Archive for December 2015

i was cleaning my makeup stash the other day and found out that my elf eyelid primer is dried out and i need a replacement. i've been thinking about getting the same one, but i was about to make a preorder from a korean online shop, so i thought ordering a korean eye primer is wiser. and after browsing i've decided to buy from etude.

this is the description on the box and on their website: proof 10 eye primer supplies coverage to eyelids and around the eyes to enhance eye shadow color and integrity for a longer lasting, perfect 10 look.

the packaging: the outer box is blue metallic with some english description (thankfully..). the eye primer itself is inside a weird-shaped bottle. it has long blue plastic handle that's also the applicator wand, and the bottle is small and has weird shape. kinda annoying since you probably can't scrape the top side of the bottle so there will be waste of product there. packaging aside, i prefer simple shape like elf one. the usual tube shape makes it easier to store and put into your makeup bag.

the smell: i don't think i pick any scent, but it's a good thing right? it's an eye primer.. so i don't think it should have any scent.

the product: the wand is a the usual doe foot applicator. the primer itself is a peachy beige color. i don't see any sheen or shimmer in it, which is good i think.. it's slightly on the runny side, and it takes a while to dry, but tapping it on your eyelid makes it dry faster.

the result: according to my trial, it has no effect on my eyeliner, either pencil or felt. it doesn't make it sharper or brighter, but it helps to make my eyeliner stay put. no smudging. or very little smudging (blame it on my eye shapes). as for the eyeshadows, for lighter colors, i don't see significant changes. it doesn't enhance the color of lighter eyeshadows, but for darker colors, it sure makes the color more vibrant.

so, i'm quite pleased with the result. so far i've only tried with my nyx eyeliner, and i will try it with my beauty story eyeliner. oh and by the way, don't put anything on the primer before it dries out. you can end up smudging your eyeliner. as for repurchasing, i don't know yet. it's too early to decide.

the outer box (english description and instructions included.. yey!)

left: the product (notice the weird-shaped bottle and very tall wand)
middle: the applicator
right: swatch on hand

comparison L-R: nyx pencil eyeliner, nyx felt eyeliner, 3 eyeshadows from my revealed palette, mybeautystory eyeliner
top: with the primer
bottom: without the primer

i was discouraged to write anything and think that i don't have anything new or interesting to write about, but then i keep forgetting about my sample stash.. i though i almost finished them all, but i forgot that when i bought my tester korea haul, i got another sample stash. and i found a lot of interesting samples.. so i decided to dig my stash and start with this one.

this is the description from their website: and eye cream containing antioxidants for deep hydration and nourishment. give your skin more moisture and freshness with 100% squeezed green tea. rich in amino acids and minerals, green tea from jeju's own green tea leaves hydrates your skin. dual moisture-rising technology derived from green tea and green tea seed oil. the fresh green tea deeply hydrates your skin and the green tea seed oil creates a strong moisture barrier to keep your skin moisturized longer. it smoothly moisturizes your dry eye areas and the antioxidants in the green tea transform your skin for a radiant and hydrated feel.

the packaging: it comes in a dual sample, the green tea seed cream and this eye cream. like the previous green tea sample, this one has the full size picture in front.

the smell: oh well, not green tea scent, but a bit fragrant and calming. makes me want to sniff it more. actually, it's a pro/contra thing to give scent to an eye cream, since some people are sensitive to scent and eye areas are sensitive enough, so probably it should be taken into consideration.

the product: it's a thick cream. not a watery gel type one, but more like a balm. it feels like balm once i applied it on my skin, and it didn't leave any watery traits behind. i can't see anything after applying it. but i can feel my skin around eyes area is moisturized, heavily moisturized.

the result: it's very moisturizing, but i can't say anything else since the sample only lasts 3 times usage for me. but for me, i will say this one is for night time only since it's very moisturizing, i think it's slightly sticky and later become greasy, so i don't think i can put any makeup on with this eye cream.

if you like the green tea seed line from innisfree, then probably you can buy this one, but for me, i think it only moisturizes and nothing else, so i won't buy it.

top: the front of the dual sample
bottom: the back of the dual sample

the sample on my hand

i got this from a giveaway awhile back. i've tried this lip balm for a couple times but i forgot to write the review. so here i am, trying to redeem myself for keep forgetting to review the stuff that i get.

this is the description from their website:
fruity tinted sweety lip balm sweeps on juicy flavor and nourishes lips with its conditioning formula. great for wearing alone or layer with your favorite lipstick. enriched with jojoba oil, shea butter, avocado oil and bees wax, this must-have, rich, buttery lip balm melts on the lips and offers a shiny, tinted finish creating sweetly and kissable lips in just one simple glide. comes in orange and strawberry flavor. it's formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates.

the packaging: it comes in a twisted white tube with white cap. you can see the flavor on the body, whether it's strawberry or orange by looking at the picture. just like ordinary lip balm out there.. nothing special about the packaging.

the smell: since this one is clearly described as fruity, the scent is obviously fruity. i have strawberry, i think mine is smell like strawberry, but i don't know about the orange one. but it doesn't taste like strawberry (somehow i wish they taste like their scent.. like the coca cola lip balm one if you knew).

the product: the lip balm glides easily on your lips. easy to twist out and back from the tube. the strawberry one is red, so i assumed the orange one is orange in color.

the result: yes, it's moisturizing. it gives subtle color to my lips. quite vivid actually for a tinted lip balm. in two swipes it will give me reddish hue on my lips. compared to nyx, i have to swipe a couple times to get that color shown (but the pink one doesn't have the same issue, so i don't know if this is only the result of inconsistency from nyx or else). the other thing that i like more from this lip balm is their after effect. with nyx, i will feel my lips become drier than before if i used their tinted lip balm. after it vanished my lips will become drier. but this one doesn't. i will leave my lips juicy and moisturized. somehow i reached for this one very often lately. if i had to run some errand but doesn't want to put makeup on, i'll just swipe this on my lips and i will become lively. as for the color, don't expect longevity. it will vanish with eating, drinking and time passing.

so, if you're looking for a tinted lip balm with a budget, buy this one. it's cheap, smells nice, gives pretty color and moisturizing. moreover, i'm proud to say that this one is a local product (indonesian brand). definitely recommend this one over nyx now..

the packaging

left: the lip balm
right: it's pretty bright cherry red lip balm

left: swatch on hand
top right: bare lips, bottom right: lip swatch

you will think that i'm not trustworthy since i keep saying that i will buy something in full size and not buying it but buy something else.. but what can i do? sometimes when i found out that there's a new product that interests me, i'm very tempted to try it. and this is the case with this sunblock. my previous sunblock is finally empty (my first empty sunblock, i think.. most of them are expired before i used them all, not a good habit of skipping sunblock.. but i do make progress by emptying this one right?), and i have to buy something new. i know i told you i will buy the etude house sunprise gel, but somehow i saw a new sunblock from etude. at that time, i'm torn between this one and innisfree no sebum one, but then i decided to give this one a try.

if you don't know yet, etude released two new sunblocks that have similar design and color, this one and the other one is mild airy finish. both are supposed for sensitive skin.

this is the description from etudehouse.com:

a moisturizing uv gel with a lecithin and skin-friendly liquid formula that lightly glides a thin layer onto skin with a clean finish. light & fresh (non-sticky gel type that glides on skin lightly to deliver fresh application), safe & smooth (containing natural water-soluble lecithin for skin-friendly application), vegetability (made of dwarf ground sedge extract, aloe vera, portulaca oleracea extract to protect skin from uv safely).

the packaging: the bottle is exactly like the one pictured above. in a tube with a screw white plastic top and a light green plastic body. not too big so you can carry it everywhere.

the smell: there's a pro and contra here. pro: it doesn't smell like ordinary sunblock, it's quite fragrant, floral i think. contra: it's supposed for sensitive skin, which usually also comes with fragrant-sensitivity, so why put a floral scent to a product for sensitive skin? but as for me, the scent doesn't bother me since it's quite mild. i even think sniffing it makes me diligent to put it on my face everyday.. since it's nice to smell something nice in the morning.. makes you feel good and ready to face your day.

the product: it's exactly like advertised. it's a gel type that glides easily on my skin. absorbed easily too. it will leave my skin moist for awhile and then doesn't sticky or greasy at all after being absorbed completely. and it doesn't leave white cast. super love.

the result: well, i'm not the one that burnt easily under the sun, so i can't judge the protective properties of this sunblock. but i don't experience any sunburn during my recent holiday even though i'm under the sunlight for quite sometime, so i think it's quite effective. it does make my nose oily after a while, but it's normal. putting on makeup on top of this sunblock will make it quicker to become oily. but not too much. after all, it's soooo scorching hot here, so i won't blame this sunblock entirely. it doesn't break me out too.

after all, i don't regret buying this full size before trying the sample. it has lovely scent, really mild and light, moisturizing enough and not sticky at all. doesn't leave white cast too. definitely will repurchase if i'm not attracted to something new again.. ahhaha.. as for you, put the scent in mind. if you're sensitive to scent or doesn't like floral scent, skip it. otherwise, try it. it's cheap and effective so trying it won't hurt your wallet.

the bottle tube

left: the opening (no seal)
right: the product on my hand

i've wanted to try another eye cream for so long but i don't know which one to try. i wanted to try sum:37 or sulwhasoo samples, but i can't afford the full size, so i have to find something new. i was going to buy the loreal revitalift x3 one, but somehow i always hesitate. and then i found out about secret key. actually, the one that i want to try is the snail+egf one, but somehow my sister made a mistake and buy the regular snail one. oh well, i can't find the difference, but all i know the snail+egf one is branded as an upgraded one. (but i'm confused.. i read somewhere that the new design only say snail even though it's the snail + egf one, but correct me if i'm wrong)

pic from the secretkey.co.kr

description from en.koreadepart.com:

ingredients: adenosine, beta glucan, niacinamide, arbutin, macadamia seed oil, jojoba seed oil, squalene. (a lot of these ingredients are known for their moisturizing as well as whitening properties).

product description: protects skin from harmful materials, chondroitin sulfate of main ingredient of mucin keeps resilient and radiant skin. affects mildly on eyes and creates vivid and moisturizing skin. refreshing touch.

actually, this is my first snail product.. so i'm kind of excited to try. some bloggers report that they like it, so i hope it works on me too.

the packaging: it's packaged in a simple tube, white cream tube with a brown cap. it's a screw cap. there's an english text at the front with the product name and a little bit description, but at the back everything is in korean. but i'm happy it's a tube! a little bit hygienic than my previous tub.

the smell: well, this one smells nice.. floral scent, so i'm sure it's not a snail scent. yaiks.. i can't even imagine how snails should smell. hahaha..

the product: it's a white gel cream, pretty light and easily absorbed. it's quite watery since it melts easily after being applied but doesn't leave sticky feeling.

the result: it's quite moisturizing but not as heavy as my previous skinfood which takes forever to absorb. but this one also takes awhile to sink in, but not forever. about the moisturizing part, if you have pretty dry skin, then probably this one is not quite moisturizing enough for you. as for other result, i think it does nothing to my dark eyes. but it's moisturizing enough that i don't notice any lines underneath my eyes. but it's just a month or so, so i will update about it if i noticed anything else. but so far i like it better than the skinfood one since i can use it day and night.