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 Favorite Masks/ Packs ♥

This post will be all about my favorite and weekly used facial masks and packs. Before leaving to Korea I did not care too much for my skin and occasionally used facial sheet mask (which probably explains my crazy acne breakouts), but I discovered a whole new world of skin care during my time there.

My first product is the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (with scoria and green complex)

I use this clay mask once a week to tighten up the pores that got bigger because of all the makeup. There is not much to explain about the formula as it is a clay-base so you put it on and wait till it dries up. I apply it with a mask brush because I feel I save more product that way, but using your fingers work perfectly well. This product is very popular in Korea, and I had to go to several stores to find it because it was all sold out. After cleaning my face, I apply my toner first (in case of any excess makeup) and apply a thin layer of this product with my brush. It usually takes15-20 minutes to completely dry. When washing off the product I gently massage the mask because it consists of minuscule beads that makes my pores squeaky clean. It definitely cleans and tightens up my pores mostly on my cheeks and forhead, but it does not get rid of a lot of the blackheads on my nose.

Overall, after using this product my face looks a lot brighter and my makeup looks a lot better the following day. 

My second product is the Face Shop White Jewel Peeling Mask. 

The name of the product basically sums of the product. It has a liquid-gel type formula that you massage all over your face to peel off all the dead skin cells as well as any dirt or leftover makeup. It works really quickly and it even gets the dead skin cells off my fingers as I apply the product. The directions say to massage it for 1~2 minutes but I only do it for 30 seconds and it still gets the work done. My face definitely looks a lot brighter and it becomes significantly softer. However, one important thing to note about peeling masks is the after care. Yes, peeling masks help to remove all the bad things on your face but it also removes a lot of the good things-- so moisturizing is KEY after using any peeling mask. I use this product once a week. 

This is the current peeling mask I am using, but my favorite one is the Innisfree Green Barley Gommage Peeling. I use the Faceshop Peeling Mask for 30 seconds because it makes my face sting if I use it any longer. It doesn't cause me any break out; however, it is not as gentle as the Innisfree Green Barley Peeling Mask-- I really recommend this one. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy the Innisfree one due to luggage weight, but it's AMAZING (just using the samples they gave me made a big difference). 

My third product is the Faceshop Volcano Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack--my holy grail mask for my nasty blackheads. 

When it comes to masks, I prefer clay one because it just works the best for my skin. You basically spread a thin layer on your nose, wait for it to completely dry, and peel it off. As nasty as it may sound, your white heads and blackheads come off as you peel it. Something I recommend doing is using a dampened warm/hot towel and placing it over the nose for about thirty seconds (when I'm lazy I just cup hot water into my hands and place it on my nose :)). This will work to open up the pores/blackheads/ whiteheads on your nose. After drying the water, quickly apply a thin layer until it dries. After peeling the product off, I soak my nose in ice cold water to tighten/close up my clean nose.:)

Another product from the same line is the FaceShop Black Head Heating Gel Mask. 

I definitely find myself reaching for the Clay Mask rather than the Heating Gel Mask, but the Gel Mask is a lot more gentle. The product literally heats up your nose as you apply it and the directions say to massage it for about 10-15 minutes. As you massage the product, the clear gel turns into a grayish color. It contain minuscule beads to gently clean out the blackheads and the pores in your nose. 

My final products are the facial sheet masks. 

I feel like one dollar sheet masks work as well as expensive ones. Two tips I have are (1) keep them refrigerated and (2) don't keep them on for more than 20 minutes. 

Keeping the masks refrigerated will give your tired skin a cooling effect when applied on your face, which will work better to soak in the nutrients. ;)  Cheap masks work really well, but it is not recommended to keep them on for a long time. I know some people wait till the mask completely dries but your face probably soaked up the nutrients on the mask within the 20 minutes and keeping it on any longer will not allow your skin to breathe.

Another easy mask to try is the the egg white mask. I don't do this often, but I notice significant differences when I do. First, separate the white and yolk from an egg; second, beat the white until it becomes like bubbly foam; third, apply it all over your face- either with a brush or your fingers; fourth, wait for it to dry; and lastly, wash it off.

The egg white mask is already quite known, but from experience it really works. Your makeup the next day looks noticeably better and your skin gets brighter. BUT don't forget to use fresh eggs! :)


Hope this post was interesting and you got something out of it!
Thanks for dropping by!♥♥♥

My Favorite Lip Products ☆☆

Hello! My second official post will be about my favorite lip products! For a while, I only used lip tints because they were a quick and easy way to bring color to the lips. However, I recently discovered some awesome L'Oreal lip glosses I will be discussing below! As of now, my collection only consists of tints and glosses. I've been out on a hunt for the perfect lipstick color, but I just feel like lipsticks don't work with my lips-- no matter what color or brand, I look like a little girl putting on a mom's lipstick. If I do find the one for my lip color, I will be sure to update! ♥ ♥ Hope you enjoy!

Blistex Lip Medex

This is my ultimate favorite lip balm. It's an inexpensive product you can pick up at any drug store. It works the best after Vaselines. What I like about this product is that it gives a cooling relief when applied. Also, many lip balms I have tried always make my lips peel (even Burt's Bees), but this one doesn't. The size of the balm makes it very easy to carry around and the balm also has a minty scent to it, so it gives your mouth a freshened feel. I always apply this balm before I sleep to make my lip products apply easily the next day. 

L'Oreal Paris Colour Caresse Wet Shine Lip Stain 

This product stood out to me because I heard it was a dupe for the YSL's Rouge Pur Couture. Firstly, I really like the gold packaging and how we are able to see the colors-- this made it so much easier to choose. I picked up # 184 Rose On and On, which is a light pink/ rosy color. The gloss has a floral scent that isn't too harsh and comes with a doe-foot applicator. It applies very smoothly and a small amount goes a long way. The consistency of product is like a lip-gloss, but the color stains your lips after being applied. So, the glossiness goes away after a few hours, but the stain last for a longer time (from 9:30 AM - 5 PM I only applied the stain twice). One con about this product is that it peels my lips towards the end of the day, but other than that I'm really satisfied! 

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color

My second favorite is the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color in #500 Molto Mauve. This is a darker pink lip gloss. Though the gold packaging is very pretty, the color printed is not true to color. It also comes with a doe-foot applicator. The smell of this lip gloss is very sweet, but not in a bad way. This product is pretty much a lip gloss-- it doesn't stain the lips at all. The consistency of the product is pretty thick and it applies very smoothly. Because the color does not stain, it requires quite a bit of re-application through-out the day--usually after eating. On days when I want to tone down the color of my lip, I reach for this product! However, like my previous L'Oreal product it makes my lips peel :/ 

Innisfree Glossy Lip Locker

The Innisfree Glossy Lip Locker in #6 Maple Burgundy is my least favorite lip product. I know the topic of my post is "my favorite lip product" but I decided to include this because I love everything about it except the color. It has a thick consistency that tints my lips but the color that come off of my lips is not the color of the gloss in the package. The color comes off as a lighter red rather than burgundy (darker/richer red). It comes with a flocked doe-foot applicator and it doesn't have any scent. 

Benefit Cha Cha Tint  

My favorite coral tint is the Benefit Cha Cha Tint. The tint is long-lasting and it's also natural looking. On days when I'm running late, I'm always reaching for this product. It also works as a blush so thumbs-up for its multi-purpose use. One thing I don't like about this product is the brush applicator. I find that it applies somewhat unevenly. I enjoy using tints in a gradation effect of putting the color emphasis on the inner lips and gradually pulling the color out and this tint works the best for that! 

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint

This product is a recently discovered JEWEL! During my time in Korea, I learned that tints were a huge thing so I followed the trend and bought a whole bunch before coming back. Just a few days ago, I opened the package and I fell in love with the scent. It's not anything unique but it has a very sweet cherry-scent-- it really makes you want to eat it. The color is RD 301 앵두알 맑은 틴트 and it comes with a flocked doe-foot applicator. I was surprised to see that the color was a brighter pink tone- almost a hot pink. I was pretty excited because it looked similar to the one Jun Ji Hyun, a famous Korea actress, wore in the drama My Love From the Star. It applied a litter darker/ redder than I expected, but was surprised me was how long-lasting it was. I put it on at around 9:30 AM and my lips were still stained by 5:00 PM-- without any reapplication. 

Innisfree Echo Fruit Tint & A'pieu Pure Tint

To continue my purchases of tints in Korea, I've also been using the Innisfree Echo Fruit Tint in #01 Cherry and the A'Pieu Pure Tint in Cherry. I find myself buying a lot of cherry tints because it works well for the gradation effect. These two tints are just basics I carry around in my backpack or bag with me all the time. On days when I don't put on makeup but still want some color, I reach for these tints. They are a pure liquid tint and they both come with a flocked doe-foot applicator. They both smell like cherry cough medication. 

☆☆☆ I have swatched all of the products reviewed above. 

         1. L'Oreal Paris Colour Caresse Wet Shine Lip Stain 

         2. L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color 

         3. Innisfree Glossy Lip Locker 

         4. Benefit Cha Cha Tint 

         5. Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint 

         6. Innisfree Echo Fruit Tint & A'Pieu Pure Tint 

☆☆☆Theses are swatches of the products after I wiped it with a cotton pad. As I stated before, the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color wiped away completely but it still left the glossy feel. 

☆☆☆ These are swatches of the products after wiping them with makeup wipes. The two most visible and long-lasting ones were the Benefit Cha Cha Tint and the Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint. 

Thanks so much to everyone who dropped by! ♥♥ I hope you got something out of it! :) 

With Love, 

Ahra