[REVIEW] SKINFOOD AVOCADO RICH CREAM

I’m sure we’ve seen a large number of products made with fruit and vegetables based ingredients, they also made a huge entrance into the beauty industry in the past couple of years. SKINFOOD was probably the first well-known K-beauty brand to come up with products like this. I was always intrigued by the concept of these kinds of products; They have their peach, celery, black pomegranate, royal honey/propolis, and etc lines. The one product that really stood out to me as of recently was their avocado line. I absolutely love avocadoes, they taste delicious and they are packed in nutrients that can provide the skin fantastic benefits as well!

SKINFOOD has been repackaging a lot of their products so if you noticed my bottle doesn’t look like yours, don’t be alarmed. They changed the appearance of their packaging just a tad bit.

Key Ingredients

All of these key ingredients are non-comedogenic (will not clog your pores).

Avocado oil is packed with fatty acids that are fantastic for providing skin moisture while being nourishing.

Olive oil is an incredible multi-use ingredient. It can be used as an eye, lip makeup remover, mask, facial oil and moisturizer. It has moisturizing, antibacterial and antioxidants.

Macadamia Seed Oil has anti-aging benefits and can deeply soothe and moisturize the skin. It’s also known for treating against skin irritation and inflammation.

Shea Butter is great for softening and repairing the skin. It can mimic the moisturizer in sebum. Thus, it convinces the skin into believing that it has enough sebum and helps slow down the process of the overproduction of sebum. It also can help out on skin discoloration by evening out the skin’s overall appearance.

*bold = nice ingredients, italics = to be aware of. 

Ingredient List:

Water, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance

My Skin Type and concerns:

Combination | PIE | Congested | Dehydrated | (Occasionally) Sensitive

My thoughts

I found this extremely moisturizing and nourishing, it does exactly what I imagined it to do. The only draw back I wanted to mention on here about this product is for those who are irritated or allergic to avocado, please do a patch test prior to application. Avocado Oil is generally fantastic for those who struggle with eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and also, acne. I also didn’t like that they added fragrance to this but because it is the last ingredient for this product, I’m not exactly against it. If they went for an unscented option, I think this product would be enjoyed by many. In case you were wondering what this smells like, it has a baby lotion-like scent but it fades really fast upon application.

Overall

  • Texture: 5/5 – Surprisingly enough, this is a thicker toner but it also runny so it’s a cross hybrid between a creamy, milky toner with a slight watery consistency to it. I like this toner for winter because it’s great alone and beautiful when layered with other products.
  • Scent: 4/5 – It’s okay, I don’t mind the scent but it does have a baby lotion smell but nothing too strong and unbareable.
  • Price: 5/5 – Okay, when I got this product – it was only $22 but Yesstyle is currently selling this for an outrageous price. I would suggest to check back when Yesstyle has inventory of this or another retailer because it shouldn’t be $50+. I personally would never spend $30+ on a toner because it’s a toner! Lots of affordable options available in the market. If you’re looking for another option, I would suggest the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner.
  • Performance: 5/5 – Nice! I have zero complaints with this, my skin feels hydrated and moisturized. It’s a great option for the drier and colder seasons.
  • Packaging: 3/5 – Could be better. The stopper is a bit hard to dispense out any product and you’ll find yourself shaking the crap out of this to get any product out. I just wish they added a pump or something rather than a stopper for this kind of product.
  • Overall: 4/5 – I like it! Not sure if I would repurchase it but it’s worth a shot if you’re looking for a new toner to try out. This one would be great for those who have dehydrated/dry, normal and combo skin types. I don’t think oil folks would enjoy this one very much.

Available on: Yesstyle | Skinfood US

Disclaimer: I was given this product in exchange for an honest review. All views and thoughts of this product are my own. What may work for me, may not work for you so please keep that in mind.

Holika Holika: Love Who You Are Palette Review + Swatches

It’s been a long while since I’ve done a makeup product review on my blog so here it is! This is the Holika Holika Limited Edition: Love Who You Are Eyeshadow Palette. Jolse kindly gifted me this a while back to review for you all. Because of COVID, I have not been wearing much or any makeup nor have I’ve been inspired to do any eyeshadow looks. I finally gave this palette a shot and used it during the holidays and this week so I’m ready to share with you how I feel about it.

My Thoughts:

I use to not gravitate towards K-Beauty eyeshadows because I found them too sheer for my liking but I’ve grown to really enjoy them for what they are, how natural and buildable they can be. I also find K-Beauty shimmer shadows waaaay better than western eyeshadows as they come in a nice variety of fine to bigger shimmers/glitters. This palette most certainly impressed me for it’s performance alone and with primer. It can pretty much last all day without primer and looks roughly the same from application time; very minimal creasing to no creasing without primer. There’s a good variety of transition shades that are matte and shimmers to play around with. Majority of the shimmer shades have that gorgeous multi-dimensional appearance to them. The camera does not go any justice for this palette and you need to see them in person to believe it for yourself. They’re sparkly but not in an obnoxious way and can be used as an everyday palette!

  • Texture: 5/5 – Formula is dense and almost creamy to the touch, you can use brushes or your fingers. I personally find finger application best for shimmer shades as you can build it up and it has better even application when doing so.
  • Price: 4/5 – It’s currently listed $24.79 USD | $31.63 USD on Jolse, which is somewhat expensive for an eyeshadow palette but the pans are MUCH better than most eyeshadow palettes around this price so you are getting your money’s worth when purchasing this. There’s also 13.5g of product in it so it will last you a while even if you use it as an “everyday palette”. I would prefer this over the Anastasia Beverly Hills Palette that everybody loves – I personally have grown out from loving their palettes and find their formula DRY.. it’s like a dry pigment even and I prefer more creamy, dense formulas such as this palette.
  • Performance: 4/5 – I’m very impressed with the longevity of this palette as it survived through an 8 hour shift and I could skip primer if I wanted to with this one.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – Super cute, iconic. Love the colours and it most certainly grabbed my attention.
  • Overall: 4.5/5 – I’m pretty happy with this palette! I have no complaints about it and I see myself using it a lot during this coming fall because look at these colours! They’re gorgeous and so versatile for all year round.

[REVIEW] MISSHA TIME REVOLUTION TONE UP TONER

Missha is one of the very few brands that I continue to use. When I was 16, I purchased myself my very first Korean beauty product and it was the Missha Vita BB cream. I really liked how it filled in my pores and made everything so smooth. I do recall using a lot of their foam cleansers a lot when I was younger and I really enjoyed them. Jolse kindly sent this product over to me back in November and I’ve been using it for quite a while now.

Claims

  • Clean & Bright Skin
    Provides vitality and energy to dull skin
  • Protects Skin from Environmental Factors
    Protects the skin from harmful environmental factors that cause skin to lose its natural glow
  • Refreshing Moisture Care
    Cream provides rich and refreshing moisture to help skin maintain a healthy and moist condition

Full List Of Ingredients

Water, Peg/Ppg-18/4 Copolymer, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Freesia Alba Flower Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Niacinamide, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Gnaphalium Leontopodium Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Betaine, Cyclomethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Sea Water, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide, Benzophenone-4, Tocopheryl Acetate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Copper Sulfate, Glucose, Polyacrylic Acid, Sodium C14-17 Alkyl Sec Sulfonate, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Disodium Edta, Methoxy Peg-45 Thioctate, Phenoxyethanol, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Tin Oxide, Squalane, Fullerenes

How to use:

After thoroughly cleansing your face, apply toner with a cotton pad or on hands and apply it evenly throughout the face. You can even make a toner mask out of this product if you want.

  • Texture: 3/5 –The texture surprised me the most because I was expecting almost a watery consistency but instead it was quite thick. It really reminds me of the Whamisa Organic Flowers Rich Toner’s consistency. I wasn’t a big fan of it as I was hoping for something lighter.
  • Scent: 2/5 –Sensitive skin friends, stir far away from this product. I was shocked when I smelled this. It has quite a strong floral, clean scent to it and it lingers. Unlike some products scents that do eventually go away, this kind of just stays.
  • Price: 4/5 – Missha products are affordable so the price wasn’t an issue.
  • Performance: 1/5 –Did absolutely nothing for me. No brightening, wasn’t really moisturizing either and kind of just sat on my skin.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – Gorgeous packaging! The bottle is glass and has a beautiful gradient design. It doesn’t spill the product everywhere and is really well made.
  • Overall: 2/5 – I must say I am beyond disappointed in this and I was expecting more from Missha. I’m starting to believe they are quite comparable to The Saem. The Saem makes great makeup product products but when it comes to skincare, it’s like they poured a bottle of perfume in their products. I would not recommend this to anyone who has sensitive skin. Maybe those who have dry skin would enjoy this as this does have a thicker consistency to it but I personally didn’t see any amazing results from using it on my dehydrated, combination skin.

 

[REVIEW] CELIMAX DERMA NATURE FRESH BLACKHEAD CLEANSING OIL

At times, removing makeup can be a hassle but it needs to be done no matter how exhausted we are from a long day. I’ve been seeing the Celimax cleansing oil all over Instagram and I’m definitely intrigued simply because I love cleansing oils. I actually prefer them over any kind of cleansing balm because of the consistency and how it removes off my makeup. I don’t really like how some cleansing balms leave a weird residue behind my skin and I find cleansing oils don’t do that to my skin. Jolse kindly sent this over for me to try and review for you guys so here it is!

What is it?

  • Light & non-greasy cleansing oil for all skin type
  • Six nourishing natural plant oil ingredients
  • Jojoba oil helps to dissolve blackheads & whiteheads
  • Sebum control
  • Strong emulsification, zero irritation
  • No tightness after cleansing

Full List Of Ingredients:

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit OilWater, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil (1500Ppm), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alcohol,Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol

 

My Thoughts

I always wear waterproof makeup because of my oily eyelids and I need a cleansing oil that does the job of removing it off. This does the job, it removes the most stubborn, waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and even lip tint!

The first thing I noticed was the citrus scent from the Bergamot oil. No matter how much a brand talks highly about essential oils. Essential oils are essential oils and are a form of fragrance whether artificial or not. Now, I’m not against them completely however, I just find them very unnecessary in products. My skin has once been compromised because of them, I used a brand that specifically only used them and it really took a toll on my skin. Whether you have sensitive skin or not, it does sensitize the skin and not ideal for long-term use. I’m still on the hunt for a cleansing oil with no “natural fragrance”/essential oils and so far, no luck but the search goes on! Most cleansing oils I’ve tried do contain some form of essential oil so this isn’t the first one that has this sort of problem.

  • Texture: 5/5 – Super lightweight oil and feels like silk on the skin, it breaks down makeup effortlessly and you only need a pump of this for your entire face.
  • Scent: 2/5 – Why is bergamot oil so high up on the list? I wouldn’t even mind if it was on the lower section but it wasn’t. There’s also alcohol in it which was shocking because it didn’t dry, make skin tight and worse, make my eyes bloodshot red. I have a complication with alcohol as an ingredient and prefer to stray away from it completely. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t have any bad reactions from using this regardless of the 2 questionable ingredients I put in italics.
  • Price: 5/5 – For what it is and the amount, I think this is a really reasonable price for a cleansing oil and it performs nicely, it’s also pretty accessible online. I’ve seen on it Jolse, yesstyle, amazon and etc.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – Very nice. It comes with the stopper from spilling the product everywhere and you can travel at ease with it. I also like the design of the bottle and the pump because it’s not thin and small like some pumps are and I find it really sturdy.
  • Overall: I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a good cleansing oil that will remove off basically everything and also waterproof eye makeup. It’s very important to me to find a cleansing oil that will remove off my waterproof makeup off effectively and gently. This does the job and I think it’s worth a shot, just be aware of the ingredients list before purchasing it. Those who do not suffer from sensitive skin are likely to enjoy this cleansing oil.

Available at: Jolse(cheapest)YesstyleeBay

 

[REVIEW] MISSHA TIME REVOLUTION NIGHT REPAIR PROBIO AMPOULE

We all know how much I love Jolse and how incredible their deals are. I’ve been eying on this specific product since it released but wasn’t sure when I was going to buy it. Jolse kindly sent this product in exchange for a review and let me just say, this product really surprised me in a way where I didn’t expect it to. Sometimes products just don’t meet our expectations, here’s why!

Product Claims

  • This is an anti-aging ampoule that improves skin’s elasticity and also diminishing the appearance of fine lines while providing deep skin hydration, anti-aging benefits and also promotion skin radiance. This formula is gentle and can be used on sensitive skin.

Ingredients: 

*bold = nice ingredients, italics = questionable, irritating ingredients
Bifida Ferment Lysate (>50%), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Water, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactococcus Ferment, Lactocaccus Ferment Lysate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Squalane, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA

My thoughts/ rant

There are a lot of fantastic ingredients such as niacinamide, fruit&veggie extracts, squalane, panthenol, Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, Ceramide and etc. I blindly chose this product to review for you all because I was very curious to know more about this line thus I wanted to see if I could find a dupe for any of the anti-aging high-end products I already own. I clearly did not read the ingredients list prior to choosing this so that was on me but I am curious to know how this would work on my skin.

Luckily, I did not break out or had any negative reactions to using this. That being said, as much as I wanted for this to work for me, it was a very meh kind of product. I don’t care if whether I had it in my routine or not. I saw a lot of positive reviews on this and was so excited to try it out but I’m not sure if these people were are reviewing the products are experiencing placebo effects or not because I too have experienced that with other products in the past. Regardless of the reason, I definitely wouldn’t repurchase this.

Rant: I’m not a fan when companies throw some crazy claims to upsell a product. First of all, that’s great that you have all these incredible claims of what the product can do, however, that being said, don’t say can be used all skin types/sensitive skin user-friendly because there are quite a few questionable ingredients in this product that are potential skin irritants.

DSC_4691

  • Texture: 3/5 – It has a thick consistency to it but it breaks down nicely into the skin. The only thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the sheen in left behind on my skin. This is definitely more of an evening skincare product than morning because you will see a residue left behind on your face when using this. I would say the texture resembles a jelly sheet mask essence in a way, the consistency really reminds me of that.
  • Scent: 3/5 – I would say the scent is quite pleasant but that’s because there was a sneaky blend of essential oils in it, minus 2 points because of them and why they’re so high in the formulation. Preferably, I would have been okay if it was lower in the ingredients or even better, none. But it is what it is, my friends. I think what bothered me so much was that sensitive skin claim and seeing the ingredients list. Ideally, brands that market to sensitive skin types really needs to consider going fragrance-free all together.
  • Price: 4/5 – Pricing is okay, there’s a lot of product in here so you have a lot to work with.
  • Performance: 3/5 – Although this product was able to provide my skin hydration + nutrition, I wasn’t wowed by this and I’m also not convinced that it has effective anti-aging ingredients. Whereas the Klairs Midnight Blue Youth drops were way more effective and gave me faster results than this. Mind you, I’ve been using this for over 3 months now and the Klairs? only a month so the results and time usage speak for themself. Anyway, wasn’t too crazy about it. It’s not a bad product but if you’re curious about it, wait for a sale then get it. Jolse often has amazing sales between 20%-70% off.
  • Packaging: 3/5 – It’s so pretty! I was convinced that I had to get it because Missha is very well known for their time revolution line, especially for their first treatment essence that a lot of people cannot get enough of. To be quite frank with you, I wasn’t wowed by that product when I first used it but I will revisit it again because I do have a fresh bottle in my stash so stay tuned for a review on that. The dropper is kind of bad, it doesn’t always grab enough or any product so that really sucks.

Available: eBayJolseYesstyle

 

 

PRODUCT FLOPS: CHAPTER 3

You win some, you lose some; what can you do right? It’s been a long while since I’ve done these and just so you know, I came across a lot of mediocre, fail products but I just didn’t really care enough to announce them until now. I think I have a good amount of products to share with you that just didn’t work out. Nothing against these brands, some things just don’t out as plan or work the way we want them to.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask

i-038857-watermelon-glow-sleeping-mask-80ml-1-940I’ve tried time overtime to make this sleeping mask work for me, I really wanted to enjoy this. Don’t get me wrong, I love their other products such as their watermelon mist, pineapple-c serum, avocado sleeping mask, and blueberry cleanser but this, this was not a hit for me. No matter how thick or thin I applied this on my face, it would just pill on me. Whether I had skincare underneath or no skincare, I had the same issues. I’ve tried really hard to make this sleeping mask work for me and it just wouldn’t.

Etude House Double Lasting Serum Foundation

51f9km5qell._sx425_I used this foundation a handful of times and every time I was left disappointed. Not only it separated on my skin, but it also made my skin appear extremely oily. Somehow it clung onto dry patches and leaving a layer of grease on my skin, not sure what to think of this. Perhaps I got a dud, perhaps I didn’t shake it hard enough for the serum to mix well with the foundation. I know what dewy looks like and this ain’t it. Luckily, I got this from PR because I would have been annoyed spending 20 bucks on it and just have to throw it away. I ended up giving this to my friend and she said it works for her dry skin so yay.

Farmacy Honey Potion

zoom_1_product_33489_20farmacy_20honey_20potion_20renewing_20antioxidant_20hydration_20mask_2050g_76178f15a3283189a2c0f66ca0392012519a5a11_1528796116You may have seen this on my Instagram feed a while ago and I liked it but maybe it was all placebo. Sure, it gave my skin that warming sensation but I didn’t really feel a significant difference when removing it off my skin. I think I just liked how it was warming and it didn’t irritate my skin. It’s quite overpriced if you ask me and I don’t think I should have gotten it in the first place. I should have gotten the smaller size and tried it prior to getting the medium size. I did like the packaging for its magnetic lid and spatula but other than that, there are better honey masks out there, such as the Naisture – honey honey mask and also the “I’m from – honey mask”.

RiRe Liquid Eyeshadow

s-l300This is a small Korean brand and I got one of their liquid shadows from a Joah box and let me tell you, it was the chunkiest glitter shadow I have ever seen in my life. It’s definitely not eye-safe and I don’t even know why these brand develops these glitter products without being mindful of the environment and also user’s health. I swatched a tiny bit of this on my hand and it instantly turned red without me putting any pressure during the application. Could you imagine if I put it on my lids? It would have been over for my eyelids. You want a good liquid shadow, try Peripera – they’re just as good as the Stila liquid shadows but a fraction of the cost.

It’s Skin Tiger Cica Calming Serum

dead35_34d17ec33008487e9a5d396696c8f27emv2It’s funny that I’m mentioning this because I had a huge obsession for It’s Skin products and the more I learned about the ingredients and the more I understood what works for my skin and what doesn’t. I have dehydrated skin issues so gel creams are not ideal for my skin type because they don’t serve that much purpose for me. During summer, I tend to use them the most but other seasons? no. This particular serum is a gel-based serum and it just does absolutely nothing for me. Sure, it might be a TINY bit hydrating but nothing more than that and it kind of just forms a film on top of my skin doing absolutely nothing. I think I’ve “graduated” from using It’s Skin skincare. I still enjoy their power 10 ampoules and hand creams but other than that, I don’t think they really interest me as much as they did when I was a lot younger. You know when you have certain phases in your life and you’re over it to move onto the next big thing? yeah, that’s how I feel about their products.

Colourpop Pretty Fresh Tinted Moisturizer

pretty-fresh-light-5n_aWhy? This isn’t the worst product I’ve tried however that being said, why is so overhyped? I don’t understand why this is so hyped up. It’s a very underwhelming product, you won’t get that glow as promised. Also, it’s not that hydrating nor has tinted moisturizer coverage. It’s pretty full coverage for a tinted moisturizer and just doesn’t really match the name of it. I purchased this myself and I am a fan of Colourpop products but this one was probably not as good as a drugstore foundation and you guys who have followed me from time would know I don’t like drugstore foundations that much. I mean, I have a lot of product left so I’m contemplating to use it up or forward to someone who may like it.

I Dew Care Plush Party Lip Sleeping Mask

41q0n46gsgl._sx355_Their packaging is so stinking cute and I had so many hopes for this little guy. It burned my lips like no other, I was in shock because I was hoping it to be similar to maybe the Laneige lip sleeping mask but for a fraction of the cost. You know when a product burns your skin on the surface you feel it, right? This product penetrated into my lips and burned it on the inside. How is that even possible? Luckily I didn’t have an “allergic reaction” to this where it could have been swollen but I did, however, have that burning sensation and it was ongoing for a good hour before it went away. Concerning and a big nope for me, I’m SuRpRiSeD by the amount of “positive” reviews on Instagram about this specific product. Anyway, I did repurpose the container and I put some vaseline in it instead.

The Saem ICELAND Hydrating Toner

21vdvwkbgblOh man, where do I even start with this? The first thing you’ll notice is it’s the heavy fragrance the moment you open it. Not to mention it was very drying on the skin, it was far from hydrating. It also left an unnecessary strange slight tack to the skin, which I did not appreciate. I’m not sure why The Saem thinks it’s a brilliant idea to pour a bottle of perfume in their products. I said this once, I will say it again. Skincare doesn’t need to smell good, it just needs to work. It’s as easy as that but to some brands, they believe fragrances make a product more attractive. It might attract certain consumers but fragrance is a very irritating to the skin.

Glowhill (In General)

glowhill20aurora20whitehole20glow20maskThey gifted me their products and I was so excited to try their products when I first got the PR package. I want to share that just because a product looks pretty and cute, doesn’t mean it will work on your skin. I should have known these would bad news the moment I opened their peel-off masks. Peel-off masks are extremely harsh on the skin because think about it, it dries on top of your skin and you’re peeling it off and sometimes, it really hurts when you peel it off. Anyway, this was heavily fragranced as well so I don’t know why I thought it was a great idea to apply it all over my face. I left this mask on then peeled it off, my skin was very red afterward. No surprise here because peel-off + fragranced, those are two red flags right there. Another concerning thing, there’s glitter in these masks. Why is there glitter in skincare? At first, I was attracted to the concept but the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s not as great as it seems. Roughly 2 days after, I got a giant pimple on my forehead and I’m 99.9% sure this triggered that because I don’t break out that easily and I’m pretty blessed with clear skin for the most part. It’s usually irritating products and poor diet that triggers my breakouts.

That’s it for now, friends. I know there were a lot of products I shared today that may or may not work for you but keep in mind, no two skin types are alike with one another. Be mindful of what you buy and use and also check the ingredients.

KLAIRS MIDNIGHT BLUE YOUTH ACTIVATING SERUM &VITAMIN FRESHLY JUICED DROP SERUM

Good Morning, my friends! I hope you’re all having a fantastic 2020 so far. Laura from Lifestyle Magazine reached out to me and offered me a wonderful product set that Wishtrend has and it’s called the 2 Step Recovery Set. This set includes the freshly juiced vitamin drop serum and the midnight blue youth activating drops.

 

Product Claims

  • EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1) and bFGF (sh-Polypeptide-1)The body itself produced substances called EGF and bFGF. Both ingredients are key factors that keep the outer and inner parts of the skin firm and smooth and are crucial in the skin’s elasticity, gloss, and skin tone.

Ingredients: 

sh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Angustifolium Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Guaiazulene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine

My thoughts

I’ve been using this serum for about a month now and I see a significant difference in my overall skin texture and appearance. When using this serum, I noticed that my skin was a lot smoother to the touch and also my smile lines and the wrinkles on my under eye appeared less prominent. I’m in my mid-20s and although my lines are not easily noticeable, I do see them developing. I do recommend this for those who are in their early 20s because I think early prevention is key. I mean, why wait till it happens when you can take action now to protect your skin. I have a few scars from picking my pimples and I noticed they appeared a lot more light when using this.

  • Texture: 4/5 – Is really runny and can be challenging to work with if you’re one of those people who like to apply product straight from the applicator to the face. Ideally, you should mix a couple of drops in your moisturizer then apply throughout the face. This is the easiest way of application.
  • Scent: 5/5 – There is no scent to this, which is excellent for those who have sensitive skin.
  • Price: 4/5 – This is kind of expensive, it retails for about 38 CAD for 20ml of product. I do however think it is worth it for the price because how gentle it was on my skin and I noticed a huge difference in my overall skin appearance and texture.
  • Performance: 5/5 – It did exactly what I expected it to do and works amazingly with other products. One of my biggest fear of serums is that they are not compatible with my other skincare products. I personally found this worked wonderfully with my existing skincare routine.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – Great. The dropper is fantastic and works nicely; it’s really easy to control dispensing out the desired amount of product.
  • Overall: 5/5 – I like it! I’m going to repurchase this and I would recommend this to anyone whose looking for a mild and gentle anti-aging product.

Product Claims

  • Energize + Rejuvenate Skin with highly concentrated, non-irritating and sustainable Vitamin C
  • Excellent for all skin types
  • Brightens complexion, hydrates, balances and refines skin
  • Free of alcohol, parabens, and eco-friendly + cruelty-free

Ingredients: 

Water, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid(5%, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Illicium Verum(Anise) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi(Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Orange Oil Brazil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Asarum Sieboldi Root Extract, Quercus Mongolia Leaf Extract, Persicaria Hydropiper Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, SH-Olgopeptide-1, SH-Olgopeptide-2, SH-Polypeptide-1, SH-Polypeptide-9, SH-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol

My thoughts

This has to be one of the most effective Vitamin C products I have ever used and also really gentle on the skin, I personally did not experience any sensitivity from using this. Now that being said, the strange thing is the claim it’s for all skin types but I see a pesky Lavender oil right in the center of the ingredients list. As many of you may know, I’m not against artificial fragrance but I did, however, have some issues with essential oils. Essential oils have irritated my skin in the past so I like to precautions when using products with them. I’m actually quite surprised I didn’t have any irritation when using this because it’s so high up in the ingredients list. Most products I use have a very low dosage of it and usually appear near the bottom of the ingredients list. I cannot say I would recommend this for those who have extremely sensitive skin for both artificial and natural fragrances however I can say those of you who are not sensitive to fragrance and are looking for a fantastic brightening product, definitely check this out. I’ve used this 3 times in the past and I came back to this because I knew it would work for me and it still does!

  • Texture: 5/5 – it has a lovely dry oil-like feel and can be applied directly onto the skin or mixed in with other products during application. If you’re scared of it being sensitizing/too strong for your skin, mix this in with a moisturizer to dilute the product then apply.
  • Scent: 4/5 – Almost has no scent to it, it has a super faint scent but it quickly goes away. Minus 1 point for the 2 essential oils. Skincare doesn’t need to smell good, it just needs to work.
  • Price: 5/5 – Pretty reasonable pricing if you ask me. One of these takes me about several months to finish and you don’t need a lot of the product.
  • Performance: 5/5 – Works like a charm, I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a nice brightening product because this is really effective and gentle on the skin. You shouldn’t have any burning or warming feel when using this.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – It’s straight forward, the packaging is attractive. The dropper works really nicely and I’m glad they chose a very stable Vitamin C. Initially, when I first tried this years ago, I was kind of nervous that it would oxidize because a lot of my Vitamin C products don’t last beyond 1-2 months. This actually lasts for a while, I personally didn’t see any oxidizing until 8-9 months down the road, which is fantastic. Even though this has stabilized Vitamin C in it, I still would suggest you store this in a cool, dark place to ensure the product does not oxidize.

Thank you Soak Lifestyle & Wishtrend for this wonderful collaboration and amazing set. I hope you guys give these products a try and please share with me how they worked for you.

Available on: Wishtrend
Use Code: 37F5B97C and get 10% off your purchase.

 

 

CREMORLAB – LUXURY K-SKINCARE

Who doesn’t love luxurious experiences? Cremorlab is such an underrated luxury Korean Skincare brand. Michelle Phan was actually one of the first few people who mentioned this internationally and I was always so fascinated by their products but was not sure where to purchase them locally and online. Renee from Cremorlab kindly sent over 3 gorgeous products from their T.E.N miracle + o2 Couture line for me to share with you all.

CREMORLAB O2 COUTURE CREAM

This contains 33 kinds of marine plants that can deeply hydrate and moisturize the skin. There’s also marine oxygen plasma that can purify and revitalize the skin. It’s winter here in Canada and my skin needs all the hydration and moisture it can get because it’s really dry out. I find this hydra intense o2 couture cream really is effective and excellent as a day moisturizer. I usually wear makeup 5 days out of 7 days of the week so I do believe this acts as a nice makeup primer as well. It leaves a nice transparent film on the skin, no shine residue and no peeling. Anyone who suffers from skin dehydration issues would definitely enjoy this. Sensitive skin folks should probably opt-out from this cream as it does contain fragrance and it can be irritating for those who are sensitive to it. Nonetheless, this is a lovely cream and deserves more love.

For more information: Cremorlab (Official Website)
Where to buy:
 eBay

CREMORLAB T.E.N MIRACLE THE ESSENCE

Essences are such an incredible addition to a skincare routine because it allows product absorption and intensively to penetrate active ingredients deep within the skin to become more effective. This T.E.N miracle essence is a best seller in Korea and for a very good reason, it’s rich in antioxidants, strengthening the skin while having skin-soothing properties using deep ocean thermal water and mistletoe. This essence only contains 10 ingredients that provide a moisturizing effect by using red-hot spring water while rapidly soothing the skin from any irritation. This essence is about $50 CAD, which isn’t bad because it’s a lot more affordable than most luxury essences such as SK-II, which is a ridiculous amount of money. I find this essence really effective and allows products to absorb a lot more faster into the skin while being mild enough to use whether in the AM or PM. I would recommend this essence and I am likely to repurchase it in the near future because I genuinely do enjoy it. This essence is compatible with all skin types, including sensitive.

For more information check out: Cremorlab (Official Website)
Where to buy: eBay | Sweet Corea

CREMORLAB O2 COUTURE PEELING MASK

This feels like an expensive peel and simulates a luxurious spa experience, I really think you can enjoy a spa-like experience at the comfort of your home. Also, can we just admire how beautiful the mask looks? It has this brilliant blue hue to it. This mask is formulated with wintergreen leaf, AHA, BHA and PHA. This gives the skin a mild exfoliation without irritating it because there are no exfoliating beads/granules in it. I personally think this mask is ideal for those who have normal and oily skin. If you are sensitive to fragrance, stir away from this because there is a bit of fragrance in it. My skin can be a bit sensitive to AHAs but I personally had no issues when using this product and I will continue to use it to see it’s full results.

How to use: After cleansing the skin, apply 3-5 pumps of this mask evenly throughout the face then leave on for 3 minutes then rinse. How fast is that?  You can use this mask once or twice a week.

For more information check out: CREMORLAB (Official Website)
Where to buy: eBay

 

[REVIEW] ANGEL LOOKA SOFT WHIPPED CREAM BODY RECIPE

Happy New Year’s Eve, friends! I’ve been off the web for a while and just been posting queued posts on Instagram. I hope you all are doing well and had a wonderful holidays.

Body care is crucial, I don’t think I ever taken it seriously until recently early in 2019. My skin has significantly gotten a lot drier throughout the years so it’s best to care for it. You guys know how much I adore cute themed cosmetics and could never say no to them even if I tried. Elena from My Precious Cosmetics is the store owner for this beautiful K-beauty online boutique, she’s such a sweet person and offers incredible service. For those of you who speak Spanish, there is an option on the website to read everything in Spanish. There’s a nice range of indie K-Beauty brands to choose from Gaston, NOHJ, The Oozoo, Barangsori, Angel Looka, and Fraijour. I did a review on the Gaston Cushion a while back and honestly, it’s still one of my favourite cushion products I use. The Oozoo is another familiar brand I’ve used in the past and I really enjoyed their injection + bear aurora masks.

My thoughts

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how adorable these creams are? The details of the packaging are so fun and colourful. The lid looks like an ice cream shape appearance to it and the tube has a cute illustration of an ice cream cone. I own a lot of cute products but I don’t think I have anything like this. I have products that smell and look like dessert but this is a whole new level of cuteness. I’m really picky with body creams because I don’t like sticky consistencies or too thick because it’s hard to apply and break the product down in the skin so I prefer body products that are more water-like gel/jelly, lightweight feeling on the skin.

Overall

  • Texture: 5/5 – It has a milky whipped gel consistency and it blends so nicely into the skin, it’s almost like you don’t need to put so much effort into it applying the product in. It’s very moisturizing and does not feel sticky on the skin.  If you’re someone who doesn’t like body butter and thick textures, this is the perfect product for you because it’s so lightweight on the skin, you almost feel like it’s not even on your skin. There’s no pilling, residue from these and almost have a “balm-like” finish to them, which is so cool because it starts off a gel then transforms into this moisturizing balm.
  • Scent: 5/5 – The scents are really nice and light smelling, you won’t get a headache from smelling these because they’re lightly fragranced and they all smell like fruity desserts.
  • Price: 4/5 – For 150g of product, $17.66 is pretty affordable because there’s so much product in here! I think it would take me 3 months to finish one tube or maybe even longer. It’s a fun and cute product and I think it would an excellent gift for yourself or your loved ones who enjoy cute skincare products.
  • Performance: 5/5 – It works nicely and it’s definitely an effective product and doesn’t just only look nice.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – How can you say no to this? This is so cute and makes a fantastic gift for you and your loved ones. Christmas may have past, however, there are always birthdays and  Valentine’s day is right by the corner too! Share this with your sweethearts in your life.
  • Overall: 5/5 – I really appreciate the thought and effort they put into this cream. I personally am really attracted to cute packaging and I love how they made skincare fun and exciting to look at and use. Everytime I see these on my desk, I smile because they’re adorable.

Available here: Strawberry MilkBlueberry MilkGrape Milk

USE CODE: SALES-2020 for % off your purchase

More info on the brand: Angellooka Official Website | Angelooka KR

I do not make any commissions for any of products you decide to purchase from her website, I just wanted to support her business because I think she has a fantastic thing going on and I really recommend you to check her out and have a look at what her shop has to offer. All opinions stated are my own.