Orange you glad I didn't say Banana - Facial Peel Review!

Hi All! It's been a while since I've done a product review, don't you think? I recently bought this at home facial peel by Derma-E at Sprouts. I've been really into the natural skin care options lately so I have been testing out different brands to see which work best for my skin as I have extremely sensitive skin.

 I am not sure if you remember, but a few years ago, I tested out the Yes-to brand and it left me with facial burning for over two hours. I have not used that brand since. Instead, I tend to gravitate towards brands with ingredients that are easier to decipher and have not been subject to several negative reviews; ie, products with over 4 stars on multiple sources. I read several written reviews too in depth. Believe me, I make the time for that. I have hyper pigmentation with sensitive skin and I want my face to be the best it can be, not worsen.

When I bought the Derma-E Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Facial Peel (now my punny title should make sense), I got it for 25% off during the vitamins and beauty sale. I love sales, so if I can ever find something cheaper than original price, I will go for it.

The look of the box

Unfortunately, upon opening the box, the cap was cracked and then fell off on the ground. I debated returning it, but the contents inside were alright and undamaged so I just kept it. The product also comes with a little instruction pamphlet and an application spoon. The spoon is also utilized as a way of removing the product while massaging the skin to promote blood flow. You want to put an even layer of the product on your skin and leave it on for 3-5 minutes before using the spoon to remove it.

Unfortunately, the lid was cracked :/

After leaving it on for five minutes, I did feel a slight tingle in my face. It was no where near as unbearable as other products like this I have tried in the past such as First Aid Beauty. While I liked the end result of First Aid Beauty, Derma-E is really good for those looking for a more eco-ethical brand and want to know exactly what they are putting on their face without googling long, complex names.

It's made with orange peels :)

Upon removing it, and finishing with a rose petal toner, my face had a very nice glow with it. I have really bad hyperpigmentation, but pairing Derma-E with Sephora's Glow peel pads made with naturally occuring glycolic acid from sugar cane has helped me obtain a glow like no other. I have been using the Derma-E mask weekly for a month now paired with the peel pads 2x a day and the hyperpigmentation is staring to fade away. This paring is highly recommended if you have sensitive skin and hyperpigmentation like I do. I am also not sure if this is related or not, but I have combination skin, that typically produces really oily T zone, and even that is starting to calm down some since using this pairing! So try it out, if you please! :)

That's all for this post! Let me know if you have any eco-friendly, or cruelty-free make-up brands you would like me to try and and let you know about!

 I just recently got the Beauty Blender Bounce™ Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation in 4.40N (Deep with Neutral Undertones). I wanted to give that one a try first since I feel my shade changes in the summer months. However, I am coming from using Fenty Beauty 420, but have to stop since it is not working for me in the way it used to. The comparable color according to Sephora's Shade Finder is actually 4.10 C/O (Deep with Cool Olive Undertones)  - so I might test that next time after this runs out. After I use it for a couple of weeks, I'll be doing a review blog on that brand as well! :)

Stay tuned for some Seattle blogs, I am going for an expo. In the meantime, check out my photography website- I just launched it! There are never before seen photos from my time doing photography at Los Angeles Fashion Week F/W '19.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

You can't Make-up this Makeup Review!

Hi all! As promised, I am doing a product review of the new makeup I bought. Two products are face/skin centric and two are geared toward the eyebrow region.  I hope you enjoy my product review!

Fashion Fair: Cream to Powder (Java)

Fashion Fair: Creme to Powder (Java)

You can actually get this product in a tube, as well. The tube has far better coverage than the compact, and I would get the tube, next time. The consistency inside the compact feels thick, and you have to really rub your brush or sponge to get product on it. However, when you apply it to your face, it doesn't feel as heavy as it initially appears. My main issue with the product is that you need a decent amount of good quality setting spray, otherwise it feels like it will rub off on everything. Maybe that's the "powder" effect, I'm not entirely sure. The plus side about this brand is that it's made for people of color in mind. Unlike other brands that have an odd selection of darker colors, this one works for people with yellowish, reddish, or neutral tones and higher amounts of melanin. It cost 28$, And a few places in California do sell it, such as Fresno, or Culver City. I actually purchased it while I was in Chicago and had never heard about the brand before then. I am not sure what else to say about it, but be sure to apply oil free moisturizer as well. It has sunscreen in it as well.

My rating: 8/10
It covers my hyper pigmentation pretty decently, but the tube did a far better job at it. Also, the fact that it rubs off sort of easily is annoying. I would buy it again though as the quality for the price is worthwhile. I would also get the tube, next time if it's available for better coverage.


Clinique: Even Better (31-Spice)

Clinique: Even Better (31-Spice)

Originally, I had purchased this one first while home in Northern California. I had used my mother's a few times and liked it enough to buy it myself. If I remember correctly, this was also $28. I think the bottle is actually extremely small for that price, but make up, in general, is pricey as it is. It felt a bit more oily to me than I would have liked, but it did help cover my hyper pigmentation a bit. That was the primary reason I bought it, to make it less noticeable. This was probably the closest I could get to my color in this brand, so I would often add a little powder on top to even me out better than Even Better could.  I also like that it had sun screen in it. My face is extremely sensitive, so I have to be cautious about the products I buy, or risk irritation. I am glad that this brand did not irritate my face.

My rating: 6.5/10

I did not think the small amount of product that you get was worth $28. I thought that it made my face oilier than usual. I think they could add more color choices for people with darker complexions. However, I did like that it had sunscreen in it. I like that it's more readily available. I also like that it can make my hyper pigmentation a little less noticeable. Unfortunately, it needs help with the coverage. Would I buy it again? Possibly, if I couldn't obtain my color in Fashion Fair.


Sephora: Brow Gel (clear) & Sephora: Brow Illuminator (05- Matte Spice)

Sephora: Brow Gel (clear) & Sephora: Brow Illuminator (05- Matte Spice)

I haven't had these very long (just about three days), but I feel like I can give a decent review on simple products such as these. The Brow Illuminator works really well for darker skinned individuals. It gives the nice highlight on the brows without making the person look "ashy". Also, it was extremely cheap. Possibly around $12, if I remember correctly. The Brow Gel is decent because it's cheap (~$12) in comparison to other brow gels, it helps tame my curly hairs on my eyebrows, and it doesn't make the brows feel overly stiff.

My rating: Brow Gel - 8/10
I like the price of it, but wish that it had more product in it. I also wish that the tinted gels had better color options that weren't so glittery. I had tried the "darkest" tinted gel they had in this line, and it felt reminiscent of the frosted boy band tips on the hair of the early 2000s. Would I buy it again? Sure, why not. However, I would only buy it in clear coloring.

Brow Illuminator - 9.5/10
This has honestly got to be the best brow highlight I have ever used! It looks good with my skin color, doesn't make me look ashy, and doesn't cost all that much. I just wish that it was a twist tube, rather than a pencil that you have to sharpen.




That's all for my product reviews on these makeups! I'll let you guys tell me in the comments below which brand you think worked out better for me by posting a side by side photo of it. I personally think Fashion Fair was the better option. You can also see the above eyebrow products used on my face in these photos.

Fashion Fair side

Clinique side

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Lipstick Paradise

Hi all! Another weekend is about to come to an end, and I hope you have all had a restful time! So today I decided to play around with the lipsticks I own. These lipsticks are on Mac NW45 skin with L'Oreal Nut Brown highlighting under base. Instead of spamming my post with a billion photos, I decided to Photo Grid the pictures based on each color and far view/close up. I hope you enjoy!

410 Blissful Berry - Maybelline (Favorite)

540 (Moisture Renew) Burgundy Lustre -Rimmel

900 Red Alert - Rimmel

Confession - Urban Decay

All Heart - Clinique (probably my least favorite because it's too shimmery)

If you have any lipstick recommendations for darker skinned individuals, please let me know in the comments below.




Till Next Time!

-Hachi

"Yes to." Product Review

Hi all!

Sorry it's been so long in between blogs, I have been rather busy this week with work, and an online class I am quite "over". Since I am due for another blog anyway, and I just tried out a product for the first time, I will give a product review on it.


So if you remember in my old blog about my Target Super Mini Haul, I purchased the Yes to. Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes. I haven't had a chance to test them out until today so I did and have a bit to say about them.

Stock Photo of Yes to. Cucumber Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes

Firstly, the moistness of the towels is really good. To reiterate, it didn't come out of the packet mostly dry after a while like some do when purchased.

You could also really smell the cucumber in it. Intensely. In fact, almost overpowering. For some, that might be pretty awesome, but for me, it was a little too much.

Finally, application of the towel in makeup removing. It removed make up quite well, but remember how I said this is supposed to be hypo-allergenic? The reason I bought it in the first place? Well unfortunately, I guess it wasn't hypo-allergenic enough for me because soon after I applied it to my face, my whole face started to burn and itch. Hopefully I don't get a rash, but I have Benadryl just in case. I was so disappointed with what happened, that I can't even use the other nine towels.

Rating: 1/10, point going for moistness. The smell and the itching/burning of my face made my rating go way down. I would like to try their other products, but now I am a bit worried the same thing will happen again. Hopefully not.


So I decided to check the product reviews on their actual website and I am not the only person who got mild skin irritation from this. Other reviews discuss redness, burning, itching, rawness. I hope if you have or will try this product that it does not happen to you as well. So far, thirty minutes have passed and my face still itches. Sigh.

Update: One full hour has went by and I have applied my anti-itch cream. It took some of the irritation away, mostly natural, as well. Maybe I'll do a review on it later.




Has this ever happened to you before? Where something hypo-allergenic caused minor, mild, or major skin irritation on you? Also, what hypoallergenic skin care products do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.



Till Next Time!

Hachi