[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?

[Review] The Saem – Cover Perfection Tip Concealer SPF28 PA++

August 19, 2018August 19, 2018 Kim2 Comments

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect concealer for a long time. I’ve tried so many different types, from different finishes, different colours and tones to different coverages. I use concealer for two purposes, to cover under eye darkness and to conceal blemishes, especially PIH (Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation) left behind by acne, as well as sun spots.

I’m happy to use two different types to maximum effectiveness for each purpose. I fell hard for Bare Minerals Serum Concealer early on, for under eye brightening, would highly recommend. I also really needed a high coverage concealer to cover my dark acne scars. Many concealers have failed this requirement for me. Till now.

The Saem’s cover perfection tip concealer has over 1500 positive reviews on yesstyle.com and is generally always on sale. It is available in 5 shades, which is pretty good, especially for a Korean brand. It also has SPF28 PA++ which is also rare to see in concealers.

If you haven’t already guessed, I really like this concealer! Please keep on reading if you would like to know exactly what makes it the ONE for me 🙂

Product claims

from yesstyle.com

Cover spots and blemishes on skin with this Cover Perfection Tip Concealer. The lightweight formula adheres lightly but perfectly for a flawless look. Infused with oxygen complex and glacier water to keep skin moisturized, and reflective powder to give skin that natural, healthy glow. SPF 28 PA++ sun protection.

The Saem - Cover Perfection Tip Concealer — The Saem – Cover Perfection Tip Concealer

Cost

$6 for 6.5g (usually on sale so you can get it for less) from yesstyle.com *.

Ingredients

from yesstyle.com

Water, Titanium Dioxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PVP, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Black Oxide of Iron, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Red Oxide of Iron, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Glycogen, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Mannitol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Yeast Extract, Fragrance, Aloe Vera Barbadensis Extract, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Methylparaben, Hydrated Ferric Oxide, Citric Acid, Yellow Oxide of Iron, Ethanol, Glycerol, Sodium Benzoate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Butylparaben, Yellow Iron oxide, Ferric Oxide, Butyl Paraben, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ultramarines, Faex, Ectoin

This list of ingredients represents all options or variants of this product. Actual ingredients in a given product option may vary from this list. Ingredients subject to change at manufacturer’s discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, please refer to product packaging.

Packaging

The concealer has a doe foot applicator which common with many liquid concealers in a tube. The doe foot makes it easy to apply but the wand gets messy very quickly. A lot of product comes out which oozes out after you close the cap so I need to wipe around it each time. I keep my concealers in a tray and it seems like a lot of the ones with this type of packaging has this leakage problem.

The Saem - Cover Perfection Tip Concealer - Doe foot applicator, you can see the wand gets a bit messy. — Doe foot applicator, you can see that the wand gets pretty messy.

Consistency

It isn’t runny and it isn’t thick, I would best describe it as creamy. Whether you apply it directly onto your face or on your hand, you won’t need to worry about making a mess.

The Saem - Cover Perfection Tip Concealer - I have two shades. Left is the Contour shade (matches my complexion) and on the right is #02 Rich Beige. — I have two shades. Left is the Contour shade (matches my complexion) and on the right is #02 Rich Beige.

Scent

It smells a bit florally if you really sniff it but it’s not strong or bad at all.

How to use

I use the shade named #Contour Beige for spot concealment and #02 Rich Beige for brightening my under eyes. #Contour Beige, when blended in, matches my skintone (NC30-NC35) very well.

I used to dot the tip directly onto my blemishes. Then I either used my fingertip or a small flat brush to blend it in. I found this technique to look too heavy because I’ll end up using more product than I needed. So I kind of put this concealer aside and forgot about it.

Now, I have a technique which works way better. I apply a small amount onto to the back of my hand. Then using a small flat concealer brush, I take a bit of the concealer the tip of the brush and pat it onto the spot I need concealing. I gradually do this until I am satisfied with the coverage, then, still using the tip of the brush, I soften the edges around the blemish so it looks seamless.

This is the flat concealer brush that I use to spot conceal. Don’t know what brand it is but there’s a tonne of brushes which look like this out there.

For highlighting, I use #02 Rich Beige. I dot it using the wand underneath my eyes, a dot in the centre of my forehead just above my brows and on my cupids bow. I then use a damp blender sponge, I use the small ones from Real Techniques, and gently pat it in.

To ensure maximum wear I always set both methods with powder.

Coverage

I would classify this as a full coverage concealer. This concealer can be used with a light hand to highlight or a heavier hand to conceal. I have tried western brand concealers which claim to be full coverage and they barely cover any of my dark scars. I’ve even attempted colour correct then concealing with these and they all fell short. This, however, is hydrating and provides excellent coverage without any cakiness. This concealer is also long wearing and doesn’t seperate on the skin.

Final thoughts

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

There are so many pros to this concealer. It’s affordable, has SPF, hydrating, light, long wearing and best of all, it conceals extremely well. The only cons are how messy it gets with the wands and the fact that they need to have more shades so everyone can enjoy this incredible product!

Since this concealer serves both of my requirements very well, I won’t be repurchasing the Bare Minerals Serum Concealer. It costs $30AUD and while I like it, this Saem concealer can do the same job at a fraction of the cost. A little bit goes a long way so even though it may seem like you don’t get much, it does last if you use it sparingly (which is the most effective method for me anyway).

I can’t recommend this concealer enough. I can definitely see why this is such a popular product and would highly, highly recommend it!

Keen to try more products from this popular Korean brand. They source their natural ingredients from around the world. They have a tonne of makeup and skincare in their lines. If you have any recommendations, 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 🙂

[Review] Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil

August 11, 2018August 11, 2018 KimLeave a comment

Nature Republic is a k-beauty brand and they describe themselves as being a natural brand. This is evident in their line because they use a lot of natural ingredients in their products. I’ve tried a few skincare products from their Aloe Vera line and haven’t yet been disappointed.

I generally like to try a variety of products from a brand, especially if I have had good experiences with past products, so when I found this chamomile cleansing oil in it’s pretty yellow packaging, I picked it up right away.

Cost

$17 AUD for 200ml, purchased from ebay *

Ingredients

from us.memebox.com

Mineral Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Water, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobius Flower Water, Cicapfnlyl Carbonate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isohexadecane Tocopheryl Acetate, Bht, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum)

Anthemis Nobius Flower Water is Chamomile and is halfway in the list after Safflower seed oil and one of my favourites, Jojoba seed oil, which is packed with antioxidants and vitamins.

Claims

from us.memebox.com

This refreshing cleansing oil gently removes makeup without leaving a sticky residue behind. Natural chamomile water protects sensitive skin from various harmful materials and stress while providing moisture to skin.

Packaging

It’s packaging is what got my attention. Nature republic’s packaging is generally aesthetically pleasing, green is commonly used. This cleanser is housed in a sturdy plastic bottle with a pump. I love how chamomile flowers are printed on the front, giving it a nice cute touch.

I like how it has a pump but I don’t like how it doesn’t perform so well. I feel like I need to use more pumps and elbow grease to dispense the oil, more on that later.

Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil

Consistency

Its consistency is thin and runny. But not too runny that it is impossible to use, you just need to work fast. It is transparent in colour.

Scent

It has a light and natural floral scent, which I don’t mind but it’s definitely there. It doesn’t smell artificial at all and I find it quite soothing. Fragrance is the last ingredient in the list so it’s not too bad.

How to use

I would usually use this at night as my first cleanse to remove my makeup.
If you have used any liquid cleansing oils, the application method is the same.

The instructions on memebox say to dispense 2-3 pumps into dry hands but because the pump doesn’t seem to dispense properly, I end up using 4-5 pumps sometimes. It’s still quite a lot to to use so luckily the bottle is 200ml.

I would then massage it into my face, gently rubbing it in using circular motions as I normally would. Then I would jump into the shower and apply a small amount of water to my hands and continue to massage my face. Adding water emulsifies it and turns it slightly milky but does not foam. I would continue to massage for about 5 more seconds, focussing on the eyes, then I would rinse my whole face in the shower. My skin would feel soft and smooth afterwards, no sticky residue at all.

I always follow with a gel or foam cleanser. I’m using Drunk Elephant’s Beste Jelly Cleanser at the moment which I’m liking but not as much as the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (review here) .

Effectiveness

As a makeup remover and first cleanser, it does a good job. I’ve used other oil cleansers which have been more effective like the Shu uemura Skin Purifier (reviewed) and the Klairs Black Cleansing Oil (reviewed).

I wear Heroine Make mascara and Clio liquid eyeliner (some heavy duty stuff), both which are tough to remove in general. It leaves some residue on my eyes and I generally need to go in with a micellar water and cotton tip to remove the last dregs of it. It removes everything else really well, all the base makeup as well as lipstick, so no complaints there.

Nature Republic - Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner. — Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner.

Nature Republic - Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner, removes most of it. — Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner, removes most of it.

Final thoughts

Rating: 3/5 (liked it, will use it up)

I like this cleanser and I would repurchase if they fixed up their pump system. Not sure if I received a faulty one but it takes a few extra pumps to dispense the product so it seems like you would go through the bottle quicker. Having said that, I’ve been using this for around 2 months and I still have a quarter left, which isn’t bad. It’s also cheaper than other well known oils and balms so that’s also a plus.

Have you used this cleanser before? Do you have any recommendations for me to try out?

[Review] Tony Moly – Cheektone Single Cream Blusher – #Mood Rose & #Pinky Coral

July 2, 2018July 3, 2018 KimLeave a comment

I’ve always had a soft spot for blush. It is the one makeup product (in my opinion) that can turn you from looking half asleep and zombie-like to fresh, healthy and awake. Just a bit of colour on the cheeks can make a world of difference to how you look and feel.

I’ve always used powder blush because it’s quick and I’m lazy. Since watching (way too) many Lisa Eldridge videos I have been recently dabbling in cream and liquid blushes. She’s an MUA, Creative Director of Lancome AND still finds time to posts educational makeup videos on Youtube. She’s all about natural makeup looks and letting natural beauty shine through over caking and masking the face. So she knows her stuff. When she said that cream and liquid blush looks more natural because it looks one with the skin, I knew I needed to grab some! I do have a few from different brands but today I will talking about the Cheektone cream blushes from Tony Moly. I picked up two colours, Pinky Coral and Mood Rose.

If you are interested in knowing more about this product and what I thought of it, please keep on reading 🙂

Cost

$6.60 each, purchased from yesstyle.com*

What is it?

It’s a cream blush which is long lasting and can also be used as cream shadow or lip colour.

Tony Moly - Cheektone Single Blusher — Tony Moly – Cheektone Single Blusher #Pinky Coral

Packaging

Tony Moly are known for their cute packaging. The packaging is what actually caught my eye with this product. It’s actually more modern and clean looking than cute, with its almost Pantone type of vibe. The case is made of plastic.

How to use

I have only used this on my cheeks but it sounds like a multitasker, just like the RMS Lip2Cheek products (reviewed here), where it can also be used on the eyes and lips.

I’ve experimented with a couple of ways to apply this and I’ve found that using a small duo fibre brush is the best way. I dab my brush into the pan a couple of times then I dab it onto my cheeks, just to where I normally apply powder blush. The more you work the product into the skin, the more blended and natural looking it will be. Build up the level of intensity until it is right for you. I’ve found that cream blush takes a bit more time to apply than powder since you can’t just slap it on but it’s worth the effort.

Performance

The product claims to be long lasting and I would agree. I have dry cheeks so I don’t set my cheeks, just spritz it with Fix + usually. This also helps to further melt the blush into my skin so it looks like one. It lasts on my skin for around 8 hours.

Even when I was doing swatches for this post, I found that it was still visible on my wrist after using an oil cleanser. It never stains my cheeks after double cleansing so don’t worry about that! Just keep in mind that it would be more difficult to remove compared to powder blushes.

Consistency

The texture is creamy and emollient. I thought it would be harder because they don’t appear to be shiny like the Lip2Cheek. It’s easy to pick up the blush on a brush or fingers and is easy to spread around to blend onto the face.

Scent

There is a slight scent that smells like makeup. I know it’s a poor description but its not bad or anything, just that there is a scent.

Final thoughts

Rating: 4/5 (really liked it!)

I really like the aesthetics of the packaging and best of all the product itself is great and performs well. I like both colours but if I had to pick, Mood Rose would be my recommendation. Both colours are creamy, easy to apply, doesn’t have an obnoxious smell and gives great payoff. I’ve tried a couple of korean powder blushes and they seemed to lack in the payoff department so I’m pleasantly surprised that these are so pigmented.

They are affordable and comparable to western cream blushes from brands such as Stila and Bobbi Brown. If you’ve been curious about trying cream blushes, I would highly recommend you to give these a go.

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 🙂

What’s that smell?! Skincare and makeup which smell bad (to me)

June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 Kim2 Comments

During my journey of trying new products, I have come to know what I like and what I don’t like in products. One of the things I despise is if a product has an overpowering and unpleasant scent, whether it be by added fragrance or naturally derived. I wouldn’t say that I’m super sensitive to scents but if something smells bad, I’m not going to keep using it, regardless of how effective it is.

The following products I have ceased to use because of this. Just because I don’t like the smell of these things, doesn’t mean that the product is awful. If you like any of the products I am listing, please don’t take it personally as in the end it’s all just skincare and makeup! I also won’t be going into too much detail about the product since I don’t like them. Ok let’s go!

I’m Pro Ampoule Pad – Wish Formula

What is it?

It’s a cotton pad soaked in ampoule containing ascorbic acid as well as other antioxidants which help with brightening. The texture of the pad is supposed to provide a gentle exfoliation as well.

Ingredients – (cosdna analysis)

It smells like…

Soy sauce. I mean I love eating soy sauce but I don’t want it in my pores. I don’t know if I got a bad batch or what. After some quick googling, it looks like some people have experienced a funky smell as well but they haven’t described it to be specifically like soy sauce. I don’t understand the expiry since it’s in Korean and both dates have passed already. If it is indeed expired, I am thoroughly annoyed since this is from an actual k-beauty store. I really didn’t pay any attention to how it performed since I couldn’t get past the smell. My husband has also used it and the smell lingered even after he had applied moisturiser.

Price: $4.90 AUD each from boniik.com

Pop Blush – The Face Shop

What is it?

A powder blush which I bought in the shade Neutral Pop.

It smells like…

Chemicals. Straight up chemicals which doesn’t dissipate after application. It isn’t very pigmented and feels dusty when I apply it to my cheeks. A big dud on performance and smell. Cute packaging though, the flower imprint and packaging is similar to Clinique’s Cheek Pop blushes.

Price: $8.99 AUD from eBay *

Ultra Moisturising Sun Cream – Kicho

What is it?

A chemical and physical sunscreen which contains lots of plant extracts in a moisturising formula.

Ingredients – (cosdna analysis)

It smells like…

Apples and something else in a brand I will be be speaking about next. The scent has been described as “delicate” and “fresh” but I don’t find it to be either. Fragrance is the third last ingredient but it might have been in the top three because I found it to be strong. The sunscreen itself applied nicely. It was moisturising and sunk in quite well. But you could still smell it after application. I also didn’t like this sunscreen because it made my face itch a bit whenever I sweated. It gets pretty humid in Sydney so it’s normal for me to sweat and I didn’t enjoy feeling further discomfort ,and I knew it was from this because I tested it a few times just to be sure.

Price: $42 AUD from lilacandberries.com

Huxley essence and oil trio – Secret of the Sahara Light and More, Essence like oil and Essence grab water

What is it?

Serums, each with their own characteristics. The Light and More is an oil, Essence like oil is a thick essence and the Essence Grab water is a hydrating serum.

Ingredients: cosdna analysis below

Light and More
Essence like oil
Essence Grab Water

It smells like…

The scent of Huxley products has been described as a “fresh rose bush” but I have never smelt a rose bush quite like this one. The star ingredient in their products is the prickly pear which is a cactus. I have no idea what this smells like. The scent is very strong and perfumed, gives me a headache. The products I have in the trial sizes were duds in performance. The dropper is useless, doesn’t dispense the serums properly. My skin doesn’t feel any different after application. But my opinion around this is probably masked by the smell. I actually didn’t even bother using the oil. I also just noticed that alcohol is pretty high on the list for all three products. Alcohol in an oil is a bit odd.

Huxley is atheistically pleasing, there is no denying that but that’s where it ends for me. Pretty glad that I bought these mini sizes as a taster, I would’ve been pretty annoyed if I was stuck with a full sized bottle of any of these.

Price: $35 AUD from nudieglow.com (they have updated the pack since with a fourth serum)

Black Soybean Milk Pudding Sleeping Pack – Botanic Farm

What is it?

A sleeping pack which contains fermented black soybeans as well as milk protein and cacao extract. This pack is supposed to help brighten, hydrate and help with signs of ageing.

Ingredients – from sokoglam.com

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrolyzed collagen, Lactobacillus/ soybean Ferment Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Monascus Extract, Milk Protein, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Glycerin, Urea, PEG-240/ HDI Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Aminomethyl propanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, PVM/ma copolymer, Maltodextrin, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol

It smells like…

It has been described as smelling like chocolates, delicious enough to eat…well I beg to differ. It smells like a biscuit or something, but not in a good way. It’s hard to describe it, all I know is that I don’t like it. It’s not as unpleasant as some of the other things I’ve spoken about but still not great. The product itself actually stings my face upon application and makes my face feel like it’s suffocating. The stinging does subside but by this time, I’m already stressed and my face is left smelling like a weird biscuit. Stressing out before bed is not something I enjoy doing. I have used and currently use acids in my routine and none of these have compared to the stinging and distress I experienced with this sleeping pack.

Price: $30 AUD from eBay *

Amazonian butter lipstick – Tarte

What is it?

A hydrating lipstick in a creamy formula. It contains amazonian butters.

It smells like…

Mint. Very minty and I hate minty lip products. It contains heaps of ingredients, one of which is peppermint oil. I bought the shade Park Ave Princess and it’s way too light for my lips. The packaging is pretty and I like the idea of it but the smell is a big no no. I can’t even tell you how it performs since I’ve only tried it twice and have removed it momentarily each time. I’ve tried other lipsticks from Tarte including their Color splash hydrating type and I really love that one!

Price: $24 AUD from tartecosmetics.com

Hi fi shine ultra cushion lipgloss – Urban Decay

What is it?

A comfortable lipgloss which is supposed to plump and hydrate the lips.

It smells like…

Mint. Here we go again. Peppermint oil strikes again. I received this mini size in a Mecca Beauty Loop box and while I like the colour, I hate the smell. It makes my lips tingle, I guess that’s when the plumping effect is happening. But I can’t stand the minty smell. Can’t get past it and don’t particularly want bigger lips anyway. I’m all about comfort and this does not feel comfortable at all. It’s probably a big reason why I haven’t found a favourite lip gloss yet.

Price: Free – Part of beauty box (Mecca member benefits)

Final thoughts

As mentioned at the start, if you enjoy any of these products and don’t mind their scents, then that’s awesome. I enjoy other stuff from the brands I mentioned (except for the Face Shop and Botanic Farm since it’s the first product I’ve tried from the brand), so I’m not dismissing the brand at all, just these particular products 😦 They didn’t work for me and I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone.

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] Wishtrend – Pure Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum

May 14, 2018June 30, 2018 Kim1 Comment

I use Vitamin C for two main purposes, to lighten post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (PIH) and Post Inflammatory Erythema (PIE), in layman’s terms are sunspots/freckles and dark acne scarring. Ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid, in its pure form is generally a great antioxidant for this purpose since its a major skin brightener.

I used Wishtrend’s Pure Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum for about 4 months and I’m ready to share my thoughts on it.

About Wishtrend

Wishtrend is a online k-beauty store who are under the same Wish Company umbrella as Klairs. They sell products under their own brand as well as curate other well known k-beauty brands such as Mizon, Skinmiso and more.

Cost

$26.35 AUD, purchased from Wishtrend’s eBay Store *

Ingredients (from wishtrend.com)

Hippophae Rhamnoides Water (70%), Ascorbic Acid (21.5%), Sodium Lactate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol

Pure Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum – ingredients list and instructions

The short ingredient list was appealing and is what captured my attention. A past Vitamin C serum I had used also sold by Wishtrend, the TIAM My Signature C-Source, had a much larger ingredient list which freaked out my skin and gave me cystic acne 😮

Claims

The product seems to have undergone a reformulation though I can’t compare it to the original since I never used it.

With an upgraded formula with more of the effects but less the ingredients,
the Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum has been transformed to have even greater hydration and absorption without the stickiness. It conditions and restores balance to replenish and retain moisture in the skin with the optimal 21.5% of pure vitamin C.

Packaging

The serum is housed in a dark glass bottle with a red label. You get 30 ml of product and a dropper as the applicator. It seems like this type of packaging is common amongst Vitamin C serums. I guess its more cost effective than using (innovative) packaging like Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Day Serum. With this type of packaging, its easy to let air into the product, and since ascorbic acid is naturally unstable and can easily oxidise, you need to make sure you keep this serum in the fridge (instructed on the box) and seal it up as soon as you’re done.

How to use

Since I keep the serum in my fridge I need to remember to walk over there and grab it. This was a pain and something I never got used to doing. I have a full time job and not a lot of time to get ready in the morning (because I prefer to sleep) so having to go grab it was always a nuisance.

There are some in instructions in English on the back on how to use but this is how I use it. After cleansing and drying my face, I would dispense two or three drops into the palm of my hand. I would then frantically close the bottle to prevent air from entering the bottle. Then using my index finger, I would start to spot treat areas where I have pigmentation spots caused either from the sun or acne.

Once I’ve spot treated the affected areas, I would rub my palms together and pat the leftover product onto the rest of my face. This stuff absorbs fast so you need to work quickly. I would then promptly return the serum and its box to the fridge in fear of oxidation. I would then continue with the rest of my routine. There is an area of debate whether niacinamide and vitamin c would lose efficacy if used in the same routine, so I just tend to not use essence (mine contains niacinamide) in the mornings when I’m using vitamin c, just as a precautionary.

~~Something to note which is quite important is that ascorbic acid can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Especially in such a large dose as this one.~~ If you are using this during the day, you HAVE to wear sunscreen. Its a non negotiable. This is also the case when using any type of acid which chemically exfoliates the skin. Update: Acids increases sensitivity because you are basically shedding skin. Vitamin C actually boosts the effectiveness of your sunscreen so it’s still important to wear it.

Consistency

Pure Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum - ingredients list and instructions — Pure Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum – watery consistency

It is runny with no viscosity which I see as good and bad. Good because it’s easily absorbable and bad because it can get tricky with application (the whole trying to screw the cap back with one hand thing). The good outweighs the bad in this case. True to the claims, it does not leave any sticky residue.

In its freshest form and by keeping in the fridge, the colour should remain clear. If this changes to anything else, it means the serum has oxidised and is no longer effective. As mentioned, I had mine for 4 months and it still maintained its translucency.

Scent

Smells very slightly of chemicals which dissipates on contact with the skin.

The TIAM My Signature C-Source, smelt like oranges which I didn’t mind either, the product just didn’t work for me. I’ve also used the Klairs Freshly Juiced, and while the name sounds like something that would smell pleasant, it smelt like iron which was unpleasant. The Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum also smelt like this (why?!).

Final thoughts

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

I was afraid that this serum would break me out like the Tiam one did but luckily it didn’t. It also didn’t cause any irritation.

In terms of effectiveness, I didn’t see any significant changes over the 4 months I used it. I applied it every other morning because it had such a high percentage of ascorbic acid. I liked its elegant consistency because it felt like nothing once applied and also appreciated that it had little to no scent. Perhaps my overall skin did appear brighter but I needed more than that, especially at 21.5%. With humectants such as sodium hyaluronate and panthenol within the ingredients list I would’ve expected to also feel some hydration but I didn’t.

Not seeing any significant lightening of my spots wasn’t the main issue I had with it, and its probably not all this serum’s fault. As I mentioned, using vitamin c during the day can cause sensitivity to the sun. I ALWAYS wear sunscreen but I felt like with such a high dose of ascorbic acid, one application of sunscreen in the morning just wasn’t enough. I work in an office and only pop out a couple of times before the sun goes down. I know these are lame reasons but I just don’t reapply sunscreen. I felt like I was getting more sensitive to the sun (we are closer to the ozone hole here in oz) and I’m pretty certain that this vitamin c serum is what was causing it. I saw a couple more sun spots appear and my PIE and PIH just weren’t getting any lighter even though I adequately slather sunscreen on my face. Don’t get me wrong, when I do get regular sun exposure I do reapply, but on work days when I have a face full of makeup, I just don’t.

I guess I could still use it at night but I already have serums which like to use and have proven to be more effective (for different purposes). I have also read that using vitamin c serums during the day can also have other benefits like helping fight free radicals and protection against environmental pollutants.

I think that this has been my final experiment with vitamin c serums for awhile. The fact that it’s also so (so!) high maintenance deters me from using it. Keeping it in the fridge and limiting its exposure to air is a pain because I’m simply lazy. They usually have a life span of 3 months (less if you don’t refrigerate) anyway so having to repurchase would also get expensive and annoying. Again if I did see results I could possibly continue to overlook the inconveniences and repurchase but the cons really outweighed the pros.

I’m perfectly ok to use skincare where ascorbic acid (or its derivates) isn’t the main ingredient like in moisturisers and serums/ampoules so I’m not dissing it completely. I’ve just concluded that my skin is too sensitive for it when it’s in its purest form which is sad 😦

Have you tried any vitamin c serums and how did they work out for you? Would love to hear about your experiences in the comments 🙂

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] Essence Wonder by Simplistic Skin Care

May 6, 2018May 6, 2018 Kim1 Comment

I have been using this essence for about 6 months now and since I’m fast approaching its end, its probably a good opportunity to share my thoughts on it.

This is the first product I’ve tried from Simplistic Skin Care. I was browsing around lilacandberries.com, a k-beauty online store based in Sydney. I couldn’t find much information about Simplistic but from what I can gather from the website, they are a company which focusses on using natural ingredients (vegan) and without harmful substances in their products. They only make products which they feel can be used in the daily lives of people, so no gimmicky products here.

Please keep on reading if you are interested in hearing more about this essence.

Cost

$49 AUD, purchased from liliacandberries.com

Ingredients (from lilacandberries.com)

Amaranthus Hypochondriacus Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glutathione, Pinus Radiata Bark Extract, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Soy Isoflavones, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA

Claims

This essence claims to:

– speeds up wound healing, soothes and calms skin
– locking in natural moisture and helps repair your moisture barrier\
– helps to moisturize and exfoliate old skin cells by penetrating to the deepest layers of your skin
– maintains your skin’s water balance which makes your skin appear healthy, moist, radiant and supple.
– evens out your skin’s texture
– soothes and anti inflammations
– improves skin’s elasticity
– reduces pigmentation and scars
– promotes collagen for a more radiant and flawless complexion
– soothes and calms your skin’s redness

Packaging

This is what attracted me to the product. The flask like yet medicinal look of it with the wooden cap was unique. Normally essences are commonly housed in cylindrical shaped glass bottles. I thought this would be frosted glass but its actually sturdy plastic. The cap is faux wood and gives it a natural effect. The label is minimal and modern, reflecting what the company stands for. I’m actually glad it’s plastic because it can be knocked about in a suitcase. I took it with me on holidays over Christmas and it was fuss free.

How to use

On the back there are three illustrated steps in korean which I can’t understand. However, the illustrations are pretty self explanatory and if you are an experienced essence user, then it’s the same principles.

I always use it the same way as I would use any essence. I would pour two or three drops into my palm, rub my hands together and gently pat my face for absorption. Sometimes I would follow with another layer but generally it would only be one because I have a few more steps to do in my routine. You could use a cotton pad if you were in a hurry but I wouldn’t recommend it since you waste some of the product.

Consistency

Its consistency is runny. It has an intended amber tinge to it which doesn’t translate once applied. Because it’s so runny I would recommend only using a few drops (2-3) at a time and layering if you want to add more.

Scent

Zero fragrance so great for sensitive skin.

Final thoughts

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

As mentioned at the start of this post, I’m almost at the end of the bottle and I’m not sad about it. Which is a bit of shame since there are some really nice ingredients in this product.

I like the packaging and the fact that it’s fragrance free and didn’t break me out. However I didn’t really see much of an effect on my skin over time. 6 months is fair amount of time to test something too and I did use this twice a day consistently. The claims seem quite extensive which is what sparked my curiosity in the first place. If anything, I did feel that my face felt and looked slightly more hydrated but that’s about it. I didn’t see any real brightening of dark spots or my skin texture being more even etc.

The first essence I used is the cult favourite Missha FTE (intensive moist) and with that one I could see immediate brightening and skin evening results. If I were to choose which one to repurchase, it would be the Missha one. They are also similarly priced and are both 150ml.

Have you tried anything from this line? Let me know what you think 🙂 Also if you have any essence recommendations for me, please let me know in the comments.

Etude House – Disappointing products

April 22, 2018April 22, 2018 KimLeave a comment

Etude House products are generally quite affordable, comparable to drug store prices and the brand is massive in Korea.

I’ve purchased a few of their skincare and makeup products and just like with any beauty line, they haven’t all worked out for me. It’s not all grim as I will be talking about the ones I do enjoy in a later post.

Today I will be talking about three items which just didn’t work out for me personally. If you happen to love any of them, I applaud you because for the life of me, I couldn’t get any of them to work.

Berry Delicious Cream Blusher #OR201

What is it?

From Etude house’s website:
This is a moist strawberry coloured cream blusher that flushes cheeks for a lovely look.

Why it didn’t work out for me:

Its texture isn’t creamy, its almost like a pressed powder. It feels slightly oily and almost velvet when I touch it with my fingers. Kind of hard to explain.

Along with the strange texture there is hardly any pigment to it. I have tried using the air puff (provided) and no matter how much I pat the puff onto the blush cake, the colour just doesn’t show up on my skin tone. I’m a NC30 for reference. Tried to apply it with my fingers and no such luck either. I’m sure that if I took the time to layer 5 layers on, something might show up but who can be bothered doing that?!

Another criticism would be the smell, smells strongly of peaches and chemicals.

Etude House has loads of other blush options to choose from so I would try something else instead. If you are my skin colour or darker, I wouldn’t recommend this product.

Price: $11.50 AUD from jolse.com

Dr Mascara Fixer – Perfect Lash

What is it?

From Etude house’s website:
This transparent fixing gel mascara offers perfect curl / volume / waterproof fix in any environment and climate. Infused with Black Food extracts to condition lashes.

Why it didn’t work out for me:

I bought this when I first got into korean makeup and didn’t know any better. I saw a video where Gothamista used it and it made a substantial difference to the curl on her lashes. I think this fixer comes in two types, I may not have bought the same one as hers.

Anyway I used this fixer before I applied my regular black mascara. My biggest gripe is that it leaves white clumps on my lashes. The white clumps shouldn’t be an issue because I am overlaying another mascara over it. But no, my black mascara isn’t able to fully cover the white bits. On the lashes where it can, it paints over the clumps making it even more clumpy and spidery looking. All of this is minus any volume or curling action on my lashes. I bought this product hoping that it was clear and I could use it without applying mascara. Turns out I can’t use it either way.

I wouldn’t even bother with a lash primer anymore (bit gimmicky), I’ll just use my trusty Shu Uemura eyelash curler as I always have. The mascara which I have been using from Heroine Make is a rockstar on its own, more on that next time!

Price: $7.55 AUD from eBay *

Oh m’eye line eyeliner – Black

What is it?

From Etude house’s website:
This highly pigmented, smudge-proof liquid liner goes on smoothly for precise application and creates strong, beautiful lines that last.

Why it didn’t work out for me:

It’s pigmented, but it’s also very wet. There is too much product on the brush when you extract it from the tube. When I try to draw any type of line, the line bleeds straight away and it looks blobby (refer to the swatch for what I mean by this). I’ve tried using both small strokes and large strokes and to no avail. It’s a streaky and blobby hell. After doing some googling, I discovered that other people have also had a tricky time with application.

Oh m'eye line eyeliner - Black — Blobby mess – Oh m’eye line eyeliner – Black

The tiny brush is a bit too flexible and small for my liking, making it even harder to get a straight line. I’ve never been able to get this to work so I can’t comment on wear time or if it smudges. I’m no MUA, but I know how to apply eyeliner on myself. Eyeliner is a product which I am extremely picky with since I have hooded eyes and semi-oily lids. I’ve tried more bad ones than good ones and I would put this in the very bad category. For my HG, check out this post on the Macqueen liquid liner.

Price: $8.95 AUD from eBay *

Final thoughts

I hope this has been of help to anyone who has been curious about these products.
Again, I need to stress that if you happen to like any of them, I’m glad to hear it. It’s just a bummer that I couldn’t get them to work for me.

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 🙂

Cushion foundations which were too light for me!

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 KimLeave a comment

View this post on Instagram

If you are NC30 or darker, save your money and do not buy the following cushion foundations in these particular shades! Disclaimer: These cushions aren't bad they are just too light for my skin tone so I can't use them 😑 1️⃣ Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control #23 (strong fragrance) 2️⃣ The Face Shop Anti Darkening Cushion (I have the Hoody Ryan edition) #203 3️⃣ Moonshot Micro Cushion #301 (the pink balm is way better and the colour #301 is a better match for some reason) 4️⃣ Aprilskin Magic Snow Cushion #23 I have since ruled out any cushions in the #23 shade. I generally look for shades #25 or #27 and found a few that I really love that match me pretty perfectly 💞 Check out my blog meandmymirror.com for the full scoop. #kbeauty #k-beauty #beautyblogger #korean #asianbeauty #cushionfoundation #cushions #shades #makeup #foundation #minireview

A post shared by Kim (@kimmiidoll_kim) on Apr 10, 2018 at 4:49am PDT

For cushions which have worked for my skin tone and which I would 100% recommend, pop over to this post 🙂

[Review] COSRX Pimple Patches: What’s the difference between their Acne Pimple Master Patch and Clear Fit Master Patch?

April 15, 2018 Kim3 Comments

COSRX are a k-beauty company who are well known for their broad range of skin care products which contain simple yet effective ingredients. Their ingredients lists are generally short and sweet too. Their products target practically every skin type and the type that these patches fall into are acne prone skin.

I’ve used a few products from their line but nothing has impressed me the way these patches have. I have spoken briefly about them previously in my empties post but I will go into a bit more detail in this one. I will also be comparing both patches and letting you know what the differences are.

What are they?

It’s a circular sticker which you apply onto any active pimples. These pimples can either be already open or still closed/almost ready to erupt. I suffer from hormonal breakouts so this has always been my saviour. I put the patch on before I go to bed and in the morning, the pimple is less angry and noticeably flatter. It’s a one time use product for each patch and its pretty gross when you peel it away, but pretty cool. It in no way performs miracles so depending on how big or angry the pimple is, it might take more than one patch to really settle it down.

How to use?

You open the main packaging and gently peel away one of the stickers from its sealed pack. You then carefully apply it to the pimple. Make sure that the head of the pimple is centre to the middle of the sticker. This ensures a good stick and won’t peel itself away.

An important thing to note is that the patch should be applied to a dry surface area. I try to avoid applying any skin care to the wound because if you apply something emollient (like a sticky serum or moisturiser) over it, it will not stick down properly. Once applied, try not to fiddle with it because you’ll disturb its grip.

As mentioned, I usually apply it before bed and remove it in the morning. Remove it carefully and dispose of the patch into the bin.

The differences

Ok so this is what you came here for so here it is.
Differences are in red.

Clear Fit Master Patch

Price: $6.50 AUD (from eBay)
Amount: 18 Patches (10mm x 18ea)
Claims (from the packaging):
1. Natural and invisible cover
2. Absorbs impurities
3. During the daytime
Effectiveness: Settles and flattens active pimples and draws grossness out
Ingredients: (from packet:) Cellulose Gum, Styrene Isoprene Styrene Block Copolymer, Polyisobutylene, Petroleum Resin, Polyurethane Film, Liquid Paraffin, Tetrakis Methane.

Acne Pimple Master Patch

Price: $5.70 AUD (from eBay)
Amount: 24 patches (7mm x 10ea + 10mm x 5ea + 12mm x 9ea)
Claims (from the packaging):
1. Acts as protective cover
2. Non Drying
3. Absorbs impurities and oil
Effectiveness: Settles and flattens active pimples and draws grossness out
Ingredients: (from packet:) Cellulose Gum, Styrene Isoprene Styrene Block Copolymer, Polyisobutylene, Petroleum Resin, Polyurethane Film, Liquid Paraffin, Tetrakis Methane.

Final thoughts

The main difference are aesthetics, amount per pack and usability.

The Clear Fit Patch is transparent, making it less obvious for use during the day though I personally don’t if I need to leave the house. It also contains 6 less patches than the Acne Pimple Patch and only comes in one size. Slight advantage in usability where the backing is split so its easier to peel back to retrieve a patch.

The Acne Pimple Patch isn’t transparent, it has a slight yellow tinge to it. It contains 24 patches of various sizes. This could be a pro or con depending on who you ask but for me, its a pro. I don’t always get the same sized pimple (lucky me, boo), so its good to have options. The solid backing can be tricky to not stuff up but as long as you’re careful with it, it should be fine.

Which one would I repurchase I hear you ask? It would be the red one, Acne Pimple Master Patch. And have already repurchased, many times over! You get more for your money and effectiveness is equal since the ingredients are exactly the same. I don’t wear these out in public anyway so having a clear one would be of no advantage to me. You can generally buy these in bulk which equals to around $4.70 AUD per pack. Yesstyle and Jolse usually have sales on them so keep an eye out for those deals.

Have you tried any of these patches yet? If not, I hope this has helped you in your decision making 😀