
5/30/10
Winner of the Bioelements Skincare Giveaway! + Long weekend with Flight of the Conchords & Beard Papa's

5/18/10
Bioelements Skincare Wardrobe Giveaway! + My Fave Beauty Tip of the Moment
Can you believe it? It’s been a year since I started my blog! To celebrate, I’d like to revamp your skincare routine! Get your skin in tip-top summer shape with Bioelements, one of my favorite skincare lines. (1) blog follower will be randomly chosen to win a Bioelements skincare wardrobe worth $250. The lucky winner will speak one-on-one with a Bioelements Esthetician about his/her skintype, skincare concerns and select their ideal skincare wardrobe.
How to qualify:
- Be a Brilliant Farmgirl’s Beauty Secrets™ blog follower!
- For an additional 3 entries in the drawing, share your favorite beauty secret! It can be anything pertaining to skincare, makeup, health and fashion. Simply leave a comment with your beauty tip of the moment.
That’s all there is to it! Contest will close on 5.29.10 at 11.59pm PST and winner will be announced by 5.30.10. This giveaway is open to all U.S. Residents (For international blog followers: most of my future giveaways will be open to all, so stay tuned!). If winner is under 18, parental consent will be requested.
5/11/10
Drugstore alternatives for my makeup must-haves
Not long after sharing my go-to beauty stash with you all, I left for a last-minute trip and forgot to pack my blue beauty stash bag. Now, I’m known for being an absentminded packer, often forgetting essentials like socks and underwear (gasp!). But when it comes to my beauty stash, I check and double check. Not only does it contain beauty necessities like mascaras and SPF powder, it also holds my skincare arsenal. Unless I’m begging for a face full of rashes and pimples, I absolutely cannot subject my skin to drugstore or department store skincare products. Ok, so maybe I’m being a tad melodramatic, but I wasn’t thrilled about dealing with bad skin while traveling.
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Pressed Powder SPF 16 in Translucent: If you’re interested in mineral makeup and only have access to drugstores, I highly recommend that you check out this entire line. Not only do they have a full range of mineral face and eye makeup, the texture is high quality. Even though they all contain mica, an ingredient that usually make me itch, the mica in these products does not induce itchiness. I first bought the loose version of this. It was velvety smooth going on but the lightest shade was still too dark for me. The pressed version still has the velvety smooth texture, it is more matte and glides on like a creamy powder. You can really pile this on and not feel cakey, which makes it ideal for touch-ups. The physical SPF 16 is such a plus. My only reservation about this product is I don’t know if Physicians Formula uses micronized minerals (which should be avoided). I have reached out to PF about this and hopefully I’ll have an answer for you guys by today. Tip: Physicians Formula always includes a signature crappy brush with their face powders- please keep this away from your face. It is rough and does not do this powder justice. You’re better off buying some smooth cotton squares and storing it in the convenient brush compartment for hygienic applications. Edited to add: Finally received news about whether PF Mineral Wear uses micronized minerals- Yes, they do. This is unfortunate news for me as I was really liking this powder. I think I'll keep this as a back-up, perhaps I'll store it in my luggage in case absentmindedness strikes again.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black: I knew there are currently no drugstore polymer liquid liners so I wanted to find a stable liquid liner that is dark, performs well, stays all day and washes off with no residue left on my lashline. This one passed the test with flying colors. I just recently began winging my lines and its sponge tip does it with ease. One downside: I get extremely oily around my eyes and while the line stays perfectly intact on my upper lashline, it does transfer a bit onto my under eye area. People who don’t have freakishly oily skin should be fine though.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Eyeliner in Black Night: I usually like to smoke out my eyes with a little bit of grey or charcoal eyeshadow. After buying and returning several, I realized that the pencil I keep in my purse is better than any of the dark eyeshadows I tried. This pencil is fairly soft so it performs almost like a jumbo pencil. It’s in a base of jojoba oil and beeswax so it is going to fade and crease after a while, but it fades and creases in the most natural-looking way, making your eyes look like it’s naturally shaded.4/28/10
My Beauty Stash + Farmgirl Beauty Secrets #22, #101, #111 and #45!
- Farmgirl Beauty Secret #22: Do you continue to breakout even though you can’t find the culprit within your skincare regimen? Your brushes could be the problem. I find that no matter how often I wash my powder brushes, I still breakout from using them. For that reason, I rely on Asian cotton squares to apply my mineral powders on a daily basis. This is a great alternative for people with highly reactive skin as it applies powder seamlessly. I keep my cotton squares in this nifty Q-tip travel container.
- 100% Pure Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer: I’ve been using this as a contour powder. It works amazingly as it contains no orange undertones.
- Complete Cover Concealer in Light: This is my daily powder+SPF. It applies flawlessly and acts as a protecting barrier against the environment.
- Farmgirl Beauty Secret #101: For extra lash pizzazz, layer 2 mascaras. Don’t know why this works, but it does! This is why you’ll always find 2 mascaras in my beauty stash. I’m currently layering Clinique Lash Power Mascara and Naris Up Maxigrade Mascara. They’re both tubing mascaras, which applies as a liquid and dries as a solid, polymer tube around your lashes. Tubing mascaras won’t smudge or run and they wash off in neat little tubes when you rinse your lashes in warm water! More on that later.
- Farmgirl Beauty Secret #111: I like to use LipSense Creamy Pink and Pink Champagne to highlight my cupid’s bow. Because is completely budge-proof, the highlight stays on days through eating and drinking.
- Senegence LashExtend: I’m obsessed with makeup that does double duty so I’ve been trying this liquid eyeliner+ lash growth treatment.
- Jane Iredale: 24K Gold Dust in Champagne: This highlighter feigns the most gorgeous glow with real food-grade 24-Karat gold particles! My skin is usually irritated by mica but I remain itch-less with this one.
- Garden of Wisdom PhytoStemCell Serum: My makeup bag contains everything I travel with, so this is a must. When I’m away from home, this is my day and night time treatment. This anti-aging treatment mists on like water so I can use it without touching my face (which is so ideal for germ freaks like me). Its active ingredients also save my skin during suffocating air travel. I’m obsessed with the entire line, really. I went a little crazy buying/collecting their serums so I might do a review on my collection once I try them all.
- Bioelements Multi-task Eye Oil: This multi-tasker is my day and night eye moisturizer when I’m traveling. It’s also doubles as a rich facial moisturizer in a pinch.
- Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Malibu Strip/Pink Sand Bronzer: I don’t typically allow talc in my beauty products but had to make an exception for this absolutely gorgeous palette. These bricks of blond, copper, rose gold and bronze shimmers are wearable as highlighter, eyeshadow, blush and bronzer.
- Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Berry Juicy
: I bought this because I was drawn to the packaging but as you can see it has suffered some light abuse so the packaging is no longer glossy and new. I was also intrigued by this drugstore cheek/lip tint as it contains some fruit pigments. This is limited edition so consider yourself lucky if you can find it.
- BeingTRUE Cosmetics Interference Color-rich shadow in Graphite- I hesitate in recommending this as this poorly textured shadow suffers a severe case of fall-outs and creasing while the color leaves much to be desired. You also have to buy the case separately (which I declined to do so I stuck it in a spare case I have). So why do I use it? Well, blame it on my obsession with treatment makeup. I like that it contains anti-aging Dermaxyl. My search for more sophisticated treatment eyeshadows continues and will be ditching this as soon as I find a suitable replacement- any suggestions?
- Senna Cosmetics Brow Fix in Taupe X: This awesome brow gel comes in the most perfect taupe shade- not too brown and not too grey. My brows are sparse and light, causing a stark contrast to my deep brown hair. When I use this, it doesn’t look like I’ve colored in my brows; it looks like I have brows.
- Rubotan Super Line in 01: This HUGE container of liquid liner comes with the best slanted brush. This is a polymer liquid liner, which utilizes the same technology as “tubing” mascaras. It washes off completely with warm water and slight friction, leaving zero residues between lashes.
- Farmgirl Beauty Secret #45: Use your favorite facial cream to subtly highlight your cheekbones and brow bones without the use of a shimmery highlighter. I dot and blend my Garden of Wisdom Majik Coconut Revival Cream on the heights of my cheeks and brow bones. This uniquely-textured cream absorbs completely into my skin while leaving it with a healthy sheen with no residue. It is originally created for healing acne and I find that I can use this allover my face without feeling greasy or fearful of breakouts.
4/13/10
Farmgirl Beauty Secret #51: MAC LiquidLast Liner is COMPLETELY waterproof.

Despite its fame and highly-touted color selection, MAC has never really impressed me much. Like my skincare, I prefer makeup made of simple, good ingredients and MAC is often the opposite of that. With that said, something compelled me to dissect the ingredient list for MAC LiquidLast Liner and my strong suspicion of it being waterproof proved to be true. Liquidlast is COMPLETELY waterproof AND smudge-proof (don't you just hate the smudges you get w/ "waterproof" eye makeup? they don't budge once they manage to smudge- just horrid!). If you are an eye-lining kind of girl, this is an absolute summer must-have. YES, it will absolutely survive a swim or two. YES, it can double as a liquid eye shadow that's YES, waterproof. Bonus: it is also paraben-free.
4/7/10
Conditioning Dream Team: Shiseido Tsubaki + Living Proof. No Frizz Conditioner
I rarely speak of hair care products and tips- most likely because it’s been a sore spot of mine as I rarely take care of my hair. I haven’t stepped foot into a salon for over 4 years as I’ve been cutting my own hair and I’ve been known to reinvent skincare products to double as “hair care” (See Farmgirl Beauty Secret #17).
And yes, I am Asian. Isn’t beautiful, glossy hair a trait bestowed upon all Asian women? Where’s my gorgeous Asian hair?! I found the answer within my question- If I want Asian hair, I need Asian hair care. So a few months back, I picked up the famed Shiseido Tsubaki Conditioner (white-gold bottle) at my local Japanese grocery store. No, the ingredients are not as clean as I like it to be. If anything, the ingredient list reads like a pretty typical conditioner, which I was kind of bummed about. But I’ve had much experience with true Japanese skincare products (manufactured in Japan using ingredients from Japanese suppliers), I swear they use different grades of ingredients than they do in the states. For example, “Mineral oil” used in Japanese products feels and works better than “mineral oil” formulas in the states, and that applies to many ingredients. It’s the strangest phenomenon and really challenges what I know to be true about ingredients.
Shiseido Tsubaki ingredients (english, but not a complete list- hate it when they do that!):
Shiseido Tsubaki ingredients in Japanese:
Anyways, I gave Shiseido Tsubaki a shot. I’m so glad I did. Upon first use, my hair was softer than it had been in ages. I need only the tiniest bit to condition my long hair- about 2/3 less than what I need with conventional conditioners, to be exact. It really hydrates and softens my hair, but I still felt like something was missing- what does a girl have to do to get hair that swings and bounces like it’s in a Pantene commercial?
I feel like I’m on to something here. By alternating between these 2 conditioners, my hair is improving steadily. It provides the benefits of both conditioners but it doesn’t cost more than using 1 conditioner at a time. Do you alternate between conditioners? Which are your favorites?
Here’s my disclaimer: I write extremely researched reviews after extensive, self-conducted testing. I do not review products I dislike; it's a waste of time and typing skills. This review contains product I purchased and product sent by company due to interest in feedbacks. My first priority is to my readers; company gratis does not guarantee placement. Affiliate and non-affiliate links are provided to inform readers of where to purchase products. All in all, you can be sure that items seen on my website are the very few products that qualify for recommendation after rigorous testing.
3/22/10
Farmgirl beauty secret #6: Use liquid foundation to wipe away eye makeup mistakes or “raccoon eyes”.
This tip is a spin-off of Farmgirl Beauty Secret #10, which is great for mascara mistake removal. #6 is a great tip for getting rid of eyeshadow and liner smears or if you are experimenting with different eyeshadow colors and want to remove the color easily. Simply dip a clean q-tip in your favorite liquid foundation (I like to use Illuminare Fantastic Finish Foundation for this purpose), blot q-tip to remove excess and gently swipe the q-tip where the eye makeup mistakes are. Repeat if necessary.
3/17/10
Winner of the Easy Peasy Farmgirl Beauty Giveaway!
3/15/10
Product-analysis: LipSense in Creamy Pink
Now that I have this baby pink lipstick obsession, I knew I couldn’t count on those lines to provide the color I wanted. I’m no novice when it comes to googling for miracle beauty products. So with my knuckles cracked, I set out to search for this lipstick I envisioned. My search brought me to a brand called LipSense, which is a budge/kiss-proof lipstain. Unlike the Cover Girl/Max Factor version, this doesn’t contain any wax or resin in the formula, rather they’ve suspended a blend of pigments in a base of Alcohol SD-40. Despite the alcohol base, I was very intrigued. I started weighing the pros/cons and decided that having a product that dries and sets for an entire day with the help of alcohol may be a more desirable option compared to applying and ingesting conventional lipsticks all day.
Looking through LipSense Colors brings euphoria reminiscent of being a kid in a candy store, but I was able to buckle down and focus on a color that I thought could compete with my YSL Lingerie Pink: Creamy Pink. When I received the color, the YSL and the LipSense was nearly identical with 2 differences: YSL Lingerie Pink is actually slightly warmer and LipSense Creamy Pink was laced with the finest gold highlighting dust. It’s definitely not shimmery enough to be called “shimmer”. At first glance, you can barely detect the iridescence because the shade is so opaque it looks nearly matte. Only upon closer inspection do you see the gold dust. Wow, it’s truly a beautiful, unique color (how did I not know about the joy of lipsticks before?!). LipSense Creamy Pink becomes an intense bubblegum pink when you apply 3 layers (as the company suggests for all their lipcolors). But I prefer to wear just 1 layer for a sheer baby pink.
As for the effect I was looking for, this is a winner. I apply it the same way I do with the YSL (lipstick on the outskirts of lips; a hint of berry lip tint in the center). It defines and highlights like my YSL Lingerie Pink does, except it stays on the entire day and I never have to re-apply (please don't look too close; I'm still working on my application skills ;P).
Here’s my disclaimer: I write extremely researched reviews after extensive, self-conducted testing. I do not review products I dislike; it's a waste of time and typing skills. This review contains gratis sent by company due to interest in feedbacks. My first priority is to my readers; company gratis does not guarantee placement. Affiliate and non-affiliate links are provided to inform readers of where to purchase products. All in all, you can be sure that items seen on my website are the very few products that qualify for recommendation after rigorous testing.
3/10/10
Skincare Routine Snapshot: What works for my skin.
Skin Description: hypersensitive, mild to moderate rosacea, oily, breakout-prone, dehydrated.
Top Skincare Concerns: My biggest concerns are hydration and anti-aging. Although I rarely get breakouts now, I find that I’m still highly susceptible to breakouts. I’m always searching for products that’ll give me hydration with zero residue and anti-aging benefits without breakouts.
Daytime Routine:
- Cleanse with Acne.org Cleanser
: A no-frills cleanser that is sulfate-free. I’m looking to find something better and cheaper though.
- Treat with Garden of Wisdom Concord Grape Anti-Oxidant Serum: Amazing antioxidant serum to help aid sun and environmental protection.
- Moisturize eyes with Bioelements Multi-Task Eye Oil: I prefer to use oil-based moisturizers in the morning, including around the eyes. This oil-based eye cream has the best ingredients and silkiest texture. I love using this under my mineral powder, the 2 products blends together to make the perfect glowy veil around the eyes.
- Moisturize with Garden of Wisdom Emu Oil: You can buy quality Emu oils from many brands, I just settled on this one because it’s cheaper than most and I order other must-haves from them. I’m sickly addicted to this brand and I keep back-ups of everything I use in the fridge. I’ll be doing a post about why I love using oils as a moisturizer for my acne-prone skin, stay tuned!
- Protect with Mineral Basics Complete Cover Concealer: This 4-ingredients powder works AMAZINGLY as a foundation while providing sun protection. It's so difficult for me to find SPFs that won't break me out so I rely on this as my daily sunscreen product. I'll be doing a more detailed product-analysis on this in the near future.
Nighttime Routine:
- Oil-cleanse with Bioelements Sensitive Skin Cleanser: I am a cleansing oil addict. Of the many I’ve tried, this is THE BEST cleansing oil. It melts off all grime and residue of the day and loosens hardened impurities in the pores. This is also the only cleansing oil that leaves me super clean. The intoxicating aroma makes me feel like I just had a facial- it’s a real treat. Contrary to box directions, I massage this onto DRY skin, tissue some off and rinse.
- Cleanse with Acne.org Cleanser
+cotton balls: Cotton balls are the only type of exfoliation my skin can take. Read about it here.
- Treat and hydrate with Garden of Wisdom PhytoStemCell Serum: Amazing! I can’t really describe it, all I can say is if I can only use 1 skincare product, this would be it. I have back-ups of this in my fridge.
- Treat eyes with Pevonia Timeless Eye Contour: Packed to the brim with potent anti-agers, this is of La Mer/Cle De Peau caliber. When I use this at night, I wake up with my fine lines plumped and diffused. Their eye serums are so worth checking out; they’re at least double the size of other eye treatments.
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