Review: Lumene Liquid Eyeliner

I was really thrilled to try out the Lumene Liquid Eyeliner (Finnish brand) which I was able to buy for only 6.25 Euros at the Tallink ferry during my trip in June 2013 from Helsinki to Stockholm. Outside the ferry, the tube retails for 12 Euros a piece. Now guys, Lumene is not available in Asia so I am really using it minimally but stylishly :-P

Here are my positive reviews:

1. It is very easy to blend. It goes on wet but does not dry into a flake.
2. The tip is very pointed and firm that you can really make a nice wing-tip on your eyes. It can also line your eyes very thinly as you wish.

3. It doesn't dry from within the tube, considering I've had this for 5 months, and been using it everyday, alternating from brown and black. I love both colors. The brown has a little brick red tint which still runs dark on the eyes. The black one does not look scary black at all even in the morning when I use it.
4. This formula does not flake even after 12 hours. It is an all-nighter liquid eyeliner in my experience, yet easy to remove with facial wash and water.


Calling Lumene brand, please make this available in Asia!!!! I have yet to try your other products :)

Review: Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara (Reformulated)

I was raving about my first Big Fatty Mascara from Urban Decay. Before you read on, you can check out my review on the original formulation by clicking on this link:
http://kenoshasays.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-have-found-my-favorite-mascara-urban.html

This post is about my review on the reformulated version which I have been using from July-December 2013.

I have only one issue with the original formula: Its oil-based consistency is not suited for tropical weather as it barely dries up. It might take a while before you are smudge-proof. And a hot humid weather is not helping on that part. This new formula has addressed that indeed, and what joy it was to try! You can really notice the difference that formula #2 does not really dry up to a clump BUT it is not oily/wet at all. I was really sold the first few days I tried it, thinking wow, Urban Decay really does it this time.

However, here are a some of the stuff I have realized that makes me still use my very old tube (formula #1) right after using mascara formula #2 (kind of like combining it):
1. Biggest problem: it flakes. Seriously it does. It can't be an all nighter mascara because between its 9th-12th hour, it is guaranteed to drop off...whether in powder form or worse, in flakes. The worst was when I felt it go inside my eyes and I was really trying to take it out and wondering where the irritant came from. My only bet was the mascara because my Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes (at least the ones I usually use) rarely ever fall out after blending. I was also using a Lumene (Good reviews on Lumene here: http://kenoshasays.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-lumene-liquid-eyeliner.html) liquid eyeliner then, plus I do not use eyeliners to tight line my lids. It is just something I cannot do because the pores of my lids are quite sensitive.

2. The brush is not as good as the first version. It does not separate the lashes. They are not as bad as the other mascara brushes BUT they are not at par with the brush of the first version of Big Fatty. That was "Holy Grail mascara brush".

3. My lashes are pretty thick and long, so I need a good formula that wont clump. Formula#1 does not at all, even after so many applications. Formula #2 clumps on the 3rd application.

4. It does thicken and lengthen as it claims, but you need a few strokes to achieve this, which MAY lead you to clumping, so be careful.

I think this mascara works best with thinner lashes to create volume and length, and for those who have thicker lashes, you may want to limit to a maximum of 3 strokes. I noticed that when I put it on my lower lash line, it really works my eyes into a baby doll look. My lower lash lines are longer than average but not as thick us my upper lash line so I really like putting this formula #2 underneath the eyes.

I don't know if Urban Decay will still launch another Big Fatty mascara version but I'd pick the first one still, that is if it will ever be available.

A Photo Blog of my Laplands Tour in the Midsummer of 2013

Over the course of midsummer 2013, I had the opportunity to take a road trip from Northern Finland to Northern Sweden, then Northern Norway, and back to Finland. Here are some splendid shots of the tour. The goal is to give you an idea of what to expect in taking a road trip way up north!

We took the train from Jämsä, Finland until Tampere. From there, another train to Rovaniemi where our car rental from Hertz is parked. Next we set off for Sweden but with a short coffee stop at Pello.

On the way to Kiruna, but still in Finland area, I spotted my first ever reindeer!!!

Reaching Kiruna, Sweden, we went off to take the tour of the mining museum!

We spent an overnight at Kiruna in a very lovely lakehouse called Camp Alta.
Address: Jullebovägen, 2, 982 92 Kiruna Sweden
Phone: +46(0)706529374
email: campalta@campalta.net
website: www.campalta.net
Facebook: campalta (https://www.facebook.com/campalta.kiruna?fref=ts)

Barbecue area by the lake...lovely!

Sauna Area which may be reserved by a group of 4-6, there is a bigger Sauna area too

The following day, we were back on the road to see more of swedish laplands

And then finally, reaching Lofoten area of Norway!!!

Svolvær has a really nice sweet and laid-back appeal..The kind of place that is not too crowded yet modern.. It is one of my memorable places in this trip, next to our stay in Camp Alta, Kiruna.

We stayed for about 3 days in Lofoten area, taking the cruise tour and checking out some museums. Do not dare miss Magic Ice! Even if it means you can only stay for 30 minutes inside, it is still an experience!

Svolvær

That's it for the LofotFjord Cruise, moving on to other sites near and around Svolvaer area:

Oldest Church in Lofotn

Viking Museum

Boats of the Vikings

Having dinner at Henningsvær fishing village

Inside Magic Ice, they serve you cocktails and shots in ice glasses!

Magic Ice

 We left Svolvær after 3 days and headed back to Finland..but making a quick stop over at Bardu in Troms county, Norway to get into the Polar Zoo.

That's salt the albino bear! She's a darling, although my Finn friends beg to disagree! :-P

 Then I needed to prove that I have reached the tip and took a photo of this spot in Skibotn...

Skibotn

Stepping on Skibotn, the most northern part of the world that I will ever be!

So on the way back, we are heading on to the connection of Norway and Finland in the North where we where able to skip driving along Sweden's road. We stopped over Kilpisjärvi and Sodankyla and there I found more reindeer!!! You know guys, a reindeer is a mythical creature to me (or maybe to most people from South East Asia) so I am so delighted to find them all over Northern Finland :)

Sodankyla Finland

On our way to Kulta Museo,in Tankavaara , Sodankyla.

Suunto watch inside Kulta Museo Tankavaara

Ready to do some gold panning??? :)

The kid in me was delighted to see Santa is celebrated here, despite the European movies showing Santa as a wicked monster who steals (and eats?) naughty children.

I crossed the Arctic Circle!!!!

Inside Santa Village

And we are back to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa...

 At this point, we are returning the Hertz car at the parking lot of Rovaniemi train station, taking the train back to Tampere then to Jämsä, Finland.

This was a wonderful road trip and the longest I have ever had in my life! We traveled from July 1-9, 2013. It was a great experience and I am very thankful to my sponsors (friends) who have made this happen! :)

My most memorable parts of this tour:
1. Camp Alta Lakehouse - get lost in the view. They gave us the most wonderful cottage beside the lake!
2. Svolvaer - short drinks and walking around the plaza, plus the Lofoten ferry tour was very nice for photography!
3. Kilpisjärvi - we stayed at Hotel Kilpis and had an awesome time having licorice drinks and more