Archive for May 2014

okayyy... i hope i don't make you bored with my moisturizer hunting. laneige is considered as middle class skincare brand in korea, like missha. low class brands are etudehouse, face shop, skinfood, and many more. high class brands in korea sometimes never heard here in indonesia, but when i visited grand city last time, i noticed they have history of whoo, which is korean high class brand. the other high class brands are sulwhasoo, ohui and the saem. since i want to try something that i can buy, i never touch the high class section. why try them if i can't buy them? yes, it's true that i can keep buying samples, but who can guarantee that the samples will keep coming? sooo.. i decided to do my hunting on low and middle class only.

what i was looking in moisturizer is something that's lightweight for my oily-combo skin, but still moisturizing enough, since i thought my skin becoma dehydrated from my loreal. the skin around my nose starts to become flaky. though loreal description is a little bit similar to laneige, but somehow they work differently.

what laneige said about water bank line in their website:

improve your skin esteem with 24 hours continuos hydration. just like a luxurious 24-hours hydrating spa, water bank contains laneige's exclusive water science technology, included the patented water pump system and optimal mineral water to intensively circulate moisture deep within skin, while regenerating and fortifying skin cells for healthy hydrated skin.

the water bank gel cream is a gel type moisture cream that soothes the skin with a cool, invigorating texture. for normal, combination skin. a 24-hour long-lasting moisture cream that supplies moisture and soothes the skin with a non-sticky, refreshing texture. a translucent supple gel-type cream that quickly penetrates into the skin for an instant cooling effect and smoothly adheres to the skin that is fatigued by heat to supply moisture. centaury extracts with redness soothing properties protect the skin from the harmful aggressions and aloe extracts forms a protective moisture barrier to retain moisture and soothes the skin.

bio ducelli for skin turn over. vita-mineral nano water for efficient moisture delivery. hydro motor for moisture supply. hydro circulator for water circulation in skin.

i have to warn you, the water bank line has two different moisturizer, the first one is for normal combination skin type, the gel cream. the second one is for dry skin, the moisture cream. so be careful and read carefully before buying, since the tub has the same design and color.

at first, i want to get all the basic kit sample so i can try everything at once, but the light basic kit version is sold out everywhere, so i have to pick the one that i want to try, their gel cream. the sample that i'm getting is the 10ml version, not the sachet one.

the packaging: the full size product is packaged in a blue tub. while the 10 ml sample is packaged in a blue tube. i'm impressed with korean brands, since they managed to keep the similar vibe between the full size product and the sample. though the sachet one always come in a pretty boring white sachet.

the product: it's a white gel, whiter than mizon, but similar in consistency with mizon. it spreads easily on my skin. the rate of absorption between mizon, face shop and laneige is in this order: mizon - laneige - face shop. the moisturizing effect from those three is in this order: face shop - laneige - mizon. the mattifying effect order is like the absorption order.

the smell: no strong scent, but i can pick up a hint of floral scent, very subtle. i like it...

overall, i like how laneige do moisture my skin enough. but since it's moisturizing, it doesn't keep my skin matte long enough like mizon. though i believe that my skin is better with this one. it's like my skin drinks laneige. with face shop, my skin gets more than it can take, and with mizon, my skin still in dehydration. so laneige is a perfect match. but.... on dry and hot weather like these days, i probably will purchase mizon. but on cooler day, perhaps laneige will be perfect.

will i purchase this soon? probably not, since i'm ordering nature republic super aqua combination watery cream sample. i've read in sample hime blog that nature republic is releasing the ice cream, and i'm interested in the green tea version, but every online stores run out on them, so i have to wait or try the old version instead.

the sample tube and the product on my hand

okay.. i have to admit i'm a little bit obsessed about hair care right now. every time i walk in the supermarket and pass by the hair section, i always looking if there's something new and attract me. and i wonder, what's the difference between the hair vitamin oil for dry and for damaged hair? so without thinking twice, i grab it. well, my justification for my action is i can't see extraordinary oil anywhere, so i can't compare the price between them. plus i need another vitamin oil in my room. the other one goes to my fitness bag.

what they said about it:

lucido-l hair make upplement triple beauty vitamin oil for damaged hair for shiny, smooth, and moist hair. non stick, non rinse item, light floral fragrance. with combination of vitamin a,c,e, olive oil (the dry hair one contains avocado oil) and moisturizing agent helps to nourish, make your damaged hair become shiny, smooth and moist. get your perfect beauty hair in one step.

okay... now let's get to the review:

the packaging: they come in a cute little genie bottle, and every hair type has different color. for damaged hair it's orange.

the product: it's the same as the dry hair oil.. no significant difference that i can notice. it's still a non sticky oil, slightly viscous than water. i thought it will be thicker, but the viscosity seems the same though.

the smell: it also has the same fragrance. though there's a difference in the ingredients (avocado and olive oil), but it doesn't make difference to the scent.

the result: i'm amazed about this hair oil. upgrading this to damaged level gives me different result. usually with my dry hair oil i need about 6-8 pumps for all my hair. but with this oil, i only need 4-5 pumps. but i have to be careful. the first time i'm using this, i used the same amount with the dry hair oil, and it cause my hair greasier than usual. soo.. after reducing the amount of oil that i use, i get a shiny and smooth hair. though i still have some flying hair, but i notice my hair become shinier and smoother. and my hair edge seems nourished. sooo.. i'm happy i purchase this one. probably i will alternate this two. oh, and when i use damaged hair oil, i can skip the damaged hair vitamin water.

so, if you have very dry and coarse hair, i suggest you to buy this one. it works and smell like heaven.. but for you who have just dry hair probably you should just stick with the dry hair one.

the outer packaging

the bottle itself

this is another sample review. i guess i'm pretty determined to finish my samples fast. hahaha.. okay, i'm bored with my old loreal gentle cleansing milk. plus i have to use lip and eye makeup remover separately since the cleansing milk usually can't remove my waterproof mascara. sooo.. i want something that's clean enough for my mascara and my makeup. all in one cleanser. sooo.. i was searching about cleansing oil (i do know about the famous shu uemura, but never tried), and i found out about innisfree apple juicy cleansing oil. after reading a lot of food review, i decided to put it on my testerkorea haul list.

the product description from their global website:

this deep cleansing oil offers softness and healthy radiance to your skin like a freshly washed apple.

from en.koreadepart.com:

melts with water to cleanse clearly without slippery impurities. smooth texture cleanses bold makeup, impurities, and sebum at once clearly. fresh and sweet and sour apple fragrance. 4 free (mineral oil, artificial colors, animal ingredients and ethanol free).

how to use: put a moderate amount on your DRY hand, and put it all over your DRY face. add water to fingers little by little and offer rolling like massaging. rinse off with warm water.

source:cosmetic.jolse.com

the package: just like the original full size, the sample comes up in a green sachet. each sachet can be use twice.

the product: it's a clear oil, more on the watery side. not sticky at all.

the smell: it smells deeeliiiciiiouuusss.. it smells like a fresh apple.. not fruity. though i love my loreal floral scents, fresh scent like this one is a good substitute. my loreal's scent is for calming me up, and this one perfect for fresh me up.

the result: though i never use cleansing oil before, i'm glad this one hold its reputation. it can remove my waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick perfectly. though it cleanse perfectly, it doesn't dry up my skin. i just feel fresh after i double wash my face.

overall, this is a good cleansing oil. pretty good start for cleansing oil beginner like me. i'm pretty positive that i'll buy the full size product.

the front and back of the sample
(forgive me for the different lighting that results in different sample colors)

left (from top to bottom): loreal gelmatic, nyx felt tipliner, missha bb cream, nyx soft matte lip cream, max factor foundation, max factor clump defy mascara, loreal butterfly mascara.
middle: the first swipe (before adding water) you can see that there's some mascara and eyeliner left
right: after finishing off with water, everything is gone

okay, i've determined to finish all my samples. all least to lessen it half from now. and decided which product i want to buy in full size. right now, i'll just do a quick review for skinfood black sugar perfect first serum fresh samples.

i've been searching everywhere to find out what's the difference between the old version and the fresh version one, but i can't find anything. so i won't comment about the effect. for all i know, this one is supposed to be serum in a tissue, so you can use it anywhere. just like wet tissue, but infused with serum. this is the description from en.koreadepart.com: rich black sugar minerals from brazil remove dead skin for clear silky skin. soften pores and sebum while giving moisture to keep skin moisturized. 1 time use separate packaging give fresh use anywhere. no benzophenone, no mineral oil, no silicon oil, no acrylamide, no talc, no sulfate. to use: one time a day, after washing face take out the pad. wipe face gently and tap for serum to absorb.

the packaging: it's very different from the original black sugar line. usually they use brown or brownish color for black sugar line, but this time they use turquoise for the color of the package. probably to represent the fresh tag. it's quite big, bigger than the black sugar perfect first serum sample package. and i can feel the cotton pad inside.

the product: after you open the package, you can take out a wet cotton pad. the cotton pad has two sides, the rough one and the soft one. like the original one. you use the rough one to slough off any dead skin cells, and then use the soft side to tap excess serum unto your skin.

the smell: it smells unlike the original serum. for me, it smells like wet tissue smells. just like the one you can get in the restaurants. no sugary smell at all.

the result: i've read a numerous review of the original one, and turned out that most bloggers said that the "first serum" term confused a lot of them in terms of usage order. they thought you wash your face than use it afterwards, like the first essence. but turned out you should wear it after toner, just like usual. so i use this after toner. and one package is quite big. i divided each sample into two portion and share it with my husband. on me, the rough side doesn't look dirty with dead skin cells, just like the other bloggers. and when i pat the smooth side unto my face, the serum comes out like water draining my face. feels like i'm washing my face again, this time with serum. but on my husband, the rough side did a pretty good job, i can see dirt on the cotton pad.

overall, this is a weird version of black sugar line. it's just like wet tissue. and one cotton pad is toooooo big for one usage.

the sample sachet

no significant debris on the cotton
left: before, right: after using

i don't know why korean brands like to give such a long name to a product. it's hard to remember all those words! especially if another brand is having the similar product. blah.. okay, i'm in the middle of moisturizer-hunting. my loreal was okay, but sometimes i feel that it doesn't moisturise enough. and sometimes i notice the skin around my nose is flaky and very dry. and i have to admit i'm bored buying the same product again and again.. hahaha.. the one that i'm using is the third tube. since i can't find anything that has similar oil control power like loreal. but now, thanks to korean samples, i have more option. i have tried mizon's and now i'm trying the face shop and then i'll try laneige.

okay, back to face shop...

honestly, i only know that chia seeds is good for your health and it's known as superfood. but i don't know that you can incorporated it into your skin care. sooo.. probably it's a good thing. oh, and i have to warn you to be careful in reading the name. right now faceshop is developing a whole line for chia seed, and there's another cream but it's for moisture lock, so i guess it's for dry skin version. so be careful...

this is the description from en.koreadepart.com:

main ingredients: chia seed extract.

moisture cream to moisturize and control sebum. non oily moisturized skin. oil free 100% mild cream. fresh effect with 100% chia seed extract instead of water.

this is the description from their global website:

a moisture cream that replenishes skin with moisture while preventing excess sebum. uses good seeds and good technology that make the extracts fresh and is also good for the environment. a clear, mild cream. real oil-zero. uses 100% chia seed extract instead of water.

fyi, this review will only based on one sample only, since my sister said that she had this sample so i don't need to buy from testerkorea. and it's quite a generous sample. one sample can be use multiple time. i use it 3 days, morning and afternoon.

the packaging: i don't know why but all the cream that i tested usually come in a tub. i don't know if face shop will provide spatula since i don't buy the full-size yet. and it's made from glass, so i bet it's quite heavy. on the sample you can see the picture of the full size product.

the product: it's a clear gel, more transparent than mizon's, and more chewy/plumpy? (i don't know how to describe it) than mizon's. and it has these bubbles trapped inside the gel. it looks more firm than mizon, but when i spread it on my skin, it melts easier than mizon. in fact, it becomes quite watery on my skin, and it takes longer to absorbs than mizon.

the smell: no distinctive smell.

the result: it's more moisturizing than mizon, and gives slightly matte finish, but a little bit more dewy than mizon. mizon is all matte, like it absorbs all my face oil. but face shop doesn't do that. as for oil control, it's a tie between mizon and face shop, though when i wear face shop, i spend more time outdoor than when i was testing mizon. and it's hotter these days. without makeup, it's a tie result. but with makeup, my bb cream melts after 4 hours and my nose is very shiny. uughhh.. it even oxidizes my bb cream? since i look darker than usual. i don't know what went wrong that day... oh, and i have no conclusion whether this cream breaks me out or not. when i use this on day 1, nothing happens. then on day 2 and 3, i wear bb cream, applied with brush and topped with powder. and it's almost the end of the week, which is my washing brush day, sooo.. i don't know whether the cream or the brush or puff that breaks me out.

overall, i probably won't buy this one since the full size product cost me more than mizon. and hot days like this, i prefer mizon than chia seed for their oil control power. i still have laneige to try. though i'm hoping nature republic will make samples for their ice cream soon. i want to try them! oh well.. i still have plenty samples to try...

the front and back of the sample.
not all of it contains sample, only at the bottom, where there's full-size picture.

left: the amount of the sample on jar. sorry since the cream is transparent you can't see clearly.
right top: cream on my hand. right bottom: after applied, it leaves my skin watery and glowy for a couple of minutes.

this is another famous line/product from innisfree that i instantly try out. i even instantly buy the full product without trying their capsule pack first. honestly, i haven't discovered that innisfree sells capsule pack when i purchased this, but hell.. i don't regret it anyway.

okay, back to innisfree. they are famous for their natural ingredients and approach. and i love it. just like the body shop, but innisfree is cheaper. they have this line about jeju volcanic that's supposed for those who have problem with oily skin, excessive sebum and enlarged pores. including blackhead and pimples problems. though they have another line especially for acne skin or as korean say, troubled skin, the jejubia line.

this is from their global website:

super volcanic pore clay mask : tightens pores + removes sebum + exfoliates dead skin cells + offers deep cleansing + enhances skin tone + provides colling effects.

and product description from amazon:

innisfree super volcanic pore clay mask contains super volcanic cluster capsules, which powerfully absorbs sebum to intensively resolve pore concerns. this new formula is infused with double the amount of volcanic ash of that of the original vesion, especially suitable for oily skin.

ah.. and i want to tell you that at first i was confused. apparently, there are jeju volcanic super volcanic pore clay mask (there are 100 and 200 ml packaging) and jeju volcanic pore clay mask which has two types, soft and hard. what i found out after extensively searching on google, is that the super volcanic is some kind of upgrade version from the old jeju volcanic clay mask. and even harder and more powerful than the hard version of the old jeju volcanic pore clay mask. so for you who don't have super oily skin or enlarged pore problem, you might want to skip it and just try the soft version of the old jeju volcanic pore clay mask.

okay.. let's jump to the review.

the package: since innisfree is all au-naturale, their box is made from recycled paper and their ink is soy ink. the mask itself is packaged in a tub. without spatula. oopsiieesss.. but if you love them, probably you should buy the 200ml, it comes in a tube.

the product: it's a grey paste, not sticky, but it's kind of hard to scoop it out. it's really like clay. but i don't know if it's because of the super volcanic type, but it's easier to dry, so i have to be quick or half of my face will already be dry and the other still have no mask on it.

the smell: my husband said it has distinctive smell, but again, i can pick up what kind of scent it is. probably it's a muddy scent. hahaa..

the result: it's hardened after 10 minutes or so and i usually leave it for 15-20 minutes. and then i wash it off like usual. although it's super, but it's easy to wash off. but after i wash it off, i still feel the tightened feeling on my face. for sebum control, yes, it's true. the cooling clay, yes, it's also true. i feel the cooling effect when i have my mask on. the pore tightening.. errr.. i'm not sure about that yet. though i'm successful to persuade my husband to try it since he has bigger pores than mine. hopefully i can report progress about his pores. oh, and this clay mask can be use as whole face mask, nose strip or on blemish only. so far, i've only tried using it as whole face mask. but when i have pimples on my face, i put extra layers on it and in a couple days, the pimples will shrink and gone. voila!

overall, this is a good mask for oily skin and those who has enlarged pores. i don't regret buying this in full size. definitely repurchase this one, probably the bigger one in tube.

the box and the tub

left: you can see there's a transparent plastic cap to keep the inside fresh
right: the clay mask is like paste

this is me wearing my mask.. hopefully it won't give you nightmares, hehehe..

i've been looking for a serum or cream that can help with my dark spots. i have several of them on both my cheek, and i intended to make them go away, but so far i have no luck. i've been eyeing for o.s.t vit c serum and 9 to 5 crema, but both of them don't have sample that i can try and the full size product is quite expensive for me, so jumping straight to full size product is not an option. and then i find out about this it's skin power 10 formula. one of them is vc effector, which apparently their best-seller. i believe initially there are 10 of them, but when i count them on their website, there are 13 of them now.

the real bottle of the real size product

each one have acronym, and different color so it's easier to remember them.

you can see that VC is their best sellers

this is the complete explanation from their website (with some correction from beautynetkorea.com):

LI effector : concentrated serum contains licorice extract which has a brightening effect to tone reddened and somber skin caused by UV rays and skin troubles.

GF effector: rich leaf extracts improve water supply and water retention has the effect of enriched with dry skin's best product.

VC effector: brightening serum containing vitamin C and green tea components suppresses the formation of freckles that can make skin look dull and dark, and tightens pores to leave skin fair and luminous.

YE effector: essence containing yeast extract that directly provides nutrients and moisture to the skin to make it look lustrous and smooth.

CO effector: collagen serum concentrated with vegetable collagen extracts hydrates the skin from the inside, giving it a look effervescence and resilience immediately after applying.

Q10 effector: a serum containing coenzyme Q10, the energy component within the skin, which is locked within microcapsules to restore the skin with lost vitality and resilience.

VB effector: oil free essence containing vitamin B6 which controls the secretion of sebum. also balances natural moisture and oils and mitigating any skin.

WH effector: whitening essence containing arbutin with whitening agents which aggressively tackles dark and somber skin tone.

WR effector: essence containing caviar and mistletoe extract, can reap the synergy effects of wrinkle care and resilience functions of adenosine, which visibly diminishes creases and recovers the lost resilience of skin to give a youthful look.

VE effector: essence containing vitamin E capsules that directly provides nutrients and moisture to the skin to make it look lustrous and smooth.

PO effector: silky essence especially designed to treat pores, containing highly concentrated Houttuynia cordata extracts with the superior function of sebum control and 4 other ingredients combined to tighten pores for the management of pores.

SYN-AKE effector: highly concentrated ampoule containing peptides with properties similar to snake venom will hinder movement, improving even the facial expression wrinkles that are difficult to smooth out.

PROPOLIS effector: highly concentrated ampoule containing propolis will improve skin's protection to prevent skin troubles.

pheww.. there're are a lot of essence and serum to try.. and i notice there are 3 serum for whitening/brightening, VC, LI and WH. and two designed for oily skin and pore treatment, VB and PO. unfortunately, the local online shop where i use to buy samples only provide VC, LI and another one which i'm not interested in, so.. VC it is..

the product: the sample is quite generous. i can use it for 4-5 times, so it's enough for nearly a week. FYI, i only use this serum at night. it's a white-cloudy gel type serum, but on the watery side. it melts easily onto your skin and is absorbed within 2-3 minutes.

the smell: i believe every product containing vitamin c always has a citrusy scent in it, including this serum. not too overpowering though. it dissipates after applying.

the result: i'm glad this doesn't cause me any breakouts, and doesn't make my skin oilier in the next morning (i put night cream on top of this serum every night). more moist on my t-zone than my cheeks. i doesn't notice any improvement on my dark spots, but i believe my skin is brightened, just a bit though. but it doesn't help evening my skin tone.

overall, i have not reach conclusion whether i will buy the full size product or not, but i will try this one first before buying ost vit c serum since this one is cheaper. plus i still have a lot of samples to try before deciding my whole skincare routine.

left top and bottom: the appearance of the sample
right: the sample on my hand

okay, i'm pretty confused about this cream. when i ordered this, i thought i would get mizon hydrafull solution water volume aqua gel cream, like the picture below.

but then when i received the samples, i searched about it everywhere, and i found there is a mizon hydrafull solution watermax aqua gel cream. and i can't find the picture of that version, not even on mizon global page. there was no explanation about it. i was worried that i get the wrong sample. but then i stumbled upon this russian website, and they said that watermax aqua gel cream was changed into water volume aqua gel cream. so for you who wanted to try this cream and decided to buy samples first, whatever samples you received, watermax or water volume, i can assure you that they are the same product.

this is the description from mizon global website:

product description:

differentiated water - aqua deep moist formula EX. differentiated in combination of water which is the most important process of making moisturizing cream. provides outstanding moisturizing and relieving effect combining alaska glacier water, deep sea water, hita heaven water, and birch sap all together.

delivering refreshing feeling - cooling effect. gel-type light texture with refreshing feeling delivers cooling effect as soon as it touches skin. controlling unbalanced skin temperature soon if the balance is broken.

oil free- fresh texture. rich moisturising cream with oil included, can cause trouble for oily and complexity skin type. watermax aqua gel cream (see.. they even forgot to change the description, which added the confusion) absorbed quickly and does not burden much on skin to fully fill with moisture.

skin relief: witch hazel leaf extract, watermelon extract, basil leaf extract, nelumbo mucifera extract. skin exposed to various harmful ingredients, UV rays and so on. rough and sensitive active ingredients relieve skin and prevent various external skin protection.

from en.koreadepart:

ingredients: alaska glacier, deep sea water, birch extract, coral water, niacinamide, licorice extract, atello collagen, carbomer, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, watermelon, basil leaf, and lily flower extract.

4 kinds of contents that give a special plant base for better absorption. brightens skin tone and blemishes for a cleaner skin tone. absorbs quickly and its cool texture controls skin balance. fresh formula with mild moisturizing effect. plant extract soothes damaged skin from the harmful effects of the environment. fresh and light gel texture. non paraben, oil free.

steps to use:

mizon water max aqua gel toner --> mizon water max aqua moist serum --> mizon water volume aqua gel cream or mizon water max rich firming gel cream --> mizon water max moisture bb cream.

FYI, i use one sample only. mizon samples are quite big and it's enough for 4-5 usages. i use this as a day moisturizer, since i thought it is similar to my loreal icy gel moisturizer.

the product: from one sample, it looks like a clear gel. and it melts once you applied it on your skin. but from the advertorial picture, you can see that it's supposed to be greenish gel in a tub. i don't know if the real gel is supposed to be greenish or clear.

the smell: no distinctive scent, but it was refreshing. once i try to sniff harder, and i can smell minty scent, like thrombopop gel, the one that i use for my bump. hahaha...

the performance: it's really similar to my loreal, or even worse. it absorbs onto my skin quickly and give cooling effect just like loreal, but after a couple use, i kinda numb and don't feel the cooling effect anymore. and for the moisturizing effect, it's not enough for my dehydrated skin. my nose skin starts to peel off this morning.. *sigh* for the oil control, it was average like my loreal, probably 4-5 hours before my nose starts to shine. fortunately, this one doesn't give me breakouts.

overall, this is a nice cream for you who like gel texture, looking for a light moisturizer, having an oily or combination skin (but not dehydrated), living in a hot and humid country (like mine). but for dry skin, i advised to stay away from this cream.

and for me, i'll just have to find another cream to quenched my skin. probably if my skin become oilier again, i'll purchase this one and dump my loreal.

as for mizon, i'm eager to try their pore line and the watermax rich firming gel, but i can't find the sample of the latter. and i'm suspicious that mizon is just a dupe-brand, since a lot of their products are similar to lots of other korean skincare product that has been in the market for a while, and mizon offers cheaper products. but i'm glad that mizon is not all about snail cream, which make them famous actually..

top: the front of the sample, mine was water volume, while i can search some ebay seller still have the watermax samples.
bottom left: the back of the sample. bottom right: the sample when i transferred to an empty jar. quite an amount for one sachet sample.

left: the gel on my hand - it's clear right? and it melts easily
right: after blended, you can see some glow after applying it, but after a couple of minutes it will be gone and your skin will look matte

i was in the verge on depression stage couple days ago, and then we decided to stop my birth control pill. and i've been off the pills for two days now, and i feel better now. soo.. i have a bit mood to go shopping. after all, three of my lip butters are expired now, so i have to find replacement.

since i've been into skincare nowadays, i have no knowledge about makeup world. and since dollars currency is still high, i have to forget nyx lippies, though i want to try them badly. but i guess it can wait. so, i decided to go back to revlon. cheap but okay for me. i was in no mood to try vibrant color, since i know it will be a waste, so i decide to buy everyday color but in different group, orange, pink and probably mauve.

and then i saw the revlon counter, and they have this display full of new revlon crayon lipcolor. oh, i don't know that it's been here already! last time i checked, the only crayon that i found was the balm stain. now there are three types of them right here. ooo.. i'm super excited. but unfortunately, lacquer balm has most options at the moment, and only one matte balm, and i don't like the balm stain options. soo.. i pick one lacquer balm. mostly they are in the pink family, and i've already had 2 pink lipstick already, so i have no intention to add another one. so i pick demure. i want to replace my old peach parfait lip butter which i love, but unfortunately, it was melt easily, so in hot weather like now, it won't be wise to buy it again.

okay, this is what they said about it:
high shine lacquer, moisture rich balm. a lacquer finish that's beyond brilliant. balm that's beyond comforting. our triple butter complex of shea, coconut and mango butter nourishes lips. in 10 collectible, craveable colors : demure, coquette, vivacious, flirtacious, ingenue, coy, provocateur, whimsical, tease, enticing.

the product: it looks like crayon and used like crayon. but it has this screw bottom so you can screw the crayon up without sharpening it. the body of the crayon indicates the color of the lacquer balm. and there's a sticker with the color name at the bottom. i always love brands who name their shades. it's easier to find and memorize, than just give them numbers.

the color: since i pick a pretty soft color, i have to swipe couple times to make the color shown. but there are other colors which are more vibrant and easier to make the color shown. each one have a different degree of shine. demure has little glitters in it and even when the color's gone, the glitters stay still. it's very similar to the balm stain. the BA said that the lacquer is shinier than the balm stain. fyi, demure is a pinkish nude shade, pretty soft.

the staying power: since it is high shine lacquer, it's easily vanished. especially with eating and drinking. having a couple of revlon lippies, i guess lighter color vanish quicker than more vibrant colors.

the scent: there's this strong peppermint scent and taste, so i can taste mint on my lips. it's pretty cold like having a mint candy, but then it leaves hot trail. i hate it. i hate mint candy. why do they have to give peppermint stain to a lacquer balm? can't they just give them fruity scent and taste? well, probably it's me who hate it.

overall, i love this lacquer balm. probably if i have finished my pink lipstick, i'll buy another one in pink color from this line.

the lacquer balm - looks like crayon.
at the bottom you can see the number and name of the shade

swatch on hand. left: without flash.
right: with flash.

top: on my lips
bottom: whole face (oopss...pardon my bare face)

this is another sample review! i bought the duo sample of innisfree 2014 new line, the orchid line. and two of them are orchid enriched cream and orchid night cream. i've already reviewed the night cream before, and now it's time to review the enriched cream.

what they said about it (from en.koreadepart.com)
main ingredients: cymbidium orchids extract in jeju-do, adenosine, orchid extract, tangerine peel extract, green tea extract, cactus fruit extract, camelia leaf extract, pea extract. orchidelixir from cymbidium orchids extract in jeju-do provide elasticity for skin. contains antioxidant ingredients, and it brightens the complexion and provide elasticity for skin. cream texture with a surge of moisture provides high doses of nutritive inside skin. 5 free system (paraben, synthetic pigment, dioxin, mineral oil, animal nature material).

soo.. let's review the sample..
package: the full size product is packaged in a purple tub. they provide spatula for the full size. the sample is a duo, night cream and enriched cream. both have the picture of the actual product in front of them.
product: it's a ivory cream, the night cream is thicker than the enriched cream. the enriched cream looks a little bit watery and glowy. it's absorbed quicker than the night cream, and it leaves my skin glowy. and it smells nice too, like the night cream. floral scents, probably orchid.
since i try samples only, i can say much about the result, the whitening, anti-wrinkle, tightening and pore care thing.. all i know, it's working opposite of my skinfood peach sake pore serum. the serum mattifies my skin and this orchid enriched cream moisturizes my skin. though the moisturizing power isn't strong enough. i have combination to oily, but now more to combination-normal, and sometimes a bit dry on my outer cheek. in the morning, i find my t-zone (nose, forehead and chin) is more moist but not too greasy, while my cheek seems matte. unfortunately, like the night cream, it causes breakouts at the end of the sample usage... huuu.. so disappointing, while i want it to work for me.

overall, this is a nice cream, you can use it day and night, but i suggest using it at night only since it's pretty thick. it smells nice and it seems promising with all the good features, but probably you'd want to stay out of this cream if you have oily, sensitive, and acne prone skin.

the front and the back of the sample, see the symbol at the back?
i think the sun and moon symbol indicates that this cream can be use day and night.

left: the cream on my hand
right: the difference after blending it, it makes my skin glowy

it's time for another sample review.. i don't know why but i'm kind of attracted to innisfree rather than other korean brands. i've already set my heart on their soybean energy essence and committed to their mini size product. and i was interested in the orchid line, though i wasn't sure which one to pick. orchid line is targeted for wrinkle repair, whitening, and nourishing. the story is, it's made from orchids grew in jeju, that survived harsh winter in jeju. okay, i'm hooked. though i haven't shown any sign of aging yet, but treat early won't hurt right?

the sample is a duo sample, both enriched cream and night cream in a sachet sample, but they are separated. each sample can last to two usage, so i've used this night cream for 4 days. not a long period to make conclusion, but it's enough to make an impression.

what they said about it:
ingredients: jeju cymbidium kanran makino, cactus fruit extract, mandarin peel extract, camellia leaf extract, green tea extract, pea extract, adenosine.
ochidelixir extracted from jeju cymbidium kanran makino offers radiance and vitality to dry skin. takes care of skin trouble healthily to brighten skin tone. it has 5 free system: paraben, synthetic color, dioxin, mineral, animal ingredients free.
the cymbium orchids in jeju have great antioxidant effect, supplies glow and enriches protective power naturally derived from the skin. care for wrinkles, resilience and UV blockage at once with nutrients. crystal flowering technology creates skin-like layer to catch moisture inside and outside the skin.

the package: the real product is packaged in a tub. though i don't like big tub like that, hopefully innisfree is pretty considerate and give spatula inside the box. the entire orchid line is packaged in purple packaging.

the smell: it smells nice! they say it's the orchid fragrance, but for me it just smells nice. hahaa.. i can't differentiate smell.. sorry.. but it's a pretty strong smell, so probably if you don't like strong fragrant.

the product: it's an ivory, thick cream. very thick.. and so moisturizing. FYI, at night i use my toner, and skinfood peach pore sake serum, which is mattifying, and then this night cream... sooo.. the serum is kind of the opposite of the night cream, so my face won't become greasy in the morning. in fact, it becomes moisturizing enough but still looks matte. but the cream is a bit too thick for my taste.

some say that this cream cause breakouts. and for me, i'm not sure, i have a growing pimple on my nose, but i'm not sure if it's caused by the night cream of the bb cream that i've been used twice. but i stopped using it today, and i'll put my regimen back to my old regimen before starting using enriched cream, so i'll inform you which one cause the breakouts.

*update: well, i use my old regimen for 2 days, and voila! my growing pimple vanished. sadly i have to inform you that this night cream cause my breakouts. hopefully i'll get lucky with the enriched cream which i intend to use tonight"

left: the front and back of the sample. you see, the enriched cream can be use day and night.
right: the cream on my hand. it's pretty thick.

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