REVIEW: the Balm Balms Away Eye Makeup Break-Up

Hello my Funky Readers,

My mom works at TJMaxx (US equivalent of TKMaxx) and she knows to be on lookout for interesting makeup for me (and hats, and scarves, and clothes, and pretty much everything and anything). The moment she mentioned that there was the Balm cosmetics for sale, I told her that I WANT IT and she set out to fight the crazy TJMaxx crowds in order to get me some.

One of the things that she sent me was this Balms Away Eye Makeup remover. I actually didn't know what's the heck it was when I first saw it, but I was still super excited about the tin container. I know, silly me.

What they say: 

Read the instructions on the back, there is no other info on the website either. 

What I say: 
It literally took me over 2 weeks to work up the courage to use this because it looked just like vaseline! And because I was afraid that it will get into my eyes. I'm funny like that about my eyes because I'm crazily afraid of anything getting into them.

So when I finally worked up the courage, I was pleasantly surprised that it actually works! It even works with the waterproof mascara (I tried it on Tarte Light, Camera, Splashes mascara), and I would even say it works better on mascara than other eye makeup removers I tried. Normally, I have a little bit of mascara left anyway, but Balms Away removes mascara like a champ.

I am not that impressed with the application method. It tells to apply a little to the closed eye and leave it for 30 seconds to work it's magic. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with these directions because I do the same with any other eye makeup remover, but unlike other eye makeup removers, this one stays on the eye! So I have to open my eyes even a little in order to get a cotton pad, and as I've mentioned before I'm afraid of getting anything into my eyes so I don't like opening my eyes with the coat of petroleum-jelly-substance-type-thing on them. Instead I do one eye at the time, which makes the eye makeup removing time double. And I hate makeup removing time to begin with, so making it double doesn't help with me liking a product.

I also don't really care for the mess it makes on my fingers, especially when I have lots of eye makeup on! Dirty fingers is another pet peeve of mine. Finally, it feels just a tad bit "dry" when I finally use cotton pads, but it could be because I'm used to using liquid eye makeup remover.

Of course the price is a big consideration too. For $20 you get 64g of product, but $20 is a lot of money (for me) to spend on the eye makeup remover! Thankfully it wasn't that much at TJMaxx, but who knows if it ever ends up there again?

Overall, it is a good product, just not for me. Because of my pet peeves I can't truly appreciate it's greatness, but if you're not afraid of dirty fingers and a little bit of product in your eyes, then try it! I think you will be impressed the same way I was.

~ Lyuba

REVIEW: Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Day Cream SPF 15

Hello Everyone,

I've promised forever and a day ago that I would review my other favorite day cream, so here it goes!

I talk about it all the time, so it should not come as a surprise that I love almost everything in the Simple skincare. Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Day Cream is another product that I absolutely love. And now that Simple is coming to the US, I'm even more excited! Because it means that when I'm back in US for good, I don't have to give up the skincare that I came to love! :)

What do they say: 

When your skin's happy and looking youthful, you feel healthier and happier too! Our Regeneration Age Resisting Day Cream is a special blend of active ingredients that protect and replenish your skin throughout the day. Perfect for even sensitive skin. 

simple goodnessSKIN LOVING NUTRIENTS
GREEN TEA EXTRACT fights premature ageing 
MUSHROOM EXTRACT refines skin tone and texture 
OAT-BETA GLUCAN reduces sensitivity 
ALLANTOIN actively soothes
VITAL VITAMINS
PRO VITAMIN B5 and VITAMIN E to soften, smooth, and improve skin condition
NO PERFUME, NO COLOURNO UNNECESSARY INGREDIENTS so it won't upset your skin 
Dermatologically Tested and Approved 


What I say: 

For £6.99 you get a 50ml of product. Wait a minute, 50ml? That sure sounds awfully familiar! Except the packaging makes it seem like there is so much more product than in the tube. No big deal, although it is chunkier than the tube, I like the pump too. The price is not bad, and it lasts a long time, and as always, Boots and Superdrug frequently run 3 for 2 sales on everything Simple. I like the higher SPF, I think it's great for UK's summers but maybe a little bit too much for winter. At least for me. So for winter, I'll get back to Simple Radiance Brightening Moisturizer which only has 10SPF. 

As you can see, it looks pretty standard. It does have that annoying sunblock quality, where it just feels thicker than creams without any SPF, but once applied it is not as noticeable. I love how it absorbs into my skin within minutes (which is something pretty important to me), without leaving much of that annoying sticky feeling. My skin is normal, so I get a tiny bit of sticky, but once I apply foundation and powder over it, the feeling is gone. I would imagine that those with dry skin won't get that feeling at all, and those with oily skin might get more of it. 


I also love that is has no smell whatsoever! I haven't had any negative effects from it, but I rarely get any reactions to anything. 


I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to try a moisturizer with SPF, and I will be buying it again once the sun will show it face again in the UK. For now, I'll stick with the Simple Brightening one. 


~ Lyuba 

Sleek PPQ Me, Myself, and Eye Look #5

Hello Everyone,

As I was saying before, I'm on the mission to use the shades from Sleek's Me, Myself, and Eye palette that I would not normally use. So for today's look, I randomly selected two shades that I think most people would probably not put together. But I am me, and something like that never stopped me :)

I think my makeup matched the "nice" fall day here in UK, or at least it matched my mood which was just ok. I felt like dressing up and going early Christmas shopping for the family because we're ALWAYS late with our gifts and I decided to NOT be late this year! So there! Gifts will go out early lol.

I actually have GOSH lipgloss on, but because the day was so fugly pretty, it looks like I have nothing on.

I didn't realized, but Supernova matches my sweater exactly! That made me happy for some reason. :) And I also want to know why is that dark green called Blue Monday? I don't see it as blue, I see it as very dark green. Am I crazy, or is my lightning playing tricks with me?

What do you think? Would you try this shade combo?

~ Lyuba

Sleek PPQ Me, Myself & Eye Look #4

Hello my Funky Readers,

I have a pretty boring look for you today. Well, boring by my standards that is ;P

I actually wore this look twice in a row, but I didn't take any photos the first time because it was so FUGLY outside I didn't want to deal with it. Guess what? Today is also super FUGLY, but today I felt more up to messing with my camera settings. My husband will be proud, since he is always complaining about how I won't learn my camera.

Turns out, I really don't like these shades! They are great in terms of application and lasting power, but I'm not partial to these particular colors. It could be because every other shade in the palette is overshadowed by that "letter Z in reverse" that's right in between this green and lavender.

Which shades should I use next for a look?

~ Lyuba

Wanna see my new business card?

Hello Everyone,

Few days ago I got an email from Jen at Beauty Junkie in London letting me know that I've won a ticket to HPMSocial hosted by HandpickedMedia. I literally went OMFG because I never ever EVER win anything! Well, now I can't say that, can I? :) And since I keep missing The Only Way is Blogging, this would be my first ever blogger event, and I would say in typical Lyuba fashion, I always end up with something big for my first time.

Anyways, I figured this was a good enough reason to get off my lazy behind and order myself some new business cards. The thing is, I have more two blogs than I care to update that I update fairly regularly, and consider them my main blogs. One of them is FunkyMakeupJunkie, another is my StrawberryKimono blog. I have a business card for StrawberryKimono which I give out to people I meet when I'm dressed in kimono, or just when I meet someone interesting. The problem with this business card, is that it doesn't list my other blog. And quite frankly, I can't be bothered to carry any more business cards (I also have one for Kimono de Jack, and one for cosplay that I take to conventions), so for a while I was entertaining the idea of combining the information from both blogs on one business card. Maybe that's not a very business savvy decision, but I can't separate myself from makeup and kimono, both of those things define me in equal way. Plus the contact information is still the same.

So here it is, my new business card!

I'm pretty happy with the design :) It matches my header, and I'm wearing a kimono in that photo. Of course, I wish I could have THIS design, but due to time difference between US & UK, my friend didn't suggest the idea until AFTER I placed the order. Guess now I have to give these out as much as I can, so I can order business cards with Mittens in them :)

Do you have a business card for your blog? Do you think they are even needed?

~ Lyuba