Products I've Been Using on a Daily Basis: NARS, Benefit, Anastasia, Clio, Aritaum

Hi Everyone :) I'm back with a new blog post! I wanted to share some products that I've been using on a daily basis. I really hope you guys enjoy my reviews on them! <3 

1. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (my shade: Alaska- light with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones)

I bought this product probably around the winter time when I visited Korea last year and have been using it ever since. At first, I was a bit skeptical to buy this product because $43 was a lot for a tinted moisturizer... not even a BB cream. However, I tried a sample of it and bought it the following day. I first came across this product because I heard it does a really good job of hiding dry patches--something I struggle with a lot and it really does its job. Because I have dry skin, I still apply a moisturizer before this product and use it as a light BB cream/ sunscreen. It does a very good job of evening out skin tones. It doesn't conceal scars but does cover redness very well. It has SPF 30 so I don't use a sunscreen but instead apply two thin layers. This moisturizer comes in a pretty broad range of shades--one shade comes in two different tones (pink and yellow). As a sample, I tried Finland, which is the lightest shade that has more of a pink undertone but settled on Alaska, which is also the lightest shade but has more of a yellow tone. I would definitely purchase this product again without any hesitation. 

2. NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder &

I've been using the Pressed Powder for sometime now and I don't hate it or love it. It does a good job of holding in the oil but there isn't anything special about it. It does make your face makeup look less cakey because the powder is translucent but I feel there are cheaper products in the market that will do the same or even better. My mom received this as a gift and gave it to me because she likes powders with coverage. I would not purchase this product because I've used powders that have worked better than this one. For anyone looking for a good setting powder, I highly recommend the Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder. This powder comes in a couple of shades, so it provides a little more coverage and it makes your face look flawless and feel like silk. I'm using the NARS Pressed Powder because my UD Powder expired :/. 

3. NARS Blush (Orgasm)

Left: NARS Translucent Setting Powder; Right: NARS Orgasm

I don't think I have much to explain about this blush because it's already so popular. I hopped on the bandwagon and bought this product. I've been using it almost every since the day I bought it and absolutely love it. My take on the color is a light coral/ pink shade with gold shimmers. I feel that this shade would look really good on several skin tones and the staying power of this blush is amazing as well. It lasts a full day without fading. 

4. Benefit Fake Up Concealer (my shade: light)

I always passed by this product at the mall and finally got my hands on it. I was looking for an under-eye concealer because although I still love my Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer for my under-eye, I noticed that it always seeped into my creases throughout the day even after putting on eye cream. I felt this product would work well because the outer layer consists of a moisturizing balm with the concealer in the center. I didn't expect much from this product, but I really like it-- though I don't quite love it. Because of the moisturizing balm, it doesn't give the best coverage to the under-eye. This may sound a big confusing... I like the product but it doesn't provide the best coverage? So what I do is use my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer as a base for concealing my under-eye and apply this product after. It keeps my under-eyes very moisturized throughout the day and keeps the creases away for a longer period of time. I recommend this product to people who are looking for an under-eye concealer and do not have crazy dark circles. In my opinion, it doesn't work too well in concealing other parts of the face either--at least not alone. 

5. Benefit Sugarlicious Blush 

                                            

I got this Benefit Sugarlicious Beauty Kit for a birthday gift from a friend (thanks Janice Ha <3) and I really recommend the Sugarbomb Blush. I really love Benefit blushes because it has awesome staying power and it smells SOOOOO good. At first, I thought this color wouldn't look good on my pale skin, but I fell in love with the color as soon as I tried it. With a strong orange tone, I feel it's perfect for the spring and summer time. I tried this on my twin sister, who is darker than me, and it had a slight bronzer effect for her. I will definitely be buying the full size once I finish this one! 

6. MEMEBOX Soothing Sista Eye Shadow Palette 

I was in a search for a new eye shadow palette after realizing that my NAKED palette expired far too long ago. I didn't want to buy another NAKED palette because I literally used like 3-4 colors and I had particular shades that I wanted-- pink/rosy/ brown/ shimmery tones. Although they may not seem quite particular, I had specific shades in mind but couldn't find a palette that had all of them. I wasn't willing to buy these colors separately because it would have been too expensive. I follow "Soothing Sista" on Youtube and saw that she created a eyeshadow with Memebox and fell in love with the colors. They were exactly what I wanted--the shades look good just by themselves and work really well together. With shipping, the product was around $18-19, which is very well-priced for 4 eyeshadows. The eyeshadows are very pigmented and are buttery, so the color goes on super smoothly. The only eyeshadow that I'm a bit disappointed in is 'Bae Area' because the shimmers kind of clump together (more so because that was my favorite color in the picture, prior to buying the palette). Other than that, I'm super happy with my purchase! 

7. Aritaum Mono Eyes Eyeshadow (shade: No. 93 Social Light- 소셜라이트) 

Pinks and oranges shimmers are my favorite eyeshadow shades because I feel it complements pale skin very well. It also looks super pretty when you put it below your bottom lash line. When I was in Korea last winter, I went to 3-4 Aritaum's to buy this particular shade because it was sold out everywhere. This eyeshadow is a coral/ orange shade and has a generous amount of gold shimmer. The color is very build-able and is very pigmented. It was about 5,000 or 6,000 WON in Korea so about $5 when converted to US dollars. The only downfall is that the packaging breaks apart so easily so the side of the black plastic cracked. I handle it with care every time I use it because the color is so pretty. Because I don't know how to work well with matte colors and because I feel shimmery colors look better on pale skin, I always tend to be attracted to eyeshadows with a lot of shimmer. I feel that a lot of road shop cosmetic stores in Korea (i.e., Etude House, Aritaum, Innisfree) come out with a lot more obvious shimmer shades rather than matte. So, if you're ever in Korea and you like shimmer, I highly recommend that you visit the road shops. 

8. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

Before buying this product, I bought the new Benefit Rollerlash Mascara that doesn't require you to curl your lashes prior to applying mascara. It definitely work -- you don't need a eyelash curler. However, because it wasn't a waterproof formula, it smudged on my under eye within a few hours after application. Unfortunately, it wasn't working for me so I returned it and decided to try a drugstore mascara. One product I don't like to spend money on is mascara because it hardens up quickly and I feel that drugstore ones work as well as the expensive ones. It was hard choosing one mascara among the crazy number of mascaras at Target but I was recommended this product by a Target employee who worked at the cosmetic area. She said this mascara gives very good volume without clumping the lashes together and it really does! I'm super satisfied with this mascara and recommend the waterproof formula. 

9. Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil (shade: Caramel) 

This brow pencil is already so popular so I will review it very briefly. It applies super naturally and the pencil is thin enough for you to draw single eyebrow hairs on areas that are sparse. There is a very good color selection. I've used the eyebrow powder version prior to this pencil and it works just as well. I also have the brow gel in Caramel but I don't recommend it because it has slight shimmers in the formula that doesn't make the brows look too natural. 

10. Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Eyeliner (Shade: No. 4 Dark Choco)

My last product! So I bought Clio Eyeliner at Olive &Young in Korea because a sales lady said it worked super well. It seemed quite so because there were only a few left. I've always used gel eyeliner but wanted a pencil version of an eyeliner because it was annoying always needing a brush. This product was the perfect solution. It's a dark brown liner with shimmer. I never believe it when a pencil liner says it is waterproof because all of them smudges. This eyeliner does smudge but a lot less than other pencil liners I've tried. As I set my face makeup with a setting powder, I set the liner with a dark brown eyeshadow and I feel it really does a good job of keeping the liner from smudging. I really recommend this to people looking for an eyeliner to tight line or one that gives a someone natural look. 

Thanks so much for the read! Hope my reviews were interesting and helpful! <3 

                                               

 

  

Korean Facial Mask Recommendations!

I'm an fanatic of facial packs so I bought some while I was in Korea. Some Korean facial packs that I really recommend are : 

1. Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask:

   I used this last time with my aunt while I was in Korea studying abroad but found out I bought just the Volcanic Pore Clay Mask and not the SUPER Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. I find there to be a really big difference between the two. This one work super well. I don't really have big pores but my face feels so smooth and the small bumps/ sebum balls seem to shrink in size after using this. I apply a generous amount all over my face and as I wash it off, there are minuscule "beads" that exfoliates your skin. 

2. Innisfree Green Barley Gommage Peeling: 

    This was again another product I used while I was studying abroad in Korea. I got it as a sample and it was so gentle on my skin. I wasn't able to buy it previously because I literally had no room in my suitcase. However, went I went to Korea this past winter, I was able to buy myself two of these. I knew this worked well, so why not buy two? You leave the product to dry after application and then once it's dried, you wet your fingers and softly peel away your dead skin. I really recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin. It's seriously super gentle! 

3. Innisfree Green Tea Sleeping Pack 

    

   While I was in Korea this winter (2014), I couldn't leave without buying a sleeping pack. I didn't want to buy the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack because I felt it didn't do much for my face after using two containers of it. I knew how popular the green tea line was at Innisfree so I ended up buying this sleeping pack! The lady who worked there recommended that I put it in the refrigerator for soothing effects and I have been doing so. I like the product and apply it once/twice a week when my face looks dry. There are small white little beads in the product that dissolve once you massage it in--I don't really know what it does but I feel there's too much of it. 

4. Lastly, I asked my mom to buy me the Skin Foods Black Sugar Mask because she stayed two week longer than I did. I was contemplating on buying it because I thought the Innisfree Green Barley Gommage Peeling would be enough, but I wanted something a little "rough" for days when I want heavy exfoliation around my nose (for blackheads). I do like it and it works well to get rid of blackheads, but it doesn't do anything drastic. 

Hope you enjoyed!

Updated Morning/ Night Skincare Routine

As I stated below in the post about my experience with the Clarisonic, I changed up my skin routine and wanted to share!

Morning Routine:

In the morning, I don't wash my face with water or facial soap but instead use flat cotton sheets with toner to wipe my face.  I just finished using the Clarins Camomile Toning Lotion and moved on to the Mamonde Rose Water Daily Skin Toner. I really recommend the Clarins toner (the yellow bottle) for anyone with dry skin! As I mentioned previously in my other post, it smells so sweet and works really well. While I was in Korea, I bought the Mamonde Rose Water Toner because it was raved about a lot among Korean beauty bloggers. The toner is very gentle and smells literally like... rose water. Supposedly rose water makes up 90.89% of this product. It claims to be moisturizing, but I recommend the Clarins Toning Lotion if you have extremely dry skin. Apparently, skin specialists (in Korea) state that toners should be used up within about 2-3 months--so pretty much, the toner should be used "wastefully" to dampen the cotton pad in order to prevent the cotton pad from scratching your face.

After wiping my face with the Mamonde Rose Water Toner, I use my holy grail product--the Bobbi Brown Face Oil. I LOVE this oil to DEATH! I neglected this oil by leaving in the cabinet but discovered the amazing results it provides once I began using it again. A very small amount goes a long way. I cover my palm on the small circle opening and flip the oil quickly and tap the product all over my face. In Korea, many people literally tap/ slap their face products on because supposedly your skin will soak the product better. It works wonders with the NARS Tinted Moisturizer. I find it to be the perfect combination. While I was in Korea, I was walking around in mid 20 degree weather and this combination protected my face so well! I also received comments about how my face had a healthy glow.

Then I finish up my morning skin care routine with the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream, which I've been using for quite a while now. It doesn't do anything noticeably drastic but it is very moisturizing--because of the hyaluronic acid.

These are the three product I use every morning. Now to my night time~~

Night Time Routine 

Firstly, I always wipe my face with makeup wipes. I just use the Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes as always because it's convenient to buy in bulks at Costco heh. Then I use the Etude House Real Art Cleaning Oil. I bought this oil the day I stopped using the Clarisonic because I heard cleaning oils were the next best option to cleansing the face with makeup while being gentle. I bought this specific cleaning oil because it was chosen as the number one cleansing oils among higher-ends brands such as Bobbi Brown in a blind test on Get it Beauty. I really like how gentle the cleansing oil is while cleansing my skin effectively. I can't say if it removes waterproof eye makeup because I always wipe my eyes off with a separate eye makeup remover but it does get rid of the residue that is left. I use about three pumps and massage my face for about a minute  and a half on a dry face. Then, I add a little water to my hands and continue to massage my face as the oil turn into a white formula for about 45 seconds and then completely wash it off with lukewarm water. I like using warm water to wash down my face to open up all my pores.

Then I use the Keraclean Enzyme Powder soap that the nurse in Korea gave me for my sebum balls. I really think this enzyme powder had a significant impact in improving my face (decreasing the sebum balls). I forgot what skin type the dermatologist said I had, but she said I need to use enzyme (powder-like) soap. I've been searching everywhere for the Keraclean Enzyme Powder but can't seem to find it anywhere. It's made by Japan but Korean websites, amazon, etc don't sell it... I've tried a sample of the IOPE Enzyme Powder Treatment Wash and it works as well but if anyone knows a place that sells the Keraclean Enzyme Powder, please let me know!

Afterwards, I use the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum. I bought this in Korea because there were very good reviews about this products and was quite raved about by Korean bloggers but I don't like or dislike the product. It's a product I have and therefore, I'm using it. The product (serum) is supposed to help your skin soak up other products well but I can't really tell the difference. 

Then, I use my ultimate favorite Nature Republic Aloe Vera. While my skin was breaking out from the Clarisonic, I relied a lot on this aloe vera. I still apply a thin layer on my face for its soothing, calming, and moisturizing effects. My face is very prone to redness but this works really well too soothe the redness. 

Next, I use my FAVORITE moisturizer, the Dior Hydra Life Youth Essential Hydrating Essence-in-Creme. I've tried quite a few higher end moisturizers, but this one is my favorite. As soon as I put it on, my face feels super moisturized without feeling heavy. The product claims to have this "smooth-satin" finish and it really does. To put it in my terms, it almost feels glossy after massaging it on your face--some people may not like it, but it makes your face glow and really locks in the moisture. The Dior skin technician who helped me pick out this product recommended the Creme one for dry skin and the Youth Essential Hydrating Essence in-Gel for people with normal skin. 

After tapping/slapping the product into my face for a good thirty second or so, I put on a generous layer of the Nature Republic Aloe Vera. And finally, I use the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream to finish up my night time skin routine! 

To finish my post, I wanted to share the MD Complete Breakout Spot Treatment. For pimple spot treatments, I've always relied on the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion but my face got used to it and stopped working. I always research products before going out and buying them and upon researching, I found the MD Spot Treatment. My skin does not work well with salicylic acid so I wanted to try something with Benzoyl Peroxide. This product works REALLY REALLY well. My pimples shrink significantly overnight. However, this product is extremely strong. The directions even tell you to apply it every other day for the first two week. I dab a very small amount on my pimple right before I sleep and it does wonder overnight. 

When I first bought this product, I wasn't aware of how strong it was so I applied it on my cheek and the next day I had a huge dry patch on my cheek that looked as if I got sunburnt. I had to put heap loads of aloe vera on my face for about a week and a half for it to go away. After that horrible experience, I only spot the product on my face every other day. It does however cause peeling and quite a good amount of people are allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide so be careful! 

My Experience with the Clarisonic Mia 1

I'm back after being very MIA with my blog! In this post, I will be sharing my experience with the Clarisonic. One reason I decided to write about my experience is because upon looking up reviews before buying the Clarisonic, I only read reviews that urged me to invest in a hundred dollar facial cleanser--none that provided me with another aspect. 

Upon purchasing the Clarisonic, I was in a hurry to try it out because as the reviews stated, in a few weeks I believed I would have  flawless skin. Amidst the excitement, I was a bit worried because I read numerous reviews about the "purging" stage, where my skin would break out because the Clarisonic would bring all the dirt in my skin to the surface before giving me my flawless skin. Despite my fear of the purging phase, I used the Clarisonic (sensitive brush head) every night, and for the first week or two, I noticed that my face would get "squeaky" clean--little did I know, my face was not supposed to be that clean (I needed to get rid of the bad oil but keep the good/natural oil in my skin). During the first and second weeks, I started to get pimples on areas of my face I never broke out in prior to using the Clarisonic (chin, philtrum). I let it pass because I thought I was experiencing the purging phase to a lesser degree. I was actually glad I wasn't getting a crazy breakout as others mentioned. 

About the third to fourth week of using the Clarisonic daily, I continued to get random pimples all over my face that would NOT go away. And to make it worse, I began to get small little bumps all over my forehead--something I like to refer to as sebum balls. These sebum balls were literally scattered all over my forehead (near the center and T-zone area). Despite stressing over the sudden appearance of these nasty sebum balls, I continued to use the Clarisonic. After about seven weeks, my face was not improving at all--I still continued to get pimples - quite a lot - and the sebum balls on my forehead continued to increase. My mom, who bought the Clarisonic around the time I did, constantly complained about how she got random pimples and sebum balls over her face after using the Clarisonic. Finally, around the eighth week I decided to stop using the Clarisonic and see how my skin would react. 

One reason I kept using the Clarisonic, despite knowing that it might not actually be working for me, was because I thought it was the most effective way to really clean my face well. I didn't think cleansing oils or face washes would be able to get rid of all my makeup, dirt, and bad oil. By this time, my skin was at its worst point and these sebum balls were not going away. I was in Korea during this time for a family vacation and had the chance to visit a dermatologist. Upon hearing what the dermatologist said and doing further research, the Clarisonic was cleaning my face all too much --it was taking out the bad and good (natural) oils in my face. Therefore, my skin produced more oil to make up for the natural oil I was constantly washing away--producing the sebum balls. She suggested that I do a skin laser treatment becauase the sebum balls were not going to go away even with time. Although I really wanted to do the skin laser treatment, I was leaving Korean in two days (the laser treatment required several sessions). Because I was unable to do the treatment, the nurse recommended an enzyme soap to use after cleansing my face. The enzyme soap was pretty much a powder wash form that foamed up as soon as you added water and lathered it up.

So upon coming back home to LA and changing up my skin care routine, my skin improved a lot. The sebum balls on my forehead have shrunk significantly and my skin improved from when I was using the Clarisonic.

This is not to say the Clarisonic is a horrible product. There are just specific skin types that work well with the Clarisonic and some that do not. According to the dermatologist, her explanation was that many electronic facial washes makes "your skin thin and very sensitive." People who had amazing experiences with the Clarisonic had tough enough skin but apparently my skin was thin and too sensitive for the Clarisonic. 

This pretty much wraps up my experience with the Clarisonic. Despite being very sensitive about my skin, I got the courage to share my experience just to provide light onto a possible side effect that may occur to someone with a similar skin type as me. 

Thanks so much for reading! 

August Favorites: Bobbi Brown, Dr. Jart, Maybelline, Neutrogena, YSL

HELLO ALL! I'm finally updating with my August favorites. I'm not planning to do these every month, but I've been using these products everyday since the moment I've bought them. There aren't a lot, but I hope you enjoy!  ❤ ❤ ❤

Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick 

As I mentioned in my previous post, a makeup artist at Bobbi Brown recommended the Creamy Concealer for the under-eye area and this Face Touch Up Stick for the face. After falling in love with the Creamy Concealer, I wanted to try out this product. The formula of this concealer is definitely not as creamy. However, this allows for the concealer to last longer on the face. This concealer definitely lasts throughout the whole day, and it is super easy to apply when you are on the go. Unfortunately, the makeup artist who helped me choose my color gave me a darker shade so I will have to exchange it. Other than the color, I love the formula and staying power. It does not make you look cakey at all and a small amount gives you medium coverage (I wouldn't say it has the greatest/fullest coverage). Also, I would not recommend applying this all over the face - just on small spots. The product has 0.08 OZ of product and retails for $28. 

Dr. Jart Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm

I think this is the perfect BB cream for people with pale skin like me. My mom gave this to me after realizing that it was way too light for her skin tone. I love how this BB cream applies, and I don't find it to oxidize at all. It evens out my complexion without making my face look cakey. It comes in one universal shade, but it fits my skin PERFECTLY-- maybe because it's a Korean company. It claims to "combat" dark spots, but I haven't used it enough to notice any difference. The tube is very convenient to use because it has a pump applicator. The BB cream has 1.5 OZ of product and retails for ~$36.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 

I've heard a lot of great things about this product, and I understand what the hype is all about. It's super inexpensive, and has awesome coverage. It's a liquid type concealer with a doe-foot applicator. The one reason I do not like drug store makeup is because it is difficult to find the right shade. Luckily, I picked shade 10 (light), which fits PERFECTLY for my skin tone.  It stays on the whole day without making me look cakey and it does not accentuate dry spots. This concealer has 0.23 OZ of product and retails for ~$6. With complete honesty, this concealer works as well as or even better than the Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick. However, nothing beats the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer for the under-eye area. 

Neutrogena Pure and Free Liquid Sunscreen 

I really recommend this sunscreen for anyone looking for an every-day face sunscreen. It's a liquid formula, so you have to shake it before use. It works just like the Clarins UP Plus Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, but it's about one-fourth the price. It is "designed to layer invisible under makeup and moisturizers." It definitely does what it say it will do. The sunscreen has 1.4 Fl OZ of product and retails for ~$11. 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine (#4 Rouge in Danger)

After experimenting with some vibrant lipstick colors, I wanted a standard red lipstick. My Nars lip pencil in Dragon Girl has shades of red, but I find it to be more pink. This YSL lipstick was the perfect one! I first fell in love with it because of the packaging... I mean c'mon...! If anyone is looking for a red lipstick with a blue undertone.... THIS IS THE ONE. However, because this is a super creamy formula, the red color is not as vibrant as the YSL Glossy Stains. I was debating between the Glossy Stains #9, but chose this one because it was SO creamy. If you're looking for a vibrant red, I really recommend the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in #9. I was a bit concerned about the staying power for this lipstick, but it has a slight staining effect. I find that it settles on my lips without transferring onto my cups. It does require reapplication throughout the day, but the faded shade still lasts on your lips. This lipstick has 0.15 OZ of product and retails for ~$35.

Thanks for reading!

Product MUST HAVES: Benefit, Bobbi Brown, MAC

The products that I will be discussing in today's post are some of my makeup MUST HAVES!

Benefit POREfessional

       My first MUST HAVE item is the POREfessional by Benefit. I've been very negligent about applying face primers for quite some time now. I don't understand why because it does wonders! This specific primer doesn't really need much explanation because it's already known to be AMAZING. After application, my face looks a lot smoothers and my face makeup lasts double the time. It's super lightweight and silky! It leaves a SUPER thin silicone-like layer on your face that makes applying concealer easier -- it blends better and looks smoother... My nose also tends to peel  a lot but after applying the porefessional, my nose looks a lot smoother so it doesn't make the makeup on my nose look cakey. It's around $31-- not cheap but DEFINITELY worth it.  It comes with 0.75 fl. oz of product but a little goes a long way. You don't really need to apply it all over your face. I apply it in the center of my face(nose, t-zone, and inner cheeks). I really recommend you guys buy it! I will be repurchasing.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (in Beige) 

After doing some research on concealers, I decided to purchase the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer. It was recommended for people with dry skin. Because there is a wide color selection, a Bobbi Brown makeup artist helped me choose my shade. This color is seriously PERFECT for my skin color-- especially my under-eye. Before purchasing this, I used the well-known Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, but I did not like it. It just made my under-eye area look dry with no coverage. However after the makeup artist applied this shade on my under-eye, my eyes looked so much brighter. Even my mom commented on how bright my eyes looked.The concealer does transfer so I recommend applying a setting powder over it. When I first bought this product, it looked a lot smaller than it did in pictures-- my mom thought it was a sample they gave me. Because it is a creamy concealer, a small amount goes a long way. For 0.05 fl. oz, it is ~$27. I will be repurchasing this again. Bobbi Brown also has a stick type concealer. The makeup artist recommended the Creamy Concealer for the under-eye and the stick concealer for the face!

MAC Lipsticks

Sheen Supreme Lipstick _Zen Rose (second picture, first swatch) 

This is my favorite lipstick among the four I have swatched above. It's a beautiful mid-toned orchid color (in my opinion). :) Because it is a Sheen Supreme, it requires a bit of layering if you want the whole color payoff. It is not as opaque as the other lipsticks I will be discussing. It applies like a lip butter, so I don't need to moisturize my lip before application. One downfall to this is that the lipstick requires quite a lot of reapplication. It does not stain the lips at all, but the color is beautiful. The Sheen Supreme collection cost a few more dollars than the regular ones-- maybe because the packaging is a bit different from the regular mac lipstick tubes (first picture, fourth tube)? Not sure. It costs $18. I find this color to be perfect even for the fall and winter. 

Amplified_ Impassioned (second picture, second swatch)

I bought this lipstick after seeing several Korean celebrities sporting this lipstick. It's a very bright/ vibrant fuchsia- pink. It's a very different formula from the Sheen Supreme lipsticks, and one layer is enough to get the color payoff--SUPER OPAQUE. I was very impressed with this lipstick because one layer lasted me about 7-8 hours, even after eating and drinking. It has a staining effect and after an hour or so, there is no transfer. It costs $16. For people who are scared of trying bright colors, try doing gradient lips with this lipstick.

Amplified_ Vegas Volt (second picture, third swatch)

Vegas Volt is a orange-pink toned (coral) lipstick. Because it is an amplified formula, it's super vibrant and pigmented. I was looking for an orange lipstick, but didn't want one that was super ORANGE like Mac's Morange. If you're looking for an orange/coral color because straight out orange is too much...   this is the one! However, unlike Impassioned, this color requires reapplication throughout the day. It costs $16.

Cremesheen _Sunny Seoul (second picture, fourth swatch)

Because I've been buying very vibrant and bright lip colors, I wanted something light/ subtle. The name of this lipstick first caught my attention! This lipstick is a beautiful pink lipstick. Because it is Cremesheen formula, it doesn't last that long. Although it gives off a slight glossy finish, I recommend you exfoliate your lips before applying this color but it accentuates dryness/ peeling/ lines. To get the full color payoff, it does require a few layers. If you want a color that's 'your lip but better," one layer will give you a good pinky/sheer color. If you want the full color, apply more layers. It costs $16.

I definitely recommend all four of these lipsticks. I tried my best to portray the lipstick true to color (on the picture), but it's not quite right. Drop by a MAC store and see the colors for yourself! They are beautiful!!

                                                     Thanks for dropping by! <3

PRODUCT REVIEW: BOBBI BROWN, MARIO BADESCU, NARS

Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil

This is literally MY HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT. I never understood people when they called a product their "holy grail" until I bought the Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil. After using the First Aid Beauty Ultra Face Cream and realizing that it wasn't working for my skin, I bought the well-known Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. I thought I was going to LOVE it at first because I heard so many good things about it, but my face started stinging/burning every time I used it. I let the stinging/burning sensation pass the first few days because I thought I had gotten sunburned. This tingly/stinging sensation occurred even when using the First Aid Beauty Face Cream. As stupid as I may sound, I didn't realize that I was allergic to both the moisturizers for months until recently. After realizing that I was allergic to something in the moisturizers, my skin problems (random pimples, red bumps, uneven skin tone) made complete sense. I was very shocked that I was allergic to the Kiehl's moisturizer... After doing research, I came upon this oil. I remembered seeing a couple of Korean celebrities using this oil on television in their skin care routine, which was another reason why I wanted to try it out. I was obviously allergic to something in cream moisturizers so this face oil sounded a lot more appealing. The product description on Sephora states that its a "blend of oils, including sesame, sweet almond, olive, and jojoba" -- basically a bunch of natural oils with vitamin and such.

Okay, now I will discuss my personal review on this product. The first night I applied this oil I loved everything about it--the smell, the light texture, and the quick absorption. The Bobbi Brown makeup artist and many reviews stated that a small amount goes a long way for this product. Therefore, I did not want to apply a heavy amount, especially because it was an oil formula. At first, I was a bit iffy applying such a small amount because I felt it wouldn't be enough to moisturize my face but I didn't apply more because I wanted to see if a small amount was enough as the reviews stated. Before applying this oil, I only applied the Clinique 'Dramatically Different' Moisturizing Lotion.

Morning came around and I really noticed a difference in my skin. My skin tone looked a lot more even and it looked super hydrated. It made my skin look so flawless that I didn't want to wash my face in the morning... The makeup artist said that this product can also be used as a day moisturizer, so before putting on my makeup I applied a small amount and really massaged it into my face. AH! My skin felt and looked SUPER moisturized -- it gave me a dewy finish. I LOVED IT. My face makeup always looked good the moment I applied it, but after thirty minutes, it turned super cakey because my skin always lacked moisture. I finally found my SOLUTION. Also, because the oil worked to even out my skin tone, I found myself using way fewer products on my face because I didn't need to conceal the discoloration as much.

I know there are a lot of people who may be a bit hesitant to apply oil on the face because it can clog pores and bring out the nasty blackheads/ whiteheads. I was a bit worried at first too, but after using the oil I noticed that my whiteheads shrunk a lot.

One con about this product is that the packaging. It comes in a glass jar with a small hole on top, which is a bit inconvenient to use. It does not even come with a dropper. The way I get "a small amount" is by placing the palm of my hands over the hole and quickly flipping the jar upside down. I find the oil left on my palms to be enough. This was the method I saw Korean celebrity Park Soo-Jin use with this product. I then rub the oil to make it warm before massaging it onto my face.

Other than that, it works wonders.  It will definitely be something I will be repurchasing. For 1 oz, it costs me $63 (~68 w/ tax :/). It is a bit pricey, but I think it is really worth it.

**I apologize for this LONG "review." I wanted to share my whole experience with this product. I was SUPER excited to share it! :)

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream 

After running low my Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream, I began to look for a cheaper option. I heard that you don't really need to invest in an eye cream, especially people in their early 20s. I wanted to look for a mid-range, hydrating eye cream because the Kiehl's eye cream, which was ~$45, did absolutely nothing for me. While researching, I came across this eye cream, and it sounded perfect for me. I was excited to try another Mario Badescu product aside from their amazing drying lotion.

Let me first start off my saying that it is SUPER hydrating. I noticed a BIG difference the morning after applying it. My under eyes always looked cakey after applying concealer because it was so dry, but I don't have to worry about it anymore. It works really well for day and night. Remember dryness around the eyes is what causes wrinkles! I will definitely be repurchasing this. The price for this eye cream is $18.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Dragon Girl

I'm starting to really get into lipsticks. I still have a fear for them, but I'm slowly finding a solution. I got this particular color because I saw several Korean celebrities using it --Nana& Lee Sora on Roommate; Gong Hyo Jin; Taeyeon from Girl's Generation (i dont always buy things they use but this color red/pink really stood out). It was also recommended on Korean blogs. I don't have the courage to apply this full out on my lips, but I use it to make a gradient effect. Because it is matte, I always exfoliate and moisturize before applying it. It has a staining effect because it is matte so you don't have to reapply as often. The price is $25.

I hope you guys enjoyed my reviews. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

With love,

Ahra <3

Beauty Product Reviews ❤ ❤

Dove Dry Shampoo 

I've tried a handful of dry shampoos but this is by far my favorite one. It doesn't leave any white residue in my hair. Other dry shampoos I have used did absorb the oil and gave good volume but my hair didn't really feel that clean. Does it make sense to say that I could "feel the dry shampoo" throughout the day? Anyways, this dry shampoo really makes my hair feel refreshed. It's not up to the point where it feels as if I washed my hair, but it does come close! In addition, I'm very sensitive to smell and most dry shampoos have a "hairspray"like smell that lasts throughout the whole day. However, the smell of this dry shampoo fades throughout the day which is a PLUS for me. I really recommend this and would purchase this again. This product ranges from $4-$5.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunscreen 

After learning about the importance of applying sunscreen to my face, I realized I was neglecting applying it to my body. Among countless numbers of sunscreens at Target, I chose the Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunscreen because the application was super easy and the cooling effect helped to refresh my skin. The only con about this product is the smell. In my opinion, as soon as you apply it there is a strong alcohol smell that turns into a bug repellent-like smell. It's not a bad smell but it is pretty strong. It does fade throughout the day but very slowly. The product is not greasy and it absorbs pretty quickly. However, I would not purchase this product again because of the scent. It ranges from $9-$11.

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack _EX

I can easily say the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack is my favorite facial masks. I discovered this product while I was in Korea and initially bought it for my mom. My mom's skin would look super hydrated and refreshed the next day after she used it so I gave it a try. It has become a staple product and I use this mask every other night. Although this is a sleeping pack, I also use it before applying my makeup. One of my biggest concerns when applying makeup is my nose. My nose tends to peel a lot because of seasonal changes, so I apply a thin layer of this pack on my nose before applying foundation/concealer and it hydrates it right away--no dry/ flaky patches at all. An exciting fact about this product is that Target now sells Laneige products, of which this water sleeping pack is included. YAY! I already bought one at Target and will continue to purchase it again. The price ranges from $25-$30. 

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream 

I was excited to use a product from the First Aid Beauty line but this product did not really live up to my expectations. I have been using this moisturizer for a good 4 months, but it has not done much to my skin. I bought this thinking it would be a decent moisturizer to use during the summer time, but it doesn't give me enough hydration. I feel this product is best suited for oily/ combination skin types-- if it is used for the face. I would not purchase this product. The product is $28.

Salon  Perfect Brow Sculpting Gel 

I was looking for a new brow gel and came across this one. I never heard of it, but it was the last one in the store so I assumed it was a popular product. It is a simple clear brow gel, and I really like it. It gets the job done and makes my brows stay in place throughout the day. It smells and acts like a hairspray for your brows.  I would purchase this brow gel again but not in clear. This product is $3-- VERY INEXPENSIVE.

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Big Eyes Mascara (left) & Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara (right)

I was never really into mascaras until I came upon the Korean television show "Roommate." Nana, a member from the K-pop group After School/ Orange Caramel, had AMAZING lashes. I never cared to apply mascara to the bottom of my lashes until I saw her lashes. Because I wasn't really blessed with long lashes, especially my lower lashes, I wanted a mascara brush small enough to fully coat my lower lashes. I came upon the Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara, which I LOVE. It comes with two brushes perfectly sized for your upper and lower lashes. Applying mascara to the bottom lashes really opens up a person's eyes! This products volumizes and lengthens them! I really recommend it. This product comes in regular and waterproof, but I prefer and recommend the waterproof one because it holds the curl longer throughout the day. I would purchase this product again, and the price ranges from $7- $9.

The Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara is a sample- sized product that my mom received from a gift set (the sets you get after spending a certain amount) . My mom has a good amount of sample sized mascaras that she has received from gifts sets, but this one stood out because of the packaging. I used it one day and fell in love. The formula coats the lashes smoothly and one coat is seriously enough... It does a perfect job of volumizing and lengthening to make your eyes look brighter and wider. My lashes look super full without looking clumpy. After I run out of sample size, I will most definitely be purchasing this product. The price is $26.

Urban Decay Naked Flushed- Native

I really recommend this product to everyone. It's a bronzer/highlighter/ blush palette perfect for the summer. The palette comes in different shades and colors, but I felt this one (native) fit my face tone the best. It is highly pigmented and blends very well. I would not purchase this product again only because I feel I would get tired of the colors. The price is $30, which is a VERY GOOD deal for a bronzer/ highlighter/blush.

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner 

I'm absolutely in love with this liner. A makeup artist at Sephora recommended this liner saying that it is one of the top gel liners in the store-- I understand why it is. It is SUPER creamy and pigmented that I actually had difficulty using it in the beginning. I got the color Espresso, which comes off as a dark brown on my skin tone. There is a surprisingly decent amount of product, and a slight "dab" is enough for both eyes. It is waterproof so it doesn't smudge even if I use it to tight line my eyes. I know many gel liners that claim to be smudge/ waterproof smear by the end of the day but this does not! Because it is a cream base you do need to give it some time to settle and dry. I would definitely purchase this product again. The price is $23.

Super Booster Teeth Whitening Pen

This teeth whitening pen from Whitening Lightening is my favorite because it doesn't cause any sensitivity to my teeth. When I first started whitening my teeth, I went to the dentist who put me on the Opalescence tooth whitening system. Yes, it whitened my teeth but it was so painful. After finishing the system, I came across this pen, which claimed to cause no sensitivity. Surprisingly, it did not cause any sensitivity. Other than it not causing sensitivity, the pen is not as convenient as it claims to be because it requires you to smile until the product is dry. It may differ for people, but this product doesn't dry that quickly for me so I resorted to using cool air from my hair dryer. After use, it leaves small white marks on some parts of my teeth but it goes away the next day. I would purchase products from this line again. The price is $79 but the website always has good deals (as of now it is $29). Here is the website http://www.whiteninglightning.com/

Revlon Lip Butter (Sweet Tart -left & Juicy Papaya- right) 

I've always heard good things about the Revlon Lip Butters, but never got around to trying them out. I first purchased Sweet Tart and loved everything about it. It is super pigmented and the color is very buildable. I was a bit hesitant to try the color out because it is pretty vibrant but I gave it a go because I felt it was very suitable for the summer. It comes off as a vibrant hot pink color on my lips. Because it is a lip butter, it hydrates my lips without drying them out later during the day. It isn't a tint so the color does transfer if you drink water and such but if left alone the color lasts for hours-- doesn't require frequent touchups. Juicy Papaya (on the right) is from the same line, but it comes off a lot more natural.  I would purchase these lip butter again and the price ranges from $7-$10. 

e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator 

A friend of mine recommended this product to me. I find it very useful to use before applying a lip product with color. It smells like coconut and it seems to be made up with brown sugar. It is super inexpensive ($3) and gets the job done. I would definitely purchase this product again.

NYX Butter Gloss (Apple Strudel & Eclair)

 Before buying the NYX butter glosses, I heard so many good things about them that my expectations were EXTREMELY high. When I got the product, I was EXTREMELY disappointed... I didn't get the hype. I mean it smelt really good as the reviews stated but the color payoff was horrible on my lips. It looked pretty in swatches but the color did not look appealing on MY lips (this is just my experience). It was a lot sheerer than I expected and although the color is buildable, the gloss was too thick for my preference. I mean I will probably still use these products over a tint but would not purchase it again. I bought this in a trio set for $12. I gave Cherry Pie, the third color, to my sister. It suited her lips well.

I always love reading reviews on products before purchasing them. I hope my reviews were helpful to you! If you have any questions feel free to ask! Thanks so much for dropping by!

                                                                             ❤ Ahra