Tubing Mascara Review 3: d.j.v. beautenizer Fiberwig LX review

I was hard pressed not to put the words "a.k.a the perfect way to ruin my HG" in the title, but I think it would be too biased, so I refrained. This is one of those few products that make me feel so primitive. Why? Well, you'll see...

First off, to avoid confusion, this is the current "upgraded" version of the best-selling fiberwig mascara, and the only version that's officially available. My friend told me that there was something akin to panic in the beauty crowds in Japan one day because Imju announced that they are discontinuing their best-selling mascara. Women rushed out to stock up on this mascara, and the next day, Imju announced that they are immediately releasing an updated version of Imju, and many women felt cheated because the return policy is not as good in Japan as it is in the US. Well, I later found out that this story is way exaggerated, but you get the general idea of what happened. 

What's different in this version? 

I'm sure some people are searching for the answer to this question, so I might as well give it to you. :) Fiberwig said it's now without synthetic fragrances and sulfates, and a few other things that shouldn't be in mascaras anyway. There's also supposed to be a few conditioning ingredients added in. This is supposed to lengthen better than the original fiberwig. The brush is also curled as shown in the picture, which was supposed to help with curling. 

Well, that's the official statement. What do I think? After struggling with it for several weeks waiting for it to work, I've given up. Don't get me wrong, this is still a great mascara, but in my opinion, this is not an upgrade of the old version, but a down grade. This mascara still gives me the longest lashes I could get with mascara, but not as long and as easily as the old one does. With this mascara, it's really random when I can get it working well. I've also tried a couple of other things. Adding layers while dry, adding layers while wet, using a primer, applying when lashes are wet.....you name it, I've probably tried it. 

And this is why I feel primitive with this kind of products. How can I not know how to use an upgraded version of a product when I love the old one? Am I that primitive? well... but it does make me feel better that at least some Japanese girls feel the same way I do. 

Fiberwig is now no longer on the top 50 mascaras list on cosme.net whereas it was always within the top 10s and 20s for the past years.

Although I want to go on whining about how they ruined my mascara, I still owe you the review :)

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. Relatively speaking, fiberwig can be said to never smudge (even this new version), except if you rub and rub or wear it into the wee hours of the morning. So an 8.5 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts for around 10 hours before starting to flake and smudge (undetectable smudging really) more. I thought it would be similar to the old fiberwig, and it's almost similar, but it's not as long lasting.  However, it would still be functioning all right, i.e. usable after 16 hours :) So a 8 in terms of how long it lasts. 

3. Flaking: This mascara flakes on me a lot, especially when I apply multiple coats, but nonetheless, it mercilessly flakes on me, sometimes even within an hour of application. I'm not complaining, since flakes are easier to deal with than smudging, but to be fair, this only gets a 3 in terms of flakes on me. It might be better with a primer though. In this aspect, it's exactly the same as the old fiberwig. 
4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me. In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube always dries up before 3.5 months. I think it's all right since you should toss mascara every three months anyway, but this might matter a lot to some. So a 2.5 in terms of longevity. Together, this mascara gets 7.5 in this section. So it's a little better in terms of longevity compared to the old fiberwig. 
5. Application: This is where the mascara freaks me out. I'm sorry, I rarely use words like that, especially when I'm not in the privacy of my own home, but I can find no other words to express my frustration. Just so I'm clear, the old mascara is not perfect in terms of application. I have to spend a good 5 minutes on it if I want to get perfect lashes, but then if I do spend the 5 minutes, I generally do get them. For this mascara, it is in no ways guaranteed. I think it might have something to do with the awkward curved brush and the fact that I can't really apply from the tip of the wand anymore, like I used to with the old mascara. Or it might be the new formula or it might be me, but I get really random lashes. Some long, some short that are really uneven and almost uncontrollable. 

I'm probably making it sound worse than it is. In a pinch, this could work if I am willing to spend 15 minutes on it to do it, take it off, and redo, but I don't have that much time to spare. Therefore, I might have gorgeous lashes one day (like I always do with the old fiberwig), and really uneven lashes the next day. This brush is smaller than the old one, but I found it gets onto my lids even more easily. However, accidental marks on the lids are easy to clean off. You either wait for it to dry and just swab off with a q tip, or do what I do: get some water on a q tip and just swap off. I like to use green tea, which I drink every morning, but just water works just as well. In terms of application, I'd say a 5 since it takes so long and works so random. Don't get me wrong though, you can apply this in 1 minute if you just want a little length or a darkening of lashes. 
6. Length: This is where this mascara behaves best, and where I care most about each mascara other than smudging. I don't have tiny lashes, but they are not long either, so I really really care about length. This mascara gives the most length I've ever seen a mascara give if I take the time to apply it. I can actually use this to get my lashes to reach my brow. However, this does not work as well as the old one. Yes, if I really work on it, I can get the same length, but it takes much much longer and more trials. So a 9 since this is still the most length I get out of any mascara except the old one. 
7. Volume: Fiberwig always gives people the impression of not giving volume, but I didn't mind because I can make the old fiberwig give me volume by layering. This gives much more volume (after layering), but it borders on clumpiness, so it's volume I'd rather do without. So a 6.5 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: If you compare tubing mascaras with regular mascaras, most of them would get a 10 in terms of removal, but since I'm comparing tubing mascaras, I'll make the bar a little higher. The mascara that was easiest to remove (that I've tried) is L'Oreal Beauty Tubes. It really does come off in tubes with lots of warm water (even if your hand never touches your lashes). This mascara needs you to gently touch the mascara before it fully slides off. Not bad, so a 8.5 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: This is the second biggest issue I have with this mascara (the first being application). When I try to layer in order to get the perfect lashes in the morning, this might give me give clumpy lashes. So a 6.5 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. So stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you. I've heard people say that this is actually more sensitive to sensitivity issues than the old mascara. I'll give it a 6.5 in terms of clumping.

This mascara gets a total of 60.5. It doesn't sound that bad, but it makes it seem worse to me because it replaced my HG, and this is far from getting to be my favorite mascara. However, I tried not to let my anger influence my judgement (trust me, I took a month to cool down and trials to share this with you). People like to say that there's a silver lining with every gray cloud. Well, I found my new HG mascara (if you consider it to be a silver lining), and it's quite as good as the old Fiberwig. It doensn't do the exact same thing: it doesn't give the same length, but it does have a few other benefits. Want to know what it is? Well...read on, I'll share it with you in my next or next next review. :) 

Tubing Mascara Review 2: L'Oreal Beauty Tubes

I am sorry for the late update to my tubing mascara review series, but there are going to be around 10 reviews about the popular tubing mascaras. The second one I'm reviewing is L'Oreal Beauty Tubes mascara, and the mascara that is responsible for dragging me into my love affair with tubing mascaras. I think that I probably will us tubing mascaras for the rest of my life. I was strolling through a drugstore, and saw this. I had given up wearing mascara although they give me the length that I desperately needed, because I always end up with panda eyes within a few hours. I saw that this promises no smudging and easy water removal, yet is water resistant. Curiosity won out, and I thought why not especially since it's on sale. 

This mascara is pretty great, but it took me some time to figure out how to apply it. You apply the white end which contains the primer first, and then immediately apply the red end with the mascara inside without waiting for the primer to dry. If the primer dries, this will become really clumpy. I find that most of the length comes from the primer, and the primer also makes the application smooth. Also, for those of you hating primers, the mascara adequately covers the white with just one swipe. 

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. However, L'Oreal Beauty Tubes never smudges on me! Actually, like fiberwig, there might be a tiny bit of almost unnoticeable smudging if it's a really humid long day. However, I'd say that it's less prone to smudge than fiberwig, so I'll give it an 9 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts for around 10 hours before starting to flake horribly, and another 2 hours before it starts getting a little smudging. And if you wait for 16 hours or so, some tubes will fall off. But I'm guessing this is not an issue for most people, wanting mascara to last beyond 10 hours :) So a 7.5 in terms of how long it lasts. 
3. Flaking: This mascara flakes on me, but very minimally. I would say around one flake each hour. When the flakes get into my eyes, it doesn't really sting or hurt, so that's good. After around 8 or 10 hours, it starts flaking horribly to the point that I'd rather not wear mascara than have it flake. So a 5.5 in terms of flaking. 

4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me despite having to cover up the white primer. Don't worry, it is not gray. In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube is still usable after 5 months (not that you would want to use a mascara that long, but anyway...). My friend say it still lasts after 9 months, but I'd be horrified to let it go near my eye. Sorry I'm a freak about such things. So a 4.5 in terms of longevity. Together, this mascara gets 9.5 in this section. 
5. Application: The application is pretty fast, taking around 1.5 minutes for both eyes. I just brush on the primer, wiggle it through my lashes, and then hurry to apply the mascara before the primer dries. I don't apply multiple coats with this mascara because it doesn't really help. Actually the application is pretty perfect for me, the brush not being gigantic. However, I sometimes have to clean up my lids after application. So a 9. 

6. Length: This is where this mascara behaves mediocre. It promises 80% length, but after a year of using it, I can't seem to be able to get that length, however many coats I apply. It gives length, but I would say it's more like 30% to 50%. Now, that's not bad for a mascara, but fiberwig does better, and I need need long lashes. It's like my lashes but a bit longer and plumper. So a 7 for me. 
7. Volume: Some people love this mascara because it's the only tubing mascara that gives volume. This is almost true. The volume is nothing to write home about, just lashes that are a little bit plumper, nothing like Dior show or whichever volume mascara you love. If I have to give it to you in numbers, I'd say the diameter of each lash is longer by 20 to 30%.  So a 4 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: This is the best part. It really slides off neatly in tubes. No rubbing involved. You just step into the shower and off it comes. Or if you wash your face in the sink, 5 splashes will get rid of most of your mascara. It's great, so a 9.5 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: This is not really an issue with this mascara if you know how to apply it. However, if you wait for the primer to dry, or apply a second coat after the first coat dries, hello clumpy lashes! I never get this issue anymore because my brain reacts to this mascara and makes my hands super nimble. So overall, 6.5 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. No stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you. I'll give it a 6 in terms of clumping.

As I add it up, this mascara gets a total of 73.5 out of 100. It's not bad considering my HG only got 71.5. Of course, if I were to calculate the scores for myself, I'd more than double the points I give for length. This is also why I tried to give points for each sector so that you can add it up for yourself, giving each section as much emphasis as you'd like (depending on what's most important to you). However, keep in mind that this score is in relativity to other tubing mascaras. If you want to compare it to general mascaras, I'd add at least 10 points before comparing it. :)

Laneige White Plus Renew Night Cream Review

First of all, I would like to thank Diana for reminding me to review this night cream. I wasn't going to forget reviewing it, but I almost forgot buying a backup for myself while in Korea. I've probably used up two tubs of this, and my third tub is almost empty (I'm scratching the bottom of the tub), and I almost forgot to buy my new tub! So thank you, Diana, for reminding me. 

Sorry there has been few posts recently. I've become a little bit busier in Korea than my first few days. As usual, my company leaves me to myself for the first day to adjust to the time zone (a.k.a going wild shopping for me). I usually do a half day on the second day, normal on the third and fourth, and I might have to stay up some nights during my last few days in Korea. So, as long as I'm not too busy, I wanted to review this.

I love this night cream as I love the entire white plus renew line, but especially this night cream. People has told me that the skin refiner and this night cream is the most effective in giving them whiter skin. Like I said before, I frankly don't know whether it's true because I've always used them together. However, i do notice that I always wake up with glowing skin (given that I get enough sleep) after putting this on, and it kind of heals some of my pimples, not as effectively as BP does, but very gently. BP always gives me redness after leaving it on a whole night, and gives me hyperpigmentation after a pimple heal.

Pros:
1. A little goes a long way. I really just use a pea size for my whole face.
2. Absorbs in 10 minute
3. Gives me glowing soft skin in the morning

4. heals some blemishes

Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries might irritate your skin or your nose

2. If you use it too quickly (i.e. suddenly using it everyday or twice a day), it might be rich enough to give you whiteheads, so be patient when trying to incorporate this (and in my opinion, any skincare product) into your regimen.

3. can be too rich if over applied. 

Overall: Really nice night cream that I will try to use year round. 

P.S. A girl on makeupalley told me that I make almost everything Laneige I review sound magical, and that it sounds a little fishy. Come to think of it, it does, but I really really love Laneige products. The ones I use are my staples, and I think that anything that's less than magical on my skin should not become my staples. However, I would like to take this opportunity to say that not every Laneige item is as magical. i've tried a few, such as its cake liner which dries too quickly, its mascara which smudges, and its cake powder which is really too cakey. I will review them in the future to give you an idea of the Laneige products I didn't love (and provide a sort of alarm bell for you in case you were thinking of buying it). 

Laneige White Plus Renew Essence Review

I arrived in Korea yesterday, so I'm still adjusting to the time schedule. It is early early morning here, but I'm up and thinking about my blog and the reviews I promised :) (well, no malls are open yet or I'd be happily shopping there instead, since it's bound to get busy tomorrow) Everything went pretty well, especially on the plane. I usually get a few pimples, or at least a few bumps on the plane because the air is so dehydrated and hygiene conditions are less than desirable (I don't have the 15 minutes in AM and PM to primp my skin), but I didn't get them this time! I researched the pimples on the plane issue and came up with a few things to do, and I prayed for no pimples. :) I'll share those techniques with you next time in case you'll be traveling. :) 

Anyway, on to the review. I like this essence, but if you've read my skincare regimen, you know that I don't use this daily yet. Well, I actually used this daily for some time in the winter months, and stopped using them since Spring and summer, so I'm trying to slowly ease back into it. So I know this product reasonably well to review it (and if I'm wrong, I'll apologize and update). So far, I really love the essence as I found it's quite efficient in delivering what it promises: moisturizing and lightening dark spots. It also absorbs really fast, so fast that I can't apply it as I do all my skincare products. I like to put some product onto my finger and dot some on my face, and then rub/pat it in. With this product, after I'm done making the last dot, most of the first dot would have absorbed, so I have to work dot by dot. (sorry for the strange vernacular) I found this a little strange at first, but in no ways annoying. It can also actually be pretty good if you are on the go, and need it to absorb the minute you finished applying it.

Pros:
1. Absorbs really really abnormally fast
2. effective at lightening dark spots I get from past acne and BP use
3. makes my skin soft

Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries might irritate your skin or your nose
2. Absorption speed: I personally find it to be a pro, but even I had to adjust my application techniques at first, so it might take some getting used to. 

3. If you use it too quickly (i.e. suddenly using it everyday or twice a day), it might be rich enough to give you whiteheads, so be patient when trying to incorporate this (and in my opinion, any skincare product) into your regimen.

Overall: Really nice serum/essence that I will try to use year round. 

Laneige White Plus Renew Hydrator SPF15 Review

As promised, I am reviewing all the items I use in my skincare. I wanted to do the White Plus Renew lineup first before I do the cleansers and weekly treatments, etc. because I thought this sounds a bit more logical to me. So anyway, this is the review of the Laneige White Plus Renew Hydrator, which is my daytime moisturizer. It looks awfully like the skin refiner I reviewed yesterday, doesn't it? Yes, they are identical except for the little labels on the bottle.
This hydrator is thicker in texture than most daytime moisturizers you'll find. I would say its texture is really similar to a cream. I don't know how to explain this except that when you get a drop out of the bottle, it comes out in a cylinder, and will stay like a cylinder on your hand for around a minute if you don't touch it. This is partly due to how thick it is. I was really wary at first because of this texture and I used really little in fear that it might be too much for me. My skin also wasn't willing to absorb more than a pea sized amount for my whole face at first, so I only applied a little, thinking that the bottle will last me a long time. Eventually, I started applying more because my skin seemed to be a little more used to it, absorbs more quickly and you know, you apply moisturizer until your skin feels comfortable, and that's what I did. I think I doubled the amount I initially used by now, and I got no breakouts. And no, you don't have to use more and more everyday. I think I have been using the same amount for 4 or 5 months now.
I love this hydrator. This absorbs really fast despite the texture, especially when I apply this after the skin refiner (which I always do now). This has SPF 15 in it, and I think I use enough to get 15, but I still don't rely on it for sun protection, because I don't think SPF 15 is enough and because it didn't offer a PA (UVA protection) value. Like the refiner, this has a heavy scent, which I personally find to be great.

Pros:
1. Very moisturizing
2. Absorbs in a flash
3. not runny at all
4. SPF
5. makes my skin feel plump after applying
Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries might irritate your skin or your nose
2. Heavy texture: You might find it too heavy at first, so I suggest using small amounts until your skin is used to it

Overall: I love this product. No skincare item can be absolutely perfect for one's skin unless you customize it, but if I had to choose an already made product, it is this one

Laneige White Plus Renew Skin Refiner Review

I promised to review the white plus renew skincare products that I use a little earlier, so I am going to start now from the toner. It's called skin refiner because Koreans usually call toner by different names like skin refiner or skin softener. This is because they have different ideas of what a toner should do, and I think skin refiner sounds better than toner anyway, certainly more fancy.
This is not the usual consistency of most toners, which would be liquid with a fluid consistency like water. This one is more like a gel consistency, which I found quite pleasant once you are used to it. It's hard to describe the sensation when you apply it. It is rather cooling and pretty moisturizing. Think of aloe vera gel. It's quite similar. One of my readers told me that she actually use the skin refiner as a light weight moisturizer and I can totally see how it makes sense. The gel consistency makes one bottle lasts around 7 to 8 months, which is quite long lasting for me. Someone once told me that of the white plus renew line, the whitening power comes from this refiner and night cream. I don't know whether it's true since I've been using them together and don't plan to separate them.

Like most Korean beauty products, this comes with a pretty jasmine scent which I grew to love. There's quite a bit of a debate about how to use Korean and Japanese toners since they come in sizes that is similar to the moisturizers, and whether it should be used on a cotton pad. I think that it is best applied when you shake some out of the bottle onto your palms and then pat into your face (since Korean toners aren't meant as a catchall last step to cleansing). But here's a big confession, I use it on a cotton pad directly after cleansing. Why? Well, I don't like to wipe off the water off my face after cleansing. I like to let it just sink in. It would be better if you pat dry, but i usually don't have the time. I just wipe my moist face with the refiner on the cotton pad. This sort of prevents any wasting of the product since my face is moist and the cotton pad is more likely to absorb the water on my face than the gelish content of the refiner.

A few reader told me that she likes my bullet point kind of review so that they can skip all my blathering if they want to :) So:

Pros:
1. Very moisturizing for a toner
2. Very soothing: I never really learnt what people mean when they say a product is soothing until I used this product
3. Very smooth application
4. Lightening fast absorption
5. I think it makes my moisturizer absorb better/faster
Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries might irritate your skin or your nose
2. Gel texture: I think it's a pro, but it can be a con at first when you are not used to this type of toner

Overall: I love this product. No skincare item can be absolutely perfect for one's skin unless you customize it, but if I had to choose an already made product, it is this one

My skincare regimen

Many of you have asked about my skincare regimen. I am very flattered that you want to know. I cannot say that  my skincare regimen is absolutely perfect or that is absolutely suits me, because I think that I can't accomplish that with commercialized products, no matter how expensive they might be. Regardless, I thought maybe I should share my regimen with you.
First off, it might help knowing what kind of skin I have. I have mostly normal skin with a slightly oily area around the nose. I have rather light skin, and I am happy with the color. Unlike most people nowadays, I want clear translucent skin that's white white white (but not an unnatural kind of white, just my skin color at birth that is not the least bit tanned).
Now on to the regimen. I use mostly Laneige products right now, even though I used Mamonde products for many years before I finally switched to Laneige. Mamonde is like a brand that costs half as much as Laneige, and is more basic. It was pretty ideal for my young skin.

AM:
Cleanser: I alternate between a clean and clear BP cleanser, a clean and clear SA cleanser, and Laneige's foaming professional cleanser. I am trying to eliminate the BP cleanser from my regimen because I found it causes hyperpigmentation after each pimple heals on me. I'm trying to slowly decrease the use of that cleanser until i don't need it. I will post how it goes because I know going off BP and SA cleansers are difficult moves, but moves that will benefit some skins in the end.

Toner: Yes, I use toner. I am not sure whether it's necessary, but I like the idea of it balancing my PH value. I use the Laneige white plus renew toner.

Moisturizer: I use the Laneige white plus renew daytime hydrator with SPF 15, although I don't rely on it for SPF.

Treatment: I'm trying to introduce the Laneige White plus renew essence into my regimen, but again, changing just a little of your regimen should be done slowly if you don't want to risk reactions. I found that the essence is a little rich, so it might give me some whiteheads as I start to use it, so I'm using it one to two times a week to slowly introduce it to my skin. I plan to use it daily eventually, at least in the colder months when skin is dryer.

SPF: I use the Laneige SPF 41 PA++ sunblock on most days and SPF 50 PA+++ sunblock when I know I'm going to be outdoors a lot. I touch up with the Laneige powder sunscreen 15 minutes before I go outside. It also controls some oil on my face.

Facial makeup: I made the conscious decision to not use makeup base or foundation even though they give some a glow to my face. I don't use them daily, but whenever there is a special occasion, I go with my trustworthy Laneige dual base and white plus renew foundation. There is one exception to the rule though. Whenever I test BB creams or products for review, I use them exclusively for two weeks or so.

PM:
My night time regimen is pretty simple.
Makeup remover: If I'm just wearing sunblock, I don't use a makeup remover. However, when I'm testing BB creams or wore foundation for any special occasions, I remove makeup with Laneige oil free makeup remover. It is similar to a cleansing oil but thicker in consistency, and I feel safer because it's oil free. I'll review this soon if you are interested.
Cleanser: I made the transition half a year ago into using Laneige Multi Cleanser. It makes my face squeeky clean, which can be drying at times, but I immediately follow with toner and moisturizer. Just in case you were wondering, I was using the clean and clear BP wash and SA wash before I made the transition.
Toner: I use a toner that I make myself, and I am 100% satisfied with it. I think one day, I might make my own skincare for myself (and not for commercial use) so that I can know all the ingredients that goes into it, and enjoys the peace of mind.
Moisturizer: I used to use no moisturizer at night because I thought I don't need it, but I found doing cleanser, toner and moisturizer in the morning and at night is better for my skin. I use the Laneige White plus renew night cream. I love it, and I'm about to pick up more this time in Korea.

Weekly treatments: When I finally get off BP completely, I will use Laneige's strawberry yogurt peel, but right now, my skin doesn't need any more exfoliation. I will follow up with some homemade strawberry yogurt.

Oh and I just realized that I haven't actually reviewed my beloved skincare items yet, but don't worry, I will very soon.