Category: Girl Stuffs

Maybelline The City Mini Eyeshadow palette with 6 long-lasting, pigmented metallic, and matte eyeshadow colours. It claims to create a bold, dramatic eye makeup look inspired by NYC.

I recently bought Maybelline The City Mini Eyeshadow Palette (Chill Brunch Neutrals) to replace Maybelline Color Sensational Diamond Shadow . The new eye shadow palette is not mini at all. I bought it because there’s 50% off (RM20+).

Then, I slightly regretted it because I just wanted a smaller sized, 3-4 colours eyeshadow palette. This is double the size I initially wanted Blame the discount.

Anyway, I got the Chill Brunch Neutrals after having a hard time choosing. There were 2 more palettes (5th Avenue Sunset and Rooftop Bronze). I like them all. Very natural colours. It’s suitable for day and night use.

The Applicator

It comes with a brush and sponge tip but I hardly use them. I just use my finger. The warmth of the fingers are good enough to blended the colours on the lid. In fact, using the sponge tip or the brush is messy. The powder falls everywhere.

Colour Swatch

The eye shadow palette is quite pigmented and soft. It’s easy to apply and blend. There’s very minimal fallout. It lasted the whole day. The colour pay-off is good. You can refer to the photo. Only one swipe with my finger on my bare skin.

This one is under the standard day time indoor lighting.

While this one is under the sunlight.

Actual Application on the Eye Lids

The following is me using it on my eyelids. I was using my fingers as the applicator. I’m satisfied with how the colours turned out. I don’t remember which colour I used though hahaha! This is the best I can capture with my camera. It’s more intense in real life.

Most importantly, no discomfort using the eye shadow as I’ve experienced with other eye shadow that made my lid itchy and stung my waterline Luckily it was a PR kit so I didn’t waste my money.

I Guess Maybelline The City Mini Eyeshadow palette is going to be my go-to for the next few years

Get it here…

You can get Maybelline The City Mini Eyeshadow palettes from Maybelline official store on Shopee (https://invl.io/cll4x1n)

For the past 10 years, I’ve been using Etude House Drawing Brow. I wanted to restock but it was out of stock and Watsons’ staff recommended me Peripera Speedy Eyebrow Auto Pencil instead as it’s the closest to what I’m looking for. It was on sale too. That’s how I ended up with it.

The 1.5mm tip (it looks big in the photo because it’s macro hahaha!) claims to provide precision. I wasn’t used to this type and it took more time for me to draw and fill my brow. Precision wise, I could do the same with Etude but with less time. It’s just a matter of getting used to the tip. Other than that, it has the same lasting power as Etude’s.

The soft spoolie allows you to brush the colour so that it would blend into your natural eyebrow. It’s the same as Etude’s. It does its work well.

The colour I’m using is gray brown. I even tried to use it as eyeliner the formula was much softer compare to Etude’s. It was OK if you’re looking to achieve faint line colour on your waterline. However, it is still not as soft as an eyeliner pencil. Hence, not quite recommended for that as you’ll need more force to get the colour pay-off.

Price wise, very affordable, less than RM15 (after discount). I do recommend this if you’re looking for an affordable eyebrow pencil that delivers and easy to use. You can get it here in PERIPERA official shop on Shopee (https://invl.io/cll4wx6) if you want

I’ve always heard of Max Factor but have never used its products before. I got the Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara as one of the products in its Christmas cracker. It was given as free gift when you fulfilled a certain purchase requirement from Boots UK. Here’s the unboxing of the Christmas crackers for 2022.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irene Law – Sweet Surrender (@lovebellbelle)

OK, let’s start with the review. The Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara is being marketed as high-volume and definition mascara. The mascara is formulated with a volumizing formula that is able to provide your lashes 4 times their volume. It is also smudge-proof and provides a clump-free finish.

I’ve not used mascara for God knows how many years because I’m just being lazy haha… My makeup routine is very basic now. Quite excited to have mascara now and will try to use it as much as possible so that won’t waste it. It’ wa’s not cheap. In the UK, it’s selling at £11.99. I’ve seen it in Watsons Malaysia before but I’m not sure about it now. I tried looking for it on Watson’s website, but there’s none.

Anyway, I’ve used it twice since opening it. It has the typical mascara smell.

Big Wand

I’ve never seen such a chunky mascara wand haha! Look at the brittles. It’s rather sharp, hard, and the design isn’t that ergonomic. It’s painful when it touches the rim of the eyes. This is my first time experiencing such an unpleasant mascara application. I don’t have big eyes, so the brush isn’t that user-friendly for me. It’s too big for my eyes making the application quite difficult. Furthermore, the fear of having it touch my eye isn’t making it any easier to use.

I read people’s reviews on their official website and found that the majority are not happy with the new wand design. Apparently, it was different back then. I do agree with the badly-designed wand it’s having now.

Comparison

Left: With one-layer application. It’s fast-drying.
Right: Original lashes.
It does look promising. Can see my lashes clearly now.

I applied it to both eyes in the photo above. Two coats of mascara. Nothing dramatic. Great for those who want a natural look. It does curl the lashes. It’s not too obvious in the photo below because I have hooded eyes.

It does add volume but definitely not 4 times for me. Maybe if I apply more layers but I dislike applying so many layers. 2 is the maximum for me.

Smudge-proof, Waterproof, and Easy Removal?

I used it for over 8 hours. I didn’t get any irritation. There were no smudges. However, it’s not waterproof. I tried to apply some water to my lashes and it stained the tissue paper. In other words, it can be removed with water but you’ll need more effort I guess. Just use a makeup remover to save all the troubles. It is very easy to remove. There is no need to pull and tug your lashes or eyelid to clean it.

Conclusion

Pros	Cons
Smudge-proof Smooth formula Adds volume Easy removal Curls the lashes Dries fast No irritation	Not waterproof Big wand Not ergonomic Sharp and hard brittles Expensive

If the wand is not this big, not painful to use, and waterproof, I would say that it is a good mascara to use. I won’t buy this for sure because I need a waterproof one. However, for now, I don’t mind using it until it’s time to toss it out. Don’t waste. Not cheap ok? Besides, I can always get a cheaper mascara that performs better than this that I used last time (Maybelline Volum’ Express Hypercurl is no longer in the market but the Hypercurl is still available, should still work the same).

Rohto Deoball Deoderant 24H is one of the best Japanese deodorants I have used. I tried stocking it up when I was in Osaka in 2019 but couldn’t find it. It was so hard to find. I ended up buying Deonatulle Soft Stone Double Deodorant instead. However, I did find Deoball in one of the Donki there but not the fragrance I wanted. I did buy it for the sake of stocking up. I have friends who are in Japan using Deoball and were also having problems getting it in Japan. I’m not sure about now. Maybe it’s discontinued.

Here’s my review of Deonatulle Soft Stone Double Deodorant.

I don’t remember how much I got this from Japan. I bought it at one of the pharmacies near our hotel. The whole rack was displayed with various variants of Deonatulle. I decided to just go for the most basic. The packaging I’m sharing here is the old packaging. The new packaging is similar.

Dryness Control

Many claimed that it can help in keeping your armpit dry but that’s not the case for me. I don’t really mind that. For the record, no deodorant or antiperspirant can do it. I gave up on this part already haha…

Odour Control

This is more important. I found out that it can keep the odour at bay for at least 48 hours even after showering (of course cleaning the armpit as well). I didn’t even need to apply it daily. I applied it once every 2 to 3 days or whenever needed.

Staining

It doesn’t stain my clothes. It does leave white marks if your dark-coloured clothes rub on it but you just need to dust it off. It also doesn’t darken my armpit or leave any residue on my skin.

Texture & Smell

The texture is soft and waxy. No wetness at all. Hence, you can just apply and wear your clothes immediately without waiting for it to dry.

As for the smell, it has a minty smell to it but it’s not overpowering. The smell doesn’t linger. It’s gone almost immediately after the application.

Overall, I think I will stick to Deonatulle now. Have been using it since 2021 (bought in 2019 *LOL*). It is easier to find than Deoball and works the same way.

You can easily get it online these days. Here’s the link if you want to buy it:
Deonatulle Soft Stone Double Deodorant https://invle.co/clc6zvf

I do use a peel-off mask once in a blue moon. The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava Impurity Removing Nose Pack is my second tube. I didn’t finish the first tube(bought in 2019), of course. Still had half tube I think because I didn’t use much. Not even once a month. It had expired so I decided to get a new tube.

Since I didn’t do a review on it here and I’ve been using it for so long. I’ll share my experience with you. I usually used it around my chin, nose, and forehead area. Apply it to the area you want after washing your face. Then wait for it to dry off. It usually took about 1/2 hour or so for the product on the sides of the nose to completely dry off. Other areas took about 15 minutes.

Once it’s all dried. Peel it off. Be sure to support the skin around it while you peel it off. It’s painful as you all know if you’ve experienced using such kind of product before. Then again, do it fast, it’s not too bad once you got used to it. At least it is less painful than extractions which I hate so much. Had bad experiences with the procedure and left some damage on my face.

The result

Anyway… Back to the peel-off mask.

Here! The one on the nose. Can you see those gunk? Mind you, these are not blackheads as many people had claimed. It is actually sebaceous filaments. I have plenty of these and it annoys me more than blackheads *LOL* It is a natural part of your pore that keeps your skin healthy and moisturized.

However, removing them once in a while does no harm at all because sometimes it just makes the skin looks rough and makeup won’t be able to go on smoothly. I only used the nose pack when I feel that my skin feels and looks rough. Just don’t overdo it. Once in a blue moon will do.

Here… From the chin(left) and middle of the forehead(right).

The mask actually pulls out those annoying and unsightly fine and black facial hair too. The one on the right managed to get rid of fine hair in between my brows aside from the gunk.

Remember to tone and moisturize the area thoroughly after you used the peel-off mask. The best is to follow with a sheet mask that contains soothing properties then proceed with your usual skincare routine.

Whatever that was pulled out from Jeju Volcanic Lava Impurity Removing Nose Pack wasn’t too bad for not doing it for half a year. Check this post (https://irenelaw.com/elizavecca-black-head-solution-3-step-nose-pack-warning-gross-look-at-those-gunk/) out if you want to see the crazy one that I did a few years back.

Where to buy it?

The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava Impurity Removing Nose Pack (https://invle.co/clbxfce)
Elizavecca Black Head Solution 3-Step Nose Pack (https://invle.co/clbxft1)