I'm pretty lazy about my exfoliating regime, when I pick a product I want it to have an impact. I have this perception that peeling gels are mostly 'exfoliating lite' and as such, they almost never make it to my shopping cart.
I'm going to talk about you guessed it, a peeling gel today that was sent to me by Memebox. I'm one of their brand ambassadors and get to try one or two of their new skincare products every month. Without them, I would never have owned a peeling gel to feature. Oh Memebox, you broaden my horizons, and I appreciate that. :-)
Disclosure: There are press samples and affiliate links in this post. All opinions are my own. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
I'm not so sure the internet needs another full-blown Hada Labo Shirojyun Lotion review, but I think I might microblog my experience with it. Ooh "microblog", I feel all Techcrunch-y calling it that.
But seriously, there are many full reviews of this essence/toner. Here's a link to an excellent one done by Holy Snails, and here is a link to a thread on reddit where many people discuss their experience with it. I'd just like to add one more data point for you in case you're considering this one.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
Reports were out that the IOPE Air Cushion was renewed for 2016 back in April. There are four cushions in all:
* IOPE Air Cushion Intense Cover
* IOPE Air Cushion Natural Glow
* IOPE Air Cushion Moisture Lasting
* IOPE Air Cushion Matte Long Wear
I wanted to share the video below, which was created by the editors over at Powderroom.co.kr, a Korean beauty forum, because I thought it was interesting. It shows the texture of the new cushion, more details on what was updated, and tests it against other cushions in the market.
In the video above, the pain points of the original IOPE cushion are shown which include,
* It's difficult to get product out of the cushion sponge at times, especially before work. (Traffic jams when you're already late...)
* Excess product always wipes off on your hands, leaving marks on the skin.
Introducing the IOPE NEW Air Cushion. The video above runs 4 tests between the renewed IOPE cushions and others on the market.
*First we observe that the foundation sponge looks different. We don't see the normal porous sponge but rather, the surface of the sponge has a honeycomb-type pattern to it, with the 'pores' of the sponge in the circular comb area.
* The new cushion retains moisture much longer. They stamp a piece of bread with the new IOPE cushion air puff, and compare it with another cushion after 20 minutes has passed. The IOPE cushion product stamped onto the piece of bread on the left stays on longer. The moisture on the surface of the bread with the new IOPE cushion retains 68% water and 30.6% oil, compared to the competition which retains 56.1% and 25.2%. IOPE WINS.
* The applicator puff has been renewed and now soaks up less of the foundation. The old cushion sponge needed to be flipped over and over again to get foundation onto the puff, because it would run out of product quite quickly. In the test in the video, after 1 week of use, they cut the applicator puff into two pieces to reveal that the new IOPE Air Cushion puff soaked up more product on the inside, thus theoretically, the foundation would run out quicker. IOPE LOSES.
* The new IOPE cushion is much slimmer, and the editors were able to fit 6 new IOPE cushion cases into their pouch, compared to 5 regular cushion compacts. IOPE WINS.
* They do an application test by getting product with the IOPE air puff, and testing how many times they can stamp it on a clean piece of foam board and comparing the performance to that of another cushion. The competitor's cushion puff stamped only a few times, and each time, it stamped messily, and it was possible to see fingerprints on the board. The IOPE air puff stamped evenly over 20 times. IOPE WINS.
* They test the adhesion of the cushions by leaning their faces onto their boyfriend's t-shirt. The competitor's base rubs off and transfers onto the tee, while the IOPE does not. IOPE WINS.
Hi everyone, just a quick swatch and review post today of the following 5 products:
* Etude House Drawing Show Brush Liner in Black * Etude House Drawing Show Brush Liner in Brown * Etude House Tear Eye Liner in shade 1 White Tear (for aegyosal) * Aritaum Lovely Eyes Volumer Duo in 1 Love Some Pink (for aegyosal) * Aritaum Lovely Eyes Volumer Duo in 2 Shine Beige (for aegyosal)
I ran out of all of my eyeliners and aegyosal makers (pronounced 'egg-yo-sall', meaning cute under eye area, which in makeup speak is just adding a little sparkle underneath the eyes, just below the waterline) at the same time, so I took the opportunity to pick up a few I had not tried and tested before.
All of these products I purchased through ibuybeauti, whose name I love because to say ibuybeauti is an understatement for me and I'm sure many of you as well.
ibuybeauti is a retailer based in Korea that carries both makeup and skincare, but mainly their selection of makeup is really great. I've never had any issues with ibuybeauti items going out of stock and having to chase down a refund at all. The only thing I have been disappointed in with their site is the fact that shipping seems to take forever and a day. I shipped these eyeliners through Registered Air Mail, the slowest and cheapest shipping option, and received them 19 business days later. It's agonizing at times but I rarely use the much faster EMS service, which is an available option with the site. They also have a rewards and points system for shopping their site, but I haven't amassed enough to do anything with mine, so I don't have much to say about it as of yet.
Top to Bottom: 1. Etude House Drawing Show Brush Liner in Black
2. Etude House "" in Brown
3. Etude House Tear Drop Liner 1
4. Aritaum Shine Lovely Eyes Volumer Duo in 1 Love Some Pink
5. Aritaum "" in 2 Shine Beige
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
I've heard great things about Asian hair care products. Actually, I kept hearing about brands like Ryeo (Korea), Daeng Gi Meo Ri (Korea), and Shiseido Tsubaki (Japan) so much that they occupied a little cranny of my mind, until it came time to replace my existing shampoo and conditioner. I was roaming around the little Japanese market we have nearby, and it carried a few varieties of Shiseido Tsubaki products, so I decided to take the plunge for my proteinic plumage. Anyways, fun story.
In terms of my hair condition, I have a pretty oily scalp that accumulates buildup with ease, and my strands are on the drier side, since I don't really nurture it as thoroughly as I do my face with respect to skincare. Because the oil on my scalp sits at or near the root of my hair, I tend to not get a lot of volume near the roots (I may be making this up, but it sounds about right based on my experience), so I picked up the Shiseido Tsubaki Volume Touch set that comes with a shampoo and conditioner.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
All the way through my teens and twenties, the advent of summer without fail meant lots and lots of tanning. There was this old wives tale that tanning helped heal acne, probably made up by the same evil mastermind that spread the 'using toothpaste to dry out zits' adage. And both wreaked havoc on my skin. Back then I thought that tanning helped my skin look and be more healthy, never making the connection that intentionally damaging my skin in this way would only lead to hyperpigmentation (sun spots), lots and lots of redness, depressed and raised spots (pock marks), and all sorts of problem skin for me.
Once upon a time: lovely pock marks and hyperpigmentation, reddened and tanned (read: damaged) skin
After getting turned onto learning more about skincare in my thirties, I learned that 80 - 90% of skin aging is caused by the sun [study 1][study 2] and the sun is responsible for much of the damage I had been witnessing. In light of all this, my summer habits have changed. During the day, you're more likely to see me donning all black, long-sleeve everything, inclusive of a sun hat, with a sunscreen bottle in hand, and at night you'll catch me living a 1 sheet mask per day lifestyle.
I noticed recently that the sheet masks that I favor during the summer are way different than the ones that I spring for in the winter. In the summer I always find myself reaching for masks with watery essences, made of all-natural, breathable fibers like cotton or thin silk. (I veer away from hydrogels since they can feel a bit suffocate-y due to their thickness), and with ingredients that either help to fight off and treat acne (more sun = more sweat = more clogs, for me anyway), or those with brightening power, which helps to repair the inevitable sun damage sustained during the warmer months. (The warm weather means I spend way more time outside than usual. I'm not suggesting that there are more UV rays in the warmer months. UV irradiation is year round.)
So over the past month, I've found 5 sheet masks I really enjoyed wearing in the heat that fit the bill. I have some mini reviews of each one, each discusses what makes the mask a great summer mask, and what makes it special, aka why you might want to opt for it, and any negative points about the mask.
VANEDO BEAUTY FRIENDS PEARL ESSENCE MASK ($)
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
I considered leading with the title, "Pimp your Cleanser for under $2" but decided that was a throwback reference that would totally date me (2016 Xhibit keeps himself pretty much out of the public eye, more so than say a 2016 Missy Elliot), plus it's not as search-friendly as the title "Innisfree Eco Beauty Tool Creamy Bubble Maker Review" and I want many to climb on board the full-foam hype train. WHAT'S A BUBBLE MAKER?
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I ascribe to the double cleansing method, which involves me dousing my face in an oil-based cleanser every night, and finishing up with a foaming face wash as a second cleanser. One of the factors that makes for a satisfying cleanse is making sure that I am able to work up a nice, soft, full-bodied foam to heap onto my face in order to make certain I've cleaned out every pore and crevice of pollution, makeup, and cleansing oil/balm residue.
Lately there has been an uptick of different facial cleansing tools out there, from soft-bristled pore brushes, electric pore brushes like the Clarisonic, and the Foreo Luna, foam makers that look like little butter churns that whip cleansing creams into frothy clouds (see below at left, picture c/o Memebox)...
...And the tool pictured above: the $2 wonder that is the bubble maker, also referred to as the foaming net at times. Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
It's 5:00 on a Friday where I am and it's time to celebrate! It is also time for a few lucky readers to celebrate as well. I was inspired by Tracy of Fanserviced to rack up a little good karma and do a little K-beauty referral code dump.
The following 3 codes are $5 gift cards at GlowRecipe.com (U.S. Only). If you or someone you know have been planning to purchase anything from them and would like to use these codes, please have at it.
They are first come, first serve, and I'll update this post when they are no longer valid.
CODE 1: 1dff4704a9f8-cb56e744
CODE 2: 6f3ca4a19790-6c7b7s95
CODE 3: 6f3ca4a19790-5ab92ce5
Enjoy your weekend!
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know of a special 500 JPY site-wide discount at Rakuten Global Market available now until June 15th, 2016.
This discount comes at the perfect time as I'm sure loads of you will be stocking up on Japanese sunscreens for the summer. Click-through here to shop the store*, and also, if you need some ideas see some of my reviews below for suggestions.
There are affiliate links in this post marked with an asterisk. Shopping through these links help to support the blog at no additional cost to you. Please see my disclaimer for more about my policy on affiliate links, press samples, and sponsorships.
Are you planning to make use of this promo?
What is on your to-buy list?
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
Today I have a trio of products to review for you. Each of these surprised me in some way, some for the good: they outperformed my expectations and some, just could not live up to the bar I set for them.
I don't know about you but before trying out each beauty product my mind kind of places them in a little quadrant where x is the price or some sort of premium that I place on the brand name and/or ingredients list, and y is my likelihood to enjoy these products. Sorry for the nerdy little digression. But in any case, in the back of my head I pretty much already know what I expect out of most products I bring into my stash, which is why each of these products I'm going to review for you today were surprising to me.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Purchasing through an affiliate link is one way you can choose to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
Hi everyone, I thought I would share about the skincare I use to fight breakouts when they do happen. I've never really touched upon this topic on the blog before from a personal standpoint because it's a rare occasion - not a humblebrag - it's just that my primary skincare concern will always be balancing my skin's chronic lack of hydration and oils and, as it turns out, my skin is not that hospitable a place for bacteria propionibacterium acnes.
This routine should be helpful to others' whose primary skin concerns are usually not acne, but like me, are more focused around balancing the skin, whether it be through using primarily oil control products for those with oily skin, regular maintenance of normal skin, or moisturization for dry skin. I recommend these products for those who experience a flareup or two every once in awhile with a bout of MILD acne, things like clogged pores, closed comedones, and blackheads. This is not the routine for those dealing with cystic, hormonal and/or chronic acne. If you are dealing with any of these conditions, it's probably best to follow a dermatologist's advice, and not me, random internet person.
With that, I'll take you through my 2 day anti-acne routine that turns around my skin in no time!
THE DILEMMA OF THE WEEK
We're about halfway through 2016 (time flies doesn't it?) and I've kind of renewed my New Year's resolution of doing yoga at least 3 times a week only I managed to unwittingly amp it up a notch and signed up for an unlimited class pass at my local hot yoga studio. Well, recommitted newbie as I was, I totally forgot that wearing sunscreen or makeup into a 105 degree fahrenheit would definitely turn my normally acne-free face into clog city. My first class was Tuesday, and the following routine was performed on Wednesday and Thursday.
If you see the photos below, you'll see that my left cheek (your right) has some lovely little closed comedones sprouting all over it. By day 2, after this routine, the sprouts have shrunk, and by day 3 they were virtually gone.
Closed comedones = acne without a head and/or acne with a white head, also known as whiteheads :-)
Disclosure: Some of the products featured in the post are stocked at sister website HappySheet.org They are marked with an asterisk.
As excited as I get over discovering new Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese beauty brands, I know that there are way too many out there for me to try them all. That's why I am so pleased when a brand reaches out to me, making my decision-to-review process a bit simpler, granted I and the brand would have to see eye to eye on whether it would make sense for us to collaborate at all - based on many factors like whether they have any products that I and my readership might be interested in, similarity in how we might value the products in terms of price, etc. It's a rare occasion when the stars align in this way and I am able to bring to you a sponsored product review that I think will be extremely interesting to those of you with a similar skin type or taste as me. Anyway, with that, let's get into today's review.
Young-Ji, the brand owner of new Korean beauty brand PurpleTale reached out to me a few weeks, almost a month ago to see if I would be interested in trying any of their products.
PurpleTale is based in South Korea, and ships internationally within 5-15 days using UPS or FedEx for $18 to the U.S. Any customs/duties are the responsibility of the buyer. I find their website to be super simple and intuitive to use, and the most important part is that you have the option to make your transaction secure using PayPal.
Disclosure: There are press samples in this post. All opinions are my own. If you're curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
