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!
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?
Glass frosted jar packaging. I prefer my creams in a tube or with a pump but this jar is very sturdy and weighty.
Frosted blue jar packaging
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.
Gel/cream consistency
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
When Laneige released these lip balms (within the last year or so), I was curious to see how they would compare with their cult favourite lip sleeping mask. In my opinion this was the product which got a lot of hype and made Laneige a household name worldwide. Launching their line in Sephora also helped. I really like the sleeping mask, everything about it, except for the pot packaging. So when I saw these balms released in tube form, I hoped that they would be just as good as they are convenient.
I picked up 3 of the 4 shades, #Grapefruit, #Pear and #Peach. I couldn’t get a hold of #Berry at the time.
The perfect daytime partner in crime to the cult-favorite Lip Sleeping Mask, Glowy Lip Balm is pocket sized for easy, on-the-go application. The formula contains murumuru and shea butters that provide powerful hydration and lock in moisture longer.
Without analysing all the ingredients in each one, which I won’t be doing, the hero ingredients do differ between the lip sleeping mask and the glowy lip balms.
From laneige.com:
Lip Glow Balm
Key Ingredient: Murumuru Butter, Shea Butter
Lip Sleeping Mask
Key Ingredient: Berry Mix Complex™
Comparison summary
Packaging
The packaging is a small and slim plastic squeezy tube, pretty common to other lip balms on the market. It’s easy to squeeze out your desired amount and you can use the applicator to also spread the balm on your lips. Hands free lip application is the most sanitary option, especially in these dark times, so I’m all for simple tubes because they do the job efficiently.
Laneige Lip Glowy Balms – Peach
One of my pet peeves for lip products is having to use my fingers for application. I know that Laneige does provide this small spatula thing (which I already lost/threw away on day one) with the lip sleeping mask, but even if I did use that I would still need to keep it sanitised which requires unnecessary effort in my opinion.
Cost
The lip glowy balm only has 10g of product where the lip sleeping mask has 20g. Sephora sells the lip sleeping mask for $28 and the glowy balm for $23. So for an extra $5 you can get double the product of the lip glowy balm with the lip sleeping mask. I’ve used my jar for months (not consistently because of the packaging) and I haven’t made much a dent yet so I can vouch that it’s far better value. It will probably expire before I use it up. The cost of convenience however, is priceless. If I can get the glowy balms on sale (which I did), the difference isn’t that bad.
This is all in AUD by the way and cost varies depending on where you shop. This is more common for k-beauty since it’s sold through many different retailers. I would definitely recommend the Let’s face it online store (I’m not affiliated) if you are in Australia, their prices are competitive and shipping was super quick.
Performance
True to its claims, it does provide a lot of hydration and moisture to my lips, which are pretty dry but not cracked or anything. It makes my lips look very juicy with high shine, which I don’t mind since I’ve only been wearing it at home. It gives the same effect of the lip sleeping mask, glossy, non sticky lips.
In terms of its lasting power, I would say that it’s just as effective as the lip sleeping mask. You will need to reapply it after eating (depending on how heavy your meal was) but it does last if you’re just drinking and going about your day. I have applied it before bed as well and my lips have felt soft in the morning. The same result as using the lip sleeping mask. It’s marketed as use for daytime, but it also kept my lips moisturised throughout the night too. Either might not be enough if you have extremely dry or cracked lips, you might need to re apply during the night.
Shades
The tint is barely noticeable too so the difference colour wise across the different flavours is very minimal especially once on the lips. I would say they are pretty much transparent. Each flavour has its own scent of course, which is most detectable when freshly applied and isn’t offensive whatsoever. It doesn’t smell artificial which I appreciate. I’ve only used the Berry flavour of the lip sleeping mask so I don’t know if the other flavours have a stronger scent but the Berry one has a subtle yummy scent, as do these glowy balms. My favourite of the bunch being Peach. Grapefruit is a tad bitter which I don’t like as much but it’s also pretty subtle.
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm – Swatched from top to bottom: Pear, Peach and Grapefruit
Final thoughts
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)
I really like these Lip Glowy Balms from Laneige. I enjoy its fuss free packaging and don’t mind paying a bit extra for this convenience. I would actually get use out of them for this reason which is worth it. I would say it’s incredibly similar to the lip sleeping mask in terms of how it feels and performs on my lips. Would definitely prefer these over the cult classic lip sleeping mask. If you don’t mind using a spatula or fingers, the latter is better value.
Have you tried these out yet? If you already own the lip sleeping mask, how do you think it compares? Would love to hear your thoughts.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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
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.
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
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
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.
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)
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 🙂
When you buy a product you always hope that it works for you and your skin. So when it doesn’t, it is a little sad but at least you tried it out and gave it a good go. Some of these products were pretty hyped up so just like anything, I needed to try them out for myself.
If you enjoy any of the products that I’ll be talking about, that is truly awesome but unfortunately these did not work for me for reasons I will get into.
Blithe – Pressed Serum Tundra Chaga
This serum/moisturiser hybrid is full of tundra chaga mushroom extract which is known for hydration and providing nourishment. I’ve never tried skincare with any type of mushroom before so this intrigued me. It has a pudding texture and is brown in colour so it’s not the most pleasant texture to look at but I gave it a go anyway.
I thought this could be a 2 in one product to use in the morning since I’m always in a mad rush so anything to expedite getting ready is a god send. I used about half of this jar for a few months in fact and I just felt like it didn’t do much to my skin. I have combo skin so this didn’t work well enough as a moisturiser and I felt like it just acted like a heavier weight serum. My biggest gripe however is probably the thing that makes it unique. It’s texture is pudding like and you need a spatula to use the product and to effectively get a decent amount. It ended up being not worth the effort for such little reward.
I like the texture of this moisturiser, it’s nice and light. It also has a pretty peach colour to it. It is easily absorbed into the skin and it gives it a dewy effect which I tend to go for in winter.
What I didn’t like about it was the fragrance. It was just way too perfumy for my liking. I don’t mind scents too much especially in makeup but in a moisturiser, something that is really close to my skin, nope no way. I know that fragrance is right down the bottom but it’s so strong that it could’ve been right up the top of the list. The scent is the fresh kind of perfume but not pleasant to me nonetheless. I’d also hate to think about the effects its having on my skin. I gave it to my husband to use and he actually broke out from it.
Price
$41 AUD from lilacandberries.com (don’t think their store exists anymore)
When everyone was gushing about this moisturiser, about how wonderful it was, I knew I had to try this cutely named product. Whipped cream? You would imagine that to be light and airy and fluffy.
But no, it’s texture isn’t that creamy, a little bit stiffer that the average cream moisturiser in fact. Gothamista was the only one who didn’t much care for it, said that the cream felt matte and drying and I would agree with her 100%. I bought this in a mini set, it came with something else at the time. My skin did not feel moisturised after application, which defeats the purpose of using it. I preferred to use my Marula oil from the brand for moisturisation (would highly recommend it!). There is also a slight scent which reminds me of dusty rooms which I don’t favour as well. Dry skinned influencers swore by this, opinions by which I’m now very skeptical about.
Price
This is a mini and came in a set with something else, it was from Mecca. Can’t remember the price.
This was probably the most hyped up skincare at the time when my interest in k-beauty started. It sounded like a miracle product, a morning mask, makeup primer, full of anti ageing antioxidants.
I was always confused as to what order I would apply this. Before or after sunscreen? If it’s a mask then surely it would be before but if its a primer then it would be after then? The ladies at Glow recipe confirmed that it should be applied before sunscreen. I’ve tried it both ways and I dislike both ways.
The application method is seemingly difficult too. You rub it into your face and then tap/pat to absorb. J.One has a video on how she applies it. I mean it doesn’t sound that hard but it takes a bit longer than your usual primer. The finish is incredibly tacky which would grip makeup very well but if your next layer is sunscreen, well, yeah I don’t know. Also if you try it the other way, with sunscreen first, I feel like its just a bit much and sometimes it makes my foundation pill. I don’t agree with it’s hydrating claims either, I feel like it makes my skin feel tight.
Rice bran is well known for brightening as well as licorice root. I’m a sucker for anything containing licorice which was why this appealed to me. It is light in texture, has good packaging but the fragrance was strong and the finish was too dewy for my liking. I felt like it made my t-zone extra oily which is the last thing I needed. Probably a better one for dry skin peeps who aren’t sensitive to fragrance.
Price
$21 AUD from stylestory.com
The Ordinary – Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%
Ingredients
from theordinary.com
Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin
I haven’t had much luck with vitamin C, in particular Ascorbic acid, it just doesn’t tend to agree with my skin. Since I have some pigmentation which I’m always looking to fade, when I saw that this also had Alpha Arbutin, which is naturally derived from hydroquinone, I was interested.
I used this all over as well as targeted spots but it was a bit too oily and I felt like it made my skin uncomfortable. After continued use, I felt like it was causing small bumps to form on my skin. This may be considered purging but whatever is was, I couldn’t stand it.
I found the texture of this to be too matte. It made my foundation or primer pill at times or made my skin look super dry and crusty. My chin is the biggest test (its bipolar oily and dry but mostly dry) and it looked horrid whenever I wore this sunscreen. Granted I didn’t pay for it since I received it as a deluxe sample. I had high hopes for this because Mecca is really accessible for me but instead of being elegant in texture like some of my favourite korean sunscreens, it was a flop.
Price
Received in a mecca beauty loop box but retails between $18 and $40 at Mecca Cosmetica
shu uemura – POREraser CC UV under base mousse
I bought this when I was still very new to beauty. The mousse spray can packaging is gimmicky and the product actually sucks. It’s supposed to fill in pores and be a flawless base for foundation. I thought it would be cool since it seemed to be a primer and sunscreen in one. I bought the beige one, it’s supposed to be good for discolouration and redness. The texture of this is fluffy being a mousse when you first dispense it, but on the skin, it’s hard to spread around. You have to use a fair bit to cover the face and it feels drying to me, as if all aspects of hydration has been sucked up. It does not fill in pores at all, it actually does nothing particularly good for my skin or makeup application.
Price
I think it was around $50 AUD from the shu uemura store.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for hanging in there and I hope you enjoyed my rants! In all seriousness, skincare is all about trial and error, it can’t all work out and finding out is part of the fun.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products, always happy to answer any questions you may have too.
I would consider myself a blush fanatic. Ok a blush and foundation fanatic. These are the two constants in my makeup routine and definite must haves for me. Since I’m currently riding the cream blush train and had been curious about Glossier’s Cloud Paints, I picked this blusher up from eBay. It is sold in 5 colours and I picked it up in shade #04 Dried Rose.
Cream blush gives cheeks a vivid dash of color while hydrating skin Lightly adheres to skin for vivid and rosy cheeks with a non-sticky satin finish User-friendly brush applicator allows for foolproof and precise application
The packaging looks like a paint tube. I like its aesthetics and it reminds me of the packaging of the Glossier Cloud Paints. The colour on the outside represents the shade and the combination of coral and white feels similar to the cloud paint in Dusk.
The brush tip, although it can get unruly after squeezing the product out, makes applying easy. You’ll still need to use fingers or a brush to blend it into the skin.
Innisfree – Smart Drawing Blusher – #04 Dried Rose – Brush tip can get a bit messy
Performance
This product once squeezed and applied to the cheeks, is easy to blend with a brush or fingers. It’s consistency is thick enough so it stays put after it is painted on. The issue I have with it is that it tends to blend away so I need a couple of layers for it to show up on my skin tone (NC30). Because it’s so subtle on me, it’s hard to judge it’s longevity because it doesn’t look like much in the first place.
Innisfree – Smart Drawing Blusher – #04 Dried Rose Freshly swatched photo. Vibrancy fades once blended and has dried down.
The good news is, that even with the amount that I have to use, the finish isn’t sticky or tacky. I would agree with the claims of it drying down to a satin finish. This product also has an SPF 26 PA ++ which is quite rare for a blush. Since Koreans are generally very serious about sun protection (and we all should be), I’m not too surprised by this.
Final thoughts
I haven’t tried any of the Cloud Paints because we can’t get Glossier here in Australia but judging from reviews, they are quite pigmented and a little goes a long way. This Smart Drawing Blusher is the opposite, subtle and I need a lot for it to even show up.
This blusher does have the potential to be a nice product. I do like its formula and brush tip, but I think I’m too dark to be able to reap its benefits. When I wear blush, I actually want some colour to show, so this disappointed on that front.
If you have a fair to light skin tone, this might work for you. But if you’re any darker than that, I would give this a miss. There’s a red shade in #05 Shy Camellia Flower that could be more vibrant but I won’t be getting it.
Still lusting over the Cloud Paints so if you know of any dupes, please 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 🙂
There were plenty of great skincare finds in 2018 making it hard to be selective. I don’t use all of these products everyday but they were (and still are) my absolute go-to products in the last year.
Cleanser – Muji Oil Cleanser
Muji Oil Cleanser
I’ve only tried two products from their skin care line and would definitely want to try more. I love the simple aesthetics and the effectiveness of their products. One stand out was their Oil Cleanser. There are two types, sensitive and normal. I have the normal one. It’s texture isn’t too runny and because I keep buying the travel size, it comes in a flip cap bottle and is relatively mess free to use. It is rich but emollient enough to easily rub on my face and rinses off completely clean. It even removes mascara and eyeliner really well. I always follow with a second cleanse anyway. It’s pretty affordable and the full size comes in a pump so will definitely buy that when I’ve run out.
Exfoliant – Neogen Dermalogy Bio Peel Gauze Peeling
Neogen Dermalogy Bio Peel Gauze Peeling – Green Tea
I’m currently on my second jar as I can’t get enough of it. I have the green tea version and have also tried the lemon which is a better option for brightening. I like both but prefer the lemon because of it’s fresh scent.
This is a great option for a lazy person like me. Each gauze pad is already soaked in a cocktail of ingredients such as green tea, glycerin, glycolic and lactic acid. It’s a chemical and physical exfoliant in the one little pad. All you need to do to use it is, rub the more textured side all over the face and then repeat with the smoother quilted side to fully sloth of all remnants of dead skin. Then you rinse it all off with warm water and you’re left with smooth, clear skin. Each pad is single use only so remember to toss it out after each use.
Toner – Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Skin Essence
Hanskin – Real Complexion Hyaluron Skin Essence
This toner is filled with sodium hyaluronate and is hydrating without leaving any residue. The absorption rate is phenomenal which is great for a person like me who doesn’t like to wait between layers.
The texture is viscose without being too thick. It’s a good one for layering because it has a little body to it. After cleansing I pour a few drops into my palm and press it onto my skin. I have dehydrated skin so it’s like I’m giving my skin a big drink of water each time. It is marketed as an essence but you can use it in whatever step feels right for you. I rarely use essence every morning so if it’s a two in one, then it’s a nice bonus 🙂
This was the first product I tried from the brand, based on recommendations from Renee (Gothamista) on Youtube. Being a total novice, I wanted to start slow and this turned out to be perfect. I apply it in the evening after toner or essence. It has a milky viscosity and I only use 3-4 drops each time. It absorbs really quickly and best of all, it never irritated my skin. I don’t have obvious signs of ageing so I can’t tell you if it helped with wrinkles. It did, however, smooth out my skin’s texture and helped normalize my cheek area because I tend to get unevenness there. It’s also supposed to help with acne and pigmentation but I didn’t really see much of a difference in the 6 months I used it for.
It’s now been re-labelled as Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion with the same ingredients. I haven’t tried this yet but hopefully it is exactly the same because I will be definitely buying this again. I’m using their Retinol 0.2% in Squalene at the moment and I find that it’s too oily in texture so not enjoying it.
Face oil – Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate and Glow Oil
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate and Glow Oil
I’ve used up a travel size of this oil, bought it from eBay before my local Sephora ended up stocking it (finally!). It feels lightweight, has a nice subtle scent and hydrates the skin with just enough dew. It’s moisturising too so most days during the warmer months, I will skip moisturiser. It doesn’t leave an oily residue which I love and sits well under makeup. Gives the skin a nice subtle hydrated glow. It has surpassed my love for Drunk Elephant’s Marula Oil (reviewed here), something I thought couldn’t possibly happen.
Purchased travel size from eBay * and full size from Sephora.
Eye cream – Belif Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream
Belif Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream
This eye cream has the characteristics of being perfection. It is easily absorbable, rich yet lightweight, doesn’t leave a residue and doesn’t give me milia. I don’t have obvious lines around my eyes but the skin in that area definitely isn’t as taut as they used to be. This cream hydrated and moisturises without causing any sensitivity to my eyes. The small jar is only 25ml but has lasted me a year and still going strong.
I didn’t know what Peat was and I’m always skeptical when “miracle” is used in a product’s name. It’s a big reason why I don’t try La Mer because their “miracle broth” sounds like a load of crock. Peat is basically dead, decomposed plant residue (sounds gross) but because it originates from moors, bogs and old glaciers, it is rich in minerals and antioxidants, hence it is considered a powerhouse ingredient for anti ageing. Whatever it is, it’s effective and I like it.
This sunscreen is fairly new to me but I have used it long enough to fall deeply in love with it. It’s a chemical sunscreen loaded with hydrating, moisturising and brightening ingredients such as Niacinamide, Adenosine, Panthenol , Beta-Glucan and Sea Buckthorn Oil.
It has zero white cast and has the texture of a light moisturiser, hence it’s name “soft and airy”. I have combo skin so I substitute my morning moisturiser with this and it is enough for my skin. It sits well under makeup too which is a plus.
This super popular product needs no introduction. I wrote a full review here. They are hydrocolloid patches and when applied to active breakouts, either dramatically flatten the pimple or bring it to a head so it can heal quicker. I used so many of these little bad boys last year especially during the bout of acne I suddenly got around my jawline. The worst thing to do is touch active pimples so with these patches on them, it prevented me from contaminating them with my fingers. I think they make a huge difference so will probably keep buying them for as long as I keep getting acne.
Well that’s it! You may have noticed that I didn’t include a moisturiser, essence or masks in my favourites. I’ve used some decent products but nothing that has really stood out.
What skincare product(s) could you not live without in 2018? Do let me know as I’m always looking for 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 🙂
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 🙂
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.
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.
#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.
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Intense – Shade #25 Deep Beige
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.
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 🙂
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++
COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion – SPF47 PA++ Sleek matte soft touch black packaging
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.
Centella Asiatica the second ingredient which is great to see and tea tree oil is towards the bottom of the list.
COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion – SPF47 PA++, Mochi like cushion.
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.
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.
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 🙂
me and my mirror 