[Review] Primera Alpine Berry Watery Cream

January 21, 2021January 26, 2021 Kim1 Comment

I’ve been meaning to write a review about this moisturiser for the longest time. Apologies for being so absent in 2020 but it was a hell of a year as we all know. I was always drawn to the aesthetics of this brand so if you want to know about my experience with this product please keep on reading!

About Primera

from https://us.primerabeauty.com/pages/about-us

PRIME + ERA = PRIMERA
primera is a cult-favorite K-beauty brand that’s all about formulating with powerful seed and sprout extracts captured at the peak of potency and without chemicals like parabens and synthetic fragrances to bring you effective products that are the best of all worlds: pure. potent. planet-friendly.

Product claims

from kokoskin.com.au

This skin-softening cream formulated with a proprietary Alpine Berry Complex™ absorbs quickly, offering lasting moisture and nourishment without feeling the least bit greasy.

Can definitely agree with their claims of lasting moisture without a greasy feel. I despise the “feeling” of skincare or makeup on my face. I want all the benefits without the grease 100% of the time. Also who doesn’t want berries in their skincare?

Cost

$50 AUD from yesstyle.com*

Ingredients

from yesstyle.com

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Sucrose Polystearate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Methyl Trimethicone, Urea, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearates, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Fragrance, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Fruit Extract, Citronellol, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Geraniol,1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Citral, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil

Packaging

Glass frosted jar packaging. I prefer my creams in a tube or with a pump but this jar is very sturdy and weighty.

Consistency

It’s best described as having a gel/cream consistency. It feels lightweight to the touch and holds its form without being too thick or goopy. Applies very smoothly and effortlessly, no dragging and it never feels sticky.

Scent

There is a very subtle scent which just smells earthy/natural to me. I’m also very fussy with scents (bane of my existence) in skincare (or anything really) so I’m really happy with this scent.
Added fragrance (derived from natural sources I presume since they don’t use synthetic fragrances) is towards the end of the ingredients so it’s definitely nothing offensive whatsoever.

How to use

It’s a moisturiser so I apply it during my morning skin care routine before sunscreen and after toner, serums etc, all the watery stuff.

At night, I apply it at the end of my skincare routine in place of facial oil sometimes depending on my mood. I don’t apply a sleeping mask on top because for my combo skin this is enough as the last step for moisturisation and sealing in all my layers. It leaves my skin looking fresh, healthy and hydrated and best of all comfortable.

Rubbed in, leaves behind a healthy sheen

Final thoughts

Rating: 5/5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)

If you can’t already tell, I love this moisturiser. Moisturiser is a pretty boring product, but as boring as it is, it is a necessary step for me. I have combo dehydrated skin which is getting less oily as I get older so the more hydration and moisturisation the better. This moisturiser just fits the bill in terms of my needs. It’s lightweight but dense enough to properly moisturise, last ages because you only need a small amount, is “clean” and the brand uses natural plant extracts in their products (yummy blackberry and strawberry extracts). The only minor criticism that I have is its jar packaging, not a huge fan of that but I can live with it. I have repurchased it many times and will continue to do so.

I went into their store located in Myeongdong South Korea in December 2019, it was absolutely beautiful. I was in skincare heaven. I purchased their Alpine Watery Berry Sleeping Mask and their Essence Miracle Seed (Liah Yoo’s fav) so a review on each will be coming soon.

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you

[Review] Laneige Stained Glow Lip Balm #Rich Red

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 KimLeave a comment

I went on a big trip to Japan and South Korea last Christmas and came back with wayy too much skincare and makeup (keep on eye for many more reviews from me!).

I was looking for things I hadn’t seen before and things I couldn’t get over here. I also got to see/buy the latest releases which was exciting. Living in Australia, we don’t always get the new stuff as soon as they release, more like weeks/months after.

One makeup item that is new that I will be reviewing today is a lip product from Laneige called the Stained Glow Lip Balm. What initially drew me to the range was it’s packaging which is similar to Diors’ Glow Color Reviver Balm which I already love so I’ll highlight the similarities between the two.

Cost

About $20 USD from a Laneige store in Myeongdong, Seoul (Dec 2019)

Ingredients

From laneige.com

* LANEIGE Stained Glow Lip Balm No.2 (Rich Red)
PHYTOSTERYL ISOSTEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, PHYTOSTERYL/OCTYLDODECYL LAUROYL GLUTAMATE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIISOPROPYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, BEESWAX / CERA ALBA / CIRE D’ABEILLE, OCTYLDODECANOL, POLYETHYLENE, OZOKERITE, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE, SQUALANE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, TRIBEHENIN, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, RED 22 LAKE (CI 45380), BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEED BUTTER, RED 27 (CI 45410), LACTIC ACID, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), RED 7 (CI 15850), POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, WATER / AQUA / EAU, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, TOCOPHEROL, POTASSIUM ALGINATE, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, BHT, ALCOHOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, LYCIUM CHINENSE FRUIT EXTRACT, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, COFFEA ARABICA (COFFEE) SEED EXTRACT, SAPINDUS MUKOROSSI FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MACROCARPON (CRANBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, FRAGARIA CHILOENSIS (STRAWBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, RUBUS CHAMAEMORUS SEED EXTRACT, CHENOPODIUM QUINOA SEED EXTRACT, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, BETA-GLUCAN, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, MANGANESE SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, DISODIUM EDTA, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE

There are three shades available and the ingredients vary due to its colours. It contains the same Berry Complex and Moisture wrap technology used in their popular and now cult favourite sleeping masks.

Claims

from l aneige.com

Tinted lip balm offers hydrating moisture and fresh tinting color for lovely lips.

Shades

The stained lip balm comes in three beautiful shades.
I picked up only the shade No.2 Rich Red.

True to its name, since it is a balm, it is very sheer but contains enough pigment to brighten up the lips. I’ve never been able to get to that level of payoff in the picture due to its sheerness. Maybe if you wore a lip liner underneath or something. I love the subtle colour it leaves and being sheer, it’s also so easy to apply without a mirror.

Alike to Dior’s balm, it has its own smart tinting technology where the colour adapts to the ph of your lips, so the colour can look different on everyone which is pretty cool.

Scent

There is a light fruity scent but it’s very subtle and pleasant. I’m very sensitive to fragrance in makeup, but I enjoy this.

My final thoughts

Rating: 5 out of 5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)

Firstly as you can already tell from my rating, love this product. As much as I like a full coverage matte/satin lipstick at the best of times, for my more casual days (like in self isolation at the moment) where I wear lighter makeup or none at all, I like to go for easier options. Which this balm definitely is.

Secondly it is much like Diors’ Glow Color Reviver Balm (such a mouthful!), heck even their names are similar. They are both easy to apply, provide a nice tint of colour using their own ph adapting tech and they both leave a nice shine to the lips which never feels sticky or uncomfortable. They both contain moisturising ingredients, providing lasting suppleness, juiciness and hydration to the lips. I hate it when I swipe on a lip balm and my lips get dry again just 10 mins later. As mentioned earlier, there is a subtle fruity scent to this lip stain where Diors’ balm has a light vanilla smell.

The price is probably the biggest difference, Dior’s balm is $52 AUD and the Laniege’s version is going for $37 AUD at Yesstyle.com at the moment. The shade range differs too actually, only 3 shades for this lip stain vs Diors’ which has 7 shades.

If you love Diors’ version, or if you tend to gravitate towards lip balms, I would definitely recommend giving this a try. I think it’s only released in Asia so far but it’s currently available from Yesstyle.com.

Skincare empties (March 2020) – Korean, Japanese and Western skincare

March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 KimLeave a comment

6 months later, another empties post. You know the drill, keep on reading to see whether I loved/liked/hated any of these products.

Dr. Althea – To Be Eyeconic Eye Serum

Cost: $64 AUD, 20ml from yesstyle.com *

What attracted me to this eye serum was the packaging, I liked the idea of having the angled tip so you can dispense, apply and massage the serum directly from the product. A lot of eye creams are in jars for some reason. It claims to help with all that I and probably most people are who are over the age of 30 are searching for, a remedy for fine lines and dry under eyes. For someone with combo skin my under eyes are very dry. It contains green tea to soothe, adenosine to smooth out wrinkles as well as squalene and chamomile extract for moisturization. The product is light, didn’t irritate my eyes and I could use this alone for ample moisture. BUT, my problem with it was the packaging. I couldn’t really use that angled end to rub the serum effectively under my eyes, I still had to use my fingers for that so I found it gimmiky. Also the container is long and slim with no weight to it so it kept falling over when stored with my other skin care products. Damn it just fell over again…!

Would not repurchase.

Mac Fix+ – Watermelon

Cost: AU $25 (I think) from mac cosmetics . Limited edition. 30ml

Mac Fix+ is an oldie but a goodie and a reliable hydrating mist regardless of what scent you buy. They released limited edition scents mid last year and I grabbed the watermelon as well as the pineapple scent. I love both and they work just as well as the original. I’ve also tried the coconut one which I also liked.

Was worth a try but if I were to repurchase it would be the full size which costs $39 for 100ml, making it more bang for your buck.

SK-II Genoptics Aura Essence

Cost: $210 AUD, 30ml, from sephora.com.au

I suffer from sun spots and hyperpigmentation so I’m always looking for products to fade this damn discolouration. This serum offered brightening properties which included SKII’s patented hero ingredient Pitera.

The serum was milky, lightweight and easily absorbable. It has a light scent which was pleasant enough. I expected to see results but did not. I used up the entire bottle since it would be a crime at this price point not to. Liked it enough to use up but wouldn’t repurchase.

First Aid Beauty – Hello FAB Vital Greens Face Mist

Cost: Not sure, this mini size 30ml was in a set which is no longer available, full size is $29 from sephora.com.au

This is a nice spray, nothing unique but nice. It is cooling on skin and contains lots of plant extracts which gives it that lovely green colour. I’m not really loyal to face mists if I’m being honest since I want to try them all. The only ones I have repurchased has been MAC’s Fix +. Nothing to write home about here so will not repurchase.

Drunk Elephant – B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Cost: $35 as part of the Rise and Glow set from mecca.com.au

Another one bites the dust. To hear my thoughts and praises for this product you can find a quick review of it here in my last empties post.

It’s such a good mixing product and if you use enough of it by itself, it’s quite a nice hydrating serum.

I am still contemplating on buying the full size. TBD.

DERMA E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum

Cost: $34.99, 60ml from priceline.com.au (Australian Pharmacy)

I heard about this brand and product from Renee @ Gothamista. To date I haven’t found a vitamin c product that I’ve actually liked. I hated the Drunk Elephant C-Firma and didn’t like the smell of the Klairs Freshly Juiced drop. I’m pretty sure The Ordinary’s Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% broke me out.

Anyway I really liked this serum, texture was nice and light, easily spreadable, absorbed immediately and I really liked the fresh subtle citrus smell. I used it immediately after cleansing in the morning and as well as my complexion appearing brighter over time, my skin also felt plump and hydrated. During the summer, I would just apply this and sunscreen, skipping moisturiser.

Would definitely repurchase, it’s value for money and it’s actually effective.

Alpine Berry Watery Cream

Price: $ 73.10 from yesstyle.com *

I love this moisturiser, this is the second jar that I’ve finished and I already have repurchased. It is the perfect cream moisturiser which is perfect for my combo skin. It has a slight gel consistency making it easy to apply and spread. You don’t need a lot which is great. It contains an alpine berry complex which consists of blackberries and strawberry sprouts as well as hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and squalene. Never greasy and gives your skin a lovely glow, I will always buy this! Thanks Liah Yoo for sharing your love for this product, I’m hooked! I think this warrants a full review so keep an eye out for that if you’re interested.

Ok that’s all folks! What products have you finished recently? Do you tend to repurchase the same things or do you like trying new products out? Let me know!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you

[Review] Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser

November 17, 2019November 17, 2019 KimLeave a comment

I’ve been really into cream cleansers of late and after having success with a couple of Laneige skincare products, I wanted to try more from the brand. I have to admit that the pretty pink packaging caught my eye in the first instance but it was its moisturising properties that sealed the deal.

If you’re interested in hearing about my experience in using this cleanser, please keep on reading.

Cost

$17.74 USD from jolse.com

Ingredients

From laneige.com

WATER / AQUA / EAU, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, MYRISTIC ACID, LAURYL HYDROXYSULTAINE, LAURIC ACID, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, GLYCERIN, SODIUM CHLORIDE, STEARIC ACID, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, PEG-14M, DISODIUM EDTA, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, SODIUM BENZOATE, TOCOPHEROL, SILICA, BHT

Its hero ingredient Meadowfoam seed oil is the second ingredient and the second oil, Sunflower oil is towards the bottom of the list. Laniege claims that the cleanser contains 14.9% of plant derived oils.

Claims

from Laneige.com

The highly moisturizing cleansing foam containing plant-derived oil helps the skin absorb skincare products by filling the skin with skincare moisture starting from the cleansing step.

How to use

I use it as my second cleanser in the evening like I normally would any other foam or cream cleanser. I squeeze out a pea size amount on fingers and apply it onto my damp skin and spread it around, gently massaging around my face. I then rinse it off with warm water.

Texture

Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser – rich creamy consistency.

The texture is unique because it’s quite thick and solid for a cleanser but is still smooth and easy to spread around. Almost feels like a cream moisturiser with its rich consistency

Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser – when mixed with water it slowly starts to emulsify and eventually lathers up to be foam

Scent

This cleanser has added fragrance but the smell is subtle. It just smells clean and has a moisturiser type fragrance. I’m usually sensitive to added fragrance but this was fine.

My final thoughts

Rating: 3 out of 5 (it's ok but will not repurchase)

I had high hopes for this cleanser since it had a lot of claims to be very moisturising. The texture felt nice and it was different because it was quite rich, though can still easily form a lather. The good thing about this is that the tube is quite large and it’s filled to the brim with product. Because you only need a small amount, it will be able to last at least a couple of months with everyday use.

The downside is that my face felt tight after use. I would use it in the shower and by the time I reached my bedroom my face was feeling dry and a bit stripped. Not sure what the ph is on this but with all the oils I didn’t expect to feel this way. I’ve also tried using it in the morning but because it can form a substantial lather, its not always the cleanest thing to do at a sink. My face still felt dry and tight anyway which contradicts its claims.

I will keep using it until empty because it’s not bad and hasn’t had any negative effects on my skin but I wouldn’t buy it again. I’ve used way better second cleansers at a cheaper price point. Laniege is priced in and around the midrange bracket in k-beauty.

Let me know your thoughts if you have tried it.

Skincare empties (September 2019)

September 8, 2019September 8, 2019 Kim1 Comment

Keeping empty containers may seem like a silly thing to do but I have good reasons for saving them. I can’t post dedicated reviews on every possible thing I try so I tend to collect them for a bi annual post like this. I enjoy watching people review their empties because it gives me a good indication of whether they would repurchase having used up all the product.

Skincare, especially, is something that you (generally) can’t form an instant opinion on so having some more information after its entire use is more helpful than a first impression (compared to someone just rubbing it on their hand in a haul). As usual, I’m going to be breezing through (well I’ll try my best to) each of them, otherwise this will be very long.

DHC Deep cleansing oil

Cost: $20 AUD from yesstyle.com

This cleansing oil is a cult classic and one that I had always wanted to try. When I saw that Yesstyle had in this cute Alice in Wonderland packaging in a smaller bottle, I was sold. I can see why it’s a popular product, the consistency is in the middle, not too thick and not too thin. I can massage it easily around my face and it does a great job in melting down my makeup. I always follow with a second cleanser but after I use this oil, my face already feels clean and moisturised with no sticky residue. The main ingredient is organic olive oil.

Would definitely repurchase the larger pump style size in future.

IUNIK – Calendula complete cleansing oil

Cost: AU $24.81 from ebay *

iUNIK is a brand that focusses on natural ingredients so I thought I’d give this a try. Calendula has recently appeared in a number of skincare products across different brands. It’s extract can serve as an antiseptic to soothe and heal wounds and it’s also great for collagen stimulation. This cleanser contains a bunch of oils, the main ones being sunflower and canola oil. This performed fine, melted makeup well enough and didn’t leave a film on my skin but what I struggled with was the scent. This outright smelt like cooking oil with a hint of floral. So if you don’t like strong scents in your cleansing oil I would give this a pass.

Would not repurchase.

NEOGEN – Real fresh foam – Green Tea

Cost: $15.58 USD, from bbcosmetic.com

This is already a repurchase and is my HG cleanser. I love its subtle scent and they way that it foams. The texture is soft but holds it’s shape so it’s easy to dispense and apply. It doesn’t strip my skin even though its ph of 7 is a bit on the higher side. This product is also sold in other “flavours” but I love this green tea version so much I haven’t dared to deviate. This one definitely deserves its own post and I will get to it once I get another. So it’s a definite repurchase for me. Myer (department store in Australia) also now sells Neogen so it’s much more accessible which is awesome.

ORIGINS – Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment

Cost: $70 AUD, 50ml, purchased from mecca.com.au

This is ultimately a moisturiser despite its fancy long name and I was attracted to it because of its star ingredients which included Rose of Jericho, Lychee and Watermelon. These ingredients appear in all their Make a difference products and are great for hydration. I have combo/dehydrated skin and it was summer at the time so I needed something lightweight and non greasy. This is oil free so it seemed fitting. I actually really liked this moisturiser, it was rich enough to properly moisturise and hydrate but light enough for me not to feel it or mess with my makeup. It has a cream gel consistency so it was perfect for me since I don’t really like just gels in moisturiser form. I need a little bit more even in summer. It has a slight fresh citrus smell which I was ok with. Would repurchase.

GO-TO Face Hero

Cost: This was part of the Tiny Stuff set which was $39 from gotoskincare.com.

I like to support Aussie brands and I had liked everything I had read about this brand. It was founded by Zoe Foster-Blake and I resonated with her beliefs that skincare should be simple and fun. The aesthetics of the packaging and products appealed to me, always a sucker for pastels, so I thought why not give it a go. This sampler pack of their popular products was a cost effective way to try it. This oil was the first thing I tried and was the product that I was most interested in. It has a tonne of oils in it and is easily absorbable into the skin. It’s quite rich but lightweight at the same time. The scent of this oil is particularly strong, it’s derived naturally from the ingredients, but man it’s strong. It isn’t unpleasant but bad enough for me to not look forward to using it though I did finish it. It’s a shame because I did like everything else about it. I definitely favour my Marula Oil from Drunk Elephant over this any day. Will not repurchase.

Drunk Elephant – B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Cost: $35 as part of the Rise and Glow set from mecca.com.au

I didn’t like this the first time that I tried it because I tried to use it as a moisturiser. For my skin type, this definitely wouldn’t be enough. When I started to use it as a mixer to my acids, it became magical. Drunk Elephant’s products are designed to be mixed into one another and I chose to mix it with their Framboos Glycolic Night Serum at first. I’ve also mixed it in with my Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster and it really helps to make the product go further as well as improve spreadability.

Will definitely repurchase the full size once I’m done with my current hyaluronic acid serum.

Sunday Riley – Good Genes

Cost: Came in a The Flash Fix mini pack with their clay cleanser $24 GBP from cultbeauty.com

Sunday Riley has since reformulated Good Genes to use Glycolic Acid instead of Lactic Acid. I finished the old version and haven’t tried the new so I can’t compare the two. There was so much hype around this and the claims were that you would see brighter and more radiant skin, less wrinkles within a very short period of time, 3mins in fact! My skin never felt quite comfortable after application. I found it a bit hard to spread it around and I felt like I needed to use quite a bit to cover my face. The smell was a big turn off actually. I like the smell of lemongrass but this was way too strong and also had a chemical smell mixed in too which I didn’t like at all. Buying the full size of this is a big investment that I for one will not be making. The brand itself is a turn off altogether based on that drama with making their employees post fake reviews on Sephora…no deal. Won’t be repurchasing anything from their line again.

The Ordinary – Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Cost: $12.90 from adorebeauty.com.au

This was first foray into hyaluronic acid (HA) and one of my first products from the brand. HA is pretty popular at the moment, it’s everywhere from skincare to makeup. The consistency is on the thick side and my face felt tacky after application. I usually used it at night so I would normally follow with an oil or moisturiser so I didn’t mind the tackiness so much. But it wasn’t my favourite. I have since used other HA serums/toners which I’ve liked much better which don’t do that so I won’t be repurchasing this.

MUJI – Cleansing milk

Cost: $15 AUD (I think) from MUJI (in store)

I love both foaming and milk cleansers equally and everything about this cleanser was positive. It contains peach and apricot extracts, has a very subtle fruity scent, packaging is basic but easy to use with the pump. The texture isn’t as runny as milk so it’s easy to dispense and massage onto the skin. It rinses off easily and leaves my face feeling fresh and clean, not stripped. This product contains parabens but that doesn’t bother me. As long as the product is effective and works for me, that’s all I care about. Muji sells most of their skincare in different sizes so if you’re curious but not wanting to commit to a full size, there are mini sizes available too. Best of all, their skincare is very affordable, similar to drugstore prices. They also have an amazing cleansing oil which I adore. They don’t seem to sell skincare online though which is a bummer. Worth checking out if you have store near you.

Will definitely be repurchasing this one.

Ok so that’s it for my empties and product roundup. I need to do them more regularly so that these posts don’t get ridiculously long each time!

What products have you finished recently? Do you tend to repurchase the same things or do you like trying new products out? Let me know!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you

[Review] MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) – Retro Movie, Key Light and Sepia Filter

June 30, 2019June 30, 2019 KimLeave a comment

Line Friends are a group of cute cartoon characters made popular from an asian messaging app. They are commonly found on merchandise, stickers and Missha have regularly used some of the characters on their beauty products.

My favourite character is Brown who is a salty looking bear who wears a constant frown. He has a sister named Choco and it is she who is used on the packaging of the Velvet Like Color Sticks. She’s just as cute and I’m not afraid to admit that I bought them mostly for the adorable packaging. I bought a blush (#Retro Movie), contour (#Sepia Filter) and a highlighter (#Key Light) so if you’d like to hear more about them please keep on reading 🙂

Product Description

from yesstyle.com

Creamy blush stick glides on effortlessly, leaving a high color payoff and velvety finish. Blended with mango seed and avocado butters to nourish skin. Cap is furnished with a three-dimensional figurine of Brown’s younger sister Choco.

Cost

$11.49 AUD from yesstyle.com *. Available in 5 shades. Prices fluctuate constantly on Yesstyle so keep an eye out for their sales.

Packaging

The color sticks are packaged in a sturdy plastic tube with its shade covering the whole container. The cutest part is that Choco is on the lid of each one. As well as being 3D, she is made of rubber and has a soft matte feel. It feels more expensive that is is and well made, very similar to Nudestix’s cheek stick packaging. Some of Nudestix products are made in Korea which is very interesting and since I have a fair bit of their collection, a review is coming very soon!

MISSHA - Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) - Retro Movie, Key Light and Sepia Filter — MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) – Retro Movie, Key Light and Sepia Filter

How to apply

I have used this product only on my cheeks, forehead and cheekbones but I’m sure like any multi use stick, you can also use it on your eyes and lips.

I usually swipe the product directly onto my face and blend with a small duo fibre brush. The Real Techniques Stippling brush is an excellent one but you can use any brush that can blend cream products. Fingers work too and I especially like using fingers to apply the highlighter.

For the contour stick (Sepia Filter)

I swipe it in the areas I normally bronze/contour which are the sides of my forehead, under my cheekbones and under my chin. I use the brush to blend it all in and it’s effortless.

For the blush stick (Retro Movie)

I dab the blush onto the apples of cheeks a couple of times and use the brush to blend it across my cheek. I’ve used my fingers to blend too but I prefer using a brush because it stretches the product a little further and is a breeze to blend in.

For the highlighter (Key Light)

I tap my index finger on top of the highlight and dab it onto my cheekbones. I don’t use a brush because I want a subtle sheen and doing it this way is perfect because you only need a small amount.

Performance

Just like the name implies, all three sticks dry down to a velvet finish which means that they are not sticky or need to be set down with powder. This helps with longevity and they last all day (9hrs) on me which is impressive. I do have combo skin (dry cheeks and kinda oily t-zone) so please keep that in mind. Pretty sure that they will last very well once powdered too if you have oily skin.

I didn’t expect much pigment since k-beauty isn’t well known for that but I was proven wrong. There is definitely strong colour payoff (as shown in the swatches) with all three of these sticks and layering them works well too.

MISSHA - Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition)
Heavy and untidy swatches (sorry!) - Left to right: Key Light, Retro Movie and Sepia Filter. — MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition)
Heavy and untidy swatches (sorry!) – Left to right: Key Light, Retro Movie and Sepia Filter.

Consistency

The texture is creamy and smooth but not so emollient that it will slip and slide around your face. They glide on easily making it easy to apply directly to the face. It has never lifted my base products which is a huge plus.

Scent

It doesn’t really have a scent but if you really sniff it you can smell the mango seed butter which is quite nice. This definitely doesn’t translate once on the face.

MISSHA - Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition) — MISSHA – Velvet Like Color Stick (Line Friends Edition)

Final thoughts

Rating: 4/5 (really liked it!)

As you can already tell by the rating, I really like these products. As well as having cute packaging the products themselves are decent. I didn’t give it 5 stars because if you blend them too much, they can blend away, in particular the blush. This can be remedied by layering more but it means you need to use more product. The contour has a nice tone to it but isn’t warm enough to use as a true bronzer so sometimes I need to apply a powder bronzer on top in order to get the bronzed effect. The highlighter is my favourite out of the three. It looks very light/white in the swatch but once blended it is so beautiful! It provides a glossy sheen which is my favourite type of effect. The shimmer isn’t noticeable once applied and little does go a long way with it. It rivals a lot of high-end highlighters that I own.

If you are looking for affordable cream cheek products I would highly recommend this line. They perform very similarly to Nudestix cheek products and have great lasting power. Or even if you just love Line Friends and cute packaging, you won’t be disappointed with these. Let me know if you’ve tried them or if you have any other Line Friends beauty recommendations.

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 🙂

Makeup favourites of 2018

January 2, 2019January 3, 2019 KimLeave a comment

2018 involved a swift expansion of my makeup collection because I went a bit bonkers with experimentation. I grew to love playing with and wearing eyeshadow and discovered a bunch of awesome products from different asian and western brands.

It was hard to pick one product from each category but I decided to pick them on the basis of what I used the most in 2018 and what I would use if I was in a rush that didn’t require much time and thought.

Foundation

I had to break this down into two sub categories since I enjoy using both cushion and normal liquid foundations and have tested many last year.

Cushion Foundation: COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion

COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion - SPF47 PA++ — COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion – SPF47 PA++, Mochi like cushion.

This cushion provides amazing coverage (med-high) and I love the mochi cushion. It allows the puff to pick up an even amount of the foundation, resulting in using less. It doesn’t cake and shade #27 is pretty perfect for me. It contains centella asiatica, tea tree oil, adenosine and madecassoside so it’s a better option for times when I am battling breakouts.

Reviewed here

Purchased from yesstyle.com*

Liquid Foundation: MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof

Pictured right – MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation

I haven’t reviewed this on my blog yet but it was the foundation my MUA used on my wedding day. That was almost two years ago and I have loved in since. It provides buildable full coverage that you can sheer out if you prefer. I apply it with a kabuki brush for fuller coverage and I sometimes go over it with a clean damp beauty blender, just to mesh it all in. It’s matte but not a flat matte. It is definitely waterproof, I sweat heaps in summer and it has lasted. I’m in the shade #NC35.

Purchased from MAC.

Concealer

The Saem – Cover Perfection Tip Concealer SPF28 PA++

This was an easy choice, it provides the best full coverage, is cheap and it has SPF. It also comes in a few shades which is great for a korean brand.

Reviewed here

Purchased from yesstyle.com*.

Setting Powder

It Cosmetics – Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder

This loose powder, although it’s messy to use, really does make me look poreless. It doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t cake on top of foundation. I apply the smallest amount anyway because it’s all I need. I do press it into my pores with my Wayne Goss Air Brush and have also used a makeup puff and both methods work well. It mattifies without drying out my skin and is translucent. Great for the sweaty humid weather here in Sydney.

Purchased from Beautylish.com

Bronzer

I have liked cream bronzers too but since they require a bit more time to apply I didn’t include any for this category. I also didn’t love any cream bronzers enough to include it.

Becca – Sunlit Bronzer

This bronzer is smooth and easy to apply. The payoff is sheer and buildable and the shade, Capri Coast, really compliments my skin tone. Because it isn’t matte, it adds a healthy dimension to the face. It looks shimmery in the pan but it doesn’t translate once applied on the face. Really lovely option for those who are after a healthy and warm complexion.

Purchased from Beautylish.com

Blush

Hourglass – Ambient Lighting Blush

This was my first taste of the amazing quality which are Hourglass blushes. The shade Diffused Heat was rated highly by Temptalia and I very much agree. It is so easy to blend and the color payoff is amazing. The marbling is so beautiful, making it a joy to look at and use. This shade is a peachy pink on me and gives me a healthy looking flush and really compliments my complexion.

Purchased from Mecca.

Honourable cream blush mention goes to the RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Shade #Illusive. I carry this in my gym bag and gives such a healthy flush to the cheeks. Reviewed here.

Highlighter

This was the year of discovery for highlighters for me. Two years ago I didn’t even wear any bronzer or highlighter, just blush, how things have changed 🙂

NARS – Highlighting Powder

My absolute favourite has to to be the NARS Highlighting powder in shade Fort De France, a newish release from NARS last year. It is so finely milled, so it never looks powdery or cakey and doesn’t emphasise any texture. There is no shimmer whatsoever, just imparts a wonderful sheen. The colour is also perfect for my skin tone. If you are after a natural looking glow without looking like a tin man or disco ball, this one would be for you.

Purchased from Mecca.

A couple of honorable mentions for cream highlighters. The Son and Park Cube Highlighter and the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer were two highlighters I enjoyed using throughout the year but I didn’t favour them enough over the NARS highlighter.

Eyeshadow

Last year was also the year of eyeshadows for me. I’m still not the most creative and experimental mainly because I’m lazy. It was really hard to pick just one eyeshadow palette…

Urban Decay – Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette

This palette is the most versatile, easy to use and colour payoff is just amazing. It has so many shades across such a good variety of spectrums that you’ll be hard pressed to not find a colour that you were after. The formula is also beginner friendly, both matte and shimmer shades blend and layer very easily. This palette can also take you from day to night, simple looks to smoky looks can be achieved which makes it the best all rounder palette in my opinion. Their Naked palettes have kind of bored me, never interested me enough to pick up but this got my attention right away. Has not disappointed me yet, love!

Purchased at Mecca.

Eyeliner

Also had to break this into two sub categories, as there were two standouts last year.

Clio Waterproof Pen Liner Kill Black

After using a couple of tubes of the Macqueen liquid liner (reviewed here), I thought it was time to branch out. The Clio Pen liner is so popular among the masses so I had to try it. I got it in Kill Black and it’s pretty darn good. It’s definitely waterproof, smudge proof and the pen applicator is brush-like and easy to use and control. I hate the stiff actual pen applicators since they catch on my lids and wreak havoc. It’s very similar to my beloved Macqueen liner but I feel like the product keeps longer, as in doesn’t dry out as quickly.

Purchased from yesstyle.com*

Shu Uemura Lasting Soft Gel Pencil Eyeliner

It’s been a hard task, trying to find a pencil eyeliner that doesn’t smudge on my hooded eyes. I have oily eyelids so I need something to stay put and not give me panda eyes by midday. Have tried many korean and western eye pencils and none have really passed this test. I bought this Shu Uemura eye pencil on a whim (#Dark brown) and it’s been a reliable friend ever since. It has a very precise tip and while it isn’t overly creamy, it’s creamy enough to glide over the lid without catching on anything. I don’t tightline (it’s very uncomfortable) and don’t apply it to my waterline either so I can’t speak for when it is applied in those areas but I can say that when I apply it over my lid, it never smudges. I don’t use it to create a wing or anything, I use it when I need a little definition, usually when I wear eyeshadow. Otherwise eyeliner is a step I’m happy to skip if I’m going to work or am in a massive rush.

If you have any recommendations for a reliable smudge proof eye pencil, please let me know because I’m always on the lookout for more affordable options.

Purchased from yesstyle.com*

Lipstick

I only have one pair of lips but I have accumulated so many this year. I have my favourite lipsticks in different formulas, mainly from NARS and MAC but the one I have chosen is the most versatile and no brainer option.

Dior Backstage: Dior Addict Lip Glow

This hybrid formula which Dior describes as a cross between makeup and skincare blew my mind. I thought it was just another overpriced, overhyped product but boy was I mistaken. There are three formulas, matte, original glow and holographic glow and I can only speak for the original formula.

Dior Addict Lip Glow – LTR- Coral, Berry, Pink

It contains mango butter so it’s quite hydrating and moisturising, best of all this feeling lasts, even through a meal. It gives a nice hint of color, contributed by a reaction to your body’s chemistry, as it uses Color Reviver technology to do this. This means that each colour will look different on everyone, pretty cool aye? It also leaves a sheen, making the lips look healthy, imparting them with a glow (true to its name). I can easily reapply without a mirror during the day which is the main reason I love it. It makes me look more alive without all the fuss of a normal lipstick. I have three shades, #berry, #pink #coral and I love coral the most.

Mascara

There were some great finds for mascara last year, some of them I’ve reviewed here.

Hourglass – Caution Extreme Lash Mascara

I don’t normally repurchase mascara because I enjoy testing out different ones and because of it’s short life span, you can easily do this.

This Caution mascara is definitely one that I will repurchase. It’s absolutely bullet proof thus making it very reliable. I have played basketball with this, have had my face squished in a massage and it’s lasted all day each time. I always curl my lashes beforehand but this gives the most fluttery and lengthening effect. It does give a little volume as well and also does a good job with lifting and separation of the lashes. So it pretty much does it all, without smudging and flaking.

Skincare favourites of 2018 to follow shortly!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 🙂

[Review] Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Intense SPF 50+/PA+++ – Is it worth it?

November 5, 2018November 21, 2018 KimLeave a comment

I’ve tried and reviewed quite a few cushion foundations in the past year or so and always still keen to try more. More lines are releasing more shades, which is really good to see, so they are more accessible for different skin tones.

I really liked Sulwhasoo’s Perfecting Cushion (reviewed here), so when people started talking about the Intense version, I was intrigued. It took me awhile to pick this up since it was very expensive and I was procrastinating for the most part.

I’ve used my first cushion (it comes with a refill) until the point where I’ve had to flip it over (if you’re an avid cushion user, you can relate I’m sure), so if you’re interested in hearing my thoughts on this cushion, please keep on reading 🙂

Claims

Source: https://us.sulwhasoo.com

An anti-aging cushion that helps your skin look firmer and younger with a healthy glow.

The precious Red Pine extract in Sulwhasoo’s Timetreasure line delivers powerful anti-aging benefits for firmer-looking skin.

This cushion features anti-oxidizing properties of plum blossom extract and help your skin look healthy and youthful.

Created with Sulwhasoo’s unique technology, Radiance Pearl Powder Complex helps provide your skin a bright and radiant glow.

As I’m in my mid thirties, anything with anti ageing and firming claims would peak my interest. I didn’t know the benefits of red pine at first, there’s a heap of information on their website on how it’s sourced and it’s anti-aging properties.

Red Pine, a symbol of longevity, is known to live a thousand years. Sulwhasoo discovered Red Pine’s anti-aging component De-aging Active (DAA), which is found in a minuscule amount deep inside Red Pine leaves.

I haven’t used any skincare from their Timetreasure line, because it’s crazy expensive, so it’s a great to see that Sulwhasoo have added their premium ingredients into this cushion. It makes buying it a little more justifiable.

Korean cushions are renowned to have a glowy finish and this is no different. It does make my skin look glowy and healthy, true to it’s claims.

Ingredients:

Source: https://us.sulwhasoo.com

WATER , CYCLOPENTASILOXANE , ZINC OXIDE (CI 77947) , TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) , GLYCERIN , PHENYL TRIMETHICONE , ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE , BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE , PEG-10 DIMETHICONE , CYCLOHEXASILOXANE , NIACINAMIDE , TREHALOSE , LAURYL PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE , RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL , BUTYLENE GLYCOL , ACRYLATES/ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE/DIMETHICONE METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER , PROPANEDIOL , GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT , TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE , METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER , ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE , NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT , REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT EXTRACT , PAEONIA ALBIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT , POLYGONATUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME/ROOT EXTRACT , LILIUM CANDIDUM BULB EXTRACT , SODIUM CHLORIDE , STEARIC ACID , TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE , DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE , HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL , POLYSORBATE 80 , HONEY , HYDROGENATED LECITHIN , BEESWAX , ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN , ADENOSINE , METHOXY PEG-114/POLYEPSILON CAPROLACTONE , COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX , PINUS SYLVESTRIS LEAF EXTRACT , PRUNUS MUME FLOWER EXTRACT , MICA (CI 77019) , TIN OXIDE , PHENOXYETHANOL , IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) , IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) , IRON OXIDES (CI 77499) , FRAGRANCE.

There is a slight scent, smells a bit “foundationy”, but it’s not strong and not the least bit offensive. The smell dissipates once it’s applied anyway.

Packaging:

The sponge cushion is housed in a typical cushion case but the packaging is what differentiates, making it pretty special. The gold edging and the shell-like cover with dark brown hues, gives it a premium feel. The base of the case is matte black. It feels sturdy and expensive.

Shade:

#25 Deep Beige (matches me perfectly). This shade leans yellow/warm so perfect for my skin tone.

Color range:

7 colours, up to #33.

Seven shades designed to give you a more natural and healthy-looking skin tone, with both pink undertones for a youthful glow or yellow undertones to help neutralize dullness.

Lasting power:

Around 8hrs with powder. If you have dry skin, you probably won’t need to powder.

Coverage:

Light to medium, buildable. I always use an airpuff for application.

Cost:

$110 AUD (with refill) from yesstyle.com *

Final thoughts:

Rating: 4/5 (really liked it!)

As mentioned, the finish of this cushion is glowy, the coverage is buildable to a solid medium and I really like that it (like most korean cushions) is infused with skincare, specifically in the anti ageing category.

If you have any imperfections that you want to cover, you will need to use concealer and powder over those spots as well, just like with any other medium coverage foundation. Speaking of powdering, with my combo skin, I generally just powder the t-zone. I haven’t worn this in the Aussie summer yet so not sure how well it would last in sweltering temps but it lasted well during autumn and winter for me.

So did this live up to my expectations and should you rush out and buy it? It’s a really good cushion and I really like it for all the reasons I’ve mentioned. Even though it does come with a refill, it is still quite expensive and this is where I don’t know if it’s really worth it. I already have a comprehensive skin care routine so having skin care in makeup is a nice plus but it isn’t a must for me. This would be very comparable to the YSL Fusion Ink Cushion Foundation (reviewed here) in terms of finish, price and wear time. But the YSL cushion is even more expensive because you don’t even get a refill. I would buy this again over the YSL.

I would say, that if you are a fan of cushion foundations, and you want to try a Sulwhasoo cushion and you like a glowy finish to your base, I would say that you wouldn’t be disappointed with this one. The Perfecting cushion has more of a satin finish and has slightly better coverage and is a bit cheaper so it’s just a matter of preference.

Have you tried this cushion yet? Let me know if you have any questions, more than happy to help 🙂

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 🙂

[Review] COSRX – Clear Fit Blemish Cushion and Clear Fit Spot Concealer

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 Kim3 Comments

It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed a cushion foundation. I use them interchangeably between my liquid foundations and bb creams, just depends on what I feel like using on the day. Cushions are really convenient but they aren’t always the best value quantity wise.

COSRX released their Clear Fit range last year and since I really like their skincare, I have been keen to try some of their makeup. Like their skincare, their makeup is also affordable. So when they recently released a darker shade in their cushion, I was extra motivated to get it. I purchased the Blemish Cushion in #27 and the Spot Concealer in #23. I know that this isn’t the first makeup products that they have released but I was most interested in these products for reasons which I will get into later. The aesthetics and packaging is also appealing, modern, sleek and practical. The cushion has a black matte soft touch plastic cover and the concealer is housed in a plastic squeezy tube.

If you’re interested in these products and my opinion on them, please keep on reading.

COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion – SPF47 PA++

Claims: Source: yesstyle.com

Using proven blemish-fighting ingredients like tea tree oil and Centella asiatica, the COSRX Blemish Cover Cushion helps treat acne-prone skin while providing buildable light to medium coverage to help even complexion and hide spots.

Ingredients: Source: yesstyle.com

Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Leaf Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Yellow Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Black Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Adenosine, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Leaf Extract, Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside

Centella Asiatica the second ingredient which is great to see and tea tree oil is towards the bottom of the list.

Shade: #27 Deep Beige (matches me well, I’m an NC30-35. It is just a hair too dark for me in winter but should be perfect in summer).
Color range: #21, #23 and #27
Lasting power: 9-10hrs
My thoughts: I like using cushion foundations because they are usually infused with great skin care ingredients. I still use skincare beforehand but I feel like having additional good for you ingredients is a nice bonus. This cushion has soothing ingredients like centella asiatica, tea tree oil, adenosine and madecassoside so it didn’t feel like I was making any breakouts worst by applying this on top.

My favourite thing about this cushion is the coverage. I wasn’t expecting much because cushions usually offer light to medium coverage at the most but this one blew my mind. I would actually describe this as being medium to high and I only use on layer to achieve good coverage. I feel like I don’t even need concealer for my acne scars when I use this if I add another light layer on troubled areas. The application is also easy. The mochi like cushion distributes the right amount easily onto the puff. The puff that it comes with is also above average, it’s a bit thicker and softer and feels bouncier when applying. I’ve also used other air puffs with this cushion and it works just fine. This foundation is comfortable on the skin and lasts from morning until night for me. The finish is satin matte and I don’t personally feel like I get oilier than usual when I wear it even though there aren’t any claims on it being sebum controlling. All in all, it’s so good, I love it!

Cost: $35 AUD from eBay. Doesn’t include a refill.

COSRX Clear Fit Spot Concealer SPF30 PA++

Claims: Source: yesstyle.com

This concealer provides medium coverage to camouflage blemishes, spots and uneven skin tone while also providing relief to troubled skin via its Centella asiatica, niacinamide, adenosine and tea tree oil ingredients. Creamy yet buildable texture lasts for hours without caking while SPF 30 provides ample sun protection.

Ingredients: Source: ohlolly.com

Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Titanium Dioxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Mica, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Methicone, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Adenosine, Squalane, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside

This concealer contains the same soothing ingredients as the cushion, Centella Asiatica, Tea tree oil, Adenosine and Madecassoside.

Shade: #23 Natural Beige
Color range: #21 and #23
Lasting power: Around 3 hours
My thoughts: I tried this concealer a few times and each time I didn’t like it. Maybe it was because it was too light for me that it didn’t conceal properly. It really did not cover much but it’s described as offering medium coverage. Tried using it under my eyes to hide some darkness and it made me look like an old lady, which is something nobody wants! It made my undereyes and eyelids (tried to use it as an eye primer too) and it made them look crusty and wrinkly, and I can assure you that this isn’t normal for me. Each time I did this (because I couldn’t give up on it), I had to save my makeup by frantically pressing it in with a damp beauty sponge. Maybe this would work better for lighter skin tones, who actually use #23 as their cushion shade but it really did not work for me. It’s a shame because having those lovely soothing ingredients in a concealer was what drew my attention in the first place. It also didn’t last long, I felt like it slid away from the blemish or scar pretty quickly. Will not be repurchasing this.

Cost: $8.20 USD from ibuybeauti.com.

Swatches

Concealer is swatched (a bit too heavily) on the left. Cushion foundation is on the right. You can see that there is a fair colour difference between the two.

Final thoughts

If you have been curious to try any of these products, I would highly recommend the cushion over the concealer. I hope they expand their shade range because it’s soo good!

Have you tried any makeup from COSRX? Let me know your recommendations 🙂

[Review] Heimish Artless Glow Base SPF50/PA+++

September 9, 2018September 9, 2018 KimLeave a comment

It was only until a year or so ago that I started to wear sunscreen on my face daily. That was also exactly the same time that I discovered k-beauty. Sunscreen is the number one anti ageing secret for Koreans so they use it religiously, as do I (now).

I’ve learnt that a lot of Korean sunscreens have chemical filters, also known as organic sunscreens. This works by absorbing uv rays before they can penetrate the skin and cause damage. PA means Protection Grade of UVA rays, so the more “+” the better.

I was first introduced to the brand when I bought the (now famous) All Clean Balm. It was my first (first) cleanser so I remember it well. Because it was such an awesome product, I wanted to try more from Heimish. I couldn’t find too much (only a short blurb below) about the company itself but judging from the aesthetics, they feel to be more a modern and polished brand. You can tell this from their packaging alone. Their use of pastel pink, white and rose gold accents is very well done. They have a range (not massive) of skincare and cosmetics.

I’ve been using this for awhile and since it’s almost out, I thought I’d share my thoughts on it. Please keep on reading if you’re interested in my thoughts on this sunscreen.

About Heimish

from stylekorean.com

Heimish expresses a modern and chic style. with common and natural makeup to realize “No More Normal”. It is a common makeup that anyone can use. It effortlessly draws attention and can win one’s heart even if applied lightly. It should not be “your makeup”, but “you, wearing the makeup” that grabs attention. include dailism, all clean balm to help you achieve this season’s hottest looks.

Product claims

from stylekorean.com

A tone up base that brightens your complexion

Highly moisturising sun care

Herb extracts to protect your skin

I would definitely agree with the first two points. It does bring life back into my face, even after a sleepless night. It also is very moisturising, so for oilier skin types, you probably won’t need a moisturiser beforehand.

Cost

$20 AUD from ebay, roseroseshop. 40ml

Ingredients

from ohlolly.com

Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891(titanium dioxide), CI 77019 (mica), PEG-100 Stearate , Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Adenosine, Disodium Edta, Tin Oxide, Carmine, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Fragrance

This sunscreen also has titanium dioxide which is found in physical sunscreens. Physical filters deflect uv rays, creating a barrier on top of your skin, rather than absorbing like chemical. Plant extracts (help fight free radicals) mentioned in the claims are at the bottom of the list whereas Niacinamide is in the top ten.

Packaging

The sunscreen is housed in a sleek squeezy tube with a twist rose gold cap. As mentioned earlier, the packaging is sleek and modern. For people who like taking “shelfies”, this would be a pretty one to have.

Heimish Artless Glow Base SPF50/PA+++ — Pretty rose gold lid with a sleek tube.

Consistency

It is a little on the thick side but easy to work with once you rub it into the skin. It has a slight pink tinge to it (was hard to capture), for the tone up effect I guess. The texture is emollient, similar to a rich cream moisturiser. It absorbs completely on my skin (NC30), leaving it dewy and glowy, without any sign of a white cast. I did notice however, that if you apply too much you may get a slight white cast, so best to work in sections on the face and keep rubbing until fully absorbed.

Scent

It smells a bit like the sunscreen that we all know (and hate) but it isn’t bad. I think the plant extracts help with making it more pleasant. You can’t smell it once it’s absorbed on the face.

How to use

I’ve been using this for the best part of autumn/winter so I would apply it after moisturiser. I squeeze around a pea sized amount and rub it onto my face, working in sections because it is thicker and needs a bit more attention.

I usually use sunscreen as my primer, a) to save time and b) it usually works well under makeup. This one sits under makeup fine and gives me the look of a glowy primer. This just means that my many primers are sitting idle. Sometimes I would apply a pore filling primer on top (in the t-zone) but not on week days. Typically, you’re supposed to wait a few minutes before applying foundation or whatever your base is, but I don’t have time for that! Works well when I slather everything else on top so that’s all that matters.

Final thoughts

Rating: 5/5 (love it, holy grail status!)

This is a great sunscreen. It delivers on its claims, protects my face from the sun and also works nicely as primer. The “tone up” just describes the glow and brightness it gives you so don’t be deterred by that. Because it can be used in place of a primer (any sunscreen could if it doesn’t pill or make your makeup weird), it doesn’t feel like a chore to apply it.

The added bonus of glow and dew is great too, it gives you a nice radiance, not a disco ball bam like tin man or anything. Would highly recommend this Artless Glow Base.

All of the sunscreens I have used have been chemical as they are known for being easier to apply, without giving you a white cast. This glow base has not broken me out or irritated my skin whatsoever. Sensitive skin types, please do a patch test before slathering it on. Also please take note of the ingredients list before buying any sunscreen because alcohol (the bad ones) are sometimes high up on the list. I tend to avoid those ones.

If I was at the beach however, I would opt for physical with SPF, for all over UVB and UVA protection. I couldn’t care less if I had a white cast on the beach and they’re not so apparent these days anyway. But for daily use on my face, chemical works fine and now I can’t go out without it. I use chemical exfoliants and retinol which all causes skin sensitivity to the sun. So wearing sun protection for me is a no brainer. My only regret is not wearing it sooner!!

Have you tried this glow base? What is your favourite sunscreen?