Review: Maybelline Dream LumiTouch Highlighting Concealer

Dear girls,

Oh my God... It has been ages since I wrote my last blog post. Can't believe it!!

I'm truly sorry for this delay. Lately, I had a lot of things happened in my life, that's why I was MIA.

In order to pay back, today I gonna share one of my most favorite product from Maybelline. It is Maybelline Dream LumiTouch Highlighting Concealer. If you are a fan of beauty gurus in YouTube, as I am, I'm sure you have heard so many raves about this particular product. I was actually had this highlighting concealer from last year and kind of forgot to talk about it. Recently I have purchased another one, and now I'm going to tell you all about it.

Maybelline Dream LumiTouch Highlighting Concealer is a combined gel-based concealer and highlighter. This product is really good for covering redness and gives illumination effect to your face. As concealer, this product is very hydrating and blend really well into the skin. Importantly, it doesn't give cake-y result. And as a highlighter, it gives a natural shine to your face where you applied on. The sheen leaves your under eye area and cheek bones with a nice lifting effect. There are 6 shades available in the market: Radiant, Ivory, Buff, Nude, Beige, Honey

Why You'll Love it??
A brighter idea in concealers:
• Gel-based formula diffuses light to provide on-the-spot perfection in just one touch
• Illuminates as it conceals
• Dermatologist, Allergy Tested
• Non-comedogenic
• Suitable for sensitive skin and for all skin types (info by maybelline.com)

Ingredients: 

Aqua/Water/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Ozokerite, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Methyl Paraben, Acrylates Copolymer, Alumina, Butylparaben, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Silica, Chamomila Recutita Extract/ Matricaria Flower Extract.

Packaging

It comes in the pen style packaging with brush applicator, which is really easy to use for applying under the eyes and around the nose. After dab it on, I usually blend it with my ring fingers. This product is really practical and convenient to bring along during traveling.

Formula

It is claimed as a gel-based concealer, and the formula is very light but creamy and doesn't flake or dry up at all. I got mine in the color Radiant/ Eclatant, and the shade blend really well with my skin. In my opinion, this particular shade will match with any skin color. 

How To Use

(info by maybelline.com)

For your first use, twist the pen-like bottom of Dream LumiTouch Highlighting Concealer around nine to ten times, dispersing product into the brush. 

1. To Cover Imperfections

Apply product to the back of your hand, working it into the bristles of the brush for even application. Then, apply on under eye circles and other imperfections and blend it.

2. To Brighten Up

To brighten and open up the face, dot the highlighting concealer along your cheeckbones and down the bridge of your nose and blend. To open up the eyes for a well-rested look, apply in the inner corner of the eyes and under the arch of your brow and blend with tip of finger.

3. To make lips look fuller

Outline lips with lumi concealer and blend.

Coverage and Staying Power

In terms of coverage, I would say that it has light coverage. The coverage is buildable but it won't completely cover my undereye circles as I hoped. But it works quite well to cover some of my blemishes. Besides, it lasts all day long without need of touching up.

Price

You might find this product at Walmart or Amazon at USD 6.44 and has the same quality as higher priced alternative products. It is such a great value!!!

Overall thoughts

I heard that this product is often compared to YSL's Touche Éclat Luminizing Concealer. I have never tried the YSL version yet, so I can't say much about the difference. However if this product is comparable to YSL, that means this product is worth to try/buy. 

For me, overall this is a great product. It is moisturizing and the staying power is unbeatable. The shade is also easy to blend and the coverage is buildable. Last but not least, it definitely illuminates naturally and give a fresh and awake look for a whole day long. To let you know that I have drier skin and it work perfect for me. I think if you even have oily skin this will be fine too.

Definitely recommend you all to try this product!!! <3 <3 <3

Have you ever tried this product before?? If you do, how do you like it??!!

Amour,

Review: Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara

Dear beauties,

Today I'm back again with other beauty product review. I've been eyeing this product for quite long ago and managed to get it last month. This product is Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara and has been my everyday mascara ever since. For me, mascara is my staple eye make up I should wear every time I went out. It just simply makes my eyes appear wider and more awake. That's why when I heard good review of this mascara I can't wait to try it on.

Product Details

Maybelline Volum’ Express has extended their line with the new Mega Plush formula in Summer 2012.

Why You'll Love It?

• It is Maybelline's first gel-mousse mascara with 40% less hard waxes for massive volume with a supple touch

• Extra-soft, patented Flexor Brush caresses lashes

• Lashes never brittle or flaky

• Available in washable and waterproof formulas

For Best Results

Apply the Flexor Brush against the lashes and sweep from root to tip until a full plush look is achieved. Do not let dry between coats. Removes easily with soap and water or Expert Eyes® 100% Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover.

(Info taken from maybelline.com)

Ingredients

Formulation

As this mascara is their first gel-mousse formula, I was a bit hesitate at first whether I'd like this new formula or not. And I'm really glad that I decided to try it out. In fact, I like that the formula is super light and it doesn't make my lashes all hard or brittle. The gel-mousse formula definitely leaves natural look to my lashes, feel like not wearing any mascara. The shade I got is also a very rich black.

Brush and Application

Brushes always drew the most attention of any mascara component. Up to now, there are many different types of mascara brush available in the market. For this particular mascara, I found it is pretty simple to apply. The brush has large and soft bristles that comb through and separate my lashes pretty well. However you should be careful especially on the lower lashes application considering the brush is kind of big. Sometimes when I applied my lower lashes, I accidentally touched my under-eye skin and left a bit of mascara goop behind.  

Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara also has a flexor or flexible brush, which is specially made to move freely and reach the root of the eyelashes deeper than the normal straight wand. I admit that I don't really make use of it because I already could reach the root of my eyelashes without wriggling the brush too much.

Results

Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara on the upper lashes

This mascara definitely gives decent length and soft touch to my lashes. However, if you expect to have super voluminous lashes, like what they claimed in the packaging, you might be a little disappointed. It adds pretty decent volume to the lashes, but certainly not a mega or massive volume one. Whenever I had a special occasion or just felt like to have more dramatic look, I normally layered two mascaras. I applied this mascara first considering it nicely separated and gave a darker and longer lashes, then I layered it with my other Maybelline mascara, Maybelline Volum' Express The Hypercurl.

I did get the waterproof version and it obviously lasts longer and doesn't have to be reapplied as often. It also doesn't smudge easily. With this mascara, I don't have any flaking issues either. Somehow I found it is a bit trickier to remove than what they claimed, you definitely require a good eye make up remover. 

Overall Thought

I really like this product. It is definitely a good everyday mascara. It is easy to apply and results of separate, longer and darker lashes without making it all hard and gross. I could not ask more for effortlessly soft and naturally awesome look lashes. This mascara is retailed at $7.99 in Drugstore right now. 

On the contrary if you're looking for a dramatic look lashes with a lot of volume, this mascara alone would not do justice for you, but you always could layer it up with other mascara.

So, would you like to give this mascara a try?? And let me know in the comment section below what is your favorite mascara of all time??

Amour, 

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm

Hi everyone ;)

I'm sure we all beauty product junkies heard so many raves about how great is Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm. I have heard about this product for quite a while ago, but it was just available in Indonesia for few months. So today I decided to review this product.

For a heads up, I got the Maybelline Baby Lips in Indonesian version. That's why, you will see the packaging is slightly different from USA version. I will go ahead to the product review first, and carry on with the comparison of both version. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Antioxidant Berry
How to use: Twist the bottom part 1-2 times then apply on the lips, reapply it if necessary

Actually, there are three variants of Baby Lips available in Indonesia market: Energizing Orange, Smoothing Cherry and Antioxidant Berry. And, I picked up my Maybelline Baby Lips in Anti-Oxidant Berry, since the packaging is in pink color.. (yeah..silly me!!)

Pros:

Swatch on lips

1. Yup, I absolutely love the color combination of the packaging~ pink and blue. It's so cute and really girly. Besides, its mini size simplify us to carry it around, especially in the Fall time when the weather started getting chilly.
2. It has a nice soft smell of berry; sweet and refreshing
3. The other plus point is certainly because it contains SPF 20
4. It actually moisturizes and smooth my lips quite well. Once you applied, it gives your lips a bit of shine. But it fades after a while and leaves natural looks on the lips .
5. It is stated that this product could help to reduce the fines lines after one week usage. The good thing is I found my fines lines are not as visible as before, so I could say that it does work. But remember to keep applying it frequently, including before going to bed. 
6. The price of this lip balm is really cheap, about IDR 18.500 or USD 2.00 and you could find it easily at the Maybelline counter or some drugstores.

Cons:

1. It claims that this lip balm will last for 8 hours of moisturizing the lips. In fact, it did not have any lasting effect for moisturizing. After an hour, I felt that my lips get dry again and need to reapply the balm. 
2. I do like the berry scent of this lip balm, but it doesn't have any taste once you applied on lips. I know it is totally acceptable, but I wish it has a bit of berry taste too. It will be more yummy and kinda remind you to keep reapply it  ;)

For further information, here I made some comparisons between the Indonesian and USA version:

Courtesy image by: suzyshoppers.com 
                      areamagz.com

The differences

Indonesian Version 1.Packaging Comes in a bottom twist tube, with small cap in the same color as the "Baby Lips" name written on the tube	USA Version 1.Packaging Comes in a bottom twist tube, with long transparent cap with "Baby Lips" name written on it, not on the tube
2.Varieties Comes in 3 varieties named: Energizing Orange, Smoothing Cherry, and Antioxidant Berry	2.Varieties Comes in 6 varieties named: Quenched, Peppermint, Cherry Me, Grape Vine, Pink Punch, and Peach Kiss
3.Price Around IDR 18.500 or USD 2.00	3.Price Around USD 4.00 Retail price at Indonesian online shop around IDR 89.000
4.Color and pigmentation When you applied on the lips, it just give a clear shine effect, without any color/tint	4.Color and pigmentation It is a tinted lip balm, so when you applied it leaves a beautiful sheer color on lips

Overall thought:

I do like this Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm. Whether I'd like to repurchase it, I will say YES... seeing that it's pretty cheap and does the job pretty well after all. 
I have not tried the USA version yet, but as I heard it is pretty awesome tinted lip balm. I would love to try it at some point. You also could pre-order the Maybelline Baby Lips in USA version via online shop, Enchanté Yourlittlesecret.

What do you think of this Maybelline Baby Lips?? Have you tried both version??

Amour,