2014 Favourites

Hey everyone!

I won't be having a favourites for this month in favour of the ultimate favourites post - my 2014  Favourites! This is a special kind of favourites as it also includes my favourite travel experience from this past year as well. Not going to lie, this was a pretty difficult year for me in terms of everything, but it was easily the most eventful. Restarting this blog was definitely a big part of my year, and I hope to continue being more active and sharing all these experiences and products with all of you!

Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream (Review here)

I've said this before, but this is by far the best BB cream I have ever tried. No grey cast, great colour match, lightweight, light to medium coverage, and photo-friendly! This makes me look like I have healthy, almost flawless skin, which is definitely not the case. The shade range and packaging definitely need some improvement, but I have been so happy with this overall and would highly recommend it!

Innisfree Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (Review here)

I used to use it twice a week when I first got it, but I like it better as a once a week treatment on Sunday nights to clarify my pores after wearing make-up almost the whole week. It also helps calm my acne though I don't use it as a spot treatment anymore. It also reduces the redness on my face, which is always a huge plus for me. It's easy to see why this sells so well!

Real Techniques Shading Brush

This wins as my favourite brush this year as it is the one that I didn't expect to work as well as it did. It works well to pack on colour as well as to blend harsh edges away no matter what type of eyeshadow. It also allows me a lot of control because of its small size. All in all, it's a really great multi-purpose first eyeshadow brush!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow (Birthday Suit, My Two Cents)

These two have been my go-to for an easy wash of colour on lazy days, as well as bases to make similar colours sitting on top more vibrant. I also like how you can't find similar colours of these in the famous Maybelline Color Tattoo range, which convinces me to purchase the full-sized versions when I run out...which won't happen soon as I'm not even halfway through the tiny pots!

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX

This is the newest one among all my favourites, but it is the one that has made all the difference to my rough, dehydrated skin. It does exactly as it claimed - to smoothen skin and add moisture. I also like how quickly it absorbs into the skin without leaving an icky oily feeling unlike other moisturizers. I think I found another skin care staple!

Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence (Review here)

I like how this adds enough moisture and has just the right amount of silicone to make the application of whatever base I apply on top smoother without making me feel like I have a film over my face as most primers tend to do. I'm happy with the price tag as well despite its availability (rather, lack of) in most Etude House branches I go to. Highly recommended for people with drier skin!

Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff (Review here)

I was in denial for a long time on choosing this sponge over my make-up brushes, but this gives the most flawless, skin-like finish, especially when paired with cream products like my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer! It also helps my base products to separate less when worn for a long time.  This combined with my Fairydrops BB Cream and NARS Concealer make for a (seemingly) good skin day. Another unexpected favourite, and it won't break your bank as much as the original Beauty Blender would!

Best Travel Experience

Singapore

I already consider myself lucky to have traveled overseas more than once this year, but what made my Singapore May 2014 trip better was that I got to visit a friend I hadn't seen in a long time, and experienced planning and paying for a trip all on my own. This was more of a vacation for me than my Seoul trip was, as I didn't have to stress over the itinerary and making sure my parents weren't lost. It was nice to go at your own pace and do what you wanted to do for a change. In a way, it was a semi-independent trip that I won't forget for a lifetime.

And there you have it! Feel free to share with me your own favourites for this year down in the comments below. I'd like to thank everyone who has made this year what it was, especially you guys! Here's to a happier, better 2015!

1. Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX
2. Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence
3. Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream
4. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
5. Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff
6. Real Techniques Shading Brush
7. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Favourites

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: Skin Care

Hey everyone!

This new series called 'New In' is going to replace my old 'First Impressions' posts. It's still the same thing, but I figured a shorter name would make it easier to tag and to remember as well. For my first post, I'm going to talk about the new skin care products I've been using!

Prior to a change in my routine, my skin was oily and dehydrated. It was rough even after exfoliating, and felt tight even with moisturizer. I also had redness everywhere which bothered me a lot. I used to use the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener because it worked fine the first time I used it, but when I bought the bigger bottle in my Seoul 2014 Haul, I realized that it was far too harsh on my skin. I also realized my moisturizers weren't as great for my skin as they were initially, and that I needed an eye cream with anti-aging benefits.

Since switching up to the products I'm about to talk about, my skin has not felt tight at all, and is as smooth as ever. I only ever need to exfoliate once a week, which is amazing in my opinion! I also get less breakouts and have less to no redness, which are the biggest changes of all. I won't go too much into detail as I do want to do full reviews soon, but I'll just go through these quickly!

I also couldn't help but notice that these are all Asian products. Yay #asianpride!

Muji Light Toning Water for Sensitive Skin (High Moisture)

Alex from The Red Eyeliner and I were interested in trying toners from Muji mainly because of the ingredients and price. It claims to have no harsh chemicals and unnecessary fragrances, contains hyaluronic acid, and is alcohol-free. It comes in a minimalist bottle with measurements at the sides so you can see how much you have left in the bottle. It's the first toner I've ever used that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight, gives me redness, or stings my skin! I think this and the next product I'm about to mention has made the biggest difference to my skin.

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX

I've been wanting this for years but never got it in favour of cheaper moisturizing essences. I finally gave in after trying a tiny sample and I'm kicking myself for not trying this sooner. This claims to hydrate and smooth the skin, and it does exactly that! This has done wonders for my dehydrated skin. I'm so impressed with this product so far and I hope it keeps giving this result.

Laneige Pore Clear Essence

I got samples of these before and in my recent purchase of the Water Bank Essence, and it was recommended to me to clear my pores as I wear make-up everyday to uni. It claims to clear out dirt and impurities, and I always feel my skin become smoother. Whenever I put this on my pimples, it helps get rid of them faster without leaving as much of a mark as it usually does. I might buy a full sized sample of this soon!

Nature Republic Snail Solution 70 Eye Cream

I talked about this before on my November Favourites, but I've been really liking this eye cream! I've had a few bad nights leaving me with puffy eyes and putting this on helps the puffiness lessen by the morning. I like that the packaging is in a tube instead of a jar so you can easily take it along if you want to. It has also reduced the milia around my eyes which is a very big plus!

There you go! Feel free to leave any comments about the products: if you've tried them before, if they've been on your list, or if you have any products that have made huge differences to your skin.  Until my next post!

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Friday, December 19, 2014

NEW IN: Skin Care

By Pauline Read More

October Favourites

Hi everyone and Happy Halloween!

I just wanted to make a quick post to share my October Favourites with you! I didn't wear much makeup this month as I didn't have the luxury of time due to all my exams, which led to breakouts. -_- I didn't want to stress my skin further by putting on make-up so most of what I'm going to talk about here is skin care. I've also traveled twice this month so the little samples I got from my purchases before in Seoul have definitely come in handy.

Mamonde Extra Moisture Emulsion

I liked this so much, I had my friend buy me the full-sized version! Its lightweight but still gives a good amount of hydration to my skin. I've been wearing just this at home (or I add sunblock if I'm going out) and it has been enough to keep my skin from feeling tight. Only downside is that it is scented, so I wouldn't recommend this for people with extremely sensitive skin. 

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack

This has been a lifesaver for the first half of this month, as I spent it sleeping late at night and waking up quite early. It helped prevent my skin from getting dehydrated and looking dull. As this is a 'sleeping' pack, I put this on at night 2-3 times a week to keep my skin hydrated and looking a little more alive than it would have without it. It doesn't surprise me that this has been their best seller for years!

NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

I don't know about you guys but there was a big learning curve for me in putting on setting powder. Regardless, this was a great first setting powder for me as it never looked cakey no matter how much I put on, and was almost invisible on the skin. It also did a great job in making my skin look flawless and poreless, which no powder I've tried has done yet. I use this with my Real Techniques Powder Brush as a last step to my routine and I'm almost hitting pan!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit + YDK (Naked 2 Palette)

This is quite a different favourite as it's more of a favourite combination of two products. Though I haven't worn a lot of makeup this month, whenever I did I would always wear the Birthday Suit alone or in combination with YDK. I love the ease of cream shadows as well as the staying power, and the multi-dimensionality (if that makes sense) of YDK. It's slightly coppery which is probably why I love it so much.

That's it for my favourites! I hope you all have a great November! If you have any products or even experiences that made your October awesome, feel free to leave a comment down below! :)

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Friday, October 31, 2014

October Favourites

By Pauline Read More

September Favourites

Hi, everyone!

I hope you had a great September! Unfortunately mine was more stressful than I thought it would be so I had to simplify my normal skin care and make-up routine from the previous month. I also had to stay up for hours studying and doing papers which left my skin dehydrated by morning. This means more hydration and trying to look like I had more sleep than I actually did. Here are some of my favourites for September!

Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff

I got this at the start of the month and I have been using it every single day to the point that I have to stop myself and give the sponge a few rest days to make it last longer. I love using this with my concealer the most (which I'll mention in a bit) because it makes it look so natural on both blemishes, redness, and under the eyes. 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

If there is anything that is very important to me, it's concealer. It took a good month for me to finally get this in my shade (as it is always out of stock) but since I got it I have been using it everyday. It's medium to full coverage, a little goes a very long way, and is very brightening under the eyes but still works well on blemishes. You can definitely blend it in with fingers but I love using it with the marshmallow puff for a seamless finish. Easily the best all-around concealer I've tried and it's about time it got mentioned in a favourites post!

Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel

All the stress and lack of sleep has seriously dried my under eyes to the point that I needed to use this during the day (as I used to only use it at night). I discovered that it's a great eye gel for my concealer as it prevents it from looking flaky under the eyes and it doesn't settle so much on my milia (which needs to go -_-). I'm having an issue with fine lines though so I'll definitely switch when this runs out, but highly recommended if you're looking for hydration!

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

This marks the first time I'm talking about a hair product! I got my hair trimmed about three weeks ago and got this to help my very dry, frizzy hair. This is the first hair mask I've used that really works!  I used it twice a week and it just leaves my hair feeling soft, light, and very healthy-looking. It also makes my hair easier to style, too. It's a bit expensive but well worth the price!

There you have it! I know that school just started for a lot of you plus autumn is coming in, so I wanted to know how this changed your skin care and make-up routines! What products have you loved from September? Let me know in the comment below!

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Friday, October 03, 2014

September Favourites

By Pauline Read More

REVIEW: Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel

Hi, everyone!

Thought I'd take a break from make-up for a while, and I wanted to do a review on a product that I've been using for years. I wanted an eye cream since the skin under my eyes is quite dry, and during the time, I've read good reviews about this particular eye cream, and the line it is from in general. I am talking about the Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel!

I'm showing two boxes is that I recently emptied the box on the left, and the one on the right is apparently the newer packaging. The new jar is much wider in size and slightly taller, and has a wider mouth which I like more as it makes the product easier to scoop out. 

It still contains the same amount of product, and the only difference I've noticed in the formulation is that the scent is much less potent than before, which I like.

It claims to retain the skin's natural moisture through an emollient taken from palm kernel for a maximum 12 hours, reduce puffiness and eye stress with the use of bilberry. Let's find out if it lives up to this.

This eye gel is packaged in a blue glass jar, and comes with a seal that I've already broken open. It also comes with a lid and its own spatula, which makes up for its otherwise unhygienic packaging. Inside the jar the product is white, but when spread onto the skin turns translucent. 

   

For application, I just dot this below my eyes (though not directly below - about a centimeter below) and pat it gently into my skin with my ring finger. I do advise that you use your ring finger for under-eye application as this portion of your skin is the easiest to wrinkle because it is much thinner. I use a very small amount, as a little goes a very long way with this product. I do this step right after my serum and find that the skin under my eyes stays soft and moisturized for a much longer time and does not feel rough to the touch. 

The product takes about 10 minutes to absorb fully. As it is a gel and not a cream I don't find it as heavy (if not at all - this is quite lightweight), which is great as sometimes creams tend to break me out despite my dry/combination skin needing the moisture. It is quite sticky to the touch once spread, and comes across as quite oily (though it certainly does not feel oily), so I would recommend this for night time use only. It also has a slight cooling effect which I really like.

This product claims to retain the skin's natural moisture for up to 12 hours. I cannot say it lasts exactly 12 hours, but I find that when I wake up  (after about 6-8 hours sleep), my skin is not dry at all - more of soft to the touch and definitely not oily. Since using this, my BB creams do not settle onto the dry skin under my eyes as much, though it wouldn't show at all if I used a day eye cream.

As for reducing puffiness, I do think that it does a good job with this. It definitely makes my eyes look more rested and even when I cry with this on - which has happened, mostly stress-related - my eyes never look incredibly puffy in the morning which I really appreciate. 

Overall I would recommend this for dry/normal skin, as well as acne prone skin (if not oily) as this has never broken me out in the three years that I have been using it, and a lot of creams have broken me out in the past. 

One jar usually lasts me an average of 7 months, which despite its price, is okay for the quality it gives. This is priced at 32000₩, which is an equivalent of P1440 or around $32. Laneige is a luxury brand in Korea which explains its price, but for the result and the amount of time one jar lasts, I would say it is a very good eye gel.

This is available at Laneige stores (Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, SM Megamall, SM Aura, and Trinoma) as well as in online stores if you're not in Seoul or visiting anytime soon. 

Summary:

(+) Hydrating

(+) Light-weight

(+) Long-lasting on skin

(+) Need only small amount for application

(+) Reduces puffiness

(+) Always available in Laneige stores

(-) Expensive

(-) Not travel friendly (glass jar)

(-) Night time use only

Rating: 4.4/5

Repurchase? Yes.

Friday, August 08, 2014

REVIEW: Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel

By Pauline Read More

Seoul Skin Care and Make-Up Haul

One of the things that got me very excited for Seoul was the shopping. I've been an avid user of Korean skin care and cosmetics for years, especially after switching from the products my dermatologist prescribed. During my prior trip I hauled mainly Laneige products after the recommendation of my Korean foster sister when I was still in high school. Given it is one of the more expensive skin care brands, but anything that goes on my skin (and clears it) is worth it.

This time I wanted to stock up and try Innisfree, as well as new cleansers from Skin Food (as their Tea Tree Cleansing Foam helped clear up my skin a lot). I was also lucky enough to be there during Etude House's 30% sale, so I decided to try out some products that I never bothered to try back home. 

Reviews for the products shown will be up soon!

From top to bottom, L-R 

1. Innisfree Green Tea Moisture Essence | 2. Innisfree Canola Honey Serum | 3. Laneige Sunblock Aqua SPF 35 PA++ | 4. Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener | 5. Skin Food Egg White Pore Foam | 6. Skin Food Black Sugar Scrub Foam | 7. Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel | 8. Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX | 9. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

In comparison, my make-up mini-haul is much more modest. I didn't wear makeup for about 2 years since I was so busy coping with requirements at uni and by this time, my makeup had all expired and so many new products have emerged. I was going to get more from Lioele after reading reviews, but it disappointed me to know that they didn't have a store in Seoul yet. :(

From L-R

1. Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pastel Upper Liner in No. 3 Mintade | 2. It's Skin Babyface Jelly Tint in Red | 3. Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Pore Primer Essence | 4. 3 Concept Eyes Lip Lacquer in Bonbon | 5. Missha Gel Liner Brush

These products were mostly purchased on a whim, save for Goodbye Pore-Ever and 3CE's Lip Lacquer. Reviews will also be up soon!

© All photos taken by me using an iPhone 5s. 

Friday, May 02, 2014

Seoul Skin Care and Make-Up Haul

By Pauline Read More