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I was doing my regular brow trimming at my usual Browhaus ION when me and my therapist talked about my Brow Resurrection results. I forgot about the exact time I was doing it but I know for a fact it’s been almost a year (I did my first session somewhere on February 2011 perhaps); so I think I’ll show you a couple of pictures to show how my brow has been doing.

First up, of course the before-the-resurrection pic so you can make a comparison :P

Bare Brows

Ouch. Now the after part, taken recently. Sorry about the flash.

Brow Resurrection: A Year Later

Brow Resurrection: A Year Later

Overall the result is still going strong, so it’s unlike some people who has had a bad experience with Brow Resurrection (that they only lasted for 3 months or so). My skin type generally is normal/combo, slightly oily on the t-zone, with my bangs constantly hitting my brows. I use basic skincare and makeup regularly around the area and I use cleansing oil nightly.

When I’m going out (like in the pics above) I still love to do a quick fill in with brow pencil (mine’s from Lancome now), just because I like slightly stronger brows. The resurrection tint has definitely start to fade, but both me and my therapist think that it’ll stay for another year. Good for my wallet!

For more info and comparison, read about my inital Brow Resurrection results here!

P.S: Yes I recently cut my hair short :P Happy new year!

Benefit Hello Flawless!

From http://www.benefitcosmetics.com:
why we love it:

This silky powder cover-up glides on naturally sheer and layers beautifully for customized coverage with SPF protection. Complete with brush and sponge and dual application lesson.
what else you need to know:

Shades in order of fairest to deepest are:
“I love me” fair ivory
“never settle” fair petal
“me, vain?” neutral champagne
“I’m cute as a bunny!” natural honey
“all the world’s my stage” sunny beige
“what I crave” warm toasted beige
“it’s about me, me, me!” toasted toffee
“I’m haute for sure” golden amber
“why walk when you can strut?” rich hazelnut
“too fierce to beg” rich nutmeg

product details:

7.0g Net wt. 0.25 oz
Warning: Avoid contact with the eyes. For external use only. Keep out of reach of children. Discontinue use if signs of irritation or rash appear. Contains oxybenzone.

tips:
Apply powder cover-up over bare skin, moisturizer or ”that gal” to look naturally flawless!

Benefit Hello Flawless - "Me Vain" Champagne

My Skin Type:
Currently normal/combo. My t-zone can oil up after 5 hours…but it’s not bad when I use some kind of good oil control product.

Packaging:
Plastic compact with separate compartment to store the sponge and brush. The compact is kinda flimsy in some ways…didn’t feel that way at first but then it fell apart after a few months, even though I’ve never put it into my makeup bag nor did I travel with it.

Color Selection:
From the list above it’s pretty good but make sure you pick up the one that matches you well…or you’ll end up like me (see explanation and pic below).

Coverage:
Custom level of coverage, thinner coverage if you use a brush, medium coverage if you use a sponge.

Texture:
Pretty creamy. Doesn’t feel like an overly ‘dry’ powder.

Blendability:
Great, as long as you prime your skin correctly. Remember it’s a powder so overly moist/sticky/silicone-y base is not recommended. I love this most with RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer underneath.

Finish:
Matte, typical of powder. It doesn’t have any shimmer.

Oil Control:
In my book, this powder foundation doesn’t have great oil control. It doesn’t inhibit my oil production at all. Granted, it’s not emollient so it doesn’t make my skin oil up any faster.

My General Review:
Years ago, I was  really, really tempted by Muse’s review on this powder. I ran to my local Sephora and bought the lightest color available, that was “me vain, champagne”.  I don’t know if Benefit later added their color selection (because as far I remember, there “i love me, fair ivory” was not available then). It was much later when I read Beautypedia that I found out that Hello Flawless is more suitable for light to tan skin…not fair skin.

Anyway I seldom wear this powder. For one, my sunscreen typically is too sticky for powder foundation application. If I forsake my sunscreen, I’ll have to rely on the powder alone for SPF coverage. Don’t get me wrong, this powder provides broad spectrum coverage…but it doesn’t feel right to me to rely on powder makeup only for SPF.

Another important point is…it’s kinda yellow and dark for my skin, so I don’t feel bright when I wear this.

BTW you can use this powder to touch up your makeup and SPF…but either use a brush or carefully dab it with the sponge, because the coverage may lead to cakeyness after touch up.

FOTD 20111012 Benefit Hello Flawless

FOTD 20111012 Benefit Hello Flawless

How to apply:
For spot cover-up, dab directly on blemishes or discoloration with sponge. For allover sheer finish, sweep on with brush. Use quick, light strokes to blend from the center of your face outward. To cover it all (& then some!), apply evenly over entire complexion with sponge.

Ingredients:
Active Ingredients:
Cctinoxate 5.94%, Titanium Dioxide 1.70%, Oxybenzone 2%.

Others:
Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica, Nylon-12, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Talc, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Aluminum Dimyrisate, BHT, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Alumina. (+/- Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine, Iron Oxides.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5.  Good choice if you want medium coverage powder foundation with SPF15. Just make sure it suits your skincare “lifestyle”, and you pick up the right shade for you.

a.k.a CoverGirl Smoothers SPF15 Tinted Moisture.

Disclaimer: I own the CG Advanced Radiance Sheer Makeup SPF15 , but Paula Begoun informed in her web that it is virtually identical to CG Smoothers SPF15 TM. I checked the ingredients of both products and true enough, based on the lists they are twin sisters. So I include both products in this review, but it’s really up to you if you believe that they are separate products as claimed by CoverGirl (the Advanced Radiance one was discontinued anyway).

From http://www.drugstore.com (on CG Smoothers SPF15 TM):
Sheer Coverage

  • Smoothing moisturizers with Vitamin E
  • UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunscreen
  • Won’t clog pores
  • Oil Free
  • 100% PABA and fragrance free
  • Dermatologist Tested

CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisture combines lightweight moisturizers with a wash of sheer color to help cover tiny imperfections and smooth skin tone for a healthy looking glow.  SPF 15 shields your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.  Skin feels soft, looks smooth!

Made in Canada

 My Skin Type:
Currently normal/combo. My t-zone can oil up after 5 hours…but it’s not bad when I use some kind of good oil control product.

Packaging:
Both products came in simple, nonchalant, practical tube. Works for me! Though I prefer flip top compared to the screw top.

Color Selection:
CG Smoothers has quite a good color selection for a TM, if I’m not mistaken CG Advanced Radiance TM too.

Coverage:
Sheer, but buildable.

Texture:
Creamy. It’s not heavy. If I’m not wrong, it didn’t feel as slick as the old Stila SCTM SPF15.

Blendability:
Reasonably good. Not as slick as Stila though.

Finish:
Should I describe it as satin? Not matte, definitely. Yes true to the name, there’s some ‘radiance’ in here. It’s sticky for me, though. So I always set it with loose powder…however in photos it still showed up as reasonably dewy (see pics below).

Oil Control:
As a TM marketed toward ‘aging’ population, I didn’t feel that this TM did any job in controlling oil, nor did it claim to be. Didn’t really matter on my normal/combination skin, I’ll just blot once a day :D

My General Review:
I’ve always been interested in TM, and I’ve been interested CG’s TM for a while. So when I found a great deal on evil-bay a couple of years ago I immediately bought a set of 3 (!!) of the Advanced Radiance TM in the Fair/Light. I believe it was the lightest in their color selection?

The shade itself was a great match for my neutral-cool skintone, however like many mentioned in the MakeupAlley, this TM was sheer! I know TMs are supposed to be sheer (I’ve worn TMs for years now) but this is almost close-to-nothing coverage. Definitely not enough to blur out my acne scars or signs or tiredness. I showed up in office one day, wearing only sunscreen and a thin layer of this TM (no concealer). Horrible. I look extremely tired that day :( Maybe I was just sleep-deprived that day, but typically I could survive with just TM and LP, especially since my sunscreen that day was a physical one and it gave out strong white cast, so it actually already helped to give some ‘coverage’!

Good news was, the coverage of the TM could be amplified if I pile it on.

(Not) coincidentally, in order to obtain that broad-spectrum SPF15 coverage, you indeed need to put quite a substantial amount of product in your face. Problem is, probably due to the fact that the UVA coverage relied on Zinc Oxide, a physical block, it could get cakey. At least I found that using a good primer underneath helped in blending the TM so in the end it was reasonably smooth on me. The UV coverage supposedly was not that high (3% of ZnO; some other TM got better actives than this), however if it was only incidental exposure you’re experiencing, I guess this product provided enough.

Also, I didn’t rely on this TM as my moisturizer. I always put on separate product for that purpose, as this TM was rather lackluster in the state-of-the-art  ingredients.

Enough with the blab! Here’s a pic of me wearing YSL Top Secrets primer, and then a healthy dose of the CG Advanced Radiance TM.

FOTD 20110831 CG Advanced Radiance TM-2

CoverGirl Advanced Radiance Sheer Makeup SPF15

Sorry for the ashy color, I’ve moved out from the dorm to another room, I’m still trying to figure out the lighting in my new room here :(

While I was cleaning my hard disk, I also found this old pic of me also wearing the TM…before I moved to Singapore! It was taken at my own room at Jakarta…much better lighting there compared to here :( In here I put on separate sunscreen and only applied the TM thinly. Sheer coverage. You can spot the acne marks on my cheek!

FOTD 20110831 CG Advanced Radiance TM-3

CoverGirl Advanced Radiance Sheer Makeup SPF15

In both pics my makeup was set with NARS LP.

Application:
Best applied with moisturizer/sunscreen and primer underneath. I typically stipple it with my fingers then use a makeup sponge to smooth everything out.

Availability:
Easily available at drugstores or online. I don’t think CG is available in Indonesia or Singapore?

Price:
Around US$8 at http://www.drugstore.com. That’s not shabby at all for 40ml.

Ingredients:
Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate (6%), Zinc Oxide (3.0%)

Inactive Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Oleth 3 Phosphate, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Steareth 21, Steareth 2, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Talc, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Panthenol, C13 14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Beta Carotene (Vitamin A), Methicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Laureth 7, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. It’s a decent TM and I wouldn’t mind using it, but for my skin I could use a bit more coverage, or higher percentage of sunscreen actives.

*This review will be cross posted in http://www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

It’s gonna be quick…because I’m gonna burst the bubble.

Kate Super Sharp Liner

KATE Super Sharp Liner

This is one of the most popular Japanese liquid liner, as far as I know. I bought it due to the great reviews all around, as I thought it would be long lasting, waterproof liner suitable for my oily lids + watery eyes. Plus, maybe I never mentioned it here but my eyes suffer from a condition called Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. In human language, it’s basically chronic eye dryness. My case was quite bad that it impaired my vision by quite a bit, so I depended a lot on prescription eye drops.

So does KATE withstand all of those challenge?

Nope. Not one bit. It smeared on my lids, it was all over my eyes, it made me an unsightly raccoon. Worse, it has really hard to wash off even with cleansing oil! It stained my lids, so no way to really remove it in one step.

Needless to say, I threw this product out in the bin. Really.

I forgot my version…I bought it about a year ago. Was it the KATE Super Sharp Liner N? Mine was BK-1, which was blackest black. I was happy with the color but with the poor staying power and (ironically) problematic removal, I would never recommend this liquid liner to anyone.

In my opinion, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner 24hr – 1 Day Tattoo WP (or something) is a much superior product.

Paula's Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer

From http://www.cosmeticscop.com:
RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer contains a specialized complex of ingredients proven to remodel aging skin, bringing it to a healthier, more youthful state—really. The formula is packed with ingredients that work to build and preserve collagen, prevent moisture loss, restore essential ingredients to protect skin’s barrier function, and reduce inflammation with potent antioxidants. The result? The skin you want to have, now! Please see below for references to documented research about the claims for the ingredients in this moisturizer.

  • Provides silky hydration that’s ideal for all skin types
  • Stimulates healthy collagen production so you’ll see firmer skin
  • Specially formulated to help your skin resist wrinkles
  • Potent antioxidants plus retinol reduce signs of aging
  • Gentle formula for your sensitive or rosacea-affected skin
  • Perfect for the eye area—no need for a separate eye cream!
  • Fragrance-free, because it’s what’s best for your skin

My Skin Type:

Nowadays it may be considered combination, just slightly oily in the t-zone and slightly dry on the jaw line.

Packaging:
Finally Paula made an airtight pump for her product. It’s opaque too. Perfect to protect the precious ingredients inside.

Texture:
Very light and silky, almost serum-like. (Much) lighter compared to Bobbi Brown Protective Face Lotion SPF15.

My General Review:
Okay…so previous to this I bought another bottle of Bobbi Brown Protective Face Lotion SPF15. However, lately my skin hasn’t been that dry, so it may feel tad too moisturizing on the skin. On the other hand, PC RESIST moisturizer has been on my wishlist for quite some time then, due to its juicy ingredients; and the fact that almost all PC products works for my sensitive and picky skin. When I finally ordered it, I was not let down. I was so happy with it that I’m on my second bottle now.

There’s much to love about this moisturizer. For starters, its texture. Very light, serum like. Absorbs in an instant, leaving super smooth, non-sticky, but moist finish. It’s so great it actually feels like makeup primer, but lighter compared to those typical silicone-laden base makeup. Makeup and powders glides smoothly on top of it; it’s great for my powder foundation of mineral makeup :)

Furthermore, it’s not oily. Just the right amount of moisture. Sometimes, when the hormone hits, I’m more oily than usual but this moisturizer never exacerbates the matter. Granted, it’s not oil controlling but the level of moisture it gives is always perfect for my skin.

Being a Paula’s product, you can bet too that it’s loaded with beneficial ingredients. Anti-irritant? Check. Peptides? Check. Array of antioxidants? Check, check,  check.

The only downside, maybe, is that it doesn’t have any SPF; but that’s okay for me. Now that PC have SPF20 moisturizer, maybe I’ll buy that one as my morning moisturizer and keep RESIST for night-time. But in the mean time, I’m happy with it.

P.S.: I haven’t buy the PC SPF20 moisturizer because I have LOADS of skincare products right now that I need to finish. As my skin now is not so dry compared to a couple of years ago, I can’t layer products anymore, which makes it difficult to finish my skincare :P Right now I’m using RESIST at morning with separate sunscreen, EL ANR Whitening serum as my ‘night cream’, but that’s separate review.

Application:
Toner, this moisturizer (lightly), and sunscreen of the day.

Availability:
As usual you’ll need to order it online.

Price:
US$22.95 for 50ml at US. Not too shabby at all for well formulated moisturizer. More expensive at Singapore though, at S$44. Both prices excludes shipping (which can be pricey).

Ingredients:
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate (emollient), Glycerin (skin-identical ingredient), Ethylhexyl Stearate (thickener), Cocoglycerides (emollient), Glycosaminoglycans (skin-identical ingredient), Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (cell-communicating ingredient), Ceramide 3 (skin-identical ingredient), Retinol (cell-communicating ingredient), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidants), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (anti-irritant), Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tocopheryl Acetate (antioxidants), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (anti-irritant), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Oil (antioxidants), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Squalane (emollients), Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol (slip agents), Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate (film-forming agents), Caprylyl Glycol (preservative), Ethylhexylglycerin (slip agent), Hexylene Glycol (preservative), Xanthan Gum (thickener), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

Overall Rating:
5 out of 5. What’s not to love? Highly recommended for ladies with normal to combination skin.

*This review will be cross posted in http://www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

It’s been a while, esp. since the last hit pan post! However, since lately I’m especially boring in applying makeup, I always use the same stuff over and over again. So…ta-daaa!

Hit Pan (August 2011)

SANA Maiko-han LP & Blush

Finished the loose powder, dented the blush. Bought them at Sasa, they’re really great products! Now I’m back to my NARS powder but honestly, SANA Maiko-han LP is so smooth and brightening on my skin, totally non-cakey; I would’nt mind repurchasing this drugstore stuff when my high-end powders finally run out! As for the blush, it’s rosy and can be glittery. Might not be my cup of tea before…but in the end it has definitely grown on me :)

Here’s some FOTD that I did with the LP & Blush:

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Sana Maikohan LP + Blush

Forcing myself to write something. This blog has been neglected for much too long :P

A short one today though. A cheap one too! You ladies living in Asia (or at least Singapore and Indonesia) had probably seen this along your drugstore aisle. It’s a hair serum packaged in capsules.

Ellips Hair Vitamin

Sweet! So does it work?

My first encounter with Ellips wasn’t that convincing. The Yellow one (for normal hair, intended to achieve smooth and shiny finish) failed to substantially help my drier hair, and the Red one (for dry/damaged hair, to nourish and everything) is far too heavy. Limp hair? I’m not too big of a fan.

However after years and some hair care experiments later, my hair is in a better shape lately, so it’s smoother and more buttery to the touch. Yet I still need some help when I want to straighten my hair with an iron. Otherwise somehow the end result would look more texture-y, more flyaways…overall not as neato as if I’ve had to use proper styling product.

Enter the Ellips, again. I had some laying around in my drawers so last week I applied it on my damp hair, blow dry it, and straighten it with Sephora iron. Ellips serum (the Yellow one) really enhanced the finish: much neater, less flyaways, less textures…closer to poker-straight hair. Unfortunately, the Red capsules was still proven to be too heavy for my fine hair, and made it oilier faster.

In the end  I highly recommend the Yellow serum for fine, normal hair looking for a light serum that does not weigh down the hair. One capsule was the perfect amount for my slightly beneath the shoulder hair. If you have very dry, damaged hair, then try out the Red one.

Wish this could be packaged in a pump bottle, then I’ll feel less sorry about having to create extra waste per capsule per day. Doesn’t feel too green, you know.

On the last post I’ve already reviewed the Brow Resurrection result and posted the before/after pics too. However, a reader kindly pointed out that under dim lighting like in the previous post, almost any brow would look natural. Fair enough! So today I took more pics under more ‘normal’ lighting. Here we go!

Same fugly before pic:

Bare Skin

And after Brow Resurrection by Browhaus ION:

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Click on any pic to see the full-res version and the close up of the brow. I didn’t edit or crop the pic to focus just on the brows because somehow I think it’s important to see the balance of the whole face with the brow.

So what do you think? I personally think it may qualify as the most natural embroidery for my thin, sparse, sad, and downright bald brows. Again, this is what the result looks like a month the touch up. Meaning the wound has totally healed, the dye had perfectly scab off.

OOT: the distortion caused by the wide-angle lens is extremely unsightly. Try to ignore them :P

A lot of people out there know what Brow Resurrection from Browhaus is; however try to Google it and not many before-after photos exist. There are some beautiful, tempting results reviewed here and here, but it’s fresh from the first application, not the final results after the initial dye scabs off. Vivavia did a very nice job chronicling the journey from the start ’till the 11th day, but then we have to back to Browhaus for touch up job, and what will the brow looks like after all the sessions, the real results that we will live through the next 1-2 years?

I bet most of you ladies would want to know, considering the dollars that needed to be plunged in order to pay for this service :D Right? Riiiiggghht. 

I’m not quite a neato that will chronicle my day-to-day brow progression though, so I’ll just give you the before and the after one. Just to contribute something to people who intend to undergo this browjob :P

What it is:
For those of you who doesn’t know what a Brow Resurrection is, basically it’s a strand-by-strand eyebrow embroidery, so it’s much less harsh than tattoo. It should look that much more natural too.

Browhaus claimed that this strand-by-strand thing is unique to them, and they try really hard to sell it (Browhaus is always doing this upselling thing!). However, from what I know, there are other popular eyebrow embroidery places here in Singapore that also do it that way. With a fraction of the price!

Then why Browhaus?
Simply because of convenience. I have a thread and tweeze package at Browhaus ION, and as usual, due to my sadly bald brows, they made a real effort to sell me the Brow Resurrection service. They offered a small discount (forgot how much exactly…10%? 20%?) and free touch up job. The location of Browhaus outlets can also be considered strategic too, due to the fact that I used to live at NTU in Pioneer :P  The other popular, so called go-to brow salon for Singapore Airlines girls are located at Bishan (cmiiw)…

Before I signed up for this Resurrection thing, I researched a bit and the feedback at Singaporean forums are not really the most glowing reviews. Many said that the dye wears off really quickly, less than 3 months. Etc etc.

In the end I decided to try it anyway…thinking that “oh well, if it didn’t go well, at least I tried. I can then safely move on to that Bishan salon and will not question about this popular Resurrection thingie anymore”.

And this is Singapore mannn~ Tropical country. Hot and humid weather. Where you travel by bus and MRT. Couple that with my bangs…then it’s not that weird to have my brow powder/pencil gone by mid-day. Major sigh.

How much did I pay for the job?
This is one service that I’m not comfortable in disclosing the price; because it’s simply exorbitant. Go to Browhaus’ website and you can easily locate the price.

Show me the before picture!
I didn’t take any new pics before I did the Resurrection. I’ll just use my most frightening, old pic.

Beware. You’ve been warned.

Bare Brows

Oh yuck. Bare face with sunscreen, with bald brows.

My actual brows are very thin and sparse, and it looked bald on the above photo also partially because of the shape of my brows. I trimmed it to make it more curvy, but as the result, it looks even smaller, thinner.

After I moved to Singapore, I tried to grew my brows back, and went to Browhaus regularly to have it threaded and tweezed. The specialist there (I always have my brows shaped by Jelly at Browhaus ION) tried to balance and re-shape it so it suits my face better and more visible. After months of tweaking effort, it looked more decent but of course there’s nothing you can do with those fine and sparse hair.

What to do?
My specialist, Jelly, is no Resurrection specialist. There’s only 1 Resurrection technician at Browhaus ION. First she traced my brows with special pen, to give me an idea on how my brows will look like after the Resurrection is done. Mostly the shape that Jelly gave me through monthly thread/tweeze is just right to her (and me) also, because it just follows the shape of my brow bone. I asked for a natural dye tone too, hoping for a softer, not-drawn-up result.

So here goes the Resurrection process: Apply a numbing cream, apply the dye; repeat twice.

Does it hurt?
This sure is one of the most asked questions regarding any eyebrow embroidery service. The answer depends on the individual though…some think it’s almost totally painless and can sleep through the process. Others told me the pain is no worse than having your brows plucked.

For the, it’s not exactly pain-free, but nothing unbearable.

See, I have quite a high pain threshold, as in last year I lost a fingernail totally in an accident, and I didn’t even shed a tear. Brow Resurrection is not that kind of pain that make me wanna cry. However it’s not as light as having your brows tweezed. Luckily the most painful episode only lasted for a few minutes, tops.

Overall it’s not the kind of pain that bothers me to repeat the process.

Your first result?
At first because the dye is new, it looked quite harsh, almost tattoo-ed, but it scabbed off within 7 to 10 days. Within this time frame,  expect to avoid applying makeup/skincare products to your brow bone area. Avoid contact with water as much as possible (just a short contact like washing your face is fine). Do not try to pick the peeling brow too, it should come off naturally.

Browhaus highly recommended the following brow care products after the resurrection: Build & Fix. Well, that’s putting it mildly. Told ya Browhaus is quite pushy!

It’s balm and serum pair that speeds the healing of your brow, and the technician went on~ and on about how it helps retain the color of the dye. She points out that if I won’t use the products, the dye will be gone and my thousands of dollars will be wasted. Hmph. How do an emollient balm helps to retain dyes was beyond me. And they’re expensive too. I didn’t remember the details but it’s around S$100?

But my brow area was scorching after the Resurrection. And out of curiosity I bought it anyway, thinking it may help heal my brows. Yes it does! Much too expensive for such products, anyhow.

Browhaus Products: Build & Fix

The good thing was: the packaging of these products was uber cute! They put it in cardbox old-school camera. I had 2 guy friends visited my dorm room separately (for school work, I swear!) and both squealed “How CUTE is that thing!”. And the balm worked as a nice lipbalm too.

Anyway, the pain in my brow area subsided within a week and after a month, I was left with uber natural looking resurrected brows. Too natural looking! What’s the point of having such an expensive job if it looks like I still have sparse (albeit much better and visible) brows?

Bottomline: the dye was too light for my taste!

Edited to add:

I forgot to mention that my left brow was even lighter than my right…more dye had came off from that left side. I think it was caused by my bangs, which was swept to the left and it had hit my resurrected brows and wiped away some of the dye!

The touch up and tweaks:
You’re required to do Resurrection touch up within 1-3 months after the initial work to maintain the look of your brows, and make it more permanent somehow; so it could last longer (around 1-2 years or so I heard).

The touch up session was basically the same as the initial session. I asked for denser strokes and deeper tint, and the technician re-sketched my brows to see if I like it better. Having came from China, the technician was not really fluent in English and took my request of ‘denser brows’ as ‘thicker brows’. She showed me the sketch on my brows and even though it’s not exactly what I asked for, it looked pretty good too. It was a good experiment to have thicker brows anyway…and the technician told me this kind of shape is quite popular lately because it looked like ‘Korean girls in the drama series”: thicker in shape, less curvy…and she told me she liked this shapes better on my face too. Har Har.

This time I asked her to use darker, darkest tint available, even. She kinda confused because “but you have such a fair skin tone, would it be too harsh for you?”. Don’t care! I’m used to drawing end-to-end brows with brown powders, yo! :P

So…same process. Apply numbing cream, apply dye…repeat twice.

It looked better when she finished her job, and this time she didn’t push me to buy the Build/Fix anymore because she thought I should have enough products for the initial + touch up sessions care.

Enough with the crap, show me the result already!
So basically, same care after the initial session. This is what my brows looked like about a month after the touch up session, and basically what I’ve been living with ever since.

Resurrected

No products on the brows, I leave it as it is. Click to see the full-res version. Sorry for the lighting, it was taken at a bar.

What do you think? My ex-colleagues were surprised now that I have brows, but they didn’t even know that it’s embroidered. They (men and women) thought it looks so real! On the other hand, my younger brother (who surprisingly have an ultra-dense, dark brows) told me the result is disgustingly ugly :P

Bottomline:
Finally! Not so short of a review, eh? I think I pretty much like the result. And I’m now free from hideous brows everyday. It won’t fade after a run to the bus stop. It’s just expensive…Let’s see later if I would do it again at Browhaus…or try other salon. The liberty of not having to draw my brows daily is a bit addictive, and I won’t be hesitant to asked for darkest tint available. My hair is dark anyway.

What do you think of the “flatter”, thicker, Korean-like shape? Does it suit me?

Edited To Add:

Here’s a couple more pics with better lighting, taken the day after this post:

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Browhaus Brow Resurrection Result

Edited almost a year later:

Here’s my results almost a year later after the initial session.

Brow Resurrection: A Year Later

Brow Resurrection: A Year Later

Read the full update post here.  :)

Fancl Lucent Face Powder Set

From http://www.fancl.com:
Ultra-fine powder absorbs excess sebum for lasting makeup, while Brightening formulation enhances skin radiance and disguise skin dullness for a translucent finish.

Recommended to use with liquid type foundation for long-lasting effect. Available only in 1 shade.

My Skin Type:
Currently normal/combo. My t-zone can oil up after 5 hours…but it’s not bad when I use some kind of good oil control product.

Packaging:
Fancl sold the refill powder separately from the plastic container. I only bought the refill bag, and pour it to my old MUFE Super Mat Loose Powder tub :D

Texture:
Fine and smooth. Not as “discreet” and “dry” as MUFE Super Mat. It’s somehow creamier, not as powdery compared to NARS Loose Powder. I’d say it resembles Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder more.

My General Review:
I bought this due to recommendation from my friend dear Maria. Being me, how can I resist pink loose powder? I could always use another tub of loose powder :P

Anyway, after trying it out, I didn’t feel sorry that I bought it. There’s not much to be said though, because it’s ‘typical’ top notch loose powder. It’s finely milled, non-cakey, and non-shimmery. It’s mattifying but not drying. It came with fluffy puff, very similar to the one that Chanel give you with their Cristalline Loose Powder. Even though it’s matte, it’s not flat or powdery. Oil control is okay on my skin, especially with oil controlling sunscreen underneath, yet it’s never drying on my sometimes parched skin. For some people, the pink tint will brighten your skin, but on my already neutral/cool skin, it’s just match my pale skin well. It does not oxidize. It lasts all day.

Below I attach an old pic of me. I only wore Fancl Sunguard SPF30/PA+++ underneath. No primer, no foundation. Then I directly patted the loose powder to set it. Not too shabby looking, eh? Great for great skin days! Quick and easy. Although there’s not much neck for you to see here, you can still compare my face and neck. Yes, it matches my skin well indeed.

Fancl Sunguard SPF30/PA+++, Fancl Lucent Face Powder

I would recommend this powder to people who love creamier powder texture, something like Becca. I love them both, but Fancl may be the easier-to-obtain, cost-effective solution :D Becca claims to be water resistant…but I’m not sure about that. Becca lasts, sure. However, even though I live in hot and humid tropical country, good powders usually last well anyway :P Becca is available in pale, pale, color though (the Eggshell shade), so upon application it will be more brightening perhaps on my skin, but I bet there’s not much difference after it sinks in.

Application:
Just pat with the enclosed puff to set your makeup/skincare. I also use a flocked sponge sometimes, for heavier finish (to set sunscreen, for example).

Availability:
You can find it at Fancl stores islandwide. I personally tend to get them from Fancl Jurong Point (JP1, near McDonalds etc) and Ngee Ann City (basement, near Takashimaya food court/Ajisen Ramen).

Price:
S$46.50  for 20gram refill bag, puff included. Should you want to buy the plastic canister too from Fancl, it’ll cost you another S$11.

Ingredients:
I already throwed out my box, so I don’t have the complete ingredient list on my hand, but this is what I found from Google.

Acrylates Crosspolymer, Mica, Silica, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Zinc laurate, Dexpanthenol, Hydroxyproline, Polyquaternium-61, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyapatite, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone/methicone copolymer, Alpha Bisabolol, Methylhydrogenpolysiloxane, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Aluminum dimyristate, Aluminum hydroxide, Lauroyl lysine, Talc Powder, Titanium(IV) Oxide, Iron Oxides.

Overall Rating:
5 out of 5. Great powder, quality is right there with high end loose powders. Recommended if you can get your hands on Fancl.

*This review will be cross posted in http://www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

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