I Dew Care Thirst Things First Revitalizing Vitamin C Mist Mask review

After having a great experience with face mists, specifically, Korean facial mists, I couldn't pass on this product! This mist retails for $29 (CAD)

Production Description: 

아이듀케어 써스트 띵스 퍼스트 I DEW CARE THIRST THINGS FIRST

Take skin from dull to dewy in just one spritz with this refreshing, bi-phase mist-mask featuring a water base formulated with Vitamin C-rich pomegranate extract and a moisturizing layer made with lemon peel oil.

DISTRIBUTED BY Memebox Corp. San Francisco, CA 94103

MADE IN KOREA

Benefits: 

• A Vitamin C brightening serum with a lightweight, jelly-like formula that gives skin a plumper look.
• Infused with nourishing Vitamin C to boost radiance, improve skin tone, and protect against environmental stressors. As well as Vitamin E and B5 conditions to help replenish moisture levels and relieve dryness. 
• Enriched with antioxidant-rich grapefruit extract to reduce visible signs of premature aging over time.

Ingredients:

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Seed Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tromethamine, Sodium Citrate, Cyanocobalamin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Menadione, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Thiamine HCl, Fragrance.

Directions:

Use throughout the day to take the complexion from dull to dewy

1. Shake the bottle to mix the oil and water into an emulsion. 

2. Close the eyes, then mist onto the face and neck daily.

As an alternative:

Use at night as a leave-on mask.

 impressions:

• has a very light lemony scent (but disappears in a matter of seconds)
• very refreshing (face felt plump)
• very light (no oily residue)
• spray dispenses product in a vertical line

I was a little disappointed that since it contains vitamin C, it is in a clear bottle (making the product vulnerable to sunlight and being spoiled) so I have saved its box and kept the bottle in the box right after I finish spraying my face with it.

I really like this spray, it makes my face feel very plump. I recommend applying a moisturizer afterward though. This spray paired with a moisturizer keeps your skin very happy and plump.... but without a moisturizer, I feel the moisture leaving my face within half an hour. A moisturizer will help lock the spray's goodness (e.g. vitamin C, oils, antioxidants, etc) into your skin allowing them to stay and penetrate not only the surface but also underneath.

This spray has definitely made my skin glow, dewy and plump... I highly recommend it!

Score: 9.2/10
Website: https://idewcare.com/products/thirst-things-first?_pos=6&_sid=fedbb6fa3&_ss=r

1 Day Acuvue define vivid style contact lenses review

packaging of 1 Day Acuvue Define Vivid tyle

I can't believe I didn't post this! I thought I did... but turns out it took this long to realize I haven't. This was written on September 3rd, 2014, and has been lightly edited for clarification and new findings. I also apologize for the lack of quality in pictures because I took these pictures with my Sony Experia phone.

(2014) I have been always intrigued and flirted with the thought of using contact lenses. These are the first coloured contacts I have used and I have loved them ever since, this is not to say I don't have anything to complain about, but they do keep my eyes on the happier side. 

I decided to use Acuvue because they are a bigger contact lenses brand (more trustworthy) and my first pair of contacts were Acuvue (Acuvue Oasis). I have had a great experience using their products (base curves, material, etc) and since most people have complained about coloured contacts (giving them terrible irritations, infections, etc) I wanted to go with a brand I could trust. 

the look and my experiences

I also prefer these because of the subtle look (work-friendly). I like how they slightly enhance your eyes. So if you are going for a drastic look, these will not be right for you. A close friend was hanging out with me the other day, (while I was wearing these contacts) and she kept staring at my eyes and she said she couldn't pinpoint what it was, but I looked "artificial" to her 😂 when I told her she did her "ah-ha", she thought my expressions were a little off (because the contacts didn't allow my eyes to be as "expressive" as I usually am and my iris looked slight... stranger (this friend is in ophthalmology, so she might have more experiences with iris shapes and sizes)

what do these contact lenses look like in their packaging

(2021) I've been in Tokyo for too long and the pandemic has made me slightly confused as to which colour lenses are trending. Throughout the years, I have had the chance to use other colour contacts (Japanese types) and all have given me positive experiences. (If I get the chance, I might do a review on them later). I have to emphasize that I have only chosen brands I could trust.

I have been using these Acuvue contacts for over 7 years and here are my impressions.

impressions:

• they move around quite a bit (I wish they had more base curves to choose from)
• there is no indication of the proper side (e.g. 123) - more on this below
• they are very thin and comfortable (once they have settled in your eyes)
• they provide a very nice enhancement (this is good if you are into the subtle look)
• if you turn your head too quickly, though, the edge of the coloured contacts might interfere with your vision (nothing serious, just a slight blurry edge)
• these lenses dry up easier than non-coloured contacts, I usually start feeling dryness at 10-12 hours of wearing them, but this can be fixed with adding a few eyedrops into your eyes)

putting them on

one of the things that annoyed me the most is that there is no indication of whether your contact lenses are inside out or not. They say it looks like a bowl, but because of the thinness of the material, sometimes it is not as obvious. I also didn't like how (because of the thinness) the lenses cupped too much water making it difficult for the already shallow lenses to put on.

The other indication they provide is the "wrong" side will feel very slippery and move (it won't affect the way you see but you will feel very uncomfortable).  AND! I wanted to emphasize that since the material is so thin, there is a huge chance that the contact lenses got flipped before you touch the contact lenses, so you really have to eyeball it and guess whether it is the right way or not.

you can subtlety see how one eye (the right side) has the contact lenses on

2021 me thinks this picture might not be as obvious.

So here is an updated one:

you can see clearly how my eye on the right is a bit magnified and bigger because the iris is slightly enhanced. Also, notice that different lighting will make the contacts slightly more obvious than others.

both eyes with Vvid Style contact lenses

keep in mind if you are matching makeup with these contact lenses, you need only use warm colours (e.g. gold, purple, red, etc)... I tried using cold colours to match these contact lenses and they turned out terribly.

contact lenses

Please note that all coloured contacts dry up easily (compared to regular contact lenses), this is one of the better coloured contacts I have used (I have used others that dry up quicker, 5-6 hours of use) but they still dry up easier than regular contacts, it would be wise to bring along some eye drops because you will most likely need them. 

score: 9.5/10

website: https://www.acuvue.ca/contact-lenses/acuvue-define-1-day

Heijin Black Gold Rice Cracker (黑金鍋巴) review

黑金鍋巴

I wanted to try was this crab roe and salted egg flavour because I love both! After doing some research, I discovered that this is/was trending on the Chinese internet. 

黑金鍋巴 details

These "crackers" are actually overcooked rice that becomes crispy and forms at the bottom of traditional Chinese rice clay pots. These are cheap and healthy snacks that the Chinese enjoy. 

I love scraping the Chinese rice pots whenever we make clay pot rice dishes so I was very very excited to try this!

individually packaged

 impressions:

• why are these sweet? 
• no crab roe taste, salted egg is barely there
• rice cracker has a nice crispiness
• why are the rice crisps black
• individually packed to maintain crispiness

I enjoyed the crispy rice/cracker taste but was confused as to why salted egg and crab roe end up being sweet. I didn't like the sweet taste, I felt it ruined the taste. I will be looking for other flavours and hopefully, they will taste better. 

I have a love-hate relationship with the individual packages because the quantity is compromised (there were only 6 of these crackers inside) and it is not environmentally friendly. However, I understand that they are there for convenience (these crackers can get very crummy and messy) and to preserve their crispiness. 

score: 7.5/10

website: no website

I'Milky Peanut and Sesame Milk Ice Cream Stick with Boba review

小農沐白 花生芝麻牛奶珍珠雪糕

My tastebuds instantly knew they wanted this the moment I saw these! This is from a Taiwanese brand called I'Milky. This is a peanut milk and black Sesame milk ice cream bar with boba. 

actual product

The peanut milk is on top and the black sesame milk is on the bottom. The sweetened boba is only on the sesame milk side. Both the peanut milk and black sesame milk are not sweetened. I liked how less sweet it is... but if you have a sweet tooth, you might not enjoy it as much as I did (the boba is the only ingredient that is sweetened and makes the bar sweet).

 impressions

• the peanut milk has a strong Asian mild peanut taste
• the sesame milk has a strong black sesame taste (but not sweet)
• the boba is the only agent making the popsicle sweet
• the boba is very VERY sweet and unlike "real" boba, it is very soft and a bit slimy

I would recommend this if you do not have a sweet tooth but enjoy (Asian) peanut and black sesame taste. I stress Asian for peanuts because Asian peanuts have a less "peanutty" taste compared to "western" or "North American" peanuts (if you are looking for something like Kraft's/Jif's creamy peanutty taste, then you will not enjoy the peanut milk side)

That being said, I liked it because, without the sweetness, I was able to fully enjoy and explore the black sesame taste and peanut taste... I liked how the boba's gave me a nice sweet touch which paired really nicely with the black sesame.

Score: 8.8/10

Website: no website

keywords: 小農沐白 花生芝麻牛奶珍珠雪糕

Philong Tempura Shrimp Heads Snack review

Shrimp heads have also been one of my favourite parts of a shrimp. If cooked right, I like to indulge the heads in full. I found these at my local super market and had to try them! 

There isn't a lot but there is enough to satisfy my craving. I made sure the first ingredient is shrimp heads. 

impressions:

• the heads are smaller than expected
• all the heads have been gutted and cleaned
• there is a very satisfying crispyness to each shrimp head/bite
• the savoury seasoning makes it taste so good :P
• it doesn't seem like a lot, but it is enough to satisfy one's craving
• it pairs nicely with beer :D

I love them! I am so glad I found them and I will definitely be stocking up on more. Each bag is $3.00 CAD... and contains approximately 40 small shrimp heads. I wish the shrimp heads were a bit bigger though. 

score: 10/10
website: http://philongfoodexport.com.vn/en/product/crispy-shrimp-heads/crispy-shrimp-heads--original--40gr.html

McCafe's Peppermint Mocha short review

McDonald's Peppermint Mocha in their holiday cup

I'm so sorry it took this long to write about this Peppermint Mocha... I was planning to and then I got distracted by the holiday season (with Black Friday, Cyber Monday sales, and such 😞) That being said, as I'm writing, I checked McD's website, and thank goodness, it is still available! (apologies in advance for any grammatic, typos, spelling mistakes, I'm rushing through this short review to make sure it is published before this drink disappears from their menu)

McDonald's Peppermint Mocha with peppermint bits

Firstly, for those who don't know what is a mocha, it is a blend of coffee and chocolate. (You will either like it or hate it)... in my case, I prefer hot chocolate to mocha. (but this is irrelevant... haha).

This is McD's description of the drink:

A cozy peppermint mocha made with espresso beans that are sustainably sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms, steamed whole or nonfat milk, peppermint chocolate syrup, and topped with whipped topping and chocolate drizzle. The perfect holiday drink for warming up to chilly weather, with rich chocolatey and refreshing mint flavor.

impressions:

• minty (but not overpowering) 
• mintiness made drink seem sweeter than it really is (a good thing)
• addicting
• good chocolate/coffee ratio (but I still wish it was either or)
  
• didn't contain a lot of sugar yet sweet (pro for most of us)
  
• creamy, the whipped cream was already blended with the drink by the time I got home

I liked this drink! It is my first Peppermint Mocha, but it will certainly not be my last. I loved how the mintiness gave a false sweeter-than-it-really-is taste, and the peppermint really made me enjoy this mocha more than I thought I would. The coolness gave the drink some depth (it was hot) so I could feel the different levels of taste.

score: 8.4/10
website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/mccaf-peppermint-mocha-small.html

SHEGLAM Lip Service Scrub Set review

SHEGLAM Lip Service Scrub Set

 

The winter months are here! My lips are dry as a result of excessive use of my heater. I found this Lip Service Scrub Set on Shein and thought my lips could use some scrubbing and conditioning. This set comes with a lip scrub and a lip mask and it retails for $8 Canadian (approximately $6.50 USD). 

The packaging makes it impossible to take a legible picture

The back gives a product into and the ingredients. I will type out what it says here.

Product intro:

Oh hey there, smooth talker. Score the smoothest, most polished pout with our two-step mask + scrub set. The lip scrub softens and exfoliates dead skin with its vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil formula, and the mask moisturizes and reduces fine lines. Hint: smooth lips = smoother lipstick application!

Zoetop Business Co., Limited, which is based in Hong Kong, is the manufacturer and is made in China.

Instructions:

Use 2-3 times a week

1. apply the lip scrub on dry lips to scrub away the dead skin on lips, let sit for 2-3 minutes then remove with a damp towel then wash off with warm water.  
2. apply the lip mask on your lips and leave it on for 10 - 20 mins. Wash or remove with a towel.
3. apply lip balm or vaseline.

Pout Perfect Lip Scrub

SHEGLAM lip scrub

This has a very heavy artificial watermelon scent. 

It has a weird caramelized sugar texture and once you apply it on the lips, the sugar bits melt onto your lips by the warmth of your skin. The scrub is a bit abrasive but it will not scratch your lips. The "sugar" is much sharper than the sugar you have at home (it is similar to seared sugar coating you find on creme brulees).

This tastes sweet but it has a very bitter artificial sugar aftertaste... I didn't really like it.

I think it did a great job removing the dead skin from my lips (without hurting them). This definitely works better than a homemade sugar scrub.

List of ingredients:

Pout Perfect Lip Scrub: Stevioside, Petrolatum, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, BHT, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, CI 15850, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499. 

Smooth Moves Lip Mask

SHEGLAM lip mask

The lip mask has a soft scent and is not overpowering at all (I find it tough to pinpoint what the scent is). It is very thick. The applicator was very useful when applying. A little goes a long way. I made the mistake of applying it like a lip gloss but then realized you do not need a lot, a bit of the mask is more than enough, you just need to spread it out with the applicator.

The lip mask felt very moisturizing and I felt my lips soften. Although it looks like lip gloss on your lips, I found it is better to not use it as one as the product does not stay properly on the lips and will shift.

List of ingredients:

Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Microcrystalline Wax, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Fragrance, Aqua, BHT, Citral, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol.

Verdict:

I like this lip scrub and mask set. It does a perfect job making my lips smooth. The only downside was how bitter and unpleasant the scrub was. 

score: 9.8/10
website: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-Lip-Service-Scrub-Set-p-2170619-cat-2262.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~lip_20scrub~~~~0

Comparison: Kirkland's Almond Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bars vs Haagen Dazs Vanilla Almond Chocolate Bars

 

I finally got my hands on Kirkland's almond chocolate and vanilla ice cream bars and loved it! Kirkland's version has been very popular because of the cheaper price tag. I went on a lot of community forums and they have insisted that these two are very similar. So I decided to test out Kirkland's version against Haagen Daz's (which I have loved for many many years) for you.

I was surprised as to how identical the taste was... but I noted some key differences. here's what they are:

	Haagan Daz's	Kirkland's
Almond count	a bit more than Kirkland's	______________________
Creaminess of Vanilla	___________________	Creamier and richer than Haagan Daz's, also tastes milkier
Chocolate	___________________	Chocolate is darker and richer than Haagan Daz's
Calories	290 (88 ml)	280 (91 ml)

Taste is subjective... so if having more almonds is what you prefer, then Haagan Daz's Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond bars would be better for you.

If you prefer a creamier, milkier vanilla bar taste and like darker and richer chocolate, then Kirkland's would be your go-to. (I was extremely surprised how Kirkland's version has a lower calorie count! :O)

Price: (in CAD at Costco)

Haagan Daz's Vanilla Almond Chocolate Bars (contains 9 bars per box) $9.49

Kirkland's Chocolate Almond Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bars (contains 18 bars per box) $9.99

edit (November 17, 2021): I checked at Costco today and it seems their prices were raised (possibly because of inflation)

updated prices (as of November 17, 2021):

Haagan Daz's Vanilla Almond Chocolate Bars (contains 9 bars per box) $14.49

Kirkland's Chocolate Almond Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bars (contains 18 bars per box) $14.99

I'll let you decide, but for me (since the almond count doesn't really bother me), I think it is quite obvious that Kirkland's is the clear winner here :D

Let me know your thoughts :D

RW Garcia Sweet Beetroot Crackers review

I was very excited to try these out (I found them at Costco). Beetroots are known for being healthy but I have never been a fan of their earthly taste, so I was very excited to see them being turned into crackers.

The description says these are gluten-free beetroot crackers

RW GARCIA 3 SEED ORGANIC SWEET BEETROOT CRACKERS bring something new to the table. Great with any topping - our nutritious ingredients include Beetroot, stone ground white maize, and a trio of seeds blended together to make a delicious gluten-free cracker. Enjoy!

 These are made in the USA.

Don't be fooled by the name like I was. These sweet beetroot crackers are actually corn chips in disguise. There is 6% of beetroot in these. The ingredients do not raise any red flags though. There aren't preservatives. 

Ingredients: 

Organic stone ground white corn, Organic sunflower oil, Organic beetroot (6%), Organic black sesame seeds (2%), Organic flax seeds (2%), Organic ground paprika, Organic chia seeds (2%), Organic onion powder, Salt. 

There is good nutrition value to these chips, too. Aside from the slightly higher "Fat" content, I was happy to hear that there was a good presence of Protein, potassium, sodium, calcium, and iron. 

impressions:

• taste like regular corn chips
• great for dips (and anything that works well with corn chips like salsa)
• healthy
• not sweet at all

I was a bit disappointed that they didn't indicate clearly that these were corn chips. I wish they warned us instead of letting us find out ourselves when there only contains 6% of beetroot. 

Aside from that, I really like these "beetroot chips", I like how they were able to incorporate beet, flaxseed, chia, flax seeds, and black sesame seeds into the chips (I can see them, but the taste is overpowered by the corn taste).

score: 7.5/10 (for misleading advertisement)
website: https://rwgarcia.com/products/organic-artisan-crackers/

(小林サカムケア) Kobayashi Liquid Bandage review

This is a product I both love and hate,  it hurts but it works. This is possibly one of the best liquid bandages I have used. It does a really great job on bigger scratches and open wounds. 

It is also waterproof and after the initial pain, if you have completely sealed your wound properly, there will be no more pain. You are free to wash dishes, wash your hair, etc. this liquid film will protect your wound from being exposed and will heal it. 

the applicator (which looks like a nail polish brush)

 I really like the applicator, it is a brush and easily controls how much product you "drip" or "brush" onto/into your wound. I found the best way is the fill up your wound (which is extremely painful) and seal it off. The liquid bandage will dry up into a film.

impressions:

• smells like nail polish
• hurts like **** on open wounds
• works very well especially on open wounds and heals right after the hardened liquid peels or falls off
• do not use on eczema!! (I tried and it was a nightmare peeling the film from every piece of flaky skin)

I said do not use on eczema... the only exception when you are using on eczema (skin) is to make sure the film dries only on the crack and nowhere else.

I highly recommend this liquid bandage, it has helped me heal a lot of cuts, cracks, and wounds. And despite the pain and pungent smell (nail polish-like odor), I don't see any issues with this product.

Score: 8.8/10
Website: https://www.kobayashi.co.jp/brand/sakamucare/

Shein Eyeshadow Makeup Palettes review

Shein SHEGLAM eyeshadow palettes

 Shein has been known for their fast fashion but did you know they have a cult following for their makeup? I didn't. It wasn't until I saw an ad that located me in their makeup section that I realize how popular their makeup is. They have their own beauty influencers and there are a few very popular palettes. 

SHEGLAM Afterglow Palette

I am very picky when it comes to makeup because I have very sensitive skin. So far, I only allow Chanel, YSL, and Addiction palettes to touch my face. These are the only ones that give me desired pigments and don't cause rashes or stings.

SHEGLAM ARTISTRY Palette - BURNT

My palettes came with several foam protectors to make sure that the transport will not damage the product. When my Shein palettes arrived I noticed how luxurious they felt and each had a magnetic closing. They were much bigger than they looked in the pictures. The only downside is that none of them had a mirror. 

SHEGLAM COLOR ME CORAL Palette

Based on the size and no mirror, I can safely assume that these are meant to be used at home and not for quick fixes outside. They can barely fit in my clutch. They also do not include any brushes or any spaces to store brushes in the cases.

very well packaged

Here are some of my initial thoughts:

• very pigmented and buttery/creamy consistency
• good colour payoff
• blendable
• very long-lasting (at least 5-6 hours!)
• shimmers (very sparkly ones, not the metallic ones) are bad (e.g. Lift Off)
• no rashes, no stings!
• some colours might look different on you than how it looks on the pan

shimmers like lift-off (from Artistry - Burnt) are moist and my brush and fingers couldn't pick it up (the only one I didn't like)

All of the colours except for Lift Off were good. The colour payoffs were really good and they were long-lasting. I wore the others for over 5-6 hours and I didn't need to touch up! I am extremely impressed.

There is a slight con, though, that some colours appear darker in the pan than they do on your skin. 

Shein eyeshadow palettes are great! I love them and they are super affordable. Each palette is around $10 USD. I haven't looked into what they contained but they did not irritate my super sensitive skin. 

In a later post, I will give a review of each individual palette :)

Overall score: 9.3/10

Websites:
 - SHEGLAM Artistry - Burnt: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-ARTISTRY-Palette-BURNT-p-831312-cat-1863.html

 - SHEGLAM Afterglow: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-AFTERGLOW-Palette-p-1481084-cat-1863.html

 - SHEGLAM Colour Me Coral Palette: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-COLOR-ME-CORAL-Palette-p-2256088-cat-1863.html

Nail Art Stainless Steel Dead Skin Remover Fork review

This has been a life-changer for me. I have been struggling with dead skin that grows on the edges of my nails since high school. When I tried to pick them, it either doesn't budge or when it does, it will create a sharp piece of dead skin...

I decided to give this tool a try and I was amazed as to how it sliced my dead skin like slicing cheese!

Be careful to not get too excited and over slice your skin (like I did...) they will hurt, and sometimes if you skin your dead skin deep enough, it will bleed. 
 

If you want to look for this tool, use these or a combination of these keywords on eBay, Amazon, or Shein: Nail Art Stainless Steel Dead skin remover fork

L'Oreal 8 Second(es) wonder water review

 

so....I've finally got a haircut!!! (yeah!!) I managed to get rid of all the kinks, split ends, and dried-out pieces so my hair is back to how and what it should be! But that doesn't mean my hair care stops there... 

After my haircut, while shopping, I came across this product, L'Oreal 8 Second(es) wonder water. The packaging caught my attention. 

The Product

This is an at-home hair treatment. It only takes 8 seconds to visibly transform your hair from the first use. This product contains moisturizing agents and amino acids. It is formulated to target damaged hair by forming thin layers called "lamellas" that smooth the hair's surface with no weigh down. 

Instructions:

1. Apply directly to wet hair.
2. Massage for 8 seconds.
3. Rinse out, avoiding contact with eyes. 

Frequency of use: Use 2–3 times a week on wet hair after shampoo. 

1 dose for fine to medium hair. 2–3 doses for thick to curly hair. Add 1 more dose if you have long hair.

This product contains 200ml, and each dose is around 20ml, so it is good for 10 uses. 

I have typical thin Asian hair, so a dose is more than enough for me. 

impressions:

• it heats up a little (as the instructions say) 
• I was not a fan of the smell (coconut)
• the product was easy to apply because of the narrow tip applicator
• temporary results

I appreciate that the product heats up (a little). It helps me feel where I have missed a spot and it lets me know that the product is working.

Artificial Coconut scents never worked for me, whether it is skincare, haircare, food, etc. I think something about my natural aura doesn't work well with coconut, so I instantly was a little taken back. But if you like coconut, then go for it!

This product is a bit of a miss. It provides temporary results and they only last for 2 days. It didn't improve my hair nor fix any damages. If you are heading out to a party and in need of having temporary results, then this is the product for you. 

Score: 6.8/10

Website: https://www.lorealparis.ca/en-ca/wonder-water/8-second-wonder-water-lamellar-rinse-out

Shein's Sheglam Starlight Velvet Lipstick - Prophecy review

Shein is known for its cheap clothing and fast fashion but when you dig into their site/app you will notice that they have a significant amount of makeup. I'll be testing out this lipstick today (I bought this with my money, in case you are wondering). Like most of their items, this is cheap, it was only $4! :D

lipstick vs no lipstick

The colour I chose was "Prophecy" and this product has a net weight of 3.5g. Some users on Shein claimed that this is Chanel quality (I'm a bit skeptical on this claim) but with it only being $4 (or less, since they always have discount coupons) I think it was worth a shot.

ingredients

I decided to take apart the packaging so you can see the description easier.

You don't have to dig deep to realize that there are A LOT of ingredients for this tiny lipstick. Please let me know if you see an ingredient that isn't that good or dangerous.

The description:

Achieve that red-carpet vibes lip look with SHEGLAM STARLIGHT Velvet Lipstick! Enjoy long-lasting color that glides on silky-smooth and dries to a nourishing, matte finish that'll have you looking like a movie star. Plus, each pigment-rich shade features a subtle sparkle effect that demands attention.

container, it is plastic

impressions:

• container is plastic 
• it is quite hard to turn up the product
• very creamy when applied
• dries and stays on very well 
• doesn't dry out your skin
• has a light cocoa scent (while in the container) but no scent or taste when applied on lips
• slightly stains skin/lips
• I liked the slight subtle glitter/sparkles that give it a nice touch (but it can also be a con)
• plump effect
• not buildable

one application vs two applications

I can't hide my disappointment when I first took the lipstick out of the packaging and realize it was plastic. I shouldn't complain (given the price) but I had high hopes it would at least be a bit more... metallic. 

The next thing I wasn't impressed with was that it took a lot of effort to turn the lipstick to get the product out! It will stay that way for a long time.

I have used my fair share of cheap lipsticks, but this is one of the better ones. I am quite impressed by how it dries matte and stays on your lips... it is long-lasting (at least a few hours, without eating). 

The glitter/sparkles are what makes it special as well as what makes it cheap-looking. Under certain lighting, the glitter/sparkles will give off a weird "sparkle" exposing the "cheapness" of the lipstick. 

I wouldn't say it is comparable to Chanel, because while it doesn't dry out your lips, similar to Chanel, it doesn't moisturize them either. Chanel's lipsticks moisturize your lips. It is also not buildable, but I am quite happy with this purchase, for the price point and quality, the ROI is extremely worth it.

Score: 9/10

Website: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-STARLIGHT-Velvet-Lipstick-Prophecy-p-846232-cat-2049.html

McDonald's Creme Brulee Donut short review

This is a continuation of my McDonald's Donuts Short review. I'm making this review because they have recently launched a new donut!

Creme Brulee Donut

After the first bite, I realized why this is called a Creme Brulee donut. The vanilla glaze is covered with a layer of crunchy, sharp sugar cookie pieces. I was surprised how it wasn't overly sweet, despite the amount of sugar it contained. It adds a very nice texture to the donut. It also acts as the creme brulee sugar glaze.

The filling contains a nice creme brulee cream. It works very well with the glaze on the outside. They compliment each other by making the outside crispy and the inside soft.

This is probably one of my favourite donuts so far. I highly recommend it and I hope it stays for good!

website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/crme-brle-lil-donut.html

Comparison: Starbucks PSL vs. McDonalds PSL

Starbuck's

Yeah for the season of Pumpkin Spice Latte! This is probably one of the few things I look forward to for Autumn/Fall every year (I dread the cold).

Traditionally, I drank Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte to mark the end of summer, and this year, I learned that McDonald's is offering their version of Pumpkin Spice Latte too! (I'm not sure whether they had offered it before... though).

 To make this comparison fair, I ordered them both as they are (no added sugar, no enhancements)

Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte

Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte

There is no doubt that Starbuck's is a Fall/Autumn staple, so here are some impressions I have drawn up in regards to comparison:

• has a strong bitter coffee aftertaste 
• slightly stronger nutmeg
• slightly thicker
• orange looking drink

I'm surprised these were probably the only differences my mouth felt and tastebuds felt.

McDonald's Pumpkin Spice Latte

McDonald's

Honestly... when I first had my first couple of sips, my brain was confused... they are both very similar in taste with a few exceptions. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte with whipped cream

notable differences:

• slightly sweeter
• no bitter aftertaste
• a bit runnier than Starbuck's
• looks like their other lattes

McDonald's PSL whipped cream mixed

I am quite impressed with McDonald's PSL, despite using more artificial ingredients, it tastes very similar to Starbucks... if you are looking for a substitute for Starbucks, then McDonald's would be a fair choice.