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 

Recently Purchased Items! ☆彡

Hello everyone!

It has been a while since I've updated. I've been so caught up with studying for midterms and pretty much resting up during spring break! However, throughout the last couple of weeks I have purchased a few products and my fourth post will be my reviews on them! ❤❤

Hair 

After finishing my previous bottle of dry shampoo, I picked up the Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo. Just a general information about dry shampoo is that it basically works to absorb excess oil in our hair. I don't really have oily hair but because it's so thin my hair loses the volume I get from blow drying really quickly. I usually shower at night so when I wake up in the morning my hair looks lifeless (it was worse when I had longer hair but short hair maintains some of the volume). Before purchasing the Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo, I used the Psssssst! Instant Dry Shampoo. I definitely prefer the Herbal Essences one because  it smells a lot better (the product claims to have a mint/citrus scent... I guess it does? It smells refreshing!) and the shampoo doesn't have color. The Herbal Essence shampoo has a clear formula whereas the Psssst! shampoo has a white formula-- if not thoroughly rubbed your hair will look like a bad case of dandruff... It retails for around $5.99, which is not bad at all! I would definitely repurchase this product if I don't get sick of the scent.

Eye 

I've been using the Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream for a good month now, and I don't really have any feelings about this product. This product retails for around $42.00, and I invested in this small 0.5 fl. oz product because eye wrinkles are all about prevention-- once they appear, the wrinkles won't go away. I've tried the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream but I prefer the Kiehl's one because it applies very smoothly and absorbs quickly. Also, a little goes a long way! It claims to have Copper PCA and Calcium PCA, which I believe is supposed to help with wrinkles. I don't see any obvious results, but I will definitely be investing in eye creams to prevent wrinkles! You should too!

Makeup 

My first makeup product is the Mamonde Real Skin Powder in shade 2. It claims to have SPF 33/Pa ++. This product was raved about in Korea after Yuri from Girl's Generation posted an Instagram photo of her using it on the airplane and saying that this was all she needed. Although the rave passed, I still wanted to try this, so I ordered it off the website www.ibuybeauti.com ( it took around two weeks for it to come in the mail). I bought it for around $27.99, which isn't much different from the price it retails for in Korea 👍. This foundation has a creamy texture but finishes with a powdery finish on the face . It has medium/full coverage and is definitely build-able. I don't need to apply concealer at all if I use this product. Even with full coverage, my face does NOT look cakey at all. The air-cushion puff that comes with the product helps to even out the product. I've used different brushes and my fingers to apply the foundation, but the puff definitely works the best. It claims to have gold and pearl layer extract, which unarguably seems to benefit the skin. I haven't broken out at all and would  repurchase it again. 

The next product is something I'm sure many of people have used or are currently using-- the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer. Yes, I was late to the crazy rave about this product but I'm glad I got around to trying it. I get the hype! Although it is meant for the under-eye, I use this as a face concealer. The formula is super smooth and blends really well. I love the sponge applicator and pretty much everything about this product. It retails for around $8-$10, which is not bad at all considering how much product is in it. I will be repurchasing this product. 

My next product is the Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder. I've  been on the hunt for the perfect setting powder for the past couple of months. I've used raved products from Innisfree and BareMinerals, but through trial and error I finally settled on the one from Urban Decay. I've recently tried BareMinerals Mineral Veil but it made my skin look super cakey and dry-- I could see the powder simply lying on my face... which was not pretty. Then I bought the BareMinerals READY Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 because the make-up artist helping me said that it was the only product that sets makeup with hydrating solutions. However, I did not like how the product applied and it still accentuated my dry skin. Because it was a powder foundation, my face looked extremely cakey after application. Then I came upon the Urban Decay Naked Setting Powder, which I am really satisfied with so far. It's SUPER light-weight and it makes your skin feel so silky. The fine powder sets my makeup and controls my oil (especially the T-zone) without feeling like I have an extra layer of makeup. My skin feels super soft and it lasts for a really long time. The only cons about this product is that it is messy and it's a glass packaging. Trying to get the product through the small holes creates a mess everywhere. It retails for around $34.00.  

My last product is the Benefit Hervana Face Powder. I LOVE this product OH SO MUCH! I now understand the hype! There are so many pros to it : it's super natural, it stays on your face the whole day, it smells amazing, the packaging is super cute, and the colors give me a healthy glow. I was so surprised by how long it stayed on my cheeks. I don't have much to stay other than try it out! It retails for around $28.00, which is a bit pricey for blush, but I can see this product lasting me a really long time-- a little goes a long way! 

This wraps up my reviews, and I hope you enjoyed it! If you have any further questions about the products feel free to leave me a comment! :) I will definitely be updating more frequently now so please follow me and be on the lookout! :) ❤❤

My Daily Night Time Routine ♥

Hello again! :) My first official post will be my daily night time routine. I will be giving my opinions on the products I use and the steps I take! Hope you enjoy! ♥ 

Removing the Makeup: Eye/Face

This is the most important step! Firstly, I have been using the Maybelline Clean Express Wateproof Eye Makeup Remover and I really like it. The bottle says its oil-free, but I'm not completely sure about that. It does a great job getting my makeup off and doesn't cause irritation like many other removers do. I use the waterproof eye makeup remover by applying the remover onto a cotton pad. It's important not to rub the cotton when you put it on your eye.To get the makeup off, gently place the cotton on the eye and wait for the remover to dissolve the stubborn makeup. Then, dip cutips into the remover to get any leftover eyeliner or mascara. For the face, I use makeup wipes. I have been using the Costo Kirkland Facial Wipes for years and they work perfectly well for me. It's gentle on the face, but get a lot of the makeup off. Because I'm running low, I picked up the L'Oreal Ideal Clean removers, but haven't tried them yet. A tip for make-up wipes is leave them in the refrigerator. It has a cooling effect and the wipes won't dry up. 

Cleanser

I use the Iope Derma Professional Auto Cleanser along with the Kracie Naive Face Wash to cleanse my face. I REALLY LOVE my Iope Cleanser. The idea is similar to a Clarisonic but it's something I can use everyday. It gets all the excess makeup and my pores clean! Last year, I broke out several times without a reason, but after using this cleanser, I realized it was because I didn't wash off my makeup completely.

I picked up the Kracie Naive Face Wash at an Asian beauty store and it seems to work well. No breakouts.After using the Iope Cleanser, I use the Victoria Lanolin-Agg-Tval Swedish Eggwhite Soap as my last step. When I was in Korea, my aunt bought me this soap because my skin was so bad. Egg whites are known to tighten up pores and the soap has been doing me well.

Toner and Lotion 

I included three of the toner I have been using for the past few months. I began using the Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 about a year ago. Apparently, toner with alcohol is not recommended because it drys the skin, but it works to get the excess makeup off even after cleaning the face (yes, there is still makeup left even after washing it.) I didn't experience any breakouts with the Clarifying Lotion, but the alcohol smell really bothered me a lot. After returning from Korea, I started breaking out a little so I bought the Clinique Acne Solution Clarifying Lotion, which was highly recommended. It consists of salicylic acid so I thought it would work but it actually worsened my skin. My skin got extremely dry and I broke out even more. My third solution was trying a toner that was alcohol-free so I got my hands on the Clarins Toning Lotion- Normal/Dry Skin. I really like it so far! Because it's alcohol-free it very gentle on the face and I didn't experience any breakout- it smells very sweet too! 

My favorite lotion has been the Clinique Dramatically Moisturizing Lotion +. I've been using this lotion for the past year as well and it definitely keeps my skin hydrated and it is very lightweight. 

Moisturize/Cream  

I use the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator to follow up my routine. I have extremely dry skin and I find this moisturizer to work the best. It absorbs pretty quickly, but I would not say it is lightweight, which is good for moisturizers you put on at night. Then, I use either my Innisfree bija anti-trouble spot essence W (for white heads/ just forming pimples) or the Innisfree bija anti-trouble spot essence R (for redder pimples/ scars). Theses products were recommended to me by a friend so I picked them up while I was in Korea. There are no quick noticeable differences but the essence R really helped the scars on my forehead face away. 

For eye cream, I use the Nature Republic Original Power Wrinkle Eye Cream. I'm pretty neutral about this product. I don't yet have saggy or noticeable wrinkly eyes so I can't really tell if the product works. But I heard women should start putting eye cream at a younger age! 

Acne/ Pimple Treatment

Pretty much my holy grail! This is the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. You use a cutip to get the pink product on the bottom and dab it on any new pimples or existing ones. It works the fastest and gets the work done. I put it on before I sleep and my pimples usually get smaller by the morning. :) You can either order it online or buy it at Nordstrom or Ulta. 

I don't always use this product, but it's the Nature Republic Argan Oil. On days when my skin looks extra tired or dry, I mix two or so drops with my Clinique Moisturizer and use it as a sleeping pack to rehydrate my face. 

This then concludes my Daily Night Time Routine. I hope it helped!  ♥ ♥