Hello Everybody,

Finally writing my review for these products since getting them however long ago. I have to start off by saying these two products have been frequently made their way into my makeup kits and makeup routines for the better part of the year. They were designed by Alexa Chung for Eyeko and she has often talked about how Eyeko really is her go-to brand for her signature sixties liner and lashes look. That said there are drawbacks, but before I get carried away, on to the review!

Name: Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

Net Weight: 0.8 ml/0.3 oz.

Shade: Carbon Black

*Gifted

Like many people, I'd been lusting after this eyeliner after I saw it used in Lisa Eldridge's video with Alexa Chung. She's even gone on to say that this is one of the eyeliners she cannot live without. A friend of mine gave me these as a present and I've been using it on and off for six months. 

The formula itself is very good. It stays on the whole day and does not fade. I drew a line on my hand and ran it under a tap to test its first claim and it did not budge when the water hit it. However, the water made it easy to rub the eyeliner off. This can be a good thing or a back thing: if you have sweaty lids and are prone to rubbing your eyes, this will smudge. On the other hand, this means that this eyeliner is not difficult to remove at the end of the day.

 

The lash-enhancing claim lies in application: If you apply it right on the lashline, you will create the illusion of fuller lashes (thank you, captain obvious ><). Now about it being carbon black: I have to agree that it is a very deep dark black. It has a shiny finish, but this doesn't translate so obviously on the eyes. So it is not matte, but it will not look too glossy on the eye.

Moving on to the nib of the eyeliner. I've never been a fan of sponge-tip eyeliners. Sadly, the Eyeko Eye Do Eyeliner did not change my mind about this. Like all sponge-tips, the point dried out after just a few weeks of use making it much harder to create a flick and do the ends of the line. On top of that, because of the width of the sponge, making a very fine line is near impossible. Although, this might be easier to use for beginners or people who aren't as adept at applying eyeliner as sponge-tips don't require a super steady hand.

Because it is a sponge tip, in as much as it dispenses product, it absorbs some of the products you've applied to your eye. Unlike a brush-tip, you cannot simply scrape off the bits of solidified eyeliner, eyeshadow, and etc. that have clung to the sponge. These bits clog the pores of the sponge which disrupts the distribution of the eyeliner from the tip to your eyelid. This makes the line patchy and uneven.

On the whole, not super happy with this. I have nothing but high praise for the formula: it lives up to its claims and has lasting power to boot. It really is a shame that it has a sponge-tip applicator otherwise this could have been perfect. That said, I won't be repurchasing this when I run out.

Name: Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Mascara

Net Weight: 8.00 ml/0.22 oz.

Type: Lengthen & Strengthen

*Gifted

Getting right to it, this mascara has a slightly wet formula that coats the lashes very well. It is very lengthening and defining as you will see below. It also claimed to be strengthening, which I can attest to. I've found that my lashes do not fall off as much as they used to with this formula. This probably has to do with how comparatively easy it is to remove. It is a waterproof formula, but it comes off even with just Micellar cleansing water so I've never needed to use an oil-based remover.

Oddly though, for a waterproof mascara, it does not hold a curl all day. On the other hand, if you apply it zig-zagging upwards, it boosts (?) lashes up making it look like you've curled them. Layering this mascara is not a problem. It's buildable and it does not flake off or smudge.

 

Top-Bottom: No Mascara, 1-2 coats, 5 coats

Left: Curled Lash, Right: Uncurled Lash

This comes with a very large brush which dispenses a lot of product. You will need to wipe off a bit of the product before applying it to avoid clumps, particularly the tip. It can get clumpy so you may need to comb through your lashes with a clean spoolie or a lash comb. Because the applicator is straight and slightly curved outward in the middle, I often get the product on my eyelid by accident. To prevent this, Eyeko included a "Shield" (read: Guitar Pick) so you can get right to the roots of your lashes. I prefer to use the shield after I've applied the mascara when I'm combing through with a spoolie to better separate and distribute the product.

I was not as excited about the mascara as I was about the eyeliner when I first got these products. On the Lisa Eldridge video they didn't look like anything special, however this impression was quickly turned on its head. I really love this mascara so much so that it has become my go-to mascara for most days. Will definitely repurchase this.

TL:DR

Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

+ Long-lasting, does not fade, waterproof, easy to remove, very black, not overly glossy, easy to use for beginners (does not require a super steady hand)

- Point dries out quickly, not easy to make wings and fine lines, sponge pores get clogged with other eye makeup, line becomes patchy and uneven

Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Mascara

+ waterproof, coats the lashes very well, lengthening, defining, strengthens lashes, comparatively easy to remove, buildable, does not smudge, does not flake

- does not hold a curl, brush dispenses too much product, can get clumpy, product gets on the eyelid because of brush shape

Hello!

Very excited to show you the first ever collaboration on this blog~ Pauline of Catpacking and I are big fans of period pieces and vintage styles. One of our favorite eras is the 1940's. We're particularly fond of films set in that period (of which there are many!) Pauline's look was based on Rachel McAdams in The Notebook, which you can check out here.



The look I went for was a slightly more modern take on the classic forties makeup. I looked for a something that was wearable and translated well to how makeup is worn today. So I came across a backstage picture from Miu Miu RTW Fall 2011, which was a collection centered around the 1940's aesthetic.

One of the things to focus on is the pale clear skin. It was powdered, but not matte enough to hide a glowing complexion. For this I used my Bourjois 10-Hour Sleep Effect Foundation in #72, Pauline's Maybelline Master Conceal in 30 Light Medium, both applied with fingers, and my Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder, applied with my Real Techniques Powder Brush. On my cheeks I used Happy Skin Angled Blush Brush for a light dusting if YSL Blush Variation in 3 Camel right on the apple of the cheek over my Bourjois Cream Blush in #04 Sweet Cherry (reviewed here).

The semi-matte red lip was of course quite prominent as well and very drawn on. I decided against that and went for a more like a slightly shimmery color with my Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in #78 Shanghai Red. I applied it to look more stained than painted on so it looked more lived-in. If you read up on forties makeup, you'll learn that even during the war when everything was rationed, they made red lipstick available because they believed it was empowering and raised morale (makeup history tidbit yay!)

Pauline did a bit of subtle brow definition on me with her Liole Auto Eyebrow Pencil in #3 (because I cannot do brows at all.) For very subtle lash definition, I dotted a Nichido Precise Eye Pencil in Black Ebony along my upper lash line. On my lids I used Naked 2 from the first Urban Decay Naked Basics palette all over for the base. Then, I blended Faint, also from the Naked Basics palette, with a milk chocolate brown shade from a brand called Pinkies Collection, all across the socket right up to the point near my nose bridge. I finished with curled lashes and my Eyeko Eyedo mascara, which I should have gone chunkier with . I also could have used a few individual falsies, if I had them at the time.

I was really intrigued by just how modern a vintage look could be and really pleased with how it looked on me. Strobing and contouring aside, lots of the key points in forties makeup particularly the emphasis on clear looking skin, are very current and are still very wearable. I also had a lot of fun doing this with Pauline :)) It's great having someone to bounce makeup ideas with as you're figuring out how to do it (whilst also lip-singing to old songs haha.)

 

P.S.  Pauline and I trying to find the light haha

Hello Everybody! 

I really like playing with my makeup. While I do have my staple looks and I do own way too many neutral eye shadows, I've always had fun experimenting with color particularly on my eyes. Partly because it's easy enough to get away with, but mostly because it's out there, but not totally esoteric.

I am extremely pleased that colored eyeliner has come back on the runways and magazines for this year. I have always been a huge fan of colored eyeliner (if my blog title didn't make that plenty obvious haha) and as a result of this I've amassed a bit of a collection. It has dwindled down somewhat after I gave away a few pieces and threw out old ones, but today I want to show you some of what has remained. 

A few of these are from my mom's collection as well because I tend to borrow a lot of them. The colored eyeliner look I tend to go for is the one my mom and her sisters wore all throughout my childhood and continue to do now. It's the two-layer eyeliner: first layer is a black all around the eyes with a flick, the second layer is a sort of out-line or eyeliner for your eyeliner with a colored liner

I won't talk about all of them because that would make this a very lengthy post indeed, but I will tell you a little about my absolute favorites.

Jessica Automatic Lip & Eye Liner Pencil in #18 Dewberry

Starting off with something that has been featured many, many times before on this blog (almost to the extent that it should be called The Dewberry Eyeliner). It is a reddy violet shade that is still a little too blue to be burgundy. It always looks incredibly polished on it's own, but looks even better when worn with a golden eye shadow or liner.

NYX Retractable Eye Liner #08 in Silky Cashmere

Another frequently featured favorite is this gorgeous rose gold eyeliner. This was a really good purchase as I have found multiple uses for it. It makes a great eyeliner for your eyeliner especially for a very simple chic look. It also looks really good along the waterline or in the inner corners for brightening your eyes. If you move quickly enough, it also makes a lovely eyeshadow when blended with fingers and it sets really fast.

Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil gel Liner in #15 Bloody Devil

A new love for me. I bought this in Hong Kong a while back and it was in my New Year New Things post. I bought this after I threw out a red liquid eyeliner that had gone lumpy. I wasn't such a fan of the glitter or the formula at first, but oh my god it is gorgeous. It really adds drama to a simple liner look, but you will need a black liner along your lashline first. 

Peripera Saturday Night Liner in #4 Thursday Ocean

I am a big fan of a solid blue cat eye (especially for going to parties) and this was just the thing to use. You get so much more precision for a cat eye with a liquid liner than a pencil. It was a great going-out-makeup item because when it sets it stays on for HOURS. I've also used it above a black cat eye and in the inner-v with a bronze cat eye. I love the shade as well, it's a metallic neon blue and it gives of an Aztec feel when paired with gold shades.

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in #230 Deep Ocean

Speaking of solid blues, this is a drop dead gorgeous sapphire blue shade that I love stealing from my mom. It looks amazing and really brings out the brown in my eyes. Like the Peripera, it goes really well with golden liners and shadows, but is incredibly chic on its own. With a blue this dark, you don't really need a black line to define the lashes or much else really. It also looks good on most complexions as blue brings out the best in a skin tone.

It's amazing how many new colors and formulas are out there for eyeliner. Lots of companies from the road brands to the high end have really gone out of their way to broaden their range of hues. So I am very sure there is a shade or two or five out there for everybody. What are your favorites?

Hello, everybody! This May Makeup Bag has been a long time coming. Sephie of Just Sephie Rojas was one of the first people I approached about this project. We finally got to talk about it after several failed attempts (read: we would meet up, remember we should talk about it, then get distracted haha). Sephie and I have been friends for ten years and I have to say that in that time she does not look like she has aged a day. She has always had a bright and youthful look and I got to learn more about how she maintains and achieves this.

Sephie really is not into putting on lots and lots of makeup. "Cleansing and moisturizing are what I normally focus on. I think if you have a good base, you don't need to put much gunk on to make yourself look 'prettier.'




" 

Skin matters so much, and looking naturally younger is the main goal. I have been blessed with a youthful look which I am incredibly grateful for, and I make sure to stay within the boundaries I'm given. Like I said, I'm a huge fan of the 'no makeup' makeup look and looking fresh, because I know that's what suits me best.









"

Aside from the Maybelline Pressed Powder, Sephie really doesn't bring any base makeup with her. Choosing instead to make room for moisturizers and skincare.

Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel (Decanted)

-     "I don't really think it's sticky. Actually I think it's easily absorbed into my skin after a few rubs, which is why I love applying layers of it onto my elbows and knees.  I do prefer gel formula over cream or liquid formulas since gel doesn't necessarily feel sticky. Creams usually feel oily and sticky when they dry. Liquids tend to spill and evaporate too fast so I get to consume it too much too fast and that gets pretty expensive in the long run.








"

-  

Etude House Aloe Moistful Misturizing Cream

-     "Since my skin type is combination-dry (dry U-zone + oily T-zone), it gets kinda challenging to strike the right balance of makeup used on my face. My skin is also pretty sensitive so I was really happy to finally find my moisturizer that doesn't stings my face, nor irritates it, but it still does its job well."

-     "Epiduo is my 'go away pimple' cream. it's really strong so it has to be prescribed by a derma for you to use.




 I use it twice a day especially on inverted pimples since it's that strong, it tends to dry my skin if used too much too often.








"

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Though Sephie really is all about the skin, she does not shy away from products that help enhance her natural beauty. "I limit myself with eyeliner, mascara, naturally defined eyebrows, and lipstick. I'm a huge fan of the 'no makeup' makeup look.




 Less is definitely more for me.









"

-     "I used to love doing gradient lips, and the Etude House Rosy Tint Lips (in Before Blossom) is a pretty nice item to use to achieve just that. But gradient lips tend to take so much longer to apply, so nowadays I just do a full lip look instead.








"

Etude House Perfect Brow Kit

-     "I like using powder since it's easier to build up than with light strokes of a pencil. I use an angled brush to make more defined but still natural-looking feathered strokes using the brow powder that doesn't look too strong and gives my brows a natural softer finish than what a pencil could give.








"

-  

MAC Black Track Gel Liner

-     "Tips for applying gel liner? I prime my eyes with eye primer first, then wait for 30 secs before applying powder over my eye lids and blending it properly so it doens't look weird or cakey.
 As for actual application of the liner: First, I draw the wing tip on both outer corners of my eyes. This way, it's easier to see if they're balances and aligned properly."

      Next, I know they said you shouldn't do this, but I still do it (lightly/with not much pressure), I close my eye then stretch the outer corner so my eyelid is stretched, then with the use of the gel liner brush, I do small back and forth strokes starting from the middle part of my lash line towards the outer corner of my eyes, then from the middle part again towards the inner corners. Although I don't completely line till my inner corner, I usually feather it lightly so its ends will blend properly at the inner 1/3 of my eyes. Then I connect the inner wing tip to the lash line for either a cat's eye or a puppy eye look.








"

-    

In Sephie's book, makeup is less of the key point and more of an "accessory." She goes on to say that, "It's not supposed to be the main attraction to your overall look, but it can make or break your look when done right or wrong. Makeup is supposed to enhance your natural beauty."

I have tried experimenting with different makeup looks. I tried falsies, shadows, liners, lipstick shades, etc., in the end, I realized that what works for me doesn't necessarily work for everyone else and vice versa. Like with fashion, just because it's a trend now doesn't mean it's for everyone.









" I completely agreed with this point. Sephie's makeup philosophy really boils down to knowing how to keep it simple, knowing your face, and knowing what looks good on you. And really, when you keep that in mind, you cannot go wrong.

P.S. Sephie and I with a couple of our friends at a birthday party from way back when.

Haven't done one of these in a while wew! It's been pretty busy the last few months, but I've finally gotten around to this. February was pretty stressful for me and it was really showing on my skin. I thought it would be best to cut down on the foundation and treatments. Plus truth be told, I've been very lazy this month in terms of makeup. That said, I've made it a point to be much more consistent with my skincare. The results have been promising so far and I have the products below to thank for it. Aside from that I also have a few items for those days when I felt I really wanted to have a bit of make up on which helped brighten my day as well.

Innisfree Apple Juicy Deep Cleansing Foam

I use this every morning because I figured that the apple juice scent would help wake me up a bit more. It's chock full of natural ingredients and Apple extract has AHA's which are good for reducing sebum (a fairly new skin issue for me). It gives a good cleanse and is pretty gentle. My skin feels soft and moisturized after use. It was also an absolute steal at KRW 10,000! 

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I switch to something slightly stronger at night and use the Innisfree Green Tea Pure Cleansing Foam. Afterwards, I put this on freshly washed skin. This was yet another great recommendation from Pauline of Catpacking. I put 3-4 drops on my palm and warm it up in my hands before patting it on. I love love love how it makes my skin feel and look healthier. The scent also helps me get in the mood to sleep.

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense

Finally got my hands on a full-sized pot last January and I'm already a fourth of the way into it. I have to contain myself every time I talk about this product because I love it so much. It's a great gel moisturizer that also helps calm and smoothen my skin. Most of what I really like about it is in a review which you can read here. I use it at night to lock in the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and in the mornings after I wash my face. 

Innisfree Skinny Microcara

I've been keeping my makeup fairly minimal out of general laziness, but one of the things I find easiest to do is to put on mascara. This mascara has the slimmest brush I have ever seen and it is great for getting into the roots and is very defining. The finish is matte and it looks pretty natural even when you layer it on. For days when I go bigger on the lashes and use fibrewig mascaras, I swipe this on the lower lashes to keep them from looking clumpy. I have to thank Danie of That Nugu for this lovely present and for getting me the cleansing foam as well!

Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

Really been loving this eyeliner. My friend Kara had one (as well as a stunning collection of pictures on Instagram) and I immediately wanted one. I've always been a big fan of a brush tip for consistent precision when drawing wings, but a sponge tip is fantastic for pressing into the roots and one-swipe application. Alexa Chung, who designed this pen, designed it to be easy and quick and I've found that to be true. I also cannot get over how this is able to replicate the matte look of a gel eyeliner. It also has great staying power, but is never difficult to remove at the end of the day.

Too Cool For School Roll Lip Pop in #01 Pop Red

I did not expect to like this lip balm at first as I didn't think it was anything special. That was until I noticed that unlike a lot of others, this did not make the dry bits flake off the moisturized lip. My lips felt moisturized and smooth for hours. The tint it leaves is a raspberry color which also stays and it builds up with reapplication. It is very similar to my VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot, but the consistency is thinner, more gel-like than a solid balm. I've finished mine up and I'm planning to repurchase this soon.

VDL Expert Color Lip Cube EX SPF 10 in #502 Hello Stranger

Despite it being a minimal makeup month for me, I couldn't resist a red lip when I went out. I did use quite a few other reds this month especially around Valentines. My favorite of the bunch is this incredibly gorgeous one from VDL. It's got it all: it's a pretty shade of burgundy red, it has great pigmentation and color pay-off, it has moisturizing formula and SPF 10, it really stays on when applied properly, it has classy packaging and an amazing rose scent. Really, what't not to love?

Marcia Shiny Nail Colour

I think this may be the first time I've mentioned a nail polish on this blog. It's really good quality for such a cheap polish (HK$3 for 1, HK$5 for 2 at Sasa). It doesn't chip easily and the color is very vibrant even with just one coat. Most nail polishes go bad before I can even get halfway through them, but this tiny bottle has just the right amount for me. This cutie is a vivid tangerine color with very small specks of gold and pink glitter. I really like this color and how bright it is. Perfect for spring!

Keeping things simple has done my skin a lot of good. I have a lot of fun putting on a good base, blush, eyeshadow, the whole shebang, however, I've learned that I really cannot have a full face of makeup on all day every day. These products are a few of the ones that helped improve my the condition of my skin or just my mood that day. It really is amazing how just a bit of mascara or a hint of color can make you feel a bit better when you think you look less-than-your-best. I don't know if I'm alone in thinking this, but I find that when a day isn't going so well, I take comfort in knowing that at the very least I look okay haha. Hope you had a good month!