Skinfood Extra Virgin Olive Essence Review

I have a lot of hair products, but to say the truth I don't really use them. Usually it's because I'm too lazy or I forget to use them. Haha, anyone else with me on this?
Yet, I can't stop buying them! Who care resist the promise of silky smooth hair?

To use this product, you just pump some on your palms and rub into your dry or damp hair. For me, I find it works best with damp hair. After I run the blowdryer through it, i'm left with lustrous hair!

I can't remember how much I paid, but it should last me awhile considering 1. I often forget to use it 2. it's a big bottle and you only need to use a two to three pumps :)

Ole Henriksen Fresh Start Eye Creme

Eh, I've always felt eye creams to be a money maker in the skin care world. Why? a small tub is expensive and it's impossible to see if it's actually making an impact.
Still I can't help but buy eye cremes. I've tried a a couple different brands, but this is my first from Ole Henriksen.

It's packaged in a glass jar, so not necessarily good for travel.  The creme itself is lightweight and does not sting my eyes.

On the right, you can see the ingredient list.

I tried my hardest to find an eye creme that doesn't contain mineral oil or petroleum.

Like I said, I don't really see a big difference ... but I will continue to use it until the end :)

Nature Republic Lifting Ampoule

Lately I've been really into Nature Republic skincare items. I'm not sure if it's because of the cute packaging or the fact that I've been hearing a lot of good review about the company.

This ampoule, which I assume is like a serum, is for lifting. While I am still young, I'd rather prevent aging that treat it when it's too late.

The glass bottle comes with a dropper, so it's easy to control the amount of product you want to use.

I haven't been using it for long, so I can't comment on the long term claims yet. What I can say is I like that my skin feels softer the next morning.

If you're looking for an affordable ampoule to add to your skin care routine, I recommend this one from Nature Republic!

Naris Up Skin Conditioner with Hyaluronic Acid

While shopping at my local Japanese market, I noticed this giant bottle of Naris Up Skin Conditioner with Hyluronic Acid. It claimed to be a top seller in Japan and at $12 for 500 ML, I decided to give it a go.

A big beauty trend is to soak cotton squares with toner and apply it to your face, like a sheet mask, before applying makeup. I tried it with this toner and noticed a nice plumping effect! I don't use it every day, as I don't have much time during the day, but I like how it makes my skin feel.

If you want to see a video demonstration, Michelle Phan on YouTube has a video about this topic :)

Love More My Melody Sheet Masks

Sheet Masks are a big part of my skin care routine. I generally use them about 2 or 3 times a week.
After a long day, I find sheet masks to be relaxing and pampering.

Love More is a popular Taiwanese sheet masks company. When I saw this affordable box from Sasa.com, I knew I had to buy it. Each mask came out to be under $1! Bargain~

There's 4 different "flavors" or types in this cute pink box. They all claim different things, but after 15 minutes, I find all 4 do make my face look more brighten and moisturized.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #5

Ohhh, YSL! I cannot resist the beautiful packaging, but the high price can be off-putting.

I finally indulged in Rouge Volupte 5 after receiving a Sephora gift card.
Number 5 is a exclusive Sephora color. It's a pretty pinky berry color that is flattering and natural.

The texture is really light. It feels like a balm, but with the opacity of a lipstick.

Of course, who can ignore the luxurious gold tubing!
I think it will be awhile before I purchase more, but I absolutely love the one I own.

Skin Food Peach Sake Silky Finish Powder Review

Skin Food Peach Sake Powder is one of those cult favorites from the Skin Food brand. I heard many people compare it to the white powder from Make Up Forever. This giant tube was only $14. If you're crazy about peaches, you'll be pleased with this scent. It's absolutely lovely!

Since it's loose white powder in a tube, it can get really messy! Whenever I use it, without fail, white powder flies everywhere! Even when I'm really careful. That can be a downside to this packaging, but most loose powders are pretty annoying to use.

How does it work? Well, I can see why people love it. It leaves my face smooth and matte, but it doesn't feel heavy nor greasy. My makeup can last about 8 hours without getting oily when I dust this peach powder on my face.

Epicuren Lip Balm

 I'm very picky about lip balms. I tend to go for those that are lightweight, but also moisturizing.

I got lip balm from Epicuren in a PopSugar box. The small size is very easy to carry around, but I dislike dipping my finger into the tub- ew, germs!

Since it contains tea tree, it goes leave a tingly sensation. Sometimes I don't mind it, but when it mixes with the food or drink you're eating it's a bit gross haha.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

My lashes can always use a boost. I've been using my regular mascara for my bottom lashes, but when I heard about Clinique's bottom lash mascara ($10) I decided to add it to my cart.
The tube is extremely small, as is the brush. I find it to be the perfect size for my bottom lashes. It adds great thickness to my lashes, but it doesn't lengthen them.
My final verdict? Save your $10 and just stick with your regular mascara for those bottom lashes!

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner Review

 It's no secret how well loved Caudalie Beauty Elixir is, but at a cost of $18/1 oz, it can get expensive.
Since using up a bottle, I've been looking for a more affordable alternative. While browsing Whole Foods, I came across this Illuminating toner from Andalou.

My favorite thing about Caudalie's elixir is how glow-y it made my complexion. I find that Andalou does the same thing! I love how refreshing it is and the fact that it contains natural ingredients is a plus!

At $11 a bottle, you can afford to give this a try!

Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes Review

Like many girls, I enjoy putting on makeup... but removing it? annoying! I like to double cleanse, but prior to using a facial foam, I tend to use towelettes before hand!

These are from Costco. I can't remember the exact price, but you get a giant box of them for a really, really affordable price! Especially when you compare them to drugstore facial wipes that costs $7 per pack.

Kirkland's wipes are great!! They remove a lot of my makeup without making my skin feel dry or tight. Along with the affordable price, I don't feel bad using a wipe ever day.

Etude House Secret Beam Powder Pact 02

Etude House Secret Beam Powder Pact is a great product since it allows you to achieve luminous skin in 5 seconds.

This pact contains pearly powder with fine shimmers. Shimmers, not glitters! I love how natural it is and I adore the fact that it makes my skin look really healthy.

I would not use it all over; it would only work well down the bridge of your nose and on top of your cheeks.
The casing is very lovely and cute! I love the princess feel of Etude House's products. You can see in the video below how soft and finely milled this powder is. Definitely a must have for any make up junkie!

Too Cool For School Milk Tint Orange Review

Too Cool For School is a Korean make up brand that costs a bit more than your typical Etude House or The Face Shop. For me, since I do enjoy art- I particularly enjoy their products. If you ever get a chance to visit their store, you'll see that the inside is decorated like an art studio!

Anyway, I'm obsessed with tints and no country makes tints like Korea. This orange milk tint has a light gel texture, which is different from the usual water tints. I find the texture adheres well on the lips and it makes the color last longer! This shade of orange is very natural and not "in your face" bold!

For swatches, watch my video below:

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint Swatches

My bad beauty habit is the fact that when I can't decide on a color, I will buy them in every color! Of course, sometimes it ends up being a bad decision (especially if the product sucks) but in this case, buying all the Fresh Cherry Tints from Etude House turned out to be a wonderful decision!

Lip tints are usually not made for pigmented lips, but these cherry tints are so pigmented! The pink actually looks pink on my lips. With other tints, I may need to conceal my lip color in order to achieve the color in the bottle. 
When this tint dries, it isn't glossy- it's more of a semi-matte finish, which is flattering and natural. There's no obvious scent, which is also great. Highly, highly recommend! 

Inexpensive Make Up Storage!

As much as I'd love to own the clear Muji Storage, it's just too expensive to justify!

So an affordable way to store your products is to visit any discount home goods store such as Ross, TJ Maxx, Homegoods, etc & pick up some glasswares!

Not only is it functional, but it's also very pretty!

I decided to buy this tea cup since it looks very dainty. It stores many of my lip crayon products.

It's Skin Macaron Lip Balm

How cute are these lip balms from It's Skin? Hehe the only downside is that every time you see it, you'll want to eat a macaron.

I own the flavors strawberry and green apple. The twist cap is extremely sweet, but the downside is the fact that you'll have to dip your finger into the container to use the product.

These balms are a bit glossy as well as moisturizing. The tint isn't too obvious, so I would compare them to Chapstick. Overall it's too adorable to pass up!

Face Mists- Innisfree, It's Skin, Caudalie

A quick and easy way to refresh your skin without ruining your make up? Face mists! Since most mists are small and portable it's simple to just chuck it into your purse.

One spritz and my face is instantly cooled.

The Innisfree Green Tea Mineral mist contains 100% organic green tea minerals and is also hypoallergenic, so great for those with sensitive skin. I like the aerosal can. Remember do not shake the bottle!

Caudalie Beauty Elixer is a cult favorite, which may need no introductions! Since there's oil in this product, I find it adds a subtle glow to my skin without looking oily. The refreshing scent is very aromatic!

I haven't tried the It's Skin mist, so watch out for that review later!

Beyond Save Us Lipsticks

How adorable are these Beyond Save Us lipsticks!

These colors were created to raise awareness towards endangered species. Too cute to us :)

Innisfree Nail Polishes

Innisfree nail polishes are AMAZING! I regret not buying more colors, but honestly I do not need any more polishes. Each bottle only costs ~$2.50. I love the round bottles because it makes it easy to hold while paining and it's different from the typical nail polish bottles.

These polishes are opaque with just one coat! I also adore the glitter polishes. If you notice, there's varied shapes in glitter polish.

My favorite out of the bunch is 3rd from the left. It's a gorgeous orange jelly color with flecks of gold flakes  Perfect color for Spring and Summer.

Ole Henriksen Vitamin C

There's a huge difference between brightening & whitening products. I feel brightening adds glow to your skin, while whitening changes the shade of your skin.

With that said, Vitamin C is famous for its brightening qualities. I picked up a Ole Henriksen Vitamin C kit from Sephora to give it a go.

The Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster is my favorite out of the group, since it actually gives my skin a healthy glow.

The Truth Cream, in the tub, is lightweight but moisturizes well. It claims to "brighten, firm and provide unparalleled moisturizer." Hmmm... I will say the last part is correct, but not too sure about the firm factor.

All these products smells delicious if you love citrus type scents.

Holika Holika Luminious Silk BB Cream

Before buying new BB creams, I tend to do a lot of research. After browsing Korean blogs, I settled on Holika Holika Luminous Silk BB cream.

Long story short, I hate it. The color is too pink for my yellow undertones. I like the convient pump and the lace decorations, but this BB cream is just not right for me. I'm a bit disappointed  but I will have to find a way to make it work or pass it along to a friend of mine. Sad!

Tony Moly Bunny Gloss Bar

One beauty product I hate would have to be lip gloss! I adore the look of glossy lips, but I'm not a fan of the sticky texture.

These bunny gloss bars are more like tinted lip balms, but with a hint of glossyness.

Notice how the caps of the bars shows a different bunny emotion!

What I like about these tints is that the color is natural and the tint stays on for ~6 hours without reapplying.

Nature Republic Snail Therapy Mask Sheet

I know what you're thinking... What? Snail! Mask! Right now, this is the hottest "it" item in Asia. It supposedly repairs and heals the skin. After purchasing bags of items from Nature Republic, I was able to receive a couple of these Snail Masks for free. 

I only tried it twice, but I like the super moisturized feeling I get after 30 minutes. There's no particular scent and the serum/essence is clear. Some Korean bloggers swear by this masks, so I think in time this mask does do great things.

Missha Under Eye Brightener

 My dark circles are not extremely bad, but I do like when my under eyes are bright. To get that look, I turn to this Under Eye Brightener from Missha.

It is pigmented and covers really well, considering the inexpensive price!

The applicator is a doe foot, so it's easy to pin point exactly where you want for the product. For me, two dots under each eye is enough.

Luckily Missha now has a US site!

Too Cool For School Break Time Lip Balm Tint

Too Cool For School is a unique Korean cosmetic brand. Some of their items are higher than Etude House, The Face Shop, etc- but the packaging is of higher quality!

I decided to get this balm in orange, since I already own a lot of pinks and reds. This Break Time tint isn't too pigmented, but because of that it looks really natural.

I'm not a fan of dipping my fingers into products, but since I like the overall effect of this tint, I have no other choice.

$5.30 on Sasa.com

Korean Nail Polishes

If you're planning a trip to Korea & you love beauty products, something that is a MUST BUY would have to be nail polishes! Koreans are quite trendy, so the colors of the polishes are all really pretty!

OPI and Essie nail polishes can cost about about $6-$8 per bottle and require many coats in order to look opaque. With Korean polishes, just 1-2 coats is enough!

TonyMoly $2.50, Skin Food $2, Innisfree $2.50, Modi Aritaum $3.50, Etude $2, Nature Repub. $1

Skin Food Fresh Fruit Lip & Cheek Berry Swatches

Brightly colored cheek products can make a big difference!

When applied correctly, bright cheeks can make you look healthy, younger, glowing and innocent.

This small lip & cheek tint is portable and extremely easy to use! While it may look super bright in the tin, it is actually not that bright.

I love the vintage tin it comes in! If this color isn't for you, it comes in a load of different shades!

View the video below to see a swatch~

Sheet Masks Collection & Tips

Here's my collection of Asian Sheet Masks. Most of them are from Korea because I find Korean masks to be affordable and effective. Prior to owning Korean masks, I used to use masks from the Taiwan brand My Beauty Diary!

~Sheet mask tips:

- Store them in the frige before using! The coldness will shrink pores and cool the skin down
- Do not keep the mask on your face until it is dry! By doing so, it will dry out your skin
- Try your absolute best to not talk when the mask is on your face
- Rub the remaining serum on your arms and legs
- When the 15-30 minutes are up, pat the serum into your skin by tapping your fingers! (Similar to playing the piano :p)

Philosophy Miracle Worker SPF 50+

Protecting your sun is extremely important, especially if you want to fight signs of aging.

Philosophy Miracle Worker SPF 50+ retails for $58 on Sephora. Yes, it is expensive compared to other sunscreens. Luckily for me, I got this as a gift.

The formula is a light, white lotion. It doesn't leave your skin chalky white, but the formula is a little greasy. I find it works well under makeup, but maybe not on its own (especially if you have oily skin)
It claims to "minimize the signs of aging" but to a certain point all sunscreens do that. So, is it worth the $58? No, not unless you're crazy about Philosophy products.

#Nails: Skin Food Nail Vita BR612

Nature Republic Botanical Shine Tint 01

I own more lip tints than lipsticks because I am one of those who rarely touch up my make up! Out of all the lip tints I own, this one from Nature Republic takes the cake. Why I rank it number one is because it's more like a liquid lipstick tint!

The texture is gel-like and does not settle into your fine lines. Along with that, the lasting power is amazing. Some times with lip tint  if you have pigmented lips, it doesn't show "true to color," but this one goes on exactly like the color on the bottle.

Below is a video of the product; notice how shiny the tint is!

Wet and Wild Pearlescent Pink Blush Swatches

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know I love blushes! High end, drugstore, Korean, whatever- I don't care, I like them all!

Wet and Wild is an affordable drugstore brand that always amazes me with its high quality, yet low price point!

This blusher in Pearlescent Pink is the cutest pink blush. The pigmentation, along with the texture is A+.
The best part? it's under $3 :)

May Favorites~ 2013

Woo, finally the start of a new month! As always, time goes by super quickly!
Last month, I have a couple products that I looooved using.

1. Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream (80ml, ~$15)
Since the weather is humid, I tend to treat my skin with jelly type face creams. The texture of this product is very light and smells clean and fresh!

2. Benefit High Beam
Dotting this product on my cheeks and down the bridge of my nose gives my skin the most luminous glow! Don't apply too much, or it may look as if your skin is oily

3. Tarte Expose
If you look at the container, it looks brown! It's even called "nude" on Sephora.com, but actually this is a very lovely strawberry nudie-brown blusher that looks really nice! It looks better on your cheeks than in the pan.

If you have any beauty of skin care products that you loved next month, I'd love to know~ leave a comment :D

#Nails: Modi Aritaum Tweed Jacket 트위드 재킷

DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge 1 Review

Most of my friends consistently stick to my cleanser for a loooong time. Me? I tend to try new ones constantly.

I head about this Dermadoctor cleanser from, where else, the Internet. A lot of  people were raving about it, which made me curious!

This cleanser claims to fight aging by efficiently exfoliating the skin. Many exfoliating face washes have scrubbing bits, but I found this cleanser to be very milky and non-irritating!

Since I just started using it, I cannot comment on the anti-aging benefits. For the most part, I am enjoying this face wash very much.

If you live near a Sephora store, you can ask one of the associates to provide a free sample.

Innisfree Mineral Blusher #02 Coral Swatch

Holika Holika Jewel Light Waterproof Eyeliner

 I've always favored brown eyeliners over black, simply because it looks a lot more natural.

When I was at Holika Holika, I noticed these Jewel Light eyeliner so I decided to pick one up to try.

The pencil is soft and does not tug on my eye line. It claims to be waterproof, but I don't find that to be true at all.

When I used it to line my waterline, I noticed some smudging on my lower eye line.

I don't think I will re-purchase this liner, but it does work well on my upper lash line.

Peripera Tint Water #2

Peripera is a cute cosmetic company from Korea. The packaging  as well as the products, are of super high quality but affordable.

I'm a fan of lip tints, since I hate reapplying lipstick and I enjoy the fact that lip tints lasts longer than other lip products.

If you have pigmented lips, this Tint Water is perfect! It's not only highly pigmented, but it smells delicious and lasts forever!

You can also use it as a blusher, but personally for me, I like it best used as a lip tint.

When I use it, I only apply it to the inner center of my lips to create an ulzzang inspired lip gradation.

Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush

 Blushes are an addiction of mine. I probably do not need to buy anymore, since it basically takes forever to finish- but I can't help but add more to my collection!

Originally, I did not want to buy this Rosy Glow blusher from Dior, but as time went on, I suddenly felt the need to purchase it & I'm so glad I did!

Packaging wise, it's very luxurious. It's silver, with clear acrylic. The brush is also not too bad!

The concept of this blush is that it will adjust to your skin natural chemistry  On me, it looks like a sweet strawberry milk color.  Since it's finely milled, it goes on beautifully. It also smells just like roses!

I purchased mine from Sephora for $44.

Dad, Where Are You Going? 아빠 어디가

I love Korean shows, especially dramas and varieties! My current obsession is  아빠 어디가  or Dad, Where Are You Going. This reality-variety show invovled a group of celeb fathers and their little children. It's extremely cute and heartwarming.

You can watch English subbed versions of this show at shiareagy.tumblr.com/

Etude House Bling Bling Eye Stick Review

These pencil type of "eye sticks" are now super popular. I like them because I can quickly swipe it on my eyes and blend it out with my finger.

I decided to choose this pale, shimmer yellow color mainly because I like using these type of shades on my inner lower under eye :)

This product from Etude House is pigmented and does not crease at all. It's really affordable and comes in various shades!

Dr. Jart Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm

I'm a sucker for the items located near the check out line at Sephora.  I own, as well as tried, many different BB creams, but none from Dr. Jart.

It claims to be detoxing, so it'll work well with acne prone skin. For me, I like the fact that it covered my imperfections, but my face still looked natural.

I still need to test it out, but for now, I really like it!

Youtube!

 Often times it's easier to see product swatches through video, rather than photos. For more videos of swatches, please check out to my YouTube Channel! It's free to subscribe :)

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Fact Peel

I love pampering my skin, but some times it just takes too long! I'm always on the hunt for products that  are easy to use and do not take a lot of time. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Fact Peel to the rescue!

It not only exfoliates your skin, but it always treats your skin with anti-aging ingredients. This two step peels takes less than 5 minutes! Immediately after use, my skin looks and feels sooo much softer!
I purchased mine from Sephora.

Nature Republic Collagen HD Aqua BB Cream

BB Creams has made its way to America, but I still believe that BB Creams from Asia are far more superior in terms of skin care benefits, coverage and quality.

I randomly decided to pick up this Collagen HD Aqua BB Cream from Nature Republic. It is not the most popular BB Cream from NR, but I'm glad I decided to give it a go!

On top of that, it was only $7!

 This BB cream isn't too think nor too watery. I would say the coverage is medium to high and easily buildable.

The overall finish is semi-matte with a hint of dewey-ness. If you have oily skin, I would suggest using a finishing powder, but for those with dry skin this BB cream is really moisturizing and will not emphasize dry patches.

Here is a swatch. It is on the yellow side with no gray undertones! To the right of the line of BB cream is the blended product. The color is perfect for me and it blends in seamlessly.