Holy smokes! It’s been a while since I maintained this blog. As you might know, I returned to school to finish my third degree. Working full-time with a full-course load is difficult. I just haven’t had the energy or time to keep up. Gomen nasai.
In addition to school, I caught COVID in January. I am a Type 2 diabetic and it is true. We tend to not do so well with the virus. My journey turned into pneumonia. I was sick for five weeks before feeling well enough to return to in-person work. I was blessed to be able to work from home while I was sick. My major symptom was coughing. It was terrible and scary. Difficulty breathing was also scary. Thankfully, it never turned for the worst. I was able to stay out of the hospital. The exhaustion is unreal. My hair also started to fall out, I lost some weight, and I now get frequent night sweats that I never had before. I am still struggling to breathe correctly, but all things considered, I am doing okay. To those people who think it is “just the flu”, you need Jesus.
So, that is where I have been. I hope to get back to regular posting after this semester ends. I need to find some kind of middle ground. I enjoy blogging and bantering with all of you over anime and manga.
Now to the point of this post. I recently bought makeup made by The Creme Shop. Admittedly, it had BT21 characters on it, so I immediately grabbed it. The Creme Shop advertises that it provides Korean skincare. They also have products developed in Los Angeles. I have used their face masks and skincare before. I never had an issue with the quality. However, I have never used their makeup line. I had a few friends ask about whether the makeup was legit or gimmicky.
So, here is my face. The lighting in my office is not great, so you’ll have to bear with me. It makes my face look a lot rosier than it is. I am happy to announce that there is no filter.
Skin Care
Moisturizer: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream. I have dry skin and this has been my lifesaver. Yes, it is pricey but worth it. I’ve also used their face wash but it wasn’t for me. I use it before bed and in the morning before makeup application.
Exfoliator: Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub. I recently discovered this exfoliant. It is really hydrating while also making my face feel really clean. It gets the leftover makeup off my face. I use makeup wipes which aren’t exactly great for your skin, but I’m lazy LOL. I would rate the exfoliating factor as gentle. I use it every 2-3 days.
Lip Mask: BTS Lip Sleeping Mask. I constantly forget to apply this every night, but when I do, I wake up to hydrated and plump lips. It is limited edition BTS product, but they have the same formula in different flavors.
Facial Cleaner: Olay Regenerist Foaming Cleanser. I also recently switched to this cleanser. So far, it doesn’t dry out my skin. I can’t find the link anywhere which probably tells me I picked up a phased-out product. Lame. I really do like the Regenerist line. It’s easily available at the grocery store and works well enough.
Makeup
Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation. Absolutely, hands down, the best foundation I have ever used. It stays matte all day and doesn’t feel cakey or gross. I’ve worn it in the Texas heat and it didn’t melt off. Sure, your face will get sweaty. As long as you aren’t wiping it roughly, it holds up.
Blush: The Creme Shop Lip + Cheek Chic Stick in K-Pop Red (TATA). Other than it not really being a match to my skin tone (a bit too pink), I love it. I needed very little product to get the rosy cheek look. A little definitely went a long way. It blended really nicely. I don’t see myself using it as a lip tint, but the texture is really creamy. There are a few colors that I want to try, so I will be purchasing this product again.
Lips: The Creme Shop BT21: UNIVERSTAIN Lip Tint in Pink Puff (RJ). The product when applied is weird. That being said, I’ve never used lip tint before. It has a real thin liquid feel which is probably normal. It dries really quickly and leaves a beautiful matte finish. It does leave the lips a bit dry, but a little lip balm or gloss should fix that right up. The major downside is it does collect in the crevices of your lips if they’re very textured. It advertises 12-hour wear. It has made it through my 20-ounce coffee without any issues.
Eyeshadow: The Creme Shop BT21: The Right Fluff Palette (RJ). I buy a lot of high-end eyeshadow. I have MAC, Urban Decay, Two Faced, and I am a believer that just because eyeshadow is affordable, it doesn’t immediately make it poor quality. With cheaper eyeshadows, you MUST start with a good primer. It is a MUST. Otherwise, you will not get the color payout. This is especially true for metallic or glittery shadows. That is the difference between high-end and drugstore quality. With high-end shadow, you can sometimes get away with no primer. I have not had any luck with drugstore-quality primers. I’d suggest Two Faced Shadow Insurance. As for this eyeshadow, I had no application issues. It blended well and the color stayed true to what you see in the palette. My eyeshadow look is four of the colors blended. It came out really good! I’d recommend it.
Eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink Liner. When it comes to eyeliner, I have never been able to tell the difference between the drugstore brand that I get and some of the more expensive versions. I always use a liquid pen for my winged liner. It lasts all day and doesn’t bleed. I have really oily lids and this drugstore version works just fine. I also use a basic black waterproof liner for my waterline.
Mascara: I actually don’t use mascara. I’m blessed with super dark eyelashes.
Concealer: I don’t use concealer very often. In fact, the one concealer I have is no longer made, so I will be on the lookout for a new concealer soon.
Final takeaway: I do like The Creme Shop products that I bought. I am happy with the eyeshadow payout. That being said, I picked up a neutral palette. The more pigmented shadows might have a different result. I am going to buy another palette and try it out. Yes, the packaging is what sucked me in, but I also really like the products. They’re cheap enough to try out. Just because it works for me doesn’t necessarily it will work for you. So many things go into play such as skin type. What lasts a long time on me may not be the same for you. Is it comparable to MAC or MUFE? No. Not by a long shot. Is it great for a quick look? Absolutely!
Filthy Casual for Life 