even more beauty product reviews

[rhodochrosite]

recently purchased skincare makeup and perfume products roundup:

CLIO KILL COVER MESH GLOW CUSHION (#2 LINGERIE)
When I tell you I have never gotten so many compliments on my skin in my life!!!!! by far the best foundation I’ve ever used, it’s super skinlike and natural looking and I’d say medium coverage with one thin layer but definitely buildable and it doesn’t crease or crack or get patchy at all like it still looks perfect after a full day including gym. i do spritz the sponge with the urban decay all nighter setting spray before applying but even before I started doing that my face was still looking flawless at the end of the day. The mesh makes application really easy bc it puts such a thin and even layer of foundation on the sponge, I barely need to tap any off. It has a dewy finish which I powder down because I prefer looking matte but it gives a lovely glow for the glass skin enjoyers out there. i’m so excited to use this cushion every morning!! It’s so much better than the missha cushion I was using before, which was really full coverage (maybe too full coverage ngl it was giving cakey a little bit) but tended to separate around my nose/chin by the end of the day. Can’t recommend this highly enough, it’s a little pricier than some other cushions but it does come with a refill and I genuinely think it is sooooo worth, just a gorgeous product that looks so good.

however i think the shade is a bit too light for me (especially since we're heading into summer) although the undertone is right, so i'm going to buy #3 linen and see if that works better... neutral undertone should be ok.

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR FOUNDATION (#2c0)
This was shade matched for me when I got a professional colour analysis done and I know it is a cult classic for its longwearing full coverage but idk if I just didn’t prep/apply properly but it kind of looks soooo terrible on me (I applied with fingers as a spatula + blended out with sponge). Like it emphasised texture I didn’t even know I had and looked so patchy ): I was so disappointed bc I got a sample specifically to use for an all-night event but my complexion looked better with the clio mesh after a whole day’s wear than it did after freshly applying the double wear. when I gave it a second chance for a work day it wasn’t so bad but 1) much too high coverage for daily wear imo 2) still started separating around my cheeks/nose at the end of the day 3) I really feel like what’s even the point when the clio mesh is my beloved.

MSH LOVE LINER (MOCHA GREIGE)
I wanted an eyeliner that was a bit more subtle than my usual heroine make black eyeliner and I also wanted to try this brand. It’s around double the price of the heroine make but the msh feels a lot more luxe, although I think the application is comparable – very fine tip, similar precision of ink flow. I’d need to try the msh in black (which I do plan to once my heroine make runs out) to make a legitimate comparison since the mocha greige is not very pigmented on me (which is what I wanted) but so far I don’t really think it’s twice as good as the heroine make. Like it’s a good product, it just doesn’t warrant spending twice as much imo.

ROMAND X SANRIO DEWYFUL WATER TINT (CUSTARD MAUVE)
Obviously I bought this for the packaging (kuromi my beloved) but I actually was intending to buy a romand lip tint anyway so this collab came at just the right time. this tint is a perfect muted rosy mlbb shade, it pulls quite pink on me which I don’t mind. The finish has a pretty shine that isn’t too glossy and the colour intensity is buildable, first application is quite sheer and it blends nicely. this is my daily office lip colour and I’m very satisfied with it. It’s not drying on the lips, it doesn’t stain in a weird pattern like the etude house dear darling tints did on me AND it doesn’t transfer!!! When I drink cofy there’s no pigment left behind on the lid / straw... the tradeoff is that the lasting power is quite weak and there isn’t much of a stain but I don’t really mind. Although this could be the worst lip product of all time and I would still like it for the cute and joyful packaging.

JUDYDOLL ICED TEA WATERY JELLY LIP GLAZE (#V09)
I wanted a brighter and more cherry pink shade for events where I want a more dramatic lip look and I also wanted a judydoll tint because the packaging is gorgeous and I’m trying to venture further into the world of cbeauty. This is more watery and glossy than the romand tint, it’s not as dark as it looks on the applicator but it is kind of so liquidy that the application can get messy (have gotten it on my teeth every time I’ve used it lmao). But I do think this is a nice product!! Anyway it’s quite hard to find cool tone shades in cbeauty so this might be where my cbeauty lip tint journey ends but I intend to get Something from flower knows as well even if just for the beautiful packaging.

ESPOIR REAL EYE PALETTE (MAUVE ME)
Eyeshadow palette that was recommended to me when I got my colour analysis done – it’s cool tone neutral browns and purplish pinks. the blush and contour shades are lovely, the blush is a cool bright pink that makes me look so glowingly alive and the contour is the right shade of subtle greyish brown that doesn’t make me look muddy. I’ve never actually used contour before but I’ve started adding it to my morning routine after buying this palette and it is quite exciting to have a nose. other than the dark brown shade, the eyeshadows aren't super pigmented but that's not what i look for in eyeshadows anyway since i prefer buildability, and the glitters are really smooth despite being quite chunky. sometimes i use the lighter pink glitter for undereye highlight and it works fine.

OUAI LEAVE IN CONDITIONER
Got this in my sephora bday gift and I’m mad that it’s so nice I love the spray applicator and the rose scent and the way it leaves my hair very soft and smooth. I think one of my favourite coworkers uses this product though because it makes me smell exactly the same as her which is a little bit weird and idk how I feel about it.

SKIN1004 MADAGASCAR CENTELLA ASIATICA AMPOULE
I’ve been in the market for a serum for agessssss (none of the beauty of Joseon ones are particularly impressing me) and finally decided to trial this one because i love centella. and i love this product!! it feels nice on the skin and my skin is looking pretty great and calm overall despite the hell i've been putting it through since i started trialling this (absolutely shit diet and sleep schedule LOL). i've already repurchased the full size, i think i'm locking this in as my serum of choice.

DR CEURACLE VEGAN KOMBUCHA ESSENCE
Finally decided to trial this and at just the right time because I think laneige is like. discontinuing the cream skin refiner or updating the formula into something else with peptides?? and both the original and the new version are sold out literally everywhere and I just ran out of mine. it's fine so far i guess. it is a nice extra layer of hydration but i don't think i really need it in my routine since it's not quite as hydrating as the laneige csr (which i was using as a morning moisturiser) and i think i already get a decent amount of hydration from toners and my isntree hyaluronic mask.

ETUDE HOUSE SOON JUNG PH 6.5 WHIP CLEANSER
i like this! gentle non-stripping second cleanser that still removes oil cleanser well and the foam texture is really fun. i'll probably repurchase this in the future but i did buy the blab matcha cleanser to try first, so i'll see how they compare.

HARUHARU WONDER BLACK RICE MOISTURE DEEP CLEANSING OIL
i've been a banila clean it zero devotee since i first started my skincare journey 5 years ago but my latest fave tiktok skincare girlie has been talking about ethylhexyl palmitate potentially being a breakout/texture trigger ingredient so i thought i'd try a cleanser that doesn't have it. this works great, it gets all my makeup off without being as harsh as the dhc cleansing oil and rinses off easily. only issue is that it stings my eyes sooooo bad, which clean it zero never did. also the liquid oil formula means it will be difficult to travel with, so i'm going to buy the clean it zero purifying ver which doesn't contain ethylhexyl palmitate for travel purposes.

GEEK & GORGEOUS A-GAME 5 RETINAL
This is definitely the other primary contributor to the compliments I’ve been getting on my skin!! As expected retinal is even better than retinol, I am applying this once every 3 days rn but without the sandwich method (I just do klairs toner -> wait to dry -> retinoid instead of klairs toner -> laneige cream skin refiner -> wait to dry -> retinoid) and the results are so good like my skin is glowing, smooth, healing really fast from breakouts, breakouts in general are smaller and less horrific looking, just overall looking great. I haven’t experienced any irritation at all (although I’ve been using retinoids for a couple of years so my skin has some tolerance to it). Really recommend this!! Influenced one of my coworkers to buy it because she thought my skin looked really nice and asked me about my routine and I do give it a lot of credit. It’s actually so affordable too like much cheaper than a lot of otc retinols even though it’s stronger, but the formulation is amazing. The only problem is that I have to preorder it quite a bit in advance and shipping takes ages so I can’t be sure when exactly I need to be repurchasing since I can’t see how much product I have left.

++ BONUS: MORNING ROUTINE

Skincare

1. wash face with water
2. anua 77% heartleaf toner if I feel like it
3. ma:nyo galac niacin 2.0 essence
4. dr ceuracle vegan kombucha essence
5. purito daily go-to sunscreen (I will switch back to avene soon since spring has arrived)

Makeup

1. pimple patch on any particularly big or inflamed breakouts though these are rarer nowadays [KNOCK ON WOOD]
2. Maybelline fit me concealer (#10 fair) on smaller breakouts, pih marks and the outer corner of my eyes for easier eyeliner application – I do concealer first to give it time to dry down and provide higher coverage. Am in the market for a new concealer as I’m almost finished with this one and I’m ready to invest in a higher end one now that I’ve decided concealer is my friend – I think mich and niz have recced the too faced born this way concealer so I might spring for that one next.
3. [I brush my teeth here]
4. k-palette 1 day tattoo brow mascara to brush up and lighten my brows
5. romand better than eyes (n01 dry willow flower) white glitter shade for undereye highlight right under my pupils
6. blend concealer out with my fingers
7. msh love liner (mocha greige) only for eyeliner wings. I don’t tightline
8. clio kill cover mesh glow – couple spritzes urban decay setting spray on the sponge before applying, I just do one layer of foundation for a little bit of coverage
9. Innisfree matte mineral pressed setting powder all over my face with either a powder puff or a fluffy brush because I don’t like looking dewy. particular focus on t-zone, undereyes, and nose corners
10. Espoir real eye palette (mauve me) nose contour – starting under the brow at the top of the socket and blending down the sides of my nose with an angled brush, also a little u shape around the nose tip
11. Espoir real eye palette (mauve me) blush – placed on the cheeks directly under my eyes and blended upwards and slightly inwards, I like this placement better than apples or cheekbones
12. clio prism highlighter duo #02 lavender voyage – lavender shade on nose tip, nose bridge, top of cupid’s bow, inner eyes, brow bone under brow tails
13. if I feel like it and have time I’ll curl my lashes with the shiseido eyelash curler and use the heroine make mascara, but i always wake up so late i have to rush through my routine and lashes are always first on the chopping block ngl. Even though I think they probably should be a priority. But I honestly think mascara doesn’t look good on me but also maybe I’m just really bad at curling my lashes
14. romand x sanrio dewyful water tint custard mauve – I’ll do one coat over the whole of my lips and then go back in over the inside of the lips to darken them and blend everything out with my fingers. For lip colour touchups during the day I use my chanel rouge coco flash lipstick since that’s what I keep in my work bag

++ BONUS BONUS: PERFUME REVIEW

I bought/received a bunch of samples recently so here’s a rapidfire review:

• Allsaints flora mortis – I got this in the free gift bag when I went to see barbie and it is extremely not a scent I would have associated with barbie – it’s a very smokey incensey perfume and I barely even get any of the florals. It’s giving church service or temple pilgrimage through a thick and dusty cloud of cigarette smoke. Rather perplexing scent. I think the kind of person who this would suit is too cool and mature to associate with me. WNRP
• Dior sauvage – I didn’t mind this on first application, pretty fresh and I get a bit of spice/lemony citrus as well but I think the woody drydown gives me a bit of a headache and it’s definitely far from the type of girly sugary gourmands I usually go for. WNRP
• Xerjoff la capitale – SOOOO DELICIOUS…. rich sweet burnt sugar vanilla caramel scent of my dreams. Wore this to a work ball and felt so good and confident and beautiful the whole time. WRP but why is it $500000000!!!
• Byron Mula mula – like la capitale’s little sister, similar sugary toffee scent but sharper and a bit more synthetic and hollow / less full bodied and less of a vanilla hit. I think this is an easier and more youthful wear than the la capitale. Sometimes I wear this to work because who gives a shit anymore. WRP
• Kayali eden juicy apple – very sweet synthetic berry apple pink florals scent verging on cloying, reminds me of biting into ripe juicy fruit with a hint of toothache. I liked this a lot when I first smelled it (and still like it a lot) and was planning to buy the full size but now I think there are better floral gourmands out there. it’s kind of warmer than I usually go for, I think because of the powerful vanilla/musk/sugar base notes – I tend to prefer the sharper more metallic kind of synthetic sweetness like my longtime favourite kenzo flower in the air or even mula mula. probably WNRP but not because I don’t like it, I just like other perfumes better
• Ellis brooklyn myth – clean white floral scent, I liked this a lot on the tester but it smells horrible on me unfortunately. I think the musk just doesn’t work on me and the floral notes disappear instantly. There’s no sweetness in the scent at all really, all I get is the very forward woody musk which is much too unisex for my liking. Also I don’t think the name fits the scent lmfao it does not give mythology at alllll. Safe office scent probably. WNRP
• Montale mukhallat – I hate this ): wayyyy too incensey and there’s a really weird powdery note that I can’t describe but is so offputting, it reminds me of like musty old fashioned grandma makeup smell. There isn’t the smokeyness of the flora mortis, just the cloying incense which genuinely makes it worse. WNRP
• Kim Kardashian fleur fatale – basically straight rose with a hint of violet, it reminds me a lot of stella (which was the first perfume I ever really experienced – I “bought” it as a birthday gift for my mum when I was like 6). A soft and powdery scent, pretty inoffensive floral but also pretty boring. WNRP
• Kilian love don’t be shy – a really really REALLY creamy vanilla. Sweet but not in a sugary way, in a kind of alcoholic or like… aged syrup? way. Or liqueur chocolate. Very warm scent. Really not office appropriate but I’ve been wearing it to work anyway because again who gives a shit anymore and I have my own office anyway. WNRP
• Parfums de marly Meliora – opens strongly with rose and lychee, like a really citrusy almost fizzy to the point of spicy kind of lychee or maybe grapefruit. I don’t think either of those are fruits are in the notes I guess it must be the blackcurrant? But I get the very powerful impression of sweetsour clear fleshed fruit and also carbonation in the sparkling water sense (you know how sparkling water tastes weird and almost salty… that but if sparkling water fizz was sour). Like what if a sour strap was rose flavoured. Anyway i think I don’t actually like rose scented perfumes that much they feel too sophisticated for me. WNRP