June Beauty Box Showdown

Hello, lovelies~ I’m sure you’re all familiar with the concept of beauty box subscription service by now. If you haven’t understood the concept or you’ve been living under a rock these past few months to not know these trends, allow me to explain it to you. Put your reading glasses on because this is gonna be a long explanation.

Beauty box subscription service has no official definition in the dictionary, therefore I will make one for you. It is a service, very much like a magazine subscription service, where you pay a certain amount of money each month in exchange with a mystery box that you will receive every month. Indonesians have a saying for this, if I’m not mistaken it is ‘beli kucing dalam karung’. Bener ga tuh?

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My June Favorites

Hello, lovelies~ June is nearly over and we’ve already half way through the year. Wow! Anyway, as usual, here are my beauty favorites from the lovely month of June.

Skincare Favorites
Secret Key First Treatment Essence
I have bought two sample sizes of this simple yet effective product, you can check my full review here. In short, I love the lightweight feel on my face and how it manages to brighten my skin each day. This is now my moisturizer, even though it is an essence, but hey, if this is moisturizing enough for my face, why apply another layer of cream/lotion? ^_^

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Beauty Treats Indonesia June Box

Hello, lovelies~ It’s almost the end of the month and my beauty box from Beauty Treats Indonesia has just arrived. I don’t know why the courier is so late this month, but at least I received the box yesterday. I was relieved to see that brown box outside my room waiting to be opened.

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Kawaii Beauty Japan

Hello, lovelies~ Japan has been one of the many countries I hope to visit one day. I love their language, anime, manga, food, and many more. I could go on for hours naming the things I like from Japan. Not to mention, the technologies that are currently developing, even in the beauty industry. It makes me wanna visit Japan even more! ^_^

However, flights to Japan can be expensive, especially if you’re flying first class, lol. That’s not even including accommodation, money for food and tour, argh, all that to experience and understand more about Japan. So, I’ll let you in on a little secret to understand more about Japan culture without leaving your home. Heck, even without leaving your room!

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Acne Banishing Ingredient: Benzoyl Peroxide

Hello, lovelies~ I’m looking through my blog posts and realized that it has been a long time since I last did a post on one specific ingredient. Well, I’m gonna do it now! Funny story, when deciding on which ingredient I should discuss in this post, I closed my eyes and grabbed one item from my vanity. Turns out to be my acne treatment (that has expired and still not thrown away) Benzolac. However, I’m gonna discuss about Benzoyl Peroxide, not clindamycin.

What is BP?
No, it’s not the name of the oil company. It is a chemical that is commonly found in face cleansers and moisturizers that is targeted for people with mild to moderate acne.

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Travel with Lola’s June Box

“Disclosure: I bought this product with my own money. I am neither affiliated with this company nor am I being paid to write this post. My opinions are of honest and my own.” Complete disclosure here

Hello, lovelies~ It is the middle of the month and time for my Lola box to make its entrance into this blog. I didn’t really read up on what is going to be inside June’s Lola box, so this will be a surprise for me. However, I did saw a little post on their twitter (@thelolabox) about the Makeup Forever HD powder. I was hoping to get it in my box because I have yet to try it myself.

As I opened the white box, the Lola box is in a light blue color with the logo imprinted on the upper left hand side. That is just refreshing to see a new design each month on the boxes.

This month’s theme is Bon Voyage! which means “Have a good trip” in English. I’m sure everyone already knew that. I’m surprised to see that they provided a checklist for those who will be going on vacation. Nice touch there, Lola!

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Suave Naturals Aloe and Waterlily Shampoo

Hello, lovelies~ Last week, I did a post here telling you what shampoos are in my shower. One of them is Suave Naturals in the scent Aloe and Waterlily. I bought at a supermarket near my house for around Rp 40,000, I think. I forgot the exact price of the shampoo, but it was around that price range. Let me tell you how it works on my hair.

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DOAPJ Makeup Tips: Foundation Tips

Hello, lovelies~ Foundation is the one thing that I am obsessed about when it comes to makeup. Even though I already have more than 3, it feels like I need more. Plus, my curiosity usually got the best of me, so I buy more foundation. So, I thought it’d be a good idea to share a few tips on how I apply foundation and keeping it there for a certain amount of time.

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Tosowoong Detail Clean Pore Brush Review

"Disclosure: This product was given to me for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion after trying it out. " 

Hello, lovelies~ I was sent this pore cleansing brush from Wishtrend a while back to try out on my very oily skin with huge pores on my nose area. I have never heard of the brand Tosowoong before, so it is kinda like discovering a new item.

The brush came in a blue box that has Korean language written all over it. I couldn't read a single one, so I proceed to throw the box away once I finished taking pictures of it. LOL

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bliv by Cellnique Glow and Shine Review

"Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion after trying it out. " Complete disclosure here

Hello, lovelies~ Weekend is finally here and it is time to pamper myself with a lots of TV series, a cup of jasmine green tea and face masks. This weekend, I have chosen to pamper myself with one from bliv by Cellnique called Glow and Shine.

The concept behind this mask is to give dull face a glow and shine after using it. Not only that, the mask also helps to cleanse, polish and moisturize the skin all at the same time. I’ve been using it for two weeks and here is what I think of it. Let’s start the review!

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bliv by Cellnique Bright is Right Pearl Brightening Mask Review

"Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion after trying it out. " Complete disclosure here

Hello, lovelies~ As someone with oily skin, the excess oil that sits on top of my face can sometimes cause me to look dull. Not only that, I also have a couple of acne scars on my face that makes it look like I have spots on my face. Therefore, I am always in favor for whitening and/or lightening products because it will help reduce the dark spots that is caused by post-acne marks and my excess oil. I was sent this sheet face mask from b.liv by Cellnique to try and here is what I think of it. 

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Make Over Ultra Cover Liquid Matt Foundation Review

Disclosure: This product is bought with my own money. I am not being paid to write this post. Complete disclosure

Hello, lovelies~ How are you today? I hope everyone is having a great day so far. Today, I wanted to share my experience in using a new foundation from MakeOver called Ultra Cover Liquid Matt Foundation. I’ve been using this for two weeks and let me tell you how I feel about it, being a foundation junkie.

The foundation comes in a sleek black box that has all of the information and ingredients list on it. The box also has the brand imprinted on it with white ink. Nothing too special about the box, but what else could it offer? Hahaha..

As for the foundation, it is packaged in a glass bottle that has a pump at the end to dispense the product. I’ve always appreciated makeup companies that sells their foundation in pump bottles. Unlike Revlon’s colorstay that is pump-less and makes a mess everywhere, this is practical because the pump can be locked as well.

This foundation contains silicones in it, so those who are sensitive towards it may want to be on the look out.

Right out of the pump, the foundation has a lotion-like consistency. I didn’t notice any smell that offends my olfactory senses, which is  a good thing. I hate it when face products have a very strong scent that gives me headache just by sniffing it.

The shade I have is the lightest one called Ochre (01). This series of foundation has 7 shades to choose from, which is quite a lot for a local brand. Even though it doesn’t have a huge selection of colors, I think it can be mixed to get the perfect shade.

Thanks to the lotion-like consistency, the foundation is easy to blend on my face. It doesn’t set or dry immediately, so I don’t need to blend it in a hurry. I usually use a pea-sized amount for my whole face. I dot it evenly all over and blend it with my Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki brush. I find that this brush gives an even finish without any streaks on my face.

After blending every bit of the foundation evenly on my face, it’s time to see the coverage. My skin is behaving nicely at the moment, so there aren’t any major acne on my face. However, you can still see some skin discoloration and redness on my cheeks and on my left eyebrow. With a layer of this foundation, the redness on my face is slightly concealed and my skin tone looks more even.

The foundation feels lightweight on my face, which is almost like second skin to me. I didn’t feel any stickiness or greasiness after using this foundation. It has a matte finish just like it claimed it would be. With a pea sized amount, it can sure cover my whole face and makes it look fresh in the morning. It looks flawless and not cakey, I love it!

An extra tip when you’re applying foundation. Moderation is the key, people. Don’t pile on tons of foundation in the beginning. Start with a small amount, then add more if you need it too. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking cakey no matter what.

The longest I worn this foundation is 5 hours in an air conditioned environment. Maybe just a little while to walk to the car park, but other than that it’s all air-con. I started to notice my forehead getting shiny after 3 hours of use, which is normal on my very oily skin. I don’t really mind that because I can blot away the excess oil. However, for the sake of the review, I didn’t blot it until I got home and here is how it looks like.

Quite shiny on the forehead and cheeks, but that is to be expected since I do have very oily skin, as I’ve mentioned over a thousand times on this blog, hahaha.. Some of my foundation has already disappeared on the areas where I get oily.

Despite the average oil control, I like this foundation because of its lightweight property. I feel that using it for everyday won’t be a problem as long as I double cleanse at night. It blends effortlessly onto my skin and makes it flawless in a jiffy. Priced at Rp 119,000, this is a great foundation for me since it also came in a glass bottle with pump. Now, why can’t you add a pump to the Colorstay foundation, Revlon? ╮(╯▽╰)╭

What do you think of this foundation? Is it a hit or a miss (if you have tried it)? Let me know in the comments below and until then, I’ll see you later~

☆*･゜ﾟ･*\(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆

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It’s Skin Mini Bebe Hand Cream Cherry Blossom

Hello, lovelies~ Show of hands, who here likes their hands to feel soft? I assume everyone wants to, hehe. One of the earliest sign of aging (or someone aging) is by seeing their hands. Most of the telltale signs of aging hands would be wrinkles or fine lines and dry. So, I tried my best to moisturize those babies every chance I get and apply sunscreen to them in the day time. I have been using a new hand cream from It’s Skin called Mini Bebe.

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b.liv skin Oil Levitate Gel Review

"Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion after trying it out." Complete disclosure here

Hello, lovelies~ As most of you may already know, I am an oil slick when it comes to my face. I mean, I have very oily skin up to the point that America may as well invade my face and pay me the profits, hahaha. That being said, I am always on the look out for moisturizers that have a good oil control because I tend to mix them up with foundations to make tinted moisturizers. Yep, I still do that because there are days when I can't be bothered to wear foundation.

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b.liv by Cellnique No Spots Bye Dots Blemish Cleansing Gel Review

"Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion after trying it out." Complete disclosure here

Hello, lovelies~ A few weeks ago, I was contacted via email by the PR from b.liv skin to try out their products. I was excited because this is one of the first skincare brands that I saw reviews on Youtube, back on echoli's channel. Now that I have the opportunity to try them out, I said yes and tried out the products for two weeks time. I got a set of skincare goodies from b.liv skin by Cellnique, from cleanser to face masks. I will be reviewing them one by one, so be on the look out for those posts! 

In the mean time, I'm gonna start with the face cleanser. Let's go!

One of the things that I like from b.liv skin is how they name their products. It's not just a simple "Refreshing Foaming Face Wash" or " Energizing Face Cleanser". It is kinda like describing the action that the product will do. In this case, the cleanser is named "No Spots Bye Dots", which is a blemish cleansing gel. I love the quirky names, so cute!

Aside from the name, this cleansing gel comes in an opaque bottle equipped with a pump to dispense the product. The color theme is mostly white with a stripe of salmon pink on the bottom. The pump really makes it easy to get the precise product every time I wash my face.

The bottle also comes with a secure pump that you place under it to prevent the pump from being pressed down while it's inside a makeup bag. This will reduce the chance of spilling and making a mess in my makeup bag.

The product doesn't contain any harsh surfactant despite it being formulated for people with an oily, acne prone skin. I'm glad that it is void of Sodium Laureth Sulfate since that can cause dryness on my face, leaving a tight sensation after washing my face. Listed below is the complete ingredients along with their functions.

When I pump it out of the bottle, the face wash is a clear liquid that is almost gel-like. It doesn't have an offending scent to me, but it still has a combination of fresh and fruity scent. I didn't find that to be a problem because I quite like it the smell of it.

Seeing as it has a gel-like consistency, I thought it was going to be a chore to later it up, but it's not. It turns out to be really easy. However, I like to use it immediately on my face without lathering it up first because it feels soothing. Somehow.

Due to the salicylic acid in the face wash, my acne has been in control and rarely show up, even during my period. A few days ago, I was trying out a new compact powder and it left me with 3 acne on the sides of my nose. With the help of this face wash, it reduces the swollen acne and kept my face clear afterwards.

Another thing that I like about this face wash is it doesn't feel drying after washing, despite it being targeted for oily skin types. My face still feels clean and that the excess oil on my face is removed, but it doesn't leave my face tight. An extra tip for all you oily skin type and acne prone people, always use a gentle face cleanser because harsh ones tend to cause more acne on the skin.

Overall, I am quite fond of this face wash because of its acne clearing and controlling ability for someone who is acne prone like me. Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) is included as one of the ingredients that help to control those acne. It doesn't leave my face tight and squeaky clean after I rinsed it, which is a plus for me. However, I do feel that it can be better if it is formulated without fragrance so they cater to those who have sensitive and acne prone skin.

Bottom line, it sure does make a b.liv-er out of me!

*bad pun* .__.

If you're looking for a gentle face wash for your oily and acne prone skin, do give this a go. It not only cleanses the excess oil on your face, it also helps reduce acne appearance in a gentle way. Have you tried this face wash? Let me know in the comments below and until then, I'll see you later~

b.liv Skin by Cellnique No Spots Bye Dots

(for more information on their other products, click the links below)
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube

Current Promotion on their site (click to find out more)
Save $18 off on b.liv Sensitive Range

Get $2 rebate instantly now! + Free International Shipping

 

 © 2010 - 2013 Diary Of A Product Junkie (Stephanie Nangoi) All Rights Reserved.

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DOAPJ DIY: Lip Sugar Scrub

Hello, lovelies~ Don’t you just hate chapped lips? It makes it really hard to put on lipstick and looks horrendous like you’re stuck in the Sahara desert, not able to find water for weeks on end. Well, I hate chapped lips because it will eventually lead to bleeding lips. That is because I tend to bit the part that is peeling off up to the point that blood is shed, hahaha. Don’t imitate what I did, that’s just bad!

Anyway, it’s a Sunday afternoon and I thought it would be fun and relaxing to do a homemade lip scrub since mine is running out. I have an unused jar of Skinfood mask that I think is too cute to throw away, so I will be placing my homemade scrub there. You can use whatever jar you have lying around the house, of course.

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Meet Spencer the Spoon

Hello, lovelies~ You may wonder what the title means, but I’ll get to that in a second. First, I want to tell you about a blog that I have been recently reading a lot on which is The Triple Helixian. The owner of the blog is John and he shares quite a bit of information about skin care (mostly) and sun protection. His blog is addicting and I can’t stop reading his posts. It’s just a breath of fresh air to read his blogs because he reads the ingredients in the product and discuss about the reactions.

Moving on to the title of this blog post, I have a new best friend called Spencer. He is my 1/4 teaspoon, don’t know why I call him Spencer, hahaha.. Don’t mind the 1/4 cup, it’s just that Spencer is attached to a measuring cup.

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Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Crazy Tint Stick Review

Hello, lovelies~ It's good to finally have a time to myself and write a couple of blog posts to update every other day. Believe it or not, I missed typing on my keyboard and sharing a couple of posts with you lovely readers. So, today, I want to review a lip stain from a Korean brand called Tony Moly. 

I'm pretty sure everyone has heard about Tony Moly by now. My first lip stain is from Tony Moly and I really enjoyed using that for my everyday look. They released the cat-themed collection a little over last year, I guess. It was nearing the the year 2012 if I'm not mistaken.

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May 2013 Favorites

Hello, lovelies~ May has gone by and we're entering June, which is already half way through 2013. Wow. I didn't realize May has ended until I read a few of other bloggers' faves post. I thought I'll do mine today even though it is a bit late. Enjoy~

Skincare Favorites

b.liv skin No Spots Bye Dots

A review is coming up shortly, so not gonna talk much about this. In short, this is an effective cleansing gel to battle my blemishes.

DAISO Black Charcoal Peel Off Mask

A cheap and effective mask to control my excess oil and keep them at bay. The only thing I hate is the inability to use glasses whenever I'm using this mask.

Bioderma Makeup Removing Water (Pink Cap for Sensitive Skin)

I know, I know. For those who remembered my post about this makeup remover will be confused as to why I've included this as a favorite when I only graded the product to be mediocre. Well, it turns out that my skin got better each time I use this to take off my makeup. Probably something to do with the lack of fragrance and aloe vera content. 

Makeup Favorites

Revlon Photoready TWC

This is an oldie but goodie. I dug this beneath all those powders at the bottomless pit known as my makeup boxes. This gives light to medium coverage with a sponge and nicely evened out my skin tone. Perfect for those rushed mornings when I'm late for class.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Stains in Honey

Another one of those 'fast and practical' product. One swipe and my lips looked naturally reddish-pink and all moisturized. Love it!

The Face Shop Essence Sun Pact SPF 50+/PA+++

Another oldie but goodie that I got when I was in Pontianak some time last year while visiting Mr. G during his internship at Singkawang. It's great for those days when I'm too lazy to apply sunscreen.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude 

I remember using tinted moisturizers when I was in junior high school and my first one is ZA. This just brings back memories. It does a good job in evening out my skin tone and feels lightweight on my face. 

Body Care Favorites

Dove Indulgement Nourishment Body Lotion with shea butter

Finished this and moving on to my second bottle. It smells like chocolate and moisturizes my body like a body butter, even though it feels like a body lotion. Great drugstore product! Not recommended for those trying to stay away from petrolatum, though. 

Marks and Spencer Per Una Body Spray

A floral scent that is combined with a little hint of woody scent. Perfect for starting my day. 

Schick Intuition Plus Renewing Moisture

I shave, guilty as charged. No, my hair did not grow back as black and thick as gorilla's hair. It stayed the same. Anyway, I prefer this razor because it has a bar of soap at the end enveloping the razor, so I just wet my skin and shave away~ 

That is all I have for this month's May favorites. I hope you enjoyed reading this post even though I have little skincare items to show you. So, what's your May favorites? Comment down below, I would love to know! Until then, I'll see you later~ ^_^ 

 © 2010 - 2013 Diary Of A Product Junkie (Stephanie Nangoi) All Rights Reserved.

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