hi all.. you might've known already that i've struggled with my hair for a while. i blame it on myself though.. for not being diligent in taking care of my hair. i straightened and colored my hair, and i've been taking care at the beginning, but then as time passed by and the visit to the pool came often again, i started to neglect my hair care and the effect showed. i had split ends and my hair ends were dry. and i've tried to salvage it but i failed. i had to chopped a few inch and then started to find another hair mask to treat my hair.
i've read in another blog about this hair mask. i've no idea about korean hair care, so i believed this blogger instantly and bought the full version of this hair mask. after all, if this one failed, i can always try to buy the usual hair mask, like loreal, kerastase and such. but since they are pricey, i'll try this mask first.
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| it contains argan oil that supposed to be moisturizing |
the description from en.koreadepart.com:
ingredients: organic argan oil, rosehip oil, evening primrose oil
nutritional care pack that offers intensive care to damaged hair by blow dry, perm, and hair dying. argan oil, rosehip oil, and evening primrose oil offer moisture and nutrition to skin. creates healthy and sleek hair.
the packaging: it's packaged in a tub, just like any other hair mask.
the smell: it smells good.. i always love hair products that smells nice. it makes my hair smells nice too..
the product: it's a white pinkish cream, pretty thick, just like any other hair mask. it spreads easily onto my hair.
the result: once it's applied, it makes my hair more sleek, but as the moisturizing part, it takes time. i use this hair mask once a week, and it took me almost a month to notice that my dry ends started to behave. somehow in the first month i can still see some of the split ends that didn't get chopped off on my first cut, but lately i didn't notice any split ends anymore. but please be advised that i use this hair mask in combination with l'oreal extraordinary oil as well.
sooo.. i'm happy that my decision paid off. it's a good hair mask with a cut of prize from the usual salon's hair mask. if i can keep buying this hair mask, i'll keep buying this hair mask. for you who's in search of hair mask for your dry hair and didn't want to spend fortune, i suggest you try this hair mask. i have no complaints about this hair mask. hopefully it will keep my hair healthy for the time being.. since i'll probably won't have so much time taking care of my hair with the new baby's coming soon...
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top left: the top of the tub (korean word for mask is pack)
top right: the mask inside the tub
bottom left: yes, there's instructions in english at the back
bottom right : 200 ml for hair mask, similar like other masks |
bb trend has taken all over the world now, even western brands have released several bb creams on their own. and now the cushion trend has been there for awhile.. but western brands have not yet to release their cushion. but many korean brands have released several version of them. and i've been wanted to try the innisfree one, but since i'm confuse about the shade, i didn't dare to buy it online. although the famous one is iope air cushion xp, but it was too pricey for me. and since i have several good experience with innisfree, i think i'll try theirs. this cushion of innisfree has two types, the water glow one that's suppose for dry skin to give dewy finish and the long wear one, targeted for those with oily skin and give matte finish. these cushions were released last summer and now innisfree has released ampoule intense cushion one.
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| the ads from innisfree (at the bottom there's the comparison between the water glow and long wear) |
this is the description from their global website: a long wear cushion that creates smooth, fresh and bright skin that lasts long, without being smudged by sweat and sebum. long wear makeup cushion strong against sweat and sebum. sweat proof strong against sweat and sebum - clinical test on sweat proof effect completed. 12 hours lasting makeup - clinical test on 12 hour color-lasting effect completed. powerful uv protection with spf 50+ and PA +++ protects the skin from the sun.
from the ads you can see that at first there are 3 shades available, #13 light beige, #21 natural beige, #23 true beige. but now they add another shade, darker one, #31 deep beige. probably since many people complained that innisfree shades are meant for those with light skin and not cater for those who has darker skin.
the packaging: the cushion is placed on a compact with a shield to separate the puff from the cushion. just like another cushion, the shield and the cushion are refillable, but i believe it's not interchangeable with another brand's cushion. unlike those cushion from amore pacific family which can refill another brand cushion compact, like etude and laneige.. those two are fit for each other, but innisfree is a different story. so if you don't have the original compact, don't just buy the refill and think that it might fit into your old compact cushion.
the shade: i thought being fair i will suit #13, and most blogger do write that NC 15 should suit #13. plus the korean trend, it's okay to use a shade lighter for your face, unlike western whom like to match their face color to their neck color. but when i swatched it on the store, though #13 is similar to #21, but i didn't try it to my whole face, so i didn't dare to take the risk and bought the #21 instead. fortunately, it's a match, though i will say that if i keep staying in my home long enough, #21 will be a notch darker for me. oh well, next time i will buy #13..
the smell: probably because it contains green tea, it smells nice. calming and not too overpowering. oh probably it's just my hormone talking.. usually i don't like fragrance in my makeup, but i like the scent from this cushion.
the coverage: i will say that this one is light coverage. it only covers a bit of my redness, and i have to use separate concealer for my dark circles and blemish scars. but i don't mind.. it's perfect since i grab it for quick errand-use. if i want more coverage, i can always use my foundation or the other bb cream.
the result: yes, it gives matte finish and lasts quite some time, though i never count the exact time yet. but some said that it doesn't give the 12 hours long lasting effect just like advertised (i don't use my makeup that long anyway.. so why bother?) some said that it even dries out so for you who has dry skin, probably you might want to skip this. and some said that it has a bit glowy finish. as for me, i find that it takes time to became matte, so i still dab my t-zone and eyelid with powder. especially my eyelid... i use it once without powdering my face, and it creases on my eyelid!
okayyyy.. for first trial in the cushion world, i'm quite satisfied with this cushion. and probably i'll keep using this one. probably i'll just try another shade. i'll recommend this cushion for you who has combination/oily skin, or live in dry and humid weather or in summer time. this will be perfect for you. but if you're more into medium coverage bb creams like skin79, then you might want to skip this.
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| the box (you can see the description and ingredients in english at the back of the box) |
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| at the top you can read your shade, mine is #21 |
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right: the appearance of the cushion
left: inside the compact, mirror included, shield to separate the puff |
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top: the cushion is still sealed
bottom: the cushon and how it oozed the bb cream onto my finger |
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| hand swatch (left - unblended, right -after blending) |
hi y'all.. if you've read my previous posts, you'll know that toner is the last skincare steps still left out. i haven't tried any toner yet up until now. the main reason is not because toner is not important, but i still have a whole bottle of toner when i first started my searching. and since there're a lot of steps in korean skincare, using the toner that i've already had is enough at that time. so i searched for essence and serum first since i haven't used them. and now since i've almost found all other necessary steps, i started to try for toner.
at first, let me tell you something about toner. i thought at first that toner is a part of cleansing your face, you have to use toner right after cleansing milk/oil to clean up the remaining dirt or cleansing milk/oil, but turned out i was wrong. it is the first step of skincare, to tone your skin. but some said that's the difference between the asian toner and western toner. well, i don't know for sure, but definitely the use of korean toners are different from western toner. and the main ingredients in toner to watch out is alcohol. some said that alcohol can be bad for your skin since it will strip away the natural oil of your face and make your skin dry (for oily skin, it will be bad since it will induce the oil production). but some said that alcohol in some formula and composition is okay for your skin.
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| the ads from etude |
if you're familiar with the wonder pore freshner, you might know that the original product offers 7 in 1 benefits, but the newer version offers 10 in 1 benefit. the original benefits are removes leftover makeup, lightly acidifies skin to optimal pH 5.5, controls sebum, minimises pores, treats uneven skin tone, maintains skin elasticity, and hydrates skin. while the newer version offers these additional benefits: smoothens skin texture, gets rid of impurities and dead skin cells, refreshes and cools the skin. so many benefits right? but let's find out if they are true..
the packaging: the full size comes in two version, the 500 ml and the 250 ml. but i only tried the sample which comes in a 25 ml bottle. it has a screw top. just like the original version, the newer version has several different tops. the 250 ml has a flip top while the 500 ml has a pump on top. i believe if you purchased the 500 ml version, you'll get a box of cotton tissue to use with the toner. it's similar to cotton tissue to use with skinfood black sugar serum.
the smell: this toner contains alcohol and you can smell a hint of alcohol in it.
the product: well.. it's a toner, it's clear and looks like water.
the result: it's only 25 ml, i use it twice a day and it lasts me about a month, so all i know is that this toner is not drying, helps me control my sebum production. but as in minimises pores, smoothens skin texture and so on, i don't have anything to say about that. as for the hydration thing, i don't think this toner can hydrate my skin. it doesn't dry out my skin, but it doesn't that hydrating.
sooo.. if you're in love with the original toner, the upgraded version is something to try for sure. but if you don't like toner with alcohol, then skips this one. if you're adventurous to try different products, then you can try this toner. it does offer a lot of benefits and it's not that bad to skip this one out. as for me, i won't make any decision just yet.
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left: the sample bottle
right: the screw top |
few days ago i read from another blogger about her story, how her makeup preference changed as she grew up. and i have to admit, i experienced it too. trying so many products and then having a kid, it changed my point of view a lot. though for makeup i still played most in drugstore brands, but my preferences changed...
about skincare, i have no major issue when i was in my teen years.. just acne, and it will diminish as time passed by. and no scar too.. i have to say i'm lucky. my sisters weren't as lucky as i am. until now, they're still fighting with acne and acne scars. i do have some acne sometimes, but it's very rare and very quick to heal, and no scar left. as my other problem, i have pretty oily skin back in my teenage years, so for many years, i have tried all products labelled with "for oily skin". but somehow it didn't help. but now, since i read about the korean skincare steps and the importance of oil even though you have oily skin, i pretty much understand my skin more. i devoted more time to take care of my skin more than my teenage year, and for you who are still in your 20s, make sure to treat your skin as early as possible.. i have to say that i'm late to take care of my skin, and now, the area that showed early aging sign is my under eye area. don't forget all those sleepless night during my night duty plus having a baby.. i'm sure they contributed to my aging problem.
okay.. let's talk about skincare regime first. back in my teenage year, i only wash my face with drugstore facial foam. not that they're bad for my skin, but most of them i believe strip off the natural oil of my skin, so it made my skin more oily. i didn't understand that back in that day. i thought the squeakier my skin, the cleaner the facial wash. turned out i was wrong. and then i use the oil free moisturizer. and i use very little since i thought i have oily skin, why moisturize a lot? in fact, i was wrong again. i have to keep my skin moisturized so it doesn't produce more oil. and my sister said that oil based moisturizer is still oily for them, so they tried water based moisturizer. me myself, i tend to fond of gel moisturizer. it has cooling effect and easier to absorb. as i live in tropical country, i knew that sunscreen is a must, but since sunscreen usually greasy, i often forgot to use it. well, right now i'm still forgetting it sometime, but i try as diligent as possible to use it everyday. and i use no eye cream, no night cream at all until i'm about 25 years!
now, i use toner after washing my face, and essence/serum and moisturize plus sunscreen in the morning. at night, i double cleanse my face, then follow it with toner, night serum (usually for anti aging) and night cream. oh.. and the eye cream. i usually use it at night, but sometimes i use it in the morning too. twice a week i use wash off mask/ sheet mask (yes, i'm a mask believer now..) every other day i scrub my face, usually twice a week too when i wash my hair (since i'm a forgetful person.. tying it with another activity help me to remember it). and voila.. i have almost normal skin now, almost never have acne!
about makeup regime... one thing for sure.. i have lots of makeup products now than my teenage year. hahaha.. i was pretty tomboy back in the day, so all i have were compact powder, eyeliner and mascara. and a dior travel makeup palette given by my father. it had eyeshadows, blush, lip gloss and mascara. it was pretty.. but all the eyeshadows are pearly and too shimmery. the blush was pink. bright pink. the gloss was okay.. and the mascara too. those products help me to do my own makeup when i had to attend my cousin's wedding. oh well..as time went by, i started to know about foundation and found a great difficulty finding the right shade for me (being fair skinned in the midst of medium skin). and then as a color freak, i thought i had to have colorful eye palette and blushes. turned out it looked clowny on my face. some were okay, but some colors are not for me. mascara is the only product that i played around so much, and only experienced 1 failure, the revlon one.. it was flaky. sooo.. most of my teenage years are spent to find out the right product and colors for me.
now, these are my makeup regime:
base: i used foundation on formal occasion and tend to reach bb cream or bb cushion more. (i have pretty okay skin.. so why cover it with heavy foundation?) but i still do use some powder to dust my t-zone. somehow i don't like the dewy finish of bb cream..
eyeshadow: having tried a lot of colors make me realize they just work for fashion/beauty industry. as i work in formal sector, i found that nude colors work best for me. but being a color freak, i can't imagine buying a single eyeshadow pot! so i decided to grab revealed palette (it's a great dupe for urban decay naked palette!) i still have colors to play with but in safe color zone.
blush: though many bloggers and beauty makeup guru said that fair skin are best with pink blushes, i found myself attracted to peach/coral shades more.. so i decided to grab one pink/natural matte blush for everyday use and a coral with shimmer. though i wanted to buy a more orange blush more.. but i guess for now those two are enough.
contour: yes.. i decided in 2014 to learn about contouring. and my first bronzer is a failure. the elf bronzer didn't show up on my skin. i guess i just picked the wrong shade. and all of them contained shimmer, which not pretty good for contouring. and then i found the sleek contour kit. well, i'm hooked. and now i'm still learning to contour my face.. and i'm not dare enough to use cream product, so i guess i'll stick to powder contour kit for now. (though nyx new release the contour palette is very tempting.. i'm pretty sure i don't need that much shade.. so i have to let it go *sigh*)
eyeliner: i've tried all types of eyeliner. pencil is the easiest one to use, but also very easy to smudge. gel is trickier, and i believe you have to have the right brush, so i decided to give up on gel. liquid is very difficult to work with, and i don't have the steady hand to use it. soooo. .. i end up using felt tip eyeliner. it's very easy to use, very sharp like liquid, very black like gel/liquid.
mascara: well, i'll keep myself adventurous in this department, as long as i stay away from revlon. i usually try maybelline and max factor, and most of their mascara are okay with me. but now i'm trying the etude one. not sure about that one though.
lipstick: oh.. what can i say? so many finishes.. so many colors.. so many temptation.. but i'm pretty sure i don't like the pearlescent finish/ frost finish. i'll stick to creme/ satin finish. some matte are okay but if they don't dry my lips (like nyx SMLC). as for colors, i always try to but one pink, one nude, one coral/orange (but not bright orange), one mauve, and a red lipstick. but since i've found out that there's a mac sample... weeelllll... i can try a whole lot shades. and i don't have to worry to finish them all, since it's a sample, i bet i can finish them. hhahaha. no wasting money..
well, i guess that's my story about how my makeup/skincare regime changed as i aged. how about you?
many of you have known that one of dupes from the famous urban decay naked palette is coastal scents revealed palette. some bloggers even said revealed palette is the dupe from both the first and second urban decay naked palette, while the second revealed palette is a dupe from urban decay naked 3 palette. i don't know why i picked the first revealed palette since the second revealed palette has just been released when i ordered my revealed palette. somehow i think the rose gold hue is too girly for me. so i decided to pick the first revealed palette instead. and last christmas, my sister was home and she had the urban decay naked palette so i asked her to bring it home with her so i can take picture and compare it to my revealed palette.
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| the complete package from urban decay naked palette (with the primer) |
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top: inside the palette (there's a mirror and a brush)
bottom: the cover of the palette |
packaging: the naked palette feels more sturdy and a little bit bulky for me. probably since the naked palette has the primer together with the palette. the palette is also a bit longer than revealed. naked feels a little bit luxurius since the cover is made from velvet while revealed is only made from cardboard. naked has mirror and the brush inside, while revealed has none.
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| the comparation of the palette |
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| naked palette is longer |
color: for that prize, naked is excellent in terms of color payoff. one swipe is enough. though some shades are more powdery than the rest. but it's comparable to revealed though.. i found that revealed color payoff is also decent, only one shade that can't be shown on me.
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| the swatch from naked palette |
pan size: side by side, the pan size is comparable. revealed pan is almost as big as naked.
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| the pan size comparation (left is naked, right is revealed) |
okay.. now about the shade dupes. i believe other bloggers have their own list and probably more complete than mine since i've only have the first naked to compared with, but.. oh well, i'll keep writing the list anyway (by the way, it took me, and both my sisters to make the list). on the left is the shade from naked palette, the right is the number from revealed (since the shades on revealed has no name. the numbering order is from top left to bottom right)
virgin - none
sin - #3
naked - #5
sidecar - none
buck - #7
half baked - none
smog - #9
dark horse - none
toasted - none
hustle - none
creep - #20 (but with no glitter)
gunmetal - #19
soooo.. i'm pretty satisfied with my decision to buy the dupe. i save money! yeyyy.. and i can accept the result from revealed (i'm not an eyeshadow person anyway.. and i don't work all day so revealed is enough for me).
i know.. y'all must be thinking i'm in a mask craze at the moment. well, the truth is i do use mask more frequently now.. now that i've found their benefits and time to use them.. but these posts are postponed so it seems like i've been using mask every couple days a week.. in my previous post, i've reviewed etude house alphabet mask. i believe this etude house i need you mask is their new line of their alphabet mask sheet. but, with less variants. the alphabet one has 26+1 variants, while i need you line only has 20 variants. mostly are the same with the alphabet one.
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| these are the variants of etude house i need you mask |
the complete description from etude house global website:
aloe mask - this mask sheet contains aloe extract, known for its multi-function of quenching thirsty skin, soothing irritated areas and instantly cooling heated skin.
collagen mask - this mask sheet contains collagen that strengthens the skin for firm, youthful skin.
hyaluronic acid mask - this mask sheet contains hyaluronic acid with excellent water storage capabilities providing rich moisture to keep skin perfectly moist everyday.
royal jelly mask - this mask sheet contains richly nutritious royal jelly extract, helping to enhance smooth, moist healthy skin by protecting weak and rough skin from outer environment.
pearl mask - this mask sheet contains pearl extract full of amino acids and minerals, brightening up dull skin for a bright and clear complexion.
green tea mask - this mask sheet contains green tea extract, providing moist and comforting relief to soothe out rough and irritated skin.
lemon mask - this is a soothing type of cleansing foam that has aloe vera extract that soothes and irritates skin. the aloe vera is known for its excellent moisturizing and soothing capabilities.
pomegranate mask - this mask sheet contains pomegranate extract, providing smoothing and firming care to dull and lifeless skin.
tea tree mask - this mask sheet contains extract from the clean herb, tea tree extract with soothing properties on skin to provide a fresh, clean complexion.
vita complex mask - this mask sheet contains various vitamin derivatives that purify and brighten up dull skin for a healthy natural glow.
olive mask - this mask sheet contains olive extract, fully moisturizing dry and rough skin.
coenzyme q10 mask - this mask sheet contains coenzyme q10 that helps protect skin's natural elasticity to enhance a firm complexion with a healthy glow.
mugwort mask - this mask sheet contains mugwort extract that improves circulation for a clearer complexion.
korean ginseng mask - this mask sheet contains nourishing korean ginseng extract, enhancing a youthful complexion by revitalizing exhausted and lifeless skin.
mango mask - this mask sheet contains mango extract known for its variety of vitamins and fiber, helping to provide firm and healthy skin with its sweet and gentle touch.
snail mask - this mask sheet contains snail mucus ingredient that protects the skin's natural barrier for smooth and elastic skin.
acai berry mask - this mask sheet contains superfood acai berry extract, essential fatty acids and various vitamins, providing antioxidants to deliver young and healthy skin.
bamboo mask - this mask sheet contains bamboo extract, providing cool, soothing relief to dryness for clean, moist skin.
rice mask - this mask sheet contains rice extract that brightens up dull and rough skin for smooth and healthy skin.
honey mask - this mask sheet contains honey full of moisture, providing dry and rough skin with a moist, radiant look.
i've ordered several variants from this line, but the first one that i tried was the acai berry one.
the packaging: each sheet is packaged in colorful sachet, designed differently according to the ingredients of the mask. though it's not as cute as the alphabet design.
the smell: nothing weird.. no wet tissue scent too.
the product: the mask sheet size is exactly the same with the alphabet line. slightly smaller than innisfree's, but it fits perfectly. the essence in the mask is generous, but enough.. not too much like innisfree. it do dried up a bit after 15-20 minutes.
the result: the acai berry is supposed for delivering young and healthy skin. since i've only used it once, all i know it makes my skin a bit glowing and moist.
overall, it's a good mask, but i guess you have to use this more than once to see the antioxidants effect. will i repurchase? probably.. but why limit to this one mask? they have a lot variants to try!
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| the packaging |
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left: before using the mask
middle: during (i look like ghost with mask on my face)
right: after.. (a bit glowy because of the essence) |
you all must be wondering.. i use a lot of masks lately.. yeah.. i have to admit this pregnancy somehow influence me to take care of my skin and use my makeup more than usual. some said because it's a baby girl. i don't know.. but all i know, when i visited my sister, i stopped by at innisfree store and overwhelmed by their capsule recipe pack selection. but at the end i only pick the strawberry yogurt and the pomegranate sleeping pack. and i'm in my last trimester, so i decided to pamper myself more before the baby comes.
the description from their global website:
a strawberry yogurt mask to brighten and hydrate skin. exfoliate and moisturize skin with strawberry yogurt ingredients. enriched sizzling formation provides skin solutions. wash-off pack after rolling massage on skin.
how to use: smoothly apply over face that can feel dry after cleansing. rinse off with warm water after 10-15 minutes. massaging will relieve your facial muscles for more comfortable looks. choose the right one for your skin condition.
insert the cap of capsule into the container and pull for airtightness to use for 2-3 applications.
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| at the bottom you can see how to slip the cover for later usage |
the packaging: it's a cute little capsule pack. even though you can slip the cover through the slot provided, somehow if innisfree can make it resealable, it will be super awesome.
the product: the texture's like yogurt and smells like one too... i have to resist not to lick it! it spreads easily on my face. honestly, i never use any mask before using innisfree super volcanic mask, and i have to admit i'm quite confuse when i first used this. i thought since it's a wash-off mask type, it will be hard somehow like the super volcanic one, but turned out it didn't. the mask kept like yogurt spread on my face. silly me, eh?
the smells: have i told you that it smells nice? just like strawberry yogurt. very yummy.. a nice change after trying the super volcanic which smells a little bit like medicine.
the result: the hydrating part is what i experience right after usage. i feel my skin become supple and moist. about the brightening part, i don't notice anything at the first usage, but on second usage, i noticed that it made my skin a little bit brighter. though i assume that people with darker skin will notice the changes in brightness more than those with fair skin. some said that the brightness will last for 2-3 days, but i don't see it. probably since i'm quite fair to begin with..
oh well, i definitely will purchase this capsule pack again. and for you who have combination-oily skin, you don't have to worry to try this. though i feel that my skin is quite moisturized so i skip my night cream and just use my night serum after trying it for the first time.
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left: the capsule recipe pack
middle: the instruction behind. it's in english!
right: the mask.. looks like yogurt, right? |
i have to admit, i have several posts postponed due to my laziness (procrastination.. ohhh..).. and now it's new year and i'm commited to finish all my postponed posts.
okay.. this is about eye cream. i have to admit, i haven't found any eye cream that i love just yet. not even this one. actually, i've tried several eye cream samples, and some non korean brand eye cream too, but none is satisfying. you might ask why i jumped to buy this eye cream in full size, well.. first, because i dislike my bodyshop eye cream and serum that much so i wanted to try another eye cream quickly at that time. second, because i've read so many reviews about this eye cream from several bloggers and they rave about it. some said they kept buying it again and again. so i decided to take plunge and bought it.
the whole salmon line from skinfood is targeted for eye area, including eye skin care and eye makeup such as concealer and powder. this is the description from their global website:
containing arbutin and the extracts of omega 3-rich salmon roe produced in hokkaido japan, this eye cream brightens and relieves dark circles around the eyes.
the packaging: i've bought several eye creams, and to be honest, 30g is a lot for me. i don't know why they packaged it in a tub. usually my eye cream came in pen-shaped tube or like toothpaste tub with pointy edge. i have no idea when it will finish.. i've used it for 4-5 months now, and i don't see it lessen in amount >.< oh, and the tub is quite heavy. i guess it's because the tub is made from glass covered with recycled paper. no spatula included.
the smell: no smell.. or perhaps it's very subtle so my nose can't pick it up.
the product: it cames in dusty pink thick cream. not as thick as the royal honey one, but thicker than body shop's. some said that it absorbs quickly, but for me, it took ages to absorb. i even pat it like crazy every night, so that's why i never use this cream in the morning. some said it has watery consistency since after you applied it on your skin, it spreads easily like water. and it will keep like that for around five minutes for me.
the result: if you're expecting for instant brightening result, you might skip this one. somehow most korean products give no instant result. you have to use them in long terms to see the result. and i have to admit, in terms of fighting dark circles, this cream is quite effective. i'm now on my last trimester and right now i'm having difficulty to sleep. and lack of sleep equals dark circles undereye. but using this eye cream, i keep my dark circle to minimum so i only need a dab of concealer if i want to go to party or attend formal occasion. the problem with this cream is, it has no other effect on me beside fighting the dark circle. it's not moisturizing enough for me. royal honey wins over this eye cream in terms of moisturizing. and as for wrinkle fighting, i've noticed if i only slept for 2-3 hours, there's fine lines at the corner of my eye (oh noooo... i'm 30 this year, and i have to fight aging quick!) so i need something else other than this cream.
soooo.. i won't repurchase this cream for sure. and i hate to be back in search for eye cream. i hate if i have to use 2 eye creams for different purposes. i hope i can find one for all eye cream.. any suggestion?
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top left: the top of the tub
top right: the bottom of the tub
bottom left: make sure you read the label for eye cream (the packaging for the concealer is similar)
bottom right: the description in english at the back |
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top: inside the tub, yes.. i still keep the separator
bottom left: the cream inside (it looks muddy and yucky)
bottom right: the cream on my hand |
okay.. i started this blog to find the right skincare combination for me. i've tried several items in each categories, and i've found some good things and some failure. and here are some upgrades that i've done on my journey.
cleanser: koreans believe in double cleansing system. for me, i think facial foam cleanser is something that i can save my money. so i tried etude house's facial foam since it's cheap and it has several options. and so far i like what i've tried, so i'll keep changing my facial foam. but for cleansing oil, i've set my eye on innisfree apple juicy cleansing oil. if you're worried about oil to clean your face, i assure you, it's totally okay for oily skin. it won't strip your skin and it cleanses almost everything. from bb cream to mascara.. but if you're a heavy user of mascara, especially waterproof mascara, then you might want to use separate eye makeup remover.
FYI, innisfree apple juicy smells wonderful too.. like apple.. fruity and fresh. what a nice way to remove your makeup.
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| the bottle pump |
essence: i've told you i bought innisfree soybean energy essence in full size, so i won't write about it anymore.
moisturizer: i bought nature republic super aqua max combination watery cream in full size after trying several moisturizer samples targeted for combination-oily skin. but it's kind of hard to find nature republic. no online shops sell it ready stock, so i have to measure how long a tub can last so i can preorder it. but.. i do have a back up. the mizon one.. but i haven't bought mizon in full size yet since i've managed to buy nature republic twice via preorder.
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| the full size box |
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top: the tub
bottom: the moisturizer inside (spatula provided) |
serum: the first serum is it's skin power 10 VB effector one. i use it in the morning to help combat my sebum production since i wear makeup in the morning. so far.. my morning combination is okay. but i have to be honest, if i bought innisfree soybean energy essence, i won't buy this serum. but if i bought this serum, i won't buy innisfree, since both are good to control my sebum production. for night serum, the winner for me is missha, which on my late post i stated that i won't buy it just yet, but roseroseshop was having sales for best 2014 products and this serum is one of them, so i decided to buy it. but it haven't arrived yet..and i will still keep looking for budget friendly night serum.
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left top and bottom: the bottle
right top and bottom: the plastic cap to protect the rubber dropper and the dropper |
night cream: no upgrading or changing in this department just yet. though i have some samples to try.
scrub: i bought skinfood black sugar strawberry scrub mask, but i haven't tried it yet. i hope it's as good as the scrub foam.
hi everyone! i hope you're all still in the spirit of the new year! though it's almost a week in this new year.. by the way, my most read post is my review on innisfree soybean energy essence (read:
here), so since innisfree is launching the newer version of this essence, i might as well try it. actually, they release it last summer, but i can't get my hand on the sample up until a few month ago.. and i still have other essences to try, so it got postponed and now i've finished the sample sooo.. here we gooo..
this is the description from innisfreeworld.com:
1. 94% fermented jeju soybean solution (the original one only made from 91% fermented jeju soybean solution) skin activating ingredients created during the fermentation process purify dull skin and help restore firmness to sagging skin.
2. as a watery type essence, it absorbs lightly and quickly into the skin. energy essence best suited for the summer, or for oily and combination skin who needs enhancement in skin tone and texture.
ingredients: fermented soybean extract, oat kernel extract, lotus extract, plum extract, adenosine.
7 free system: parabens, flavoring, animal raw materials, mineral oil, synthetic pigment, acrylamide, imidazolidinyl urea additives.
how to use:
for dull and rough skin: soak a cotton pad with essence and swipe it to remove dead skin cells and impurities.
for enlarged pore and dull skin: dab the soaked cotton pad onto your skin.
since this is a newer version, i won't say anything about the formula, i just want to discuss about the difference between the original one.
the packaging: be careful to pick the full size product nor the sample, since both design are the same. plain white transparent plastic bottle with brown cap, a twisted cap. the only difference is the [light] saying at the end of "soybean energy essence" text on the body of the bottle. so read carefully before you grab the bottle. oh.. and if you looked at the tiny korean text, there's a number there. the original one is written "91%" while the light one is "94%" which indicated the percentation of the soybean solution. the downside of the packaging is, the full size product only comes in 150 ml version.. no smaller 80 ml version like the original one. *sigh* (fyi, i spent almost 5-6 months to finish the 80 ml one.. so i guess the 150ml might last for the whole year!)
the smell: no smell at all, just like the original. so if you're worried about fermented smell that other brands have, you don't need to worry to try this one.
the product: it's clear watery type essence, very runny just like water. just like missha's. and if you don't like the original since it's a bit sticky, you might want to try this one.. trust me, it's not sticky at all! it's easy to absorb, just like the original one.
the result: i might say no difference in the result. it gives brightening result, my pimples heal quicker, but it doesn't help preventing it though. as for the anti-wrinkle effect, i have no saying since i only use the sample for around 10 days. but if it's similar with the original one, i bet it has the same firming effect.
overall, if you have combination-oily skin, lives in hot and humid weather, prefer watery essence, hates fermented scent, you might like this essence. but if you're okay with the original one, then you're not missing anything if you skipped this.
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| the sample bottle |
yes.. lately i've been into online shopping.. probably since i have nothing to do, and there're a lot of online shops in instagram, which is make my life easier. anything you wanted to buy, they sold it! all you have to do is find the right hashtag.. sometimes the SFS (shout for shoutout) or the endorse or paid promote helps too.. you can figure out which sellers sell what item. oh.. and since there are a lot of online shops, you can find one that's in your city to minimize the shipment fee. keep in mind that these online shops are based in indonesia only.
KOREAN SKINCARE
1. chic-princessa (http://www.chic-princessa.com)
they sells ready stock item for korean brand skincare and makeup, and also several western brand makeup. you can buy directly on web, so it's easier without having to wait the admin to answer you. for price, i can say it's comparable with riebutik (i have no experience buying with riebutik since some bloggers or buyers said that they had several issues with riebutik, and that's annoying).
2. preorderlair (only by email : preorderlair@gmail.com)
i've read on femaledaily forum that the owner of preorderlair is the sister of chicprincessa owner. you can email to the email address above stating that you want their price list, and then every month they will send you email regarding the preorder schedule and pricelist. since it's preorder, the price is slightly cheaper than ready stock in chic princessa. everything is done via email for this seller. messaging only for urgent matters.
3. grosirsample (http://www.grosirsamplekorea.com/)
this is a sample and mini size or special kit only. though it's based in pontianak, the collection is pretty extensive. unfortunately, she didn't accept any request. but i found on the instagram that sometimes she opened the request section.. just check the stock on ready stock items on web, and then message the seller.
USA MAKEUP & SKINCARE
1. preorderbymimo (@preorderbymimo)
i believe there's a website, but i forget the web address. she sells quite various range of usa makeup brand, mostly that's hard to find. since she's self importing, since her cousin that does the buying in the usa. sometimes the price is cheaper here, but sometimes it's the same with the counter. but, she's based in surabaya! sooo.. the shipment fee is cheaper.. yeyyy!! you can order via line, and then email her for payment confirmation. a little bit confusing at first, but it's okay..
2. twentyseven shop (FB: https://www.facebook.com/twenty.seven.collection?fref=ts)
she's a singapore based seller, but she shipped via jakarta. some items are ready stock, but mostly she manages preorder, usually for brand like elf, sleek, sephora, drugstore.com, beauty.com.. but not all of them are open every month. and usually, eventhough there's a discount promo in the web, if the closing date of the discount promo is different with the closing date of the preorder, she'll not join the discount promo. everything via FB messaging for this seller.
CLOTHES
okay folks.. if your hands are itchy to do some shopping, perhaps my suggestion can help you. please note that this post is only a suggestion. none of the sellers pay me to promote their shop or sponsor me in any way.
1. laclairz (@laclairz)
extensive collection, usually local brand. you have to be sure about the clothes material since it might interfere with the sizing. the seller is based in jakarta, and yes, sometimes i found that the price is a bit higher than other online shop for the same items. but, she has the collection earlier than any online shop, so that's why sometimes i keep ordering here.
2. fideleshop (@fideleshop)
spesific schedule for new upload, and special discount if you bought 3 items or more. but the collection is limited.. only about 10 models or so per upload. based in jakarta too.
3. tokogue (@tokogue)
sells cotton stretch pants only, pattern or plain. but the collection of the patterned pants is a lot more than the plain one. special price for 3 items or more.
4. chocochipsboutique (@chocochipsboutique/http://www.chocochipsboutique.com/)
probably bangkok imports, all i know the cutting is not local. you can order via web easily. and they will send you confirmation via email too. great news: the shipped WORLDWIDE.
INTERNATIONAL SELLER
1. roseroseshop (http://roseroseshop.com/)
sells korean skincare and makeup. they have discounts section which i guess is always there. on special occasion, the price is very low.. even after added with the shipment fee. oh and don't be confused if you find it similar to rubyrubyshop at ebay. since probably it's the same seller.
2. testerkorea (http://testerkorea.com/)
sells full size and sample size korean skincare and makeup. there several times that they give discounts. they also have request section so you can ask them to provide samples that you would like to try. if you want to buy from here (if you're indonesian) but you're worried about the tax, you can go to female daily plaza. there's a preorder for testerkorea if i'm not mistaken. but you have to be member with certain posts.
hi everyone! happy new year!! i know a lot of bloggers started this new year with blogging their 2014 favorites.. but since i don't have that many products to try, i won't make any favorites post. but i'll make a list.. hahhaa.. anything.. wish list, or already bought list.. but keep in mind since i have oily combination skin, most of the products will be suitable for oily combination skin. so let's get started..
skincare department:
1. facial cleanser: if you've been following the korean beauty trend, they are obsessed with their double cleansing method. one with oil or cream cleanser/balm and then with facial foam. at first, i have several products to try.. the famous cleansing oil is shu uemura, but it's expensive.. and the dupe is nature republic's. but since i can't find any sample, i haven't tried it yet. so i ended up trying the innisfree apple juicy cleansing oil, and i like it. so i decided to buy the full product, and i've been using it for 2 weeks. and i like it. it removes almost all my makeup, but i still use separate eye lip makeup remover to remove my mascara. you might wondering, oil for cleaning oily skin? don't worry.. i have combination skin and it works wonder.. it doesn't strip my skin so you won't be having excessive sebum production after cleaning your face. in facial foam department, i've only tried etude house baking powder pore cleansing foam and the bb cleansing foam, both are okay for me.. and it's cheap but deliver great result. both cleansers remove any makeup residu, and the pore cleansing one give instant brightening effect. both smells nice too.. oh, and my husband likes it too.. but, i have the faceshop charcoal and etude house egg white foam waiting for me to try, so keep reading!
2. essence: i know the most read post in my blog is the innisfree soybean energy essence, and i do love it. as SK-II dupes, it works wonder just like the original. and if you think the original soybean is too sticky, i have good news, they have the light version, very watery just like missha's. i've tried it, and review will come up soon. but if you are into brightening effect rather than anti wrinkle effect, i'll recommend skinfood premium tomato whitening essence. it doesn't make your face greasy and the brightening effect is there, though it's not instant.
3. serum: for serum, i won't use it on day and night. if i don't have any essence, i'll be using its skin power 10 VB effector in the morning to maintain my sebum production. but if i use my essence, i'll just use a night serum. so far, the winner for me is missha new science night activator ampoule, but it's quite expensive, and for a mom of (soon) 2, i'll try something else that gives me similar result but cheaper. and i know, most bloggers said that if there's a step in korean skincare that you should purge is serum.. but still.. we have our own priority right?
4. moisturizer: well, you've probably heard this a lot of times.. even though you have oily skin, you still have to moisturize your skin, otherwise it will produce more sebum. and it's true i guess. i found my nature republic super aqua max combination cream and i'm hooked. it's gel-type cream, lightweight, non greasy, quick to absorb, smells fresh and most important is suitable for me. after using this moisturizer, i have to say that my sebum production is almost normal now. though on my winter holiday to new zealand this moisturizer can't help against the winter weather. i experienced dryness around my nose.. probably if you're living in 4 weather climate country, you'll have to find something else for winter. as for other contestant in this category, i find mizon water volume aqua gel cream is okay too.. but not to moist for me. if you're living in super dry and humid area, probably this one will be suitable for you.
5. night cream: honestly, in this department, i haven't found any korean night cream that's suitable for me, so i still use my olay total effects anti-ageing night cream. it smells nice and it's moist enough for night treatment.
6. eye cream: skinfood salmon brightening eye cream is okay for dark under eyes, but not moisturizing enough. i've been using it for 3 months now (review will be up soon), and i noticed sometimes my foundation will form lines under my eyes. so i'll look for something else that has the same brightening result but more moisturizing. i don't like using 2 eye creams to achieve that since it will last forever..
7. sleeping pack: yes.. even though you're having oily to combination skin, twice a week you can still use a sleeping pack. though the famous one is laneige's, but somehow it gives me breakouts (FYI, i tried the firming one, not the original water sleeping pack). soooo.. i decided to give a try to sulwhasoo sample, and surprisingly.. i like it. but....again, the downside is if i want to buy the full product, it's wayyyy tooo expensive for me. so, for the time being, i'll just buy the samples. after all, i only use it twice a week, so a sample can last 2 weeks for me.
8. others: i love innisfree super volcanic clay mask.. it's good to help control the sebum production, though i didn't see any difference in my pores. it also cools my skin and brightens it a bit after usage. but, a pot seems too much for me. next time i'll just buy the capsule recipe pack. oh.. and i like the strawberry yogurt too.. it smells nice, but again, as innisfree product, you can't see the brightening effect instantly. for mask sheet, so far i've only tried etude's and innisfree's, and i like them both. but innisfree soaked in serum way much more than etude, so i guess it's down to preference, since the result is so-so.
oh and the toner.. i'm just starting my sampling in toner division, so no saying about toner yet.. so far i have etude house wonder pore freshner (10 in 1, the newer one that the 7 in 1 version), skinfood apple pore toner, and many toner samples.. will tell you later.
make up department:
1. foundation: i still like my max factor, since it has the shade that suites me, but it's too much.. so i am looking for a smaller tube foundation, probably i'll try innisfree, but i still can't find the sample yet..
2. bb cream: i love my bodyshop, but i prefer skin79 hot pink since it has travel size tube, so i'll finish it quicker. after all, i'm bored quite easily, so i won't stick to one brand since nowadays every brands seems to launch their own bb and cc cream.
3. powder: no favorite yet, but i do have some wish list, the innisfree no sebum powder or skinfood buckwheat or peach pore sake powder. or elf mattifying compact powder. we'll see which one that suites me.
4. bronzer/highlighter: i like my sleek contour kit, but i've seen many bloggers raving about hourglass highlighting powder.. so i'm hoping i can save my money to try it. and the nyx matte bronzer. or try the contour stick from nyx. i don't which one yet.. since in 2014 i've been focusing on skincare more than makeup, so i'll guess after finishing all my skincare wish list, i'll play in makeup department more.
5. blush: nyx powder blush.. next shade that i want to try is apricot or coral dream. we'll see... and i also want to try liquid blush, probably the holika holika, but i don't know yet. i actually want to try rimmel's, but i can't find online shop that sells it.
6. eyeshadow: i love my coastal scent revealed palette. and i'm tempted to buy the revealed 2, but i won't do it, since i'm not an eyeshadow person.. and i'm right.. i should stick to neutral shades for eyeshadows since it's more wearable for me.
7. eyeliner: probably will keep nyx dual liner. two eyeliner in a product.. it's a keeper!
8. mascara: hmmm.. i like my max factor and loreal, but i think etude one is okay too.. hahaha.. i'm not so decisive about mascara. even though i haven't tried all 3 steps of the etude mascara, i've already put covergirl lash blast clump crusher and maybelline mascaras into my wish list..
9. eyebrow pencil: i'll stick to faceshop one until i can master drawing my eyebrow. but i'll try another shade.. the dark brown perhaps?
10. concealer: i haven't use too much concealer nowadays, but i want to try the maybelline dream lumi or the age defense one.
11. lipstick: my weakness is color, and i've been attracted toward many lipsticks but never finish them. so far, i put wet n wild megalast lipstick (it's matte, that's why i keep hesitating) or mac samples in my wish list. though nyx simply lip cream also alluring.. hmm.. i don't know which one to buy. and not forgetting that revlon is launching their hd lipstick, maybelline has their rebel line, oh my.. so many lipsticks! and i like nyx soft matte lip cream and want to try different shade like cannes or ibiza.. oh my.. so tempting!
okay.. i guess i've written all my favorites and wish list in this post.. if you have any suggestion about my wish list, please comment! since i'm living in indonesia, most new-launched products won't be here until forever i guess.. since revlon moisture stain and maybelline elixir haven't made their appearance here in indonesia.. so if you've already tried the new launched products and want to share your thoughts about them, please do..
