin E (Although I do have them) is because Vitamin E itself is quite oily, I prefer not to use oil on top of my makeup.

However, even with just the combination of glycerin and distilled water, the end result was still not good! It just wouldn't dry down even after 30 mins, and I know why.

After 30mins

Because glycerin is a humectant, it is slightly oil and sticky at the same time. After I sprayed on my face, the only thing that wouldn't evaporate or sink into my skin is the glycerin. When I touched my face, it feels really sticky and oily, the texture is very similar to my sweat after a run.

Even after I blotted my face with a tissue, it still feels the same. Whats worse is that my make up actually wore off sooner than expected, and my eyeliner and mascara which used to be waterproof, is easily transferable after I sprayed my face with this solution!

I'm thinking if my one part Glycerin to 3 parts water is still a bad ratio, I shall try out another ratio next time.

All in all, I think this hack for a after makeup setting spray is all wrong. It should be used below makeup only. I will use it below makeup next time, as this glycerin does carry some sticky texture, should be good for my makeup to stick to skin.

Yes I know that DIY is way cheaper than the other setting sprays out there (This Glycerin only cost me SGD $7.80 for 250ml, got it off from Iherb.com). I only used about 10-15ml in this tiny 50ml spray bottle). However, I am not sure if this DIY can replace the other setting sprays out there....

Overall, I would say this hack is a fail as an overall setting spray! But would it pass as a face primer? We'll have to find out soon.
See you in my next post beauties!
XOXO!

CATRICE Prime and Fine Eye shadow primer REVIEW + SWATCHES!

Hi Beauties! Welcome back to my blog again!
Today I will be writing about my first CATRICE product review here!
Just some background on this brand, CATRICE is actually the sister brand of Essence! Actually, CATRICE is targeted more at the mature audience while Essence is targeted more at the youths, if you've not already noticed the branding and packaging. But who cares, makeup is free for all ages, so we can of course use which ever brand, no matter our age!

I've used this primer for the past 2 years and it has not yet finished! I've hit pan but there is still plenty in the container.

Today I will give you my thoughts on CATRICE Prime and Fine Eye shadow primer.
Honestly, I don't really like it. I'm so sorry for being so harsh on a product. First, please take a look at my swatches below

CATRICE Prime and Fine Eye shadow primer

Its chunky and thick

Swatches patchy

First of all, I am usually not this mean on brands that I support, but this product is too difficult to deal with. I know by saying harsh words, I may be stepping myself on the foot, but its TRUE!!! See how patchy it is on my arms! This is not suffice to say how patchy it is on my eyes! It takes me ages and ages to try to blend it out on my eyelids, which resulted in so much tugging! I hate wrinkles!

But of course, by my nature, I will always finish my products and not to throw them away. My tip to you for using this product, is that take very very minimal amount on your fingers before putting on your eyelids. This may result in too little product at one go, but I still prefer to build it up slowly than put a whole chunk of thick substance on my eyelids and taking such a long time to blend.

Overall, I prefer the Essence mousse eye shadow primer, which is why I was so ecstatic when Essence came up with that primer! Finally man! You can check out my review on that primer here : http://beasmartbeauty.blogspot.sg/2017/04/essence-2-in-1-eyeshadow-and-primer.html

Of course, Essence is usually cheaper than CATRICE for the same product/ dupe, so do check out its sister brand if you are keen. 

Overall rating: 1/5
Price: $6.90 (I kind of forgot its price)

See you in my next post!
XOXO!
Be a smart beauty

Essence Maximum definition Volume Mascara REVIEW + TESTING!

Dear Beauties,
Today I'm going to give a first mascara review on my blog! I'm sorry I've been holding this back because I think I'm in no position to talk about Mascaras because my lashes are so short and straight! In my review below, I did not curl my lashes because in general, I'm always in a hurry and hardly curl my lashes unless I'm going for important events

Today I will be discussing about a very popular and longstanding mascara : Maximum Definition Volume Mascara. This mascara comes with a flexible brush, which is its main selling point here

Essence Maximum Definition Volume Mascara

Flexible brush made of rubbery material

And of course, even though my lashes are so short, I should still test it out for you, see the below

Lashes with nothing, and did not curl eyelashes

Lashes with the mascara, did not curl eyelashes.

Honestly, it did not add much length, but it did add quite a lot of volume. My eyelashes are also very slightly curled, although not significant.

All in all, it did what it claimed, to volumize the lashes, not to lengthen or curl, so I should give credit for it. It is also waterproof. However, my most preferred kind of mascara are those that lengthens and curls. 

My overall rating: 3.5/5 

Price: SGD$ 4.50

See you in my next post! 

XOXO!

Be a smart beauty