A Review of BFTE Volcanic Ash Clay

I consider myself quite picky when it comes to skincare because of the large amount of products I have tried. I don't easily rave about products or brands, but if I do, I promise you it is something worth trying. A while ago, I was contacted by BEAUTESTARR to try out their Beauty From The Earth Volcanic Ash Clay and Virgin Centrifuged Coconut Oil. However, I was so busy that I completely forgot about them, and when I did remember, I just did not have the time. Finally with the holiday break, I told myself that I have to do a review because I love the result.

The BFTE Volcanic Ash Clay claims to

"draw up skin damaging toxins and impurities. Supports an instant surface detox that shows actual face lifting effects..."

When I opened the jar, I immediately noticed that the Volcanic Ash Clay doesn't have a scent. It smells like nothing, which is a big plus. Anytime a skincare product has a strong scent, chances are it contains fragrances, which is a big NO to me.

I spread the Volcanic Ash Clay all over my face, and I even used it on my lips and under eye areas according to the instruction that was also sent to me. When I used it on my lips, I immediately felt a tightening effect, and it didn't irritate my eyes when using it close to my eye area, which all makes me love it even more. Up to this point, I still thought that OK, this is a nice mask, but it doesn't feel anything special. However, I was completely shocked when I washed the mask off. I noticed that my pores got smaller, and my skin just looked really nice.

Good:

• instant tightening effect
• cooling and refreshing sensation
  
• tightens pores
• makes my skin look super nice and hydrated

Bad:

• there is really nothing bad about it. I guess if I had to pick something then according to the instruction, "temporary redness may occur due to increased circulation" which did happen to me. However, it went away within 10 minutes. This didn't bother me because most clay and mud mask will cause a little bit of redness immediately after use.

So:
I am definitely amazed by the BFTE Volcanic Ash Clay. I don't really have any wrinkles yet so I can't tell you if it does anything to fine lines. But, I can tell that my skin just looks so nice after using it. I have used quite a few clay and mud mask before, and most of the time they are pretty good at deep cleaning the skin and make our face look good. However, this is the first time that a mask makes my skin this radiant. My skin doesn't just look nice; it looks healthy. The amount of product that was sent to me only allowed me to use it for one time, so I can't comment if the result is long lasting. But for now, I am loving the result.

If you have been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I am a big fan of the Borghese Active Mud for Face and Body. It is quite expensive but I don't feel guilty about buying it because it truly is that good. However, the BFTE is jumping to the top of my list, and I have to say that it is as good as and if not better than my Borghese mask. Even my friends in real life know how much I love the Borghese mask because it is on my HG list so I don't easily compare it to anything since nothing I've used before even come close to it. This is why the BFTE Volcanic Ash Clay amazes me this much because it really is amazing. Overall, I give it an "A".

For more information about the BFTE Volcanic Ash Clay, please visit

http://www.beautestarr.com

I will be doing a separate review post on the Virgin Centrifuged Coconut Oil because they deserve their own reviews.

Disclosure

BFTE products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge by companies or agencies working on behalf of the companies for review purposes. I do not receive money compensations and are not affiliated with the companies or agencies. The review is my honest opinions from personal experiences with the products, and they are not altered by anyone in anyway.

Permanet Blog Sale (Updated 12/20/09)

I've decided that this will be a permanent blog sale. I will update the items from time to time.

Sale Rules:

• I'm willing to negotiate, but please be reasonable. I may also swap so let me know if you want to swap anything.
  
• 1st come 1st serve. Paypal only. Comment with your paypal e-mail and item(s) you want.
  
• Shipping to within U.S. is $4 flat (+$1 if you want tracking). If you buy $30+, then I offer free domestic shipping. International shipping varies so please check with me. If you need additional services such as insurance, please also let me know.
• I will pack as best as I can, but I am not responsible for damaged stuff. And no returns.
  
• If I have the original box for an item, I will specify this and ship it as well.
• I will sent an invoice to your paypal account, please sent a payment within 24 hours, or I will relist the item.

If you have any questions, please comment below or e-mail me.

M.A.C Pigment (Fuchsia)

brand new
retails $19.50

My Price $13

Costal Scent 12 pcs Empty Magnetic Palette 26mm

used a few times
this fits M.A.C shadows
retails $7.95

My Price $5

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss (L - R: 35MM, Force)

brand new
retails $18
My Price $7 each or $11 both

M.A.C Lipsticks (L - R: Honey Flower, B-BABE)

used a few times
Retail $14

My Price $8 each or $14 both

NYX Round Lipsticks (L - R: Peach, Iced Honey, Mars)

used a few times
My Price $1.5 each or $3 for all

Mehron Eyeshadow Refils (L - R: Coral, Lime)

brand new

My Price: $5 each or $8 both

ZOYA Hot Lips (Wink)

brand new
retails $6

My Price $2

Costal Scent 4 pcs Empty Magnetic Palette

used a few times
retails $4.95

My Price $2

NYX Eyebrow Powder (02)

used 1x
retails $4

My Price $2

Covergirl Eyeshadows (L - R - B: 235, 100, 120)

used a few times (almost like new)

My Price $3 each or $8 for all

NYX Round Lipgloss (Sparkle)

brand new

My Price $1.5

NYX Mosaic Powder (Paradise)

swatched 1x
retails (cherry culture) $6.5 

My Price $2

Skin Food Lettuce & Cucumber Waterdrop Essence

brand new

My Price $6

Ben Nye Brush

used a few times

My Price $4

Dejavu Creamed Off Nail Polish Remover

used a few times

 My Price $4

L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream (15 ml)

used a few times

 My Price $2

Bare Minerals Eyeshadow (you can never be too rich brown)
Brand New Sealed
Retail: $13

My Price $6

Sally Hansen Mineral Foot Soak
used 1x
Retail: $7.99

 My Price $2

   

MAC 194 SE Concealer Brush

used a few times
My Price $5

Etude House BB Magic Cream

used 2x

My Price $6

Stila Lip Color (Luce)

used 2x

My Price $2

PDC Oil Off Mist

really good for oily skin
used 2x

My Price $3

Sephora Deluxe Antibacterial Brow Comb

used 1x

My Price $1

Etude House Makeup Remover

50% Left

My Price $3

DHC Q10 Eye Zone Treatment Retouch

used 3x

My Price $5

BSC Decolor Crystal Collagen Mask (20 per box)

Brand New In Box Sealed

Retail $22

My Price $12

St. Ives Microderm Abrasion

70% Left

My Price $2

BeautyEasy Rose Hydrating Skin Enhancer

used 3x

My Price $5

Coach Bag

used a few months

My Price $49

A Review of Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

If I have to pick only one skincare brand to use for the rest of my life, Clinique is definitely the name that pops up. I'm a firm believer in the Clinique 3-Steps Skincare System and long time user of some of their most popular products because they truly changed my skin. Among department store brands, I think Clinique has affordable prices and gives effective results.

While I was browsing in Sephora one time, I could not resist and picked up the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. I've used cleansing oil before but never in a tub and in solid form, so this looked really interesting to me. I've read mixed reviews of their Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, so I was a little skeptical at first about this cleansing balm. But, it turned out that I was worrying too much.

It literally looks like a giant lip balm. After scoping some out of the tub, I spread it all over my hands. Can you see the oil?!

Good:

• completely removes makeup (including water proof mascara)
• emulsifies easily
• easier to use than regular cleansing oil

Bad:

• The packaging is really the only thing that annoys me about this product. I hate dipping my fingers into the tub.

So:
I actually like this cleansing balm more than my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Fresh. It emulsifies really well so it won't clog your pores. It completely removes all my makeups, including water proof mascara and eyeliner. What I like about it more than regular cleansing oil is the fact that it is a lot easier to control how much oil you use. With the Shu Uemura bottle, I often pump out too much and the oil just gets all over my hands and everywhere. But, with this cleansing balm, you can just wipe your hands once over the balm, and that should be enough for the whole face. If Clinique can just improve the packaging, this could definitely be my HG cleansing oil. It really removes all makeups without making you feeling oily afterward. Overall, I give this an "A-"

Happy New Year Giveaway

I know...I know...it is not even Christmas yet but I don't think I have enough time to do a Christmas giveaway, especially with the busy holiday postal system. So, I am making this a Happy New Year Giveaway, and hopefully this can be someone's New Year present. I love celebrating New Year. It is a fresh start, and I always feel that everything will be better. One of my New Year resolution this year is to have an open heart when it comes to cosmetics. Many of us have brand loyalty, but I think we should also keep an open mind and be willing to try new products because you never know what you will discover. Thus, I picked out products that are not widely available in the U.S. Most of these are from Asian cosmetic brands and are hard to get in the state.

What to know what are the prizes?

Prizes

CLUBBIN' LOVIN' Fever Gloss - VIP Pink

Watsons Collagen Hydrating Mask

Lifecella Orange Pre-Formed Gel Mask

Lifecella CoQ10 Eye Mask 

Lifecella Ceramide & Trehalose Essence Eye Mask

Bio-essence Bio Energy Eye Bag Vanishing Mask

Youthful Wonder Spots Eliminating Mask 

BSC Decolor Crystal Collagen Mask

Sewame Spots Removing Essence

KOSE Softymo Nose Peel

Etude House Moistfull Cream Travel Kit

Suisse Programme Cellular Whitening Night Renovator (deluxe sample)

Etude House Aqua Sherbet Gel Cream (sample)

Etude House Natural Powder Essence Foam (sample)

Etude House Speedy Total Mineral Base (sample)

Etude House Maiv Crystal Pack Peeling (sample)

Skin Food Lime Secret Shine Base (sample)

Skin Food Lettuce & Cucumber Water Drop Essence (sample)

ISQUEEN Brightening Essence (sample)

 

Giveaway Rules:

• Participants ave to be either a follower of my blog or a subscriber through e-mail.
• For main entry, please leave a comment with e-mail address, link to where you blogged about this giveaway (if you don't have a blog, then you can either twitter or Facebook this giveaway), and answer to this question

Name a product or a brand that you really want to try but couldn't get your hands on.

• Open to U.S. + International readers. However, please keep in mind that if you are not really interested in the prizes or if they are things you can easily get, please leave the chance to others because this giveaway is for those who are interested but couldn't get these products.
• The winner will be picked through random.org
• Winner must respond to the notification e-mail within 48 hours or another winner will be picked.
• This giveaway ends on 1/15/2010  11:59PM PST

Extra Entries: please leave a separate comment for each additional entries

• 1 entry: Follow or subscrib to Free 4 Beauty. (http://free4beauty.blogspot.com/)
• Up to 2 entries per day: twitter this giveaway (copy below or just use the retweet button on the top of the post) and include your twitter name.
  

"RT @sparklemidori : Happy New Year Giveaway !!! http://sparklemidori.blogspot.com/"

• 1 entry: Become a fan on Facebook. (click here)
• 3 entries: Make a Youtube video about this giveaway.
• 2 entries: if you did the main entry and at least 2 of the extra entries type.

If you have any questions about the giveaway, please let me know. Good luck beauties.

A Review of Nars Duo Concealer

When it comes to Nars products, I rarely find things I don't like. Their eyeshadows and blushes are always stables in my collection. A few months ago, I picked up the Nars Duo Concealer at Sephora because I was out of concealer, and after having an amazing experience with a Nars foundation, I decided to give this a try.

Each comes with 2 colors, and there are 3 sets you can choose from.

Vanilla/ Honey (for fair to light complexions)

Custard/ Ginger (for light to medium complexions)

Praline/ Toffee (for medium to dark complexions)

I have the middle one (Custard/ Ginger), which is not really my color, but this is fine since I always mix and match my concealers.

It claims

"... to camouflages blemishes and dark spots and evens out the skin's tonal variations. Enriched with Vitamin E, this lightweight, non-drying formula won't settle into fine lines or creases."

GOOD:

• lightweight
• very moisturizing
• doesn't cake or settle into lines
• easy to blend

BAD:

• light coverage, which is not enough for me (not necessarily bad for people who doesn't need a high coverage concealer) 
• creases a little
  
• a little bit oily so make sure to set it with powder
• price (retails $30)

SO:
Personally, I don't think $30 is expensive for a high-end brand concealer; however, I still consider the price "bad" because I don't think it is worth it. I love the fact that it is not heavy and feels nice when you put it on. But, I hope it has better coverage. It is enough for under eye concealing, but the light coverage is a little bit lacking when it comes to blemishes and acne scars. Because it is enriched with Vitamin E, the concealer is very moisturizing and doesn't cake or dry up, but this makes it easy to move around, so setting powder is a must when using this concealer. Overall, I give the Nars Duo Concealer a "B+". It is something I wouldn't mind using, but it is definitely not something that I have to get. Repurchase? Probably not.

I really like my Nars Sheer Matte Foundation, so may be my expectation for the concealer is too high. I don't regret buying it because it is still a pretty good concealer, but I probably will not get it again. You don't even get that much product with $30. The concealer is about the size of a Nars blush.