Review: Tarte Dark Circle Defense Concealer + others

Happy Sunday everyone! :)

I want to thank you all for the lovely comments on my last hair post! Many of you were not sure where to go get it done, or if your area has it. Just to clarify, the salon does not have to be a specialty salon where they only do hair straightening. Many licensed Asian salons have stylists who are trained in hair straightening techniques. There are a variety of them: Japanese, Brazilian, hair relaxation... etc. Be sure to specify which technique you'd like. I've done them all.. Japanese, Yuko, relaxation.. LOL Yuko is another Japanese hair straightening that is good on "virgin" hair (ie never dyed your hair, never straightened, etc). It is more gentler, but I can't really remember the experience because I first did that when I was 18 or 19. I remember the cost was over $500 for shoulder length hair. Really expensive!! Regular Japanese hair straightening costs upwards of $150-500 depending on the salon. Mine was really good at around $180 before tip. Relaxation (or getting your hair relaxed) is a method that is popular amongst African American hair. In contrast to Japanese hair straightening, it is a temporary fix and I believe they use stronger chemicals, which isn't necessarily good. My experience with that method had been horrendous. My hair was fried! Never try it unless you are African American!! Really. It's not made for Asian hair!

My hair thus far (an entire week) has been healthier than it's ever been. It is softer, easy to manage and I have a more pleasant shower experience b/c my hair is now easier to wash :) YAY!

Now I want to talk about a concealer that is really catered to dark circles. I have been using this concealer for about 2 weeks now. I bought it because I am a concealer hoarder and can't get enough of them. There really is a difference between a concealer, an eye concealer, and brighteners.

This is the Tarte Dark Circle Defense (find it here) concealer in light to medium. The salmon colored shade really counteracts any darkness and blends really well with your natural skin color. I've never been happier with any other concealer, truthfully. My dark circles on my eyes never go away regardless of how much sleep and fluids I have :(

Ready for the mugshot? =p

Side by side view with the before and "after" of the concealer. My dark bags have diminished significantly.

The awesome thing about this concealer is that you only need very little. Only a brush stroke amount and you're ready to go. After applying it on with the brush, use your ring finger and blend it away. Do you see the consistency? It is like paint! It's extremely creamy, which is a plus in my book. I really like that has hydrating properties. The concealer is quite pigmented, almost foundation like but it can only be used as a concealer. It's a flat salmon shade that counteracts with dark circles. I think this is my HG concealer to date. It has some serious power.

Naturally, Tarte is a great company. I love their products, especially their eyeshadows! They also use good ingredients and formulate without parabens and other yucky things. No animal testing :)

I also want to shed light on 2 mascaras that I've found to be really good. I hated them at one point but I slowly started to like them again!

Maybelline's Pulse Perfection (find it here) - I didn't like it at first because of the obvious: vibration. It's so gimmicky and all sorts of ugh. It wasn't terrible, just okay. But i really started to like it because it separates  my barely-there lashes well.. haha After applying it on, your lashes are still soft! It is a good thing. As with all Maybelline mascaras I've tried, their formula is superb.

After the Maybelline mascara has dried, top it off with the Loreal's Telescopic mascara (find it here).It gives my lashes so much more volume than I care to think for. I really love it! :)

Maybe it's the flexi-wand that i used to despise? I just know that I found a way to use it to my advantage :)

Enjoy what's left of the weekend!!! :)


Disclaimer: All products mentioned were purchased solely by me :)

Japanese Hair Straightening, Hadanomy Collagen Mist

A few weeks ago, I mentioned I was going to get some hair consultations for Japanese hair straightening. I went to a few and I finally did it today!! :) I've done it twice already, but it feels like a new experience every year. The Japanese hair straightening method uses chemicals and creams with a higher pH to completely re-texture the hair. The whole process involves:

1. The stylist washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to get any hair product or residue out of your hair and scalp, following a chemical solution that straightens your hair - SMELLS SO BAD! Yuck!
2. You sit with the chemical on for about 40 mins or so before the stylist washes it off and dries your hair
3. Stylist meticulously uses a hair straightener to straighten hair in small sections. Very small sections! It took her nearly an hour and a half to straighten my entire head =p This is the signature Japanese method. The hair straightener works with the chemicals make the hair straight.
4. Stylist applies a smoothing cream that keeps the straight hair "locked"... leave on for 40 mins before washing off.
5. Blow dry and DONE! End results took about 5 hours, and my straight hair should last for 8 months to a year :) My hair now is healthier, despite the chemicals used. She snipped the ends, and ta-dah! :) Newish hair.  The only setback is that I can't shampoo my hair for 3 days!! Which means I can't go to the gym! :( 


    BEFORE:

    AFTER:

After getting my hair done five hours later, I went to buy some groceries and saw the SANA Hadanomy Collagen facial mist! Yes, another one :) A little while ago, I blogged about the Vitamin E Facial Mist (see my review here). The Hadonomy Collagen Mist has 250 mL of product, about 8.5oz! It's a BIG bottle. The Body Shop Vitamin E one has about 3.3 oz and that one is HUGE.

 Collagen is basically a protein that is found in skin tissue, ligaments and tendons. It keeps your skin's elasticity strong and supple while repairing from the inside. When you get older, you lose a lot of your natural collagen, which is why they have creams, lotions, pills and injections to make up for it.

Quick review: They claim to have 1000mg of collagen (probably in the whole bottle, not one spritz) and has a citrus-y smell. There is a little sticky residue from the collagen, but not greasy on the face one bit. The spritz thing does not emit a thin mist, but more like a spray which is kind of weird, because it feels wild on your face. LOL. Other than that, I have no complaints so far. I'm going to aim for a more thorough review in a few weeks :) The SANA Hadonomy line also has collagen lotion, cream and sheet masks to its collection :)