LIFE CODE BOUTIQUE THANKSGIVING SET

Thanksgiving just past for us Canadians however, who said we couldn’t still celebrate our thanks and purchase wonderful gift sets for our loved ones or us. Treat them/yourself to new and exciting new beauty and skincare products! Life Code Boutique curated a beautiful travel set of 9 products at a value of $170 for ONLY $120. Let’s see what inside this incredible gift set! Special thanks to Vivian & Alice for coordinating this collaboration with me.

Website’s Features

• Free local pickup (no minimum purchase), they’re based in Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Fast shipping in Canada (maximum 1-week wait)
• Free shipping with any purchase of $50 CAD
• 10% off your first order as a welcome gift
• Every month, there are new products listed and monthly promotional discounts on different brands
• Become a member and subscribe for the monthly newsletter
• Free gift for members subscription

Current Deals

• Spend $80 or more – Get the C-Roland Day &Night Moisturizing mask (40 pcs) as a gift with purchase
• Spend $50 or more – Get the Cosmos Facial Wash Brush as a gift with purchase
• Spend $30 or more – Get the Etude House Eyebrow Pencil as a gift with purchase
• ANY Purchase – Get the SKINFOOD Bird’s Nest Mask

I have a promotional code if you wanted to shop for regular products on their website.

Use Code: Amy15 and get 15% off your entire purchase * not applicable for promo deals. (valid till 11/30/2019)

The code was originally valid till Halloween but extended for you guys!

 

 

C-Roland Purta Pu ~ Placenta Essence Collagen Mask

There is so much buzz about placenta based products for skincare for many decades and it supposedly is excellent for providing the skin fantastic anti-ageing results. I personally have not tried anything with the placenta in it however am very open to doing so. Japanese cosmetics always have such appealing looking packaging and I absolutely love how there are 40 sheet masks in here soaked in a generous amount of essence. You also can use this daily, which is fantastic.

 

Loshi Horse Oil Cream, C-Roland Horse Classic Oil and Cosmos Facial Brush

Horse oil is also another famous and well-known ingredient used in skincare for many decades. Although it may sound odd to some, it’s a very popular ingredient used in Korea and Japan – it’s specifically used to treat inflamed skin, eczema, burns, and cuts. How cool is that? I think these would be a fantastic addition and new discovery for those who have not tried products like these. The cosmos facial brush is so soft, it feels like you’re brushed a really soft rabbit’s fur. You can use this for a gentle and luxurious cleansing experience. I personally already own one but I’m going to save this one to bring traveling with me. One for home, one for travel!

 

Skinfood Avocado Rich Cream

I already own the avocado rich toner and currently am testing it out. It’ll be interesting to incorporate this into my routine. Since it’s getting a lot colder and drier outside, I naturally gravitate towards more rich, thicker and denser formulas because my skin really needs it. I know they have repackaged their products a few times now, I do believe this is their older packaging and I must say, it looks a lot better than the current packaging style they’re going for. This cream is formulated with 35% avocado extract and avocado oil and it’s to provide skin nutrition, moisture, and hydration. Long term use, it can provide the skin brighter and a healthier appearance.

 

 

 

COSRX Honey Ceramide Eye Cream

I was extremely excited to see this because I absolutely adore eye creams and am always wanting to out more. COSRX is a very well-known Korean brand for their famous pimple patches, the good morning low pH cleanser, and their Centella blemish cream. This eye cream contains both ceramides and honey extract which help to supplement the skin’s barrier. It also can provide long-lasting suppleness and day protection against moisture loss.

 

Kose – Kokutousei Hakkou Lotion

I love how Life Code Boutique always includes such unique, hidden gems into their sets and their store has a lot of great hidden gems as well. This is lotion created with fermented black sugar extracts. Black sugar extract provides vitamin B to the skin, which can help for cell reproduction. Not only formulated with black sugar extract, but it also is formulated with double HA, lipidure, and tree peony extract to provide long-lasting moisture and care. The texture is described as a pliable and gooey that easily melts into the skin.

 

Look how precious this looks? The packaging itself is fit for a princess. This is one of many of Japan’s popular items and I can understand why because I’ve been using this powder every single day to set my makeup and it really controls my excess oil from producing and keeps me matte without looking dry. I recall reading somewhere that you can wear this powder to sleep and it acts as a skincare powder, where it can minimize excess oil production throughout the night. I would recommend this to those who have normal and combination skin. If you’re sensitive to scents or have sensitive skin, maybe skip on this one because this does contain fragrance in it. It has a very soft floral scent to it, which I absolutely enjoy!

The Etude House Eyebrow pencil has been a favourite of many for many years. Not only it’s so affordable, but it’s also fantastic and quite comparable to high-end eyebrow pencils, they’re not too waxy like some western brand eyebrow pencils but is just perfect. It glides on nicely and provides the brows of the perfect shape. You can do light strokes with this and it’s very forgiving and you can build your way to your desired brow shape. You get this for free if you spend $30 or more!

Get your travel gift set here

That’s it for now, friends. Please check out Life Code Boutique to find incredible finds for a reasonable price. Take advantage of deals while they last because they don’t last forever and be sure to stay tuned every week to find new weekly deals!

 

Disclaimer: I do not make any commission off these links and that this discount code is specifically created for you to use and get a discount for your order. 

 

 

 

[REVIEW] LANEIGE CREAM SKIN REFINER MIST

 

Laneige has been in the beauty industry for about 2 decades now and has been really upping their game for their latest releases. They’ve always had fantastic products such as their classic lip sleeping mask, which is a cult favourite of many and their original sleeping mask. When they came out with their cream skin refiner, I was not sure what to make of the product. There was a lot of mixed information I was getting off social media, some people were saying it was a toner, others were saying it’s an emulsion. The way how I saw this was a cross hybrid product between a toner to a moisturizer. Yes, they really did it – this is a liquid moisturizer. This product can be used for multiple ways, as a toner, moisturizer and a hydrating pack.

Claims

• This does not have any harsh ingredients that could potentially cause short term or long term irritation.
• Free of synthetic color dyes and fragrance
• This product combines the functions of toner and cream to promote long-lasting hydration with the patent technology “Cream Blending Technology”
• Formulated with White Leaf Tea Water with rich amino acid to soothe fatigued skin while fortifying skin barrier.

Key Ingredients

Meadowfoam Seed Oil: this is a plant derived ingredient and skin conditioning benefits. It naturally assists the skin to effectively form a barrier to lock in moisture while delivering nutrients to penetrate into your skin.

Green tea leaf extract(Camellia Sinensis leaf extract): contains powerful antioxidants that can protect the skin from damage caused by UV radiation and free radicals from the environment.

Vitamin E (tocopherol):  is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight against free radical damage, promotes cell regrowth and heals the signs of aging by providing moisture and skin strengthening properties to protect barrier and moisture loss.

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

Ingredient List:

WATER / AQUA / EAU, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYGLYCERYL-10 STEARATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, INULIN LAURYL CARBAMATE, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, DISODIUM EDTA, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL

My Skin Type and concerns:

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

My thoughts

I had no expectations for this product, I was more curious if whether it would be able to assist with my dehydration issues and because it was in a mist format, which is why I had nothing to expect from. The moment I applied this on my face and allowing it to “dry down”, it felt like I applied a moisturizer on my face. I was so shocked by how different and innovative this product compared to all the products I have tried in the past. This is nothing like anything I’ve tried and I’m so excited to see the long term benefits of using this for the long term. I do see myself repurchasing this over and over again because it really works with my skin.

I’ve heard a handful of people claim that this was their final step and “moisturizer” but for me, I still need a moisturizer as my final step because of my dehydration issues. Sure, this was fantastic alone but for night time skincare, I lean towards more of a rich, dense kind of cream to act as a protective layer to my skin. If I skip out on that step, I could potentially wake up to dry, parched skin. This is moisturizing alone but I like to take my precautions and go in with my actual moisturizer to ensure I do not have dry skin issues in the following morning.

Overall

• Texture: 5/5 – It appears to be a milky, watery fluid at first sight but once applied on the skin, it almost melts and emulsifies into a creamy consistency. Do be careful when applying too many layers of this, I remember I got so excited at one point and did several layers of this on my face and it got somewhat tacky. I personally am past the fear/dislike of “tacky/sticky” consistencies but I just wanted to put that out there in case you don’t like that feeling. One layer usually does the job for me but you can go ahead with a second or third layer if needed.
• Scent: 5/5 – No scent, this is a product that is sensitive skin type friendly 🙂
• Price: 5/5 – This is quite reasonable for what you are getting. Whether you decide to get the original cream skin refiner or the mist from – They’re both just as excellent. The original one, I like to use my hands to apply it on my face and sometimes cotton squares. I just do a DIY mask with them and leave it on for 20 mins then I have soft, glowy skin. If you don’t have time for a DIY mask, then just get the mist. one.
• Performance: 5/5 – This surpassed my expectations and I am blown away by what Laneige was able to create. I do look forward to any future releases of this or perhaps seeing them expand this line even more.
• Packaging: 5/5 – It’s simple yet beautiful, Laneige products have been known for their frosted glass/plastic packaging and it makes it look expensive.
• Overall: 5/5 – I believe this product would be enjoyed by many and will become the next cult favourite. This is definitely a product for all skin types and is sensitive skin-friendly.

Available on:  eBay | Yesstyle

When checking out on Yesstyle, use code DORKIE1 to save 5% on your first order and an additional 2% in future orders.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[REVIEW] JayJun Roselle Tea Eye Patches

 

I’m a big fan of eye patches and I love what they have to offer. Life code boutique sent over an amazing package for me to share with you all and also, I wanted to share my experience with the Jayjun Rosellete Tea Eye Patches. I have seen these around for about a year now and have been dying to try them. Special thanks to Alice and the Life Code Boutique team for sending these over for me to share with you all!

Available on: Life Code Boutique | eBay

What are they?

These are hydrogel patches that provide conditioning benefits and brightens dark, dull skin for a fresh, awake appearance.

How to use:

• After cleansing the skin thoroughly, ensure your skin is clean to apply these on. When taking the product out of the container, use the spatula to pick up the patches and gently apply them on the skin under your eyes.
• Leave the patches on 20-30 minutes and gently massage + pat the excess essence into your skin.

*bold = nice ingredients, italics = to be aware of.
Ingredient List: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Potassium Chloride, Tripropylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract(0.2%), Saururus Chinensis Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sucrose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Calcium Chloride, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Cellulose Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Calcium Lactate, Ethyl Hexanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77491, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Fragrance, Chlorphenesin

TIPS & TRICKS: You can apply these on your cheeks and forehead for a full detoxifying and cooling experience. Who said eye patches are strictly for eyes? I find these are really nice on the cheeks especially if you’re having dry skin and puffy skin kind of day.

Put these on before applying on your makeup and then remove them off after 15-20 minutes, your skin should be depuffed and bright!

My thoughts

I found these so comfortable to wear, I almost forgot I had them on the handful of times I’ve worn them. There are these little flower petals on them that sometimes get of your skin but you can just wipe them off. I find these super detoxifying and they feel amazing under the eyes. If you have puffy eyes and need a little pick-me-up, just wear these! They make a huge difference in my skin’s overall feel and appearance. I look more alert, refreshed and hydrated! If you’re guilty of staying up late, eating too much sodium and etc, these definitely will do the trick and give you that refreshed look and you’ll less puffy.

I know there is alcohol in this product but a lot of eye patches do have alcohol in them for the formulation purposes, a lot of the time alcohol is used to create a lightweight feel to the product’s consistency, it also can help ingredients to penetrate more easily into the skin and used as a preservative to prolong the shelf’s life of the product. I mean, the last thing we want is dry eye patches and we cannot use them, right?

I have very sensitive eyes and I have this a handful of times in the past where my eyes are very reactive, they will turn bloodshot red if it’s irritated by the ingredients I put on my face. I’m quite surprised and pleased to say that my eyes did not turn bloodshot red when using these eye patches and that they were just fine. The skin around my eyes

Overall

• Texture: 5/5 – Perfection, they’re not too thick where they don’t allow circulation on your skin, they’re also not too thin where they tear easily. The fit and adherence for these are spots on, I don’t have the issue of where they slide off because there’s too much essence or because of the fit. They fit very well and I’m pleased with these.
• Scent: 5/5 – I don’t really notice a scent from these, maybe something faint but I don’t really pick up any specific notes from smelling it.
• Performance: 5/5 – They’re excellent and I have no complaints about these. Well worth the hype, they’re affordable and are available at a lot of places online.
• Packaging: 5/5 – The packaging for this is gorgeous! There’s a gorgeous floral design on the lid and also the print is in gold font. It has this luxurious felt and appearance to it.
• Overall: 5/5 – No complaints here! I love it and it deserves more love for what they are. I use these in the morning to depuff my eyes and also in the evening before I apply my eye cream and eye sleeping mask on. They’re really easy on my sensitive eyes and I am very likely to repurchase these.

*Some links on this post are affiliate links. This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase from these links.

 

[REVIEW] BLIV MILK JOY CLEANSER

 

Behold, the long-awaited review because I clearly take forever to clear out products but here it is. I’ve been using this cleanser for about 2 months now and the cleanser I have right by my shower which explains why you never really see it on my Instagram feed. I finally have remembered to set it aside by my desk to share a review with you all and my experience with this cleanser.

B.LIV MILK JOY CLEANSER
5.3 fl. oz. / 150 ml | MADE IN TAIWAN – $13

Available: B.liv Official Website

Claims

• Cleanses the skin while being moisturizing at the same time
• It has a creamy consistency and non-greasy texture with a slight milky fragrance; it provides a comforting feeling after cleansing and maintains a healthy skin moisture level.
• Mild yet effective cleanser to remove all impurities and protect skin against pollutants without irritation.
• Light and hydrating formulation to cleanse skin gently without stripping the skin’s natural oils or cause a tightening sensation.

Key Ingredients

aloe barbadensis leaf extract is one of the most well-known, popular ingredients in skincare that treats damaged, wounded, irritated and sensitive skin. It contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, humectant and soothing properties that can prevent the skin from further irritation.

glycine soja seed extract is a soybean seed extract that is rich in protein, minerals and vitamin e. It also can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and damaging effects of uvb rays on skin cells. It also acts as an effective moisturizer that can protect and shields the skin from excessive dryness.

chondrus crispus (carrageenan) is loaded with vitamin e and humectants that draw in moisture from the environment to boost skin’s hydration level. It can also protect against uv rays and helps treat inflamed tissues. The natural minerals namely, omega, zinc and magnesium, create a barrier to protect skin from harsh weather while helping to heal acne, rosacea and sensitive skin problems.

chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract can relieve inflamed skin conditions and calms sensitized skin. It also provides antioxidant protection – aids in soothing, moisturizing and inhibits the growth of bacteria while improves the appearance of dehydrated or damaged skin by restoring suppleness and lessen flaking.

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

Ingredient List:

aqua (water), lauramidopropyl betaine, tea-lauroyl glutamate, glycerin, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, butylene glycol, glycine soja seed extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, chondruscrispus (carrageenan), glycol distearate, peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, sodium carbomer, hydroxyethylcellulose, polyquaternium-10, citric acid, phenoxyethanol, fragrance.

My Skin Type and concerns:

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

My thoughts

I must say, I was quite skeptical of this cleanser at first not because how it appeared but more rather if whether it was stripping. As you can see, the ingredients list is surprisingly not too lengthy and has a lot of fantastic ingredients that are both hydrating and moisturizing. The first thing I noticed when I tried this cleanser was how it smelled, it smells like a sweet milky dessert, nothing overpowering or bad. In fact, it smells quite delicious. My skin can be quite sensitive and reactive to things I use but I found myself not having any issues when using this. Although there is a fragrance in it, it isn’t potent and as you can see, it’s at the very bottom of the list. I personally am not bothered by that. It also lathers quite well and does not leave my skin feeling tight and gross after using it so I do appreciate that it is accurate with its claims. If you flip the bottle around, you will notice a 14-day money-back guarantee offer if you are unpleased with the product. All you need to do is present the product with the receipt and leftover product. I really appreciate how confident they present themselves and how understanding their company is for honouring this for their shoppers.

Overall

• Texture: 5/5 – This has a milky, creamy gel texture to it lathers into a soft foam. I find it really pleasant.
• Scent: 5/5 – This smells delicious, I honestly thought I had a piece of dessert nearby when I opened the bottom up. If you like milky dessert scents, definitely check this gem out. However, if you are sensitive to scents, I would avoid this just because there is a bit of fragrance in it.
• Price: 5/5 – This is very reasonable and affordable. I really think this is budget-friendly and for the amount of product you get for this? It’s a great bargain.
• Performance: 4/5 – Did the job, I wouldn’t say it clears up makeup and debris but I find it’s a gentle and mild enough to be used as an AM kind of cleanser.
• Packaging: 5/5 – It’s cute! Aesthetically pleasing, in a squeeze tube and has a smooth feel to the bottle. I think it’s a really nice looking cleanser!
• Overall: 4.5/5 – This cleanser is exceptional for those who want a simple cleanser and for those who have normal, combination, oily skin.

 

 

 

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. Some links on this post are affiliate links. This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase from these links.

 

 

 

[REVIEW] Heroine x Kiss Me Eyeliner

 

Eyeliner users, I’m sure we all know how fussy and annoying some pencil liners can be. Some eyeliners transfer so easily and give your eyes that panda-like experience and some transfer on your lids if your lids produce too much oil. Look no further, I have a fantastic eyeliner recommendation for you all. *This is not the liquid liner version, this is pencil version. Special thanks to Alice from Life Code Boutique for sending me this beauty to try and review for you all! Canadian friends, be sure to use code AMY15 to get 15% off your order.

Life Code Boutique Website Features

• Free local pickup (no minimum purchase), they’re based in Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Fast shipping in Canada (maximum 1-week wait)
• Free shipping with any purchase of $50 CAD
• 10% off your first order as a welcome gift
• Every month, there are new products listed and monthly promotional discounts on different brands
• Become a member and subscribe for the monthly newsletter
• Free gift for members subscription

I have a promotional code if you wanted to shop on their website,
Use Code: AMY15 (valid till 10/31/2019). 

Available on:
Life Code Boutique (CANADA) | eBay  | Amazon (CANADA+US) | Yesstyle (WORLDWIDE)

MADE IN JAPAN – 04.ml
Waterproof, sweatproof 

 

My eyelids product a moderate amount of oil but I have really watery eyes and sometimes my eye makeup on my lower lid wears off or smudges because of that. I’ve tried pretty much all the drugstore, k-beauty and even high end from Stila to marc jacobs – nothing is long-lasting enough until I came across this beauty. This is a pencil eyeliner that is very popular in Japan for various reasons – It’s marketed as a waterproof gel liner pencil, with a 0.1mm tip and glides on easily.

TIP for the perfect wing liner: Practice line weights on the back of your hand, see what kind of line and thickness you want. Start at the mid half of your lid and gently apply soft strokes to see how far you want your wing to me and where it should end. Then once you get your desired length, draw a line from your tear duct to connect the line at the middle. Remember, practice makes perfect; I’ve been doing cat, winged liner since I was 15.

 

 

My thoughts:

I have very minimal to no issues using this. The application is simple and easy to use. The tip is very fine and small, allowing you to have perfect precision for application. It was really dark pigmented black, which really makes my eyes appear to be bigger and brighter. My lids can be oilier on certain days but I do like how this does not transfer all over my lids and seems to be long-lasting. This dries in more of a matte finish than the liquid eyeliner does. The liquid liner dries down into a vinyl-like finish. I find this issue with all lines I use on my waterline but it either disappears or smudges off. For this liner, I found it disappear a bit on my waterline. I would say after 7 hours of wear, it starts to wear off on my waterline but for my top lids, everything still looks awesome! I would recommend this eyeliner for everyone who likes an eyeliner that allows you to have precise + fine application and also something that is long-wearing that can withstand through facial mists and water activities.  I also really love how dark black. Overall, I really enjoy it and I see myself repurchasing this because it’s nice and quite affordable for the quality you are getting. Who said long-wearing makeup had to break the bank? See videos below of the water and smudge test!

Smudge test:

Water test:

 

 

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. Some links on this post are affiliate links. This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase from these links.

 

[REVIEW] KLAIRS FRESHLY JUICED VITAMIN E MASK

 

 

What do we have here? One of Klairs many cult favourites? I got this at a whim during the holiday season and finally cracked it open in late January. There was a lot of hype around this mask alone for its amazing key ingredients, how well it paired with the freshly juiced vitamin drop serum and also, for its smart texture. Let’s hop onto the review and see how it performed on my skin and how I liked it.

Available on: Yesstyle | Wishtrend

 

 

Claims

• This mask is able to brighten the skin while providing it with a pack of hydration along with moisturizing it.
• It also can improve and provide wrinkle-care along with with evening out skin  texture

Key Ingredients

• Vitamin E – can prevent foreign substances from invading. It also possesses skin softening properties, soothes inflammation, and even shields skin against sun damage.
• Niacinamide – ideal for those with acne-prone and oily skin as it works to minimize sebum production for a more balanced complexion.
• Adenosine – this is a yeast-derived ingredient that has soothing properties and skin-restoring agents. It also has anti-wrinkle benefits due to its ability to energize the skin’s surface creating a youthful appearance.
• Centella Asiatica  – a plant-based ingredient that has multiple healing properties. The extract is rich with amino acids, fatty acids and etc that can help treat and prevent acne, calming down skin inflammation and promote collagen growth.

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

Ingredient List: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carrageenan, Gellan Gum, Betaine, Algin, Mannan, Ceramide NP, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Adenosine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

My thoughts:

The first thing you will notice about the mask for its essential oils blend; it has lavender and citrusy scent to it. I personally originally really enjoyed the scent, however, as the months past by me, unfortunately, developed a sensitivity issue to essential oils. My skin became very compromised and was irritated with everything I used; it wasn’t specifically caused by this mask. The results this mask gave me were remarkable, it is quite unfortunate that I can no longer use it but nonetheless, it does exactly what it claims. I would like if they released an unscented version of this simply because of my sensitivity issues. Rest assured that none of this mask will go to waste and I will repurpose it as a body mask or neck mask. For those of you who not sensitive to scents or do not have sensitive skin, will likely love this mask. I really enjoy the gelatinous feel to the mask. As I mentioned earlier, this mask has a smart texture as in you can dig in the product and swirl it around and it will mold back into its original state, smooth and shiny. See the photos below for examples of how it molds back into its form.

TIP: When applying on this mask, scoop a small amount of product and put it on the back of your hand, massage and break down the product until it turns into a creamy texture then apply on face.

 

 

Overall

• Texture: 5/5 – This is probably the most brilliant and fun texture I have ever tried for skincare. It’s innovative and probably one of the very few products out there that offer this kind of feel. It scoops out as a gelatinous texture but as you massage it in your skin, it transforms into a cream-like texture. It does leave a sticky feel to the skin but I personally do not mind it simply because it’s a wash-off mask, it won’t be sticky on the skin for long periods of time.
• Scent: 2/5 – I have very mixed feelings about this. I personally enjoy the smell of essential oils, however, my skin’s sensitivity disagrees with essential oils. I would stay away from this mask if you have sensitive skin/sensitive to fragrance,
• Performance: 5/5 – It does what it claims, brightens and really leaves the skin feeling velvety soft. It’s so unfortunate that I can no longer use this on the face however, I will likely move forward using this as a neck mask. Remember friends, your neck and body need love too!
• Packaging: 5/5 – It’s perfectly fine. I know exactly what it is when I look at it, it’s not busy looking and straight forward. The packaging is simple but also travel-friendly.
• Overall: 3/5 – I liked it a lot when I was using it. -2 marks because of the essential oils in it and this wouldn’t be ideal for all skin types however, I do hope that Klairs will look into possibly creating an unscented version of this because I will purchase it in a heartbeat.

 

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. Some links on this post are affiliate links. This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase from these links.

 

[REVIEW] LANEIGE GLOWY MAKEUP SERUM

Hello, dear friends! I hope you’re having a fantastic day where ever you are. I received a couple of goodies from Jolse roughly a month and a half ago and have been trying things slowly. One of the products I received with my Jolse credits was the LANEIGE Glowy Makeup Serum.

 

 

30 ml | MADE IN KOREA

Claims

• This boosting serum that gives the skin a radiant, healthy glow.
• Enhancement of makeup attachment and persistence – increases the longevity of makeup
• Provides the skin a healthy and soft finish
• Lightweight and provides moisture care
• Light fit prep technology – lightweight feel with strong adhesion
• Ceramide moisture gel that balances oil and helps with moisturizing the skin
• “Pink Diamond” – Natural Mineral Diamond helps smooth the skin texture and helps reduce the appearance of skin dullness.

Ingredients

Water, Purified Water, Glycerin, Polyethylene Glysol, Polyethylene Glycol,C10-30 Alkyl And Crosspolymer, Thrpmethamione, Caprylylmethicone, Tridecane, Saccharide Hydrolyzate, Fructooligosacchride, Silica Dimenthylsiylate, Mica, Xanthan Gum, Olive Oil ,Capric, Myristyl Tylsiloxane, Synthetic Flourophosphate, Carmine, Diamond Powder, Kotony Extract ,Butylene Glycol, Tara Fruit Extract,Tinoxide,Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceramide Endothelium, Glycine,Serine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Proline, Threonine

 

 

My thoughts

Most of us already know what made me want this. The appearance of it, of course! It looks absolutely stunning and how I saw this was it was going to very much like the VDL Lumi-layer primer and it was similar but I find it pro-longed my makeup, the VDL Lumi-layer did not. I found this very comfortable to wear and although it was lightweight, it was a lot more moisturizing than I expected it to be. Not sure what “diamond powder” is exactly and if whether it’s good for long-term use, it does not sound like an ingredient that absorbs well nor can break down on the skin.

Overall

• Texture: 4/5 – Thick serum with very fine shimmery iridescent in it. In the bottle, it appears to have small capsule sized particles but they break down and spread really nicely into the skin. It dries to a glowy finish, I don’t find it sticky or tacky but more rather like a really nourishing facial serum/oil feel. I’m actually very surprised that this kind of consistency can prolong makeup wear and also acts as a fantastic primer.
• Scent: 5/5 – I personally don’t smell anything when using this if anything – it has a super, super faint silicone scent to it.
• Performance: 5/5 – Works like a charm, definitely worth the hype and nice. Do you need this in your collection? That’s really up to you, I personally see myself repurchasing this because it worked for me and I quite like it.
• Packaging: 4/5 – It’s cute! I have no complaints about it. However, I would love to see expand into a line, I think it would be successful. Maybe making like a glowy makeup essence, cream and etc.
• Overall: 4.5/5 – I liked it! I think makeup users who enjoy that glossier model, glow, the dewy look will appreciate this kind of product very much. I found this perform a lot better than any western primer I’ve tried in the past. Those silicone-based primers don’t do anything for me so it’s nice that LANEIGE released something that gives the skin that glass skin type of appearance.

Available on: Yesstyle | eBay

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. Some links on this post are affiliate links. This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase from these links.

 

 

 

 

[SHOP] LIFECODE BOUTIQUE

Today I will be sharing and introducing you all a fantastic a Canadian owned Asian beauty and lifestyle store. For your Canadian friends, you are in luck because this is a pretty awesome shop. Life Code Boutique strives to provide customers the best online shipping experience, superior customer service and a variety of affordable, high-quality beauty and lifestyle products. With just a few clicks, shopper’s purchase would be delivered straight to their mailbox! I would like to thank Alice for coordinating this collaboration with me and giving me the opportunity to try out new and some familiar brands.

Website’s Features

• Free local pickup (no minimum purchase), they’re based in Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Fast shipping in Canada (maximum 1-week wait)
• Free shipping with any purchase of $50 CAD
• 10% off your first order as a welcome gift
• Every month, there are new products listed and monthly promotional discounts on different brands
• Become a member and subscribe for the month newsletter
• Free gift for members subscription

I have a promotional code if you wanted to shop on their website,
Use Code: Amy15 (valid till 10/31/2019). 

Alrighty, let’s get into the unboxing and product descriptions now!

Club Airy Suppin Makeup-free Pressed Powder – Bouquet (Green edition)

 

Can we just appreciate how adorable this packaging is? It has a beautiful stripe design with a delicate illustration along with a powder puff that has a bow! This is one of many of Japan’s popular items and I can understand why because I’ve been using this powder every single day to set my makeup and it really controls my excess oil from producing and keeps me matte without looking dry. I recall reading somewhere that you can wear this powder to sleep and it acts as a skincare powder, where it can minimize excess oil production throughout the night. I would recommend this to those who have normal and combination skin. If you’re sensitive to scents or have sensitive skin, maybe skip on this one because this does contain fragrance in it. It has a very soft floral scent to it, which I absolutely enjoy!

Kiss Me Sharp Gel Liner Super Waterproof 1.5mm

 

Link: Available Here

I absolutely adore their mascara line and the lengthening one is my holy grail. When I first saw this eyeliner in my package, I was so excited simply because I find Japanese eyeliners very heavy-duty and long-lasting. I specifically use this eyeliner to tight line my eyes and it lasts throughout the day – no smudging, bits on my face. The colour is a rich black and really emphasizes and makes the eyes bigger and brighter looking.
If you have been following me for a while, you would know that my signature look is my cat winged eyeliner. I only use waterproof eyeliners because I cannot afford to have my eyeliner smudging everywhere throughout the day.

LABO LABO Super Keana Lotion 200 ml

 

Link: Available Here

This is a Japanese brand and also is new to me, I’ve never seen this brand before so it was refreshing to see unique brands. The claims are it is a refreshing lotion that clears pore congestion, refines pores and also hydrates the skin. Sounds like the dream lotion, right? There also has no added fragrance, colour dyes, mineral oils, parabens, petroleum, alcohol and surfactant agents. This is super mild and gentle and suitable for all skin types! I’m all for simple skincare that is mild, non-abrasive and non-stripping so this right off the bat surprised me and made me very excited to incorporate it in my skincare routine.

JM Solution Water Luminous SOS Ringer Mask (35 ml x 10 sheet masks)

 

Link: Available here

I am a sheet mask addict, I treat my skin to a sheet mask every single day. My existing sheet mask stash is gradually dropping down because I have not been purchasing any new ones. The moment I saw this in the box, I was excited simply because I’m still exploring the JM Solution brand and have only tried one of their sheet masks in the past. I also am very big in barrier care, it’s crucial to me to focus on hydrating, moisturizing and also nourishing my skin. This mask offers a highly concentrated treatment that is combined with water that deeply moisturizes and hydrates the skin to improve skin’s overall appearance, elasticity, and texture. This is a cellulose sheet mask and the material offers comfort to the skin and delivers active ingredients effectively with high-adhesion. It contains beautiful ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, peptides, and aquaxyl with enhanced moisturizing ingredients. There is also panthenol and allantoin ingredients that are fantastic for calming, soothing and hydrating the skin, leaving it feeling like silk.

COSRX One Step Pimple Clear Pads (70 pads)

 

Link: Available here

If you don’t know or have heard of COSRX, you are living under a rock. COSRX has been around for quite a few years now and has a fantastic reputation for creating quality products at an affordable price. The One-step pimple pads contain BHA and White willow bark tree extract, they work together to correct and combat against uneven skin tone. Each pad is soaked in a generous amount of solution that can deeply penetrate and remove sebum and skin waste. There are 70 pads in here so it’ll last you a while. I’ve been using this and have been enjoying them, they’re not stripping or drying – they also do not leave a residue on the skin. I find this is very effective for my skin and also I find my skin appears to be more balanced.

Etude House Silk Scarf Double Care Hair Mask Pack

 

Link: Available here

I didn’t even know Etude House made hair masks but first time for everything, right? My hair has been overprocessed in the past and really needs some TLC. Alice was kind enough to send me 2 of these to try out. So the star ingredients appear to be hohobassi oil and ceramide (nano-ceramide). These two ingredients work together as a powerhouse to restore hair’s texture and overall appearance.

C-ROLAND Loshi Horse Oil Moisturizing Skin Cream (220g)

 

Link: Available here

Some of you may be raising your eyebrows and asking yourselves, “horse oil?” Horse oil has been used in skin care for many, many years; it’s packed with fatty acids and antibacterial properties to protect and maintain the skin’s barrier. It is used to treat burns, cuts, and eczema. This is formulated with 100% pure horse oil and has no irritating chemicals. It’s suitable for all skin types and can be used all season round.

If you’re interested in getting any of these or would like to shop at Lifecode Boutique, please feel free to use the code: AMY15 to get 15% off your purchase (code is only valid until 10/31/2019).

Thank you, Alice, for putting such a wonderful and beautiful package together. Everything was very thoughtful and fantastic quality. Although I don’t always share sensitive skincare products, I do prefer them over products that are complicating. The skincare products are very straight to the point, clear and just absolutely fantastic.

Please feel free to drop a comment or DM me on Instagram if you would like me to review any of these. That’s it for now, folks! Stay tuned for my next post!

 

[REVIEW] MAMONDE 24H ICE ROSE WATER TONER

Mamonde came up with an innovative product that can provide hydrating, brightening and COOLING results? What if I told you that Mamonde revamped their rose toner formula and created it to stay unfrozen for 24 hours at temperatures of -18 degrees Celcius to -20 degrees Celcius. They also made this toner for those to have a simple and optimized skincare routine. You can use to create a DIY toner mask with this toner as well!

Where to buy: Yesstyle | *currently unavailable on Jolse*

Why keep it at below-zero temperature?

The ideal skin temperature is around 30 degrees Celcius. Summers can be brutal with intense sun rays, the skin temperature may rise up to over 40 degrees Celcius.

Why is this a concern?

The higher your skin temperature, it puts your skin at risk for losing skin elasticity, which may cause dullness + dark spots and potential breakouts induced by excess sebum production.

Claims

• The unfrozen technology allows the product to stay unfrozen for 24 hours using the Ice Moisture Blending technology, which uses a perfect ratio of minerals, moisturizing ingredients based on the extended study on maintaining the ideal skin temperature.
• Skin-soothing and firming all in one go – this toner can lower the skin’s temperature by -7 degrees, soothe it from excess heat exposure and restore skin elasticity.
• Hydration to balance the oil and moisture levels
• Skin clearing and brightening with a brightening formula – Niacinamide brightens darkened skin by UV exposure while mint leaf extract controls excess sebum production.
• 7 free – animal ingredients, mineral oil, polyarcylamide, imidaazolidinyl urea, triethanolamine, silicone oil, synthetic color.

My thoughts

I was really excited to try this toner out and with the impression of knowing their original rose toner, I thought they would be similar and this would be the revamped version. Unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I found myself quite frustrated with how it irritated and dried out my skin. It was also quite a challenge finding the ingredients list online and I was concerned it would be nowhere to be found but luckily I came across the list on Cosdna. Oh look, Alcohol is their 3rd ingredient. No wonder my skin reacted so negatively and the original rose toner did not have alcohol; It did have fragrance listed but it was really low in potency.

Ingredients from Cosdna

Ingredient	English	Function	Acne	Irritant	Safety
Rose		‧Astringent			1
Propanediol		‧Solvent ‧Viscosity Control			1
Ethyl Alcohol		‧Solvent			2
다이프로필렌글라이콜	Dipropylene glycol	‧Solvent ‧Moisturizer			1
Betaine		‧Viscosity Control ‧Antistatic ‧Moisturizer			1
Butylene Glycol		‧Solvent ‧Moisturizer	1	0	1
Propylene Glycol		‧Solvent ‧Viscosity Control ‧Moisturizer	0	0	3
Nicotinamide					1
Hexanediol		‧Solvent			1
Water		‧Solvent			1
Sodium chloride		‧Viscosity Control			1
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24		‧Emulsifier
Fragrance		‧Fragrance			1–4
Edetate Disodium					1
Ethylhexylglycerin		‧Moisturizer			1
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract					1
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract		‧Moisturizer ‧Anti-inflammatory ‧Astringent			1
Sucrose		‧Moisturizer			1
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract		‧Astringent			1
Indole Acetic Acid

Overall

• Texture: 5/5 – I love anything watery and lightweight and this definitely did well in that department. How I used this was making a toner mask out of it.
• Scent: 3/5 – Smells quite similar to the original formula except for a strange chemical, menthol/ minty note with it.  I normally don’t feel nervous about products with mint in it but this one just smelled kind of off.
• Performance: 3/5 – I mean, it worked and chilled down my skin’s temperature but that being said, I found it kind of harsh on my skin where it irritated it and always dried it out. I knew for a fact there was alcohol on here because my eyes went bloodshot red immediately after applying it on my face. I normally do check for ingredients however I kind of mindlessly chose this toner because I liked the original one and was hoping it would be the revamped version of the original one. Jokes on me because it is nothing like the original formula and I prefer that one over this any day. Sure, it cooled down my skin but can’t think refrigerated skincare do the same? I don’t like the idea of refrigerating my skincare anyway because I’m afraid it could potentially affect the performance of the products so I prefer to avoid doing so.
• Packaging: 2/5 – The packaging label is really weird. Ok, it’s fine for function but the label is so cheap. It’s the original toner packaging label with another label thrown ontop. I don’t get that, why is it so hard to make a new one? Anyway, not a fan and not sure what they were going for this toner.
• Overall: 2/5 – It’s a no for me, would not repurchase. I would not even recommend this to anyone. The concept is really cool however it was poorly executed because I cannot imagine why anyone would enjoy putting this on their face and not have to deal with the long term aftermath from it. Alcohol is a very controversial subject, some don’t mind it.. some do. There are multiple articles and news reports of people stating why it’s formulated and why it’s in skincare but due to my dehydrated skin’s sake, I personally would rather not risk it. If you’re interested in trying a fantastic toner from mamonde, you’re better off trying the original rose toner.
  

  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. Some links on this post are affiliate links. This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase from these links.