What is toner?

For a while now I've been wondering what toners are and if I should get involved with them. I'm by no means an expert, but I've tried doing some research and decided that I'd try to put something together that might help some of you!

What is a toner?
     A toner is another step in your skin care regimen. You use it after cleansing and it generally comes in a liquid form. Some need to be shaken up to mix the separated chemicals inside. You apply it on a cotton pad an sweep an even layer on your face. They can remove excess makeup, minimize the appearance of pores, remove excess oil, lock in moisture and even reduce the appearance of acne.

Not all toners serve the same purpose

• Toners for dry skin act to lock in the moisture of the cleanser you use. It helps to reduce the amount of moisturizer you would normally need to use. These work well with milk cleansers.
• Toners for oily skin act to remove any residue that might create more oil on your face. Be sure to look at the label on products. If you're a dry skin tone and use something meant for oily skin tones, it will actually make your skin even drier than it already is! Not good.
• Toners for combination skin act to hydrate areas that are dry (ie. cheeks) and remove excess oils leftover from areas that are oily (ie. T-zone, or forehead, nose, chin).

Alcoholic components in toners

     Toners may contain a certain amount of alcohol while others may not. It would be a good habit to check the contents of the product to see how much alcohol it may contain.

• Fresheners contain little to no alcohol. They're gentler on the skin and are better for sensitive or dry skin tones. 
• Tonics are the middle ground. They contain a small amount of alcohol (up to 20%). They cover a wide range of skin tones; normal, combination, and a controllable oily tone.
• Astringents contain 20-60% alcohol and should only be used on very oily skin tones. Be sure to only apply astringents on your problem spots. They are very drying and should be avoided by normal, dry and sensitive skin types.

Natural alternatives

• Rosewater (freshener) for sensitive, dry and normal skin types as it is gentler on the skin.
• Orange flower water  (tonic) for normal, combination and oily skin.
• Witch hazel (astringent) for very oily skin.

     Not everyone needs to use a toner. Some cleansers don't leave residues on the face, or already provide the benefits listed above. I would encourage further research on toners if you're interested. A good place to look would be the websites of the brands you like to use, as they will likely carry toners as well. Some websites even have online surveys where you input your skin type and it creates a list of products that may work for you.

I hope this helped a little. Feel free to leave a comment if you have anything to add, or have found a particular toner that works for you (but please be sure to share your skin type!).

Until next time!

Happy New Year!

New Lappy!

So today something really nice happened!
My boyfriend bought a new laptop for Christmas because his relatives only gave him money this year.. and he wanted to upgrade. He gave me his old laptop! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))
I'm super happy because his old laptop is a gaming laptop, so now I won't have lag when I play my PC games! It has a larger screen too.. it's really nice. (///ω///)

So now I can play even more games!
If you play League of Legends, my username is TheSweetBean
If you're on Steam add me as Calael
Let's play together!! ヽ(*´∀｀)八(´∀｀*)ノ

Hanekawa Tsubasa [Bakemonogatari] 1/8 figure

My boyfriend bought this for me this Christmas! As you may know, I've been coveting this figure for about a year now.. as soon as I saw it online I knew I had to have it!

You're able to change her hair so that the cat ears don't show and her glasses are removable.

The first thing I noticed about this figure was the unique base! It really sets her apart from the standard figure. I also loved the movement in her skirt and her hair. She isn't my favourite character from the series, yet I find I enjoy this figure more than my Senjougahara one!

That charm on her phone is adorable! I would kill for one so cute ;w;

 I also love her expression. I think it's a mix of mild curiosity and a sense of awareness. She knows someone is looking at her, but doesn't seem too worried about it. Her cat ears are also very cute and appealing.

 This is another point that caught my eye when I first saw this figure. The way her skirt lifts up is very teasing and the casual hand she places to keep it from exposing her is also very aggravating. I also love the detailing in the lace. I think it's a good amount of thigh and exposure without being too raunchy.


While the pose may not make sense at first (as a schoolgirl should be a little more worried that her panties might be seen), I think it actually plays off an interesting part of Tsubasa's character. She is shown at a time when she hasn't completely transformed into the cat demon yet. While it's true she seems unguarded in her appearance, her human side still places a hand down to cover her skirt and keeps a wary eye focused to any onlookers. Her cat-like side keeps her posture straight and confident and the blush out of her cheeks. I think this play between her personas really completes this figure and makes it one of the best that I own so far.

Until next time!

DTAC 2011

So last Sunday was DTAC! It was very special though since it also marked MOETRONcos' 1 year anniversary!

We cosplayed as the girls from K-ON! once again but as the moe moe kyun maid ver.!

(the maid kakashi is a friend form high school, who isn't a part of MOETRON.)

What a bunch of lovely girls!
While the convention itself was a let-down (cramped space, no events, horrid security, rip-off entry fees and cramped dealer's room), I still feel like I made the most of it! These girls are so wonderful and spirited, that we made the most of a crappy convention anyways! (in pic: [top left-right] Sachie, Ringo, Jean, myself. [bottom left-right] Carmen, Chibatsu.)

Before the convention, Sachie and I went to the Eaton's Centre for some pre-con holiday shopping! I bought some stocking stuffers for my family. The mall was all decorated with huge trees and reindeer!

I don't have many girlfriends, so spending time with such cute girls makes me so happy! I want to go on a huge shopping day with all the MOETRON girls sometime!

Before everyone else came, Sachie and I also exchanged our xmas presents which were these cute cat kigurumi!

aren't they cute?! Now we can wear these to cons when we need something to relax in on a Sunday!

Annnnnnnnnd the photoshoot pics from Thomas Truong!

We have the best group ever. Don't you agree?

While I don't think Ritsu suits me, I do like trying to portray her and hanging out with my friends. I look forward to more exciting years with all of my waifus!

Thank you.

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream no. 13

Another BB cream review for you!

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream no. 13 'Milky Beige'!

This is another very popular brand from Korea and is the lightest shade currently available. (I believe the darkest shade is no. 31) You can check this on the Missha website!
I bought this in the 20ml size, but it can also come in a 50ml size with a pump!

The 20ml one comes with a standard nozzle, so it's still hygienic!

This is definitely a lighter shade than most BB creams I've seen. Just remember that it oxidizes to match your skin tone properly!

Packaging: Sophisticated. You don't have to feel embarrassed having it on your vanity.
Coverage: Medium (yet buildable).
Hydration: Medium. My skin felt soft for the whole day, yet I feel the Skin79 VIP Gold to be more hydrating.
Long Lasting?: Fairly.
Scent: Yes. Although it doesn't bother me and I am very sensitive to scents.
Ease of Use: Very easy (a little goes a long way!)
Range of Shades: Good. More than most BB creams I come across. I believe there are currently 4 shades that go from very fair (13) to tan-ish (31). Still, BB creams are marketed towards Asians, so finding darker tones are still very hard. 
Availability: Unless you're in Korea, it's fairly limited. You can buy online though!

Out of the 3 that I've tried so far, I like this one the best! It feels like what I imagine a BB cream should feel like. It gives me a more even tone, and with a little powder I feel like I don't need to wear foundation. It's like my actual skin, but better?

Until next time!

Exams and DTAC 2011

I haven't done a daily post in a while! I finally have some time to jot things down..

This past month has been a little crazy! November and early December is always crunch time for post-secondary students because all of the profs give the largest assignments at this time and exams are very stressful. Around this time each year I stop eating properly and my bad habit of chewing my cuticles gets out of hand. I'm usually a wreck!

I'm an English major, so writing many essays is a no-brainer for me. I'm starting to learn how to crank them out like a boss when I know the subject well enough. It's mostly my procrastination that gets to me. I get so worked up about not working on the things I need to, but end up on tumblr and twitter anyways..!

I still get all of my work done though. Hehe.
 
Today I just finished my last exam for the week! I have another one on the 21st, yet I feel like I'm already on holidays. I can't wait for Christmas since it's also the time of my little brother's birthday and my Nana and Papa's wedding anniversary! I miss my family..

It's not all bad though! This Sunday I get to see all of my lovely waifus from MOETRNcos! We're going to be in a huge group of K-ON! girls wearing maid outfits, ready for your service! (lol) Of course I will be playing Ritsu. Please look forward to more pictures and stories on this year's DTAC in Toronto!

Until next time!