Empties #2.1: The Face Shop & Kiehl's

Heyooo what's up?? Wow I can't believe winter quarter is almost over...... I seriously can't wait until spring break comes u_u ever since week 3 I've been dealing with at least one midterm every week until week 8 sob soooo happy to finally have one week of freedom (before OB midterm next Wednesday ugh fml) -.-;;; Alright anywaaaayy today I want to talk about some products I recently finished using up!!!

A) The Face Shop Natural Sun AQ Power Long-Lasting Sun Cream SPF 45 PA+++

woo that was a mouthful!!! This is probably my favorite sun cream of all time.... I wouldn't have to come to embrace it so much until last summer when my skin had that really random irritating dry/itchy reaction to some unknown substance *_*

1. This sun cream has high SPF and has amazing oil control!!! It helps keep my oily skin at bay for a good 4-6 hours (depending on the temperature) before I would need to reach for a blotting paper. It is also one of the only products that did not cause any irritation whatsoever to my skin as I went through that allergic reaction (which now makes my skin super sensitive and dry on my cheeks).
2. It is tinted so this sun cream can provide minimal coverage for minor redness and blemishes!!! This is really perfect for me since my skin has been relatively clear throughout my entire life except for the cursed occasional pimples that never seem to go away on my forehead and chin.....
3. It comes in a cream formula so it is very easy to spread. I usually squeeze out a thin line that is around the length of my index finger and it is plenty enough to cover my face and neck ^^ I believe they have changed the packaging since I purchased this at Colour Mix in Hong Kong a few years ago, but I highly recommend this sun cream!!!! It is suitable for dry, sensitive and oily skin types ^^ I've pretty much abandoned BB/CC cream for this ♥

B) Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

1. I didn't realize how amazing this eye cream was until I skipped a day without it. While applying my eye makeup, I realized how dry my eyelids are, which makes application kind of difficult.... This treatment is suuuuuper creamy and moisturizing, the soft pastel yellow-green color is soooo pretty and it smells like heaven mmm yum
2. I use this daily in the morning and it helps make my eye makeup application much smoother!!! It doesn't make my lids oily either and my eye area always feels cool and refreshed when I dab on some of this product
3. This is also one of the only products that did not aid in the irritation of my allergic reaction over the past summer. It's suitable for all skin types, even sensitive!!! To be honest this is probably the most expensive skincare product I had ever purchased..... I'm kind of having a love/hate relationship with it right now because I'm literally out of this but I have to repurchase it now because I've fallen in love with it so much..... cries my wallet u_u......

C) Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Purifying Foaming Cleanser

1. I purchased this last summer to help combat my allergic reaction and I just finished it.... I use this daily in the morning and sometimes at night and it cleanses sooooo well!!!! It is that cool and fresh feeling that gets me up in the morning to go to class I swear.....
2. My face literally glows with brightness after washing my face with this cleanser!!!! It also makes my skin feel super smooth and soft *_* Not to mention it smells sooooooooooo good....... Even better is that it helped fade away some of my really dark sun spots and acne scars, and minimize skin redness in the morning ^^
3. A pea-sized amount is enough to lather up my entire face!!! It is also quite creamy and doesn't dry out my skin at all. It is suitable for sensitive skin like mine, but also for dry and oily skin types as well!!! It is quite an expensive cleanser though..... I would love to repurchase this again when Kiehl's offers a promotion but for now, I will be using another cleanser~~~

D) The Face Shop Rice Water Eye and Lip Makeup Remover

1. This makeup remover smells sooooooooooo good and takes everything off so cleanly!!!! It does leave a bit of an oily film residue behind though so I like to wash my face afterwards with a cleanser and follow up with my night skincare routine
2. My eyes are really sensitive and tend to get a bit dry sometimes, but this remover didn't cause any irritations at all!!!! It is a dual-phase remover, which means I would have to shake this a few times to mix the product in the bottle. I wouldn't say a little goes a long way but it did last me a good 6 months ^^
3. After shaking well, I pour some on a cotton pad and cover my eye with it, holding for about five seconds before gently (mind gently) wiping off the makeup. I do this a few times to make sure I cleanly remove everything and proceed with the other eye, and lastly finish up with my eyebrows. One cotton pad is literally enough!!! You can fold it multiple times and use the clean soaked through parts to wipe off your makeup ^^

And that's part 1 for now!!! I'll follow up with part 2 sometime soon ^^

I'm honestly done with the Liebster Award, but I'm having trouble with finding blogs that I follow that have less than 200 followers..... and for some reason or other I can't seem to comment on people's blogs u_u is it just me or???? So please don't think I'm ignoring your blog, I actually do read your posts sob I just can't comment on anything...... for some reason........ Help me...........

Aight anywaaaayy gotta go back to programming now cries seeya laterrrr

Review: 3 CONCEPT EYES Creamy Waterproof Eyeliner in #3, 6, 7, 8, 12

Hey guys!!!! Sorry for being MIA for so long u_u.... Class started a few weeks ago and I think this has got to be my toughest quarter yet....... programming is so energy draining and my neurobio class is killing me sobs but in light of my difficulties, I have good news to share!!!

Firstly..... 140105 Chu and I are official ♥ (no not facebook official ok)

Secondly..... Terri nominated me for the Liebster award!!!! Thank you so much for reading my blog ^^ I feel so honored and humbled to even be recognized for my lame rants and posts -.-;;; To be honest I have no idea what it is until recently!!!!  Thank you again Terri!!!! Y'all should go check her out ^^ she talks about everything from life to makeup to food to music to interests and aaahh I just love her blog

Thirdly..... Chad Future's music video for his new song "Used 2 B" will be released at the beginning of February ^^ Thank God I'm only in it for like less than two seconds..... uuughh I hate seeing myself on screen sobs but yeah you should check it out when it releases!!! It's a really good song ^^ Visit his Youtube channel here

Anywaaayy now I'll get down to business..... today I will be reviewing 3 Concept Eyes Creamy Waterproof Eyeliner in #3, 6, 7, 8 and 12!

I'm sure many of you have heard of 3 CONCEPT EYES!! It is a South Korean cosmetics/skincare brand created by Stylenanda, which is a super popular fashion store that has franchises in many parts of South Korea and just recently started expanding throughout Asia!!!! I believe they started getting very well known for their lipsticks, which are worn by many South Korean celebrities. They just opened a few pop-up stores in Hong Kong in December *_* Aaaahhh so exciting!!!!!

Can I say I've known about Stylenanda and 3CE before it got reaaally popular? #hipster HAHA just kidding  u_u Alright on to the review~~~~

What does 3CE states that their Creamy Waterproof Eyeliner is.....

A long-lasting eye liner for non-smudging and neat eye makeup!

• Long-lasting waterproof item with smudge-proof formula
• Get the desired color with one stroke!
• Easy-glide Texture
• Self-sharpening Retractable Eye Liner

Let's see if this liner lives up to its claims~~~

I purchased this liner in five different colors:

#3 WICKED - dark khaki grey-green with faint pearlescent gold shimmer
#6 E VITA - cool-toned brown with a hint of eggplant purple
#7 CLEOPATRA - deep red burgundy
#8 LES MISERABLES - rich soft brown with faint pearlescent shimmer
#12 OZ - creamy white with pearlescent shimmer

Each pencil comes sealed with a sticker to ensure the product is freshly made and unopened (as you can see above on #7) ^^

It also comes with a convenient sharpener on the back to sharpen your pencil for more accurate application!! I don't know if it's intentional or anything but they spelled it "sharpner"..... I mean it's cute though so like who cares right?? I've used it a few times and it works pretty well! It doesn't make your point as sharp as it originally came in but maybe I'm just not using it right haaaaa

The product is very soft and reminds me of a gel liner in pencil form. This is very convenient and reassuring because gel liners tend to have the most staying power, and you won't have to carry around a pot and brush whenever you want to do some touch ups!! Be careful of breaking the product though, I  broke off the tip of some product because I accidentally hit it on the table u_u

(from left to right)

#7 CLEOPATRA

#12 OZ

#6 E VITA

#3 WICKED

#8 LES MISERABLES

One stroke is literally enough for the color to show up, but I used a few more to show emphasis of the color swatches. The liners glide on really smoothly and they don't tug on my skin!!! The pigmentation of these liners are AMAAAZINGG I am so in love

#12 and #3 contain the most shimmer, while #7 is the most "matte" (but not entirely!). #6 and #8 have faint pearlescent shimmer, but it is not too obvious once applied and is a nice change from the usual matte. 

(from left to right)

Here are the swatches when they are blended:

#7 CLEOPATRA

#8 LES MISERABLES

#3 WICKED

#6 E VITA

#12 OZ

I had to reapply because I let the initial set of swatches sit for too long u_u they don't budge at all!!!! For a smooth blended effect you have to rub right away. You can tell from my #7 swatch I let that one sit for a bit too long too so I couldn't blend it too well heheh.... Sorry for the bad lighting, if you can't see #6 very well when it blends out it is more cool-toned brown than purple \:  Also for #3, it is more deep grey than khaki when blended as well

Here I ran the swatches under warm water and rubbed intensely for about 5 seconds..... NOTHING BUDGED!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me repeat: nothing. budged. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alright except for the sparkles which I don't care much for. This liner is indeed waterproof and smudge-proof!!!!!

Usually I'm not one who prefers shimmer on my face, so I don't think I will be using #3 as often.... #12 is great for lining my waterline though, it gives me a more awake and lively appearance and has decent staying power! I use it on top of my Too Cool For School Like a Model Color Pencil in White (which is matte) to enhance its color, add a bit of shimmer and increase its longevity on my watery eyes ^^ You can also use it as a base shadow!!! Very versatile

My favorite has to be #7!!!! I literally use it every single day on my bottom outer lash line and on my eyelid and blend blend blend for a faint pop of color that brightens up my complexion and I feel so bad-ass every time I walk out with it on HAHA....

A word of warning: I'm not lying when I say these colors are very vivid!!! When using, I highly recommend using a light hand and moderately apply and blend as you go...... trust me I've made some mistakes with #7 and u_u yeah I was literally a walking vampire with burgundy eyes for a day (which still made me feel pretty cool tho so I guess it's not too bad)

These liners make my life so much easier..... I'm no pro at working with traditional eyeshadows so this is really nice for people like me who are lazy, impatient, inexperienced and tight on time ^^

Pros

1. It stays on all day, is waterproof and smudge-proof
2. It is very pigmented and glides on very smoothly
3. Easy to use and very versatile: use as an eyeliner and blend as a shadow
4. It is suitable for those with sensitive eyes and skin
5. It is affordable (~$11-15USD depending on where you purchase)
6. It has very sleek and convenient packaging (I am a sucker for packaging)

Cons

1. Blending may prove difficult if you let the product sit for too long (so start blending RIGHT AWAY)
2. Doesn't stay all day on my waterline (it's expected though)
3. Hard to find in stores and online
4. None really..... I am in loooooove with this eyeliner

Final verdict

5/5

I would definitely repurchase these over and over again for the rest of my life...... Especially #7 CLEOPATRA I just can't live without it anymore aaaaaaahhh

Where to purchase

Due to its sudden rising popularity, it is not as difficult to find 3CE products online anymore!!! They have a few stores in South Korea and in Hong Kong so you can check them out when you're in the area ^^ I posted some reliable sites you can purchase this product from!! Check out Stylenanda for their full range of shades and colors of their Creamy Waterproof Eyeliner!!!

Stylenanda | imomoko | Eyecandys | Urban Outfitters | Yesstyle

I've been using 3CE products and shopping from Stylenanda since high school, so I've tried a lot of their products!!! I loooove their clothes and their models are soooososo pretty and are definitely one of my sources of inspiration *_* If you have any questions about ordering from Stylenanda, please don't hesitate to ask!!!! Have a nice daaaayy and I will be working on my next posts and the Liebster award soon!!!!! Gotta go back to programming now cries seeyaaaaa

LA Shoot + Working with Chad Future

Heyoooo guys!! Happy 2014 and hope you had a safe and amazing new year's ^^ I know I did!!!! I'll talk about that later though but today I just want to update you guys a bit on what I did over my winter break!! Winter quarter starts next Monday soooobbs but I only have ICS lab on Monday and since it is the first day of instruction I'm pretty sure I won't have to go..............

BUT YEAH on Sunday the 15th, my brother Ivan and our friend Matt drove up and made a stop at my apartment to pick up something and we did some shooting nearby also ^^ Afterwards we continued up to LA~~~

Totally in loooove with my 6D *_* 24mm on FF is absolutely breathtaking!!!!

Meet Matt yaaaaayy I love him hahahahaa he's THE BEST

These kids think they're so cool

For lunch, we decided to visit the popular and infamous Magic Restroom Cafe..... HAHAHAHA JUST LOOK everything in the restaurant is toilet-themed and omg..... just don't think too much of it when you are eating..... The food is alright and the drinks weren't as cold as I would have liked \: I ordered fried rice and yogurt green tea, Ivan ordered chicken curry and I forget some drink, and Matt got the beef noodle soup and milk tea. The portions were really big!!!! None of us finished our food, not even the guys......!!!!

Later that night we dropped by Iota Cafe, which is located at the heart of LA in Ktown. I've been there a few times before and the owner, Brian, is reaaally nice and friendly!!! He wasn't there that day though \: But the main reason we went to Iota was to help film for Chad Future's upcoming music video!!! If you don't know who he is, he is an aspiring musician who draws much of his creative influence from Kpop. Check out his Youtube channel here!!

It's not like we were doing anything important since we were just extras, but just having the experience of being on set and personally observing the behind-the-scenes of filming and broadcast is really worth it.... I honestly hate being in front of the camera (lol ironic) but a little give-and-take is necessary ya know? Dave (his real name) was soooo friendly and nice and I have so much respect for him!!! Despite all the hate he gets (mostly racism and the like), he still continues doing what he has a deep passion for.... he's also really chill and easy to work with!!! He's also reeaally patient too, since we keep messing up l0l yeah what a great guy

Oops sorry hella bad phone quality cries

I don't know why I look like a crazed fanatic I SWEAAARR I'm not like that..... 

Dave was really nice and treated us to macaron ice cream sandwiches!!! They were created in name of my apartment mate Sara ^^ She and Brian are pretty close!!! Thanks Dave for giving us the opportunity to meet you and work on set!!!!!

We finished filming at around 7:30pm so we just decided to get dinner at Iota before heading home. I am totally enchanted by their green tea latte........ It's sooooooo good and their latte art is beaaaauutiful!!!! I get it every time I go to Iota *_*

Ivan and I shared this!!! It was REALLY GOOD but I don't remember what it was lol oops

Matt got the Psy burger HAHAHA yuuumm it looks delicious

And yeah that pretty much sums up my first shoot with male models!!!! A very fun and eventful day ^^ Even though I got to learn a lot about shooting and filmography, I don't think I would be down to be an extra again though.... I'm just too shy and self-conscious and acting is actually a lot harder than it seems ==;;; it is very repetitive work.........

Aiiiight will update you guys more later!!!! Seeyaaaaaa