Skincare Empties ::Empties Week Day 5::

We made it to the end of Empties Week! Today's post is all about skincare. If you've missed any of days 1-4, you can check them out here:
Day 1 Mascara
Day 2 Makeup
Day 3 Body & Fragrance
Day 4 Haircare

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Hair Care Empties ::Empties Week Day 4::

Empties Week is almost over! If you've missed any of the other days, you can check them out here:
Day 1 Mascara
Day 2 Makeup
Day 3 Body & Fragrance

Joico K-Pak Color Therapy Luster Lock

Pros: Hydrating, smoothing

Cons: Price

I won this from a giveaway Joico was doing, and ended up really liking it. Not only did it make my hair smoother, softer, and more manageable, it remained so for a few days afterwards. I'd totally use this again.

Repurchase? Yes

Lador Hydro LPP Treatment

Pros: Hydrating, smoothing, strengthens hair

Cons: Formula has been changed

I really loved this while it lasted, but the formula has been changed according to several bloggers, and it's just not the same. This would have definitely been a repurchase if they hadn't changed the formula since it did do a great job of hydrating my hair and making it feel healthier. The results of the original formula are actually very comparable to the Joico K-Pak Luster Lock, so if you're looking for an alternative, try that.

Repurchase? No.

 Lador Before Care Keratin PPT

Pros: Convenient spray bottle, price

Cons: Didn't give me the desired results

As much as I loved the Hydro LPP Treatment, this just didn't do anything for me. 

Repurchase? No

 Lador Perfect Fill Up Ampoule

Pros: Price, hydrating

Cons: A bit of a hassle

I was surprised by how much I liked this, I didn't expect much. The process is a bit finicky because you have to mix equal ratios of water and ampoule in a bowl to form a cream before you can apply it to your hair. I would prefer it to just come already mixed in a regular conditioner bottle, but this is a great hair treatment, so I'm willing to deal with the hassle. 

Repurchase? Yes

Alchemic Muse Hair Mist Bad Wolf 

Pros: Great way to add scent to hair without dehydrating it

Cons: Scent

If you read yesterday's empties post, you'll recognize this brand as they also make my favorite body butter. I picked up one of their hair mists to try, hoping it would act as a good leave-in conditioner. Unfortunately, it wasn't strong enough to tame my hair, but it did leave behind a great amount of scent behind that lasted until I washed my hair again. I didn't like this particular scent because it was a bit too outdoorsy/rustic for my taste, but I love the formula of this product as a hair perfume since it lasts such a long time. 

Repurchase? Not this scent, but I would buy others from the brand

Nth Degree Smoothing Moroccan Argan Oil & Keratin Hair Serum

Pros: Scent

Cons: Mediocre results

I loved the scent of this oil so, so much since it reminded me of my favorite Bath & Body Works candle, Black Tea & Lemon AKA London. Unfortunately, the results were just ok. Other than the scent there was nothing about it that stood out to me. It wasn't a bad product by any means, it just didn't live up to my expectations. I much prefer the Verb Ghost Oil.

Repurchase? No

Somang Keratin Silkprotein Hair Essence 

Pros: Price, made my hair shiny and improved my hair texture

Cons: Didn't tame or hydrate my hair enough

I have a full review of this product here, but suffice to say it was yet another hair product that failed me. It did make my hair softer and shinier, but it didn't do much for hydration or make my hair more manageable, which are two things that are very important to me in a hair product. I think this would probably work better for thinner hair as it's lightweight, but for my thick, unruly hair, it wasn't enough.

Repurchase? No

Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo

Pros: Smells nice, sulfate free

Cons: Expensive

I feel like this post is becoming a total bummer because it's basically a list of products that failed me, but at least it might prevent you from feeling the same disappointment if your hair type is similar to mine. I picked up a travel size of this shampoo after hearing Casey Holmes rave about how well it helped to detangle her hair. Unfortunately for me, this didn't do a damn thing to help my hair. It's nice that it's sulfate free as sulfates can be drying and irritating, and it does smell pleasant, but other than that, this is a total flop for me.

Repurchase? No

Beaver Hydro Shampoo

Pros: Are there any?

Cons: everything. 

I hated this shampoo. However, I know other people love it and felt it made their hair soft. For me this made my hair feel greasy and stringy. I didn't like the scent of it, the brand can only be found at Birchbox as far as I know, and while I would normally appreciate a brand putting the pH of their product on the label (pH is important for healthy hair too!), the fact that they gave such an enormous window of 5.5-6.5 has me giving them hella side-eye. This shampoo marked the beginning of the end of my love for Birchbox, and with good reason. I feel like this is a sub-par product that shouldn't have been in a Birchbox to begin with considering it doesn't really fit with their brand, but like I said, some people seem to like it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, as always. 

Repurchase? No

Sorry to end the post with such a shitty disappointing product, but at least they weren't all bad. If you have thick, damaged, unruly hair, there are some great recommendations here, so hopefully you don't have to deal with the same long list of disappointments that I have. Only one day of Empties Week left, and I think I've saved the best for last! Until then, thanks for reading :)

-Cristine

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Body and Fragrance Empties ::Empties Week Day 3::

Hello friends and welcome back for day 3 of Empties Week! Today is all about fragrance and body products, one of my favorite categories!

 Bath & Body Works Rain Kissed Leaves Shower Gel

Pros: Calming, clean scent

Cons: Price

I love Rainkissed Leaves, it's one of my all-time favorite scents from Bath & Body Works. It's such a calming, fresh scent. It's what I always reach for when I'm in a bad mood or feeling sick. It's earthy without being a dirty hippy smell, it's like grass but more sophisticated. Bath & Body Works shower gels are totally overpriced, so I always buy them on sale.

Repurchase? Hell yes

Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle Twisted Peppermint

Pros: Festive, sweet scent

Cons: Polarizing scent

I absolutely love Twisted Peppermint in all if its forms, but my sister hates it, so this is definitely a polarizing scent. She says it's too minty, whereas I feel the opposite is true, for me there's too much vanilla and not enough mint. This year I picked up Peppermint Marshmallow instead, and she likes that one much better. To be honest, I kind of do too because I like marshmallow better than peppermint, but I'm totally picking up a smaller size of Twisted Peppermint during the semi-annual sale and burning it when she's not home!

Repurchase? Yes

Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle Pomegranate Prosecco Punch

Pros: Fruity, not too sweet

Cons: kind of lackluster

I bought this one last year when they ran out of Champagne Toast, which I love for its bubbly scent. I was hoping this would have the same effervescent quality, but with a fruity twist. Unfortunately, it lacks the bubbly scent of Champagne Toast, but it is a nice pomegranate scent, just not something particularly unique.

Repurchase? No

 Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle Autumn Sky

Pros: Fresh, clean scent without any sharp notes

Cons: none

If you want something fresh, but you don't like the typical lemon cleaner or fresh linen scents, try this. It makes your home smell clean in a nice soft, subtle way that I think a lot of people would like. It's very much a "clean air" type of candle that doesn't really smell of anything specific, just a general freshness.

Repurchase? Yes

 Bath & Body Works Shower Gel Georgia Peach & Sweet Tea

Pros: TEA!!

Cons: Currently MIA

This was a seasonal peach scent that I haven't seen them bring back. The other peach scents from Bath and Body Works are ok, but this one was something special because of the tea note. Often tea notes barely make an appearance in a scent, even when they're listed, they just tend to fade into the background. In this scent, there's a perfect balance of peach and tea, which keeps it from smelling too sweet and gives me that tea note that I just love. I have another one of these stashed under the sink right now, I hope they bring this back before I run out!

Repurchase? Yessssss

Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant Chamomile and Cucumber Scents

Pros: No white marks on clothing, doesn't ball up or feel gross, hydrating

Cons: Price

These are a bit more expensive than a regular stick of deodorant (but cheaper than the "clinical" ones), but so, so worth it. I've loved Dove deodorant for years because it's one of the few brands that makes a scent I can stand (I hate powdery scents!) and it works great for me. I was skeptical of the "dry spray" type deodorants but got a free can of men's Degree from Walmart. I decided to try it out, and after loving that, I picked up a can of the Dove dry spay. I'll never use anything else. It's quick and easy to use, keeps me smelling fresh all day, works well as an antiperspirant (I know some people have health concerns about antiperspirant, I personally don't), and doesn't leave white marks on my clothes. The soothing chamomile is a really soft, fresh scent that pairs well with all of my perfumes, and the cool essentials scent is mix of cucumber and green tea. Neither are powdery or floral (I was expecting the chamomile to be too floral, but it's actually not, just a really subtle, clean herbal) so I just buy whichever happens to be in stock. I love this stuff and can't recommend it highly enough. 

Repurchase? Yes to both.

Bath & Body Works Lilac Blossom Room Spray

Pros: Strong scent, a small can lasts a really long time

Cons: Too herbal for my liking

I hate the regular air fresheners from the grocery store, something in them just smells off to me and I'm usually not that interested in any of the scents. I use Bath & Body Works room sprays instead. I picked up a bunch on sale and tossed this one in to round out my total even though I'm not that into lavender. Mistake. This one is a really strong lavender to the point of almost being headache inducing. I finished it off, but I would definitely never buy this scent or any variation of it ever again. If you love lavender though, you'll almost certainly love this.

Repurchase? Not this scent. but this product, yes.

Alchemic Muse Body Whip Nevermore

Pros: Very hydrating, non-greasy, supports small business

Cons: Have to buy it online without being able to smell it in person

I found out about Alchemic Muse through a beauty forum a while ago, and after seeing everyone there so obsessed with it, I decided to make an order myself so I could see what all the fuss was about. I get it now. The scents are creative and the formulas are outstanding. This is the best body butter I've ever used. It's nice and thick, but doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It made my skin feel soft and hydrated in a way that most body butters don't. I didn't really like this scent because it had too much of a spice note for my liking, which is why I didn't completely finish it before it expired. The fact that I was still reaching for it even though I didn't like the scent really says something because I actually hate putting lotion on, the scent is usually the only thing that motivates me to do it. I'll continue to purchase body butters from Alchemic Muse, I just wouldn't purchase this particular scent again.

Repurchase? Not this scent, but yes to this formula.

Giorgio Armani Si (Scentbird)

Pros: Very feminine scent without being too immature, most people like it

Cons: Price

Si is one of those scents that most people just love, I get complimented on it all the time. It's a fresh, juicy floral with a bit of sweetness that gives it a very feminine and romantic feel. Like most designer perfumes, it's expensive, so I purchased a vial from Scentbird to give it a long test drive before deciding whether or not I wanted to purchase a full size. I'm still kind of on the fence about it even though I love this perfume because I switch fragrances so frequently depending on my mood, the weather, where I'm going, etc. that I'm worried it would go bad before I got through a whole bottle. I'm thinking I might just buy another vial of it from Scentbird, especially since I love to travel with this scent. If you wanna learn more about Scentbird, check out the link in the sidebar, which will get you your first month free. 

Repurchase? Yes

Another batch of empties down, woohoo! Only two more days left of Empties Week. What are you looking forward to more, skincare or haircare? Let me know in the comments down below.

Thanks for reading!

-Cristine

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Makeup Empties ::Empties Week Day 2::

Welcome back for day 2 of Empties Week! Today we'll be talking about makeup. If you missed day 1 (mascara) you can check it out here. On to the fun stuff!

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Mascara Empties ::Empties Week Day 1::

Welcome to Empties Week!

So... you see what happened was, I went through my makeup stash and was trying to use up a bunch of products so I could streamline my collection before we moved back in October. I was also close to finishing several products, so I ended up with a whooole lot of empties. The plan was to do empties week back in October, so I wouldn't have to move all of my trash to the new house. I even took all of the photos, but then I got sick and whatever free time I had before the chaos of moving overtook my life, went poof! So much for that plan. Now that things have settled down and I've got a bit of time off from school, I can finally get back to writing these posts. I've broken them down into categories to make things easier to digest. Today we'll be talking about all of my mascara empties.

Tuesday will be the rest of my makeup.
Wednesday will be body and fragrance products.
Thursday will be haircare.
Friday will be skincare.

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Recent Favorites + A Flop

It's been a few months since my last favorites post, but they're some of my favorite posts to write. I've got some great products to share with you today that I've really been loving (including some non-beauty favorites!). Hopefully you'll love them too!

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[Review] Sunday Riley Power Couple: Luna Sleeping Night Oil and Good Genes Treatment

The Sunday Riley products I use are by far the products I get the most questions about, and understandably so. The entire Sunday Riley brand has a cult following and hype galore, but it also comes with a high price tag and a bit of controversy regarding some of the ingredients such as dyes and fragrant plant oils. Today, I'll be giving you my take on these two products and their ingredients, and my personal experiences with them. Keep in mind, I'm not a skincare expert, a cosmetic chemist, or anything in that realm, I'm a Communication Sciences major who just happens to enjoy getting nerdy (nah nah nah nah nah nah-nah gettin' nerdy wit' it) with cosmetics. The information provided in this review is a combination of my personal experiences with these products, and information from trusted sources such as skincare professionals and academic research.

Just a quick little disclaimer before we get into it: I don't think you need to buy expensive products to have good skin, nor do I think expensive products work better than less expensive ones. Good skincare isn't about money, it's about finding products and ingredients that work for you. Don't feel like you need to buy expensive products, or like you're doing something wrong if you can't afford to buy whatever product happens to be trendy at the moment. Just focus on finding what works for you. Alright, PSA over.

Disclosure: These products were purchased by me with my own money.

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[Review] Somang Keratin Silkprotein Hair Aqua Essence

Hello friends! I've nearly used up the Somang Keratin Silkprotein Hair Aqua Essence that I received in a Jini Beauty Box a few months ago (paid for with my own money), so I thought now would be a great time to review it for y'all.

What is it?

A leave-in conditioner containing keratin to help treat dry, damaged hair. It's meant to give your hair moisture, repair the cuticle, and prevent further damage. As the "essence" name indicates, it's much like the type of essence you would use for skincare as far as the texture goes, but personally it feels a bit more like an emulsion to me in the sense that it's essentially a watered down lotion/conditioner. "Watered down" makes it sound like a bad thing, but it's not. Just the best way of describing the texture. By comparison, the Beauty Protector leave-in conditioner from Birchbox is much thicker, but the Somang essence is a little bit thicker than water. The scent is a little bit flowery and sweet, but grounded with something a bit more earthy. I can definitely smell the chamomile and sage in this, with a bit of the lavender, not much of the rosemary comes through. The scent is definitely noticeable as I'm spraying it on my hair, and it does linger for a little bit, but it's gone by the time my hair is dry.

What's in it?

Purified Water, Ethanol, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, PPG-2-Deceth-12, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Panthenol, TEA Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Camomile Flower Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Viola Tricolor L. Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Sage Leaf Extract, Lavender Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Benzophenone-9, Methylparaben, Fragrance

How much is it?

110 ml $8.99 eBay || I've seen it listed on Amazon, but it's higher priced and the packaging is different. Not sure if it's new packaging or a fake product, so I'm not linking it here.

My Experience:

First, a bit about my hair. My hair is long, thick, wavy/curly, fluffy, color-treated, heat-styled, tangly, breaker of hair brushes, spawn of satan, and woefully misbehaved. It's a few sarcastic taunts short of being a Buffy villain, basically. This hair essence wasn't enough to tame it. It did give me softer and shinier hair, so it gets points for that. However, since it's so thin, I basically had to drown my hair in it. On the bright side, it didn't weigh my hair down. Didn't help to detangle my hair at all, but it doesn't claim to be a detangler, so fair 'nuff. Ultimately, I would say that if you have fairly normal hair and are just looking for something to give you shine and softness, you might like this. If you've got thick, curly, or coarse hair, I don't think you'll like this because it's not going to do much for you. People with thin hair may also like this because the essence texture keeps it lighter than some of the other leave-in conditioners I've tried in the past, but this is coming from someone with fluffy, unruly hair, so take that with a grain of salt. 

Would I repurchase?

Nah. The price is decent, it smells nice, and it gave me softness and shine, but this one didn't wow me. I'd rather keep trying other products. Maybe they make Demon-Away* for hair? Here's to hoping.

xx Cristine

*Fake product created by Tony from Real Ghost Stories Online, aka my favorite podcast. 

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May Coop Raw Sauce Review

As promised, here's my review of the May Coop Raw Sauce, which has become a k-beauty classic. It's a much buzzed-about product known for giving the skin a radiant glow. But did it live up to the hype?

May Coop Raw Sauce 1.35 oz bottle

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me, with my own money. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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What's In My Go-To Eye Shadow Palette?

Hey friends! As you probably know by now, things have been very hectic for me lately between house hunting, packing, getting ready for a friend's wedding, and preparing to start at a new school and a new job. Early on in the craziness, I realized that one of the tasks that slows me down the most when I'm trying to get ready is trying to decide which eye shadows I want to wear. I love changing my look up day to day, but realistically, I just don't have that much time to put into it right now (well, that and I don't wanna scare our realtor away with one of my glam grunge smoky eye looks, she's pretty traditional). In order to keep myself from digging through my palettes, I put together an assortment of eye shadows in my Makeup Geek Travel Palette that would allow me to do a range of eye looks and give me everything I needed to accomplish a quick look with just one palette. Today I'll be sharing my palette with you, as well as the logic behind my choice of shadows. Swatches are at the end of the post!

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July 2016 Favorites

Things are a little bit crazy for me at the moment. I'm starting classes at a new university (if you're curious, I'm working on a Bachelor's of Science in Communication), preparing for a friend's wedding, which I'm also a bridesmaid in, and doing the bride's makeup, starting a new job, and to top it all off, I'm in the process of house hunting (stalking them from the bushes and everything*) and getting ready to move. Hence the lack of blog posts recently. I'm trying y'all. I've got a few long-awaited reviews in the works and lots of empties posts coming up, I'm just trying to find a way to sneak them in amidst the chaos.

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[Review] Jini Beauty Box June 2016 Normal/Combination Skin

Hey friends. Now that I've had a chance to use everything in this month's box, it's time for me to share my thoughts with you. 

If you haven't heard of Jini Beauty Box before, they're a monthly Asian beauty subscription box that retails for $24.95. The box usually contains mostly skincare, along with one makeup/cosmetic item per month. You're promised 1-2 full size products and 3-5 samples. The unique premise with this box is that it's curated by skin type (normal/combination, dry/mature, oily/acne, or sensitive/troubled). If you want to learn more about this box, I have an entire post here that explains everything about this box in-depth. I also have a review for last month's box here if you're interested. Ingredients for all of the products included in the box can be found here.

Disclaimer: I paid for this box with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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[Review] April Skin Magic Snow Cushion Pink in 01 Pink

Today, I'm going to be sharing my full review on the April Skin Magic Snow Cushion Pink, which is a pale pink primer in cushion form, meant to brighten skin. I've previously reviewed this product briefly on Instagram, but I wanted to give you guys more details about the product. This product was sent to me by 0.8L in exchange for my honest review on Instagram, but I'm choosing to do a full review on it because I genuinely like the product and want to share my experience with the product in-depth. As always, my review will be 100% honest. 

This post does not contain affiliate links.

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[Review & Swatch] Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation (Shade 1.0)

I'm a bit of a foundation junkie, due in part to my difficult to match skin tone (pale, yellow-leaning olive*), as well as my general fussiness when it comes to foundation. It needs to be lightweight and skin-like, but still provide enough coverage to cover up redness and minor blemishes. It also needs to be long-lasting, and ideally sweat-proof since I live in a warm climate. Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Makeup ticks nearly all of those boxes, so it's no wonder this has become one of my favorite foundations.

*If you suspect you may have an olive undertone, read this and this.

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Behind the Scenes: Beauty Blogging Equipment and Tips

First, let me start off by saying I'm by no means an expert. This is all based on my own personal experiences, and the equipment that I use to fit my particular needs (space, money, and simplicity). Much of what I'll share here today are things I learned along the way, often out of necessity and frustration. Although I'm not an expert, I wanted to share this with you today in hopes that it might help someone else out. I know when I was looking for tips, they were pretty difficult to find. Let's start off with the more technical stuff, then work our way towards the more fun stuff.

Lighting

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Review: Take Out Spa My Renew Bottle and My Bright Bottle Sheet Masks

I picked up the Take Out Spa My Renew Bottle and My Juicy Bottle masks a couple of months ago when HKC Plaza was having a sale. I was also on a bit of "juice" mask kick, spurred on by my love of the Ariul Juice Cleanse masks. I saw the Take Out Spa masks, and figured I'd give them a try.

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My Favorite Summer Lip Products

I used to think I didn't have an addiction to lip products, but then I had to buy a small spinning tower to store them all, and I realized I was just in denial. My love of lip products stems from always wanting to have the exact right color and finish for whatever makeup I'm wearing. What can I say, I'm a detail-oriented person. I've chosen today's products with a similar train of thought, evaluating the products based on color, texture, and comfort (because no one wants to feel like their lips are about to peel off of their face in the summer heat). Without further adieu, I give you my favorite summer lip products.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Melondrama

I recently discovered just how wonderful the formula of the Smashbox Be Legendary Lipsticks is. It's easily in my top 10, if not my top 5. On top of having a formula that's pigmented, creamy, and long-wearing, Melondrama is also an electric peach with a hint of coral that's perfect for taking things up a notch in the summer.

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May 2016 Favorites

Confession: I'm a summer-hater. Yep, I hate the warmer weather, and the long days spent feeling like I'm trapped inside the house because it's too hot to do anything outside. I'm a fall/winter kind of girl. I want cloudy skies, the crunch of dead leaves (or better yet, snow! but good luck finding that in Vegas), and curling up under a blanket to binge-watch Netflix, burn candles, and crack the window to let in a bit of the crisp air. Every summer month that I can check off the list is one less month of tortuous heat, and one step closer to the few blissful months of cooler weather. So am I sad to see May go? Nope, not at all. Ok, maybe a little bit, but only because we've had an extraordinarily mild spring and early summer. Up until last week, it was still cool enough to leave the windows open. Ahh, if only it was like that all the time. Another good thing about the end of the month? New favorites! I've got some great products to talk about today, so let's get to it.

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Review: May 2016 Jini Beauty Box for Normal/Combination Skin

Another fun box from Jini Beauty this month! This month's box included a couple of products from brands I hadn't heard of, which is always fun, plus an interesting surprise in the form of a hair essence. 

If you haven't heard of Jini Beauty Box before, they're a monthly Asian beauty subscription box that retails for $24.95. The box usually contains mostly skincare and occasionally one makeup item per month. You're promised 1-2 full size products and 3-5 samples. The unique premise with this box is that it's curated by skin type (normal/combination, dry/mature, oily/acne, or sensitive/troubled). If you want to learn more about this box, I have an entire post here that explains everything about this box in-depth. I also have a review for last month's box here if you're interested. Ingredients for all of the products included in the box can be found here.

Disclaimer: I paid for this box with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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[Review and Swatch] Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Centerfold

The Buxom Wildly Whipped Soft Matte Lip Color is a very polarizing product; you're either going to love it or hate it depending on your personal preferences for lip color formulas. My own opinion on the product falls somewhere in between. I can see why other people might like this, but for me, it's another dud. It's not exactly a bad product, it's just not one of my favorite formulas. But first, let's get something out of the way because this damn song gets stuck in my head every time I see the name of this shade, 'Centerfold':

"My blood runs cold, my memory has just been sold, my angel is the centerfold, angel is the centerfold..."

So, now that it's stuck in your head too, let's continue on to the review...

Disclosure: I purchased this product with my own money. All opinions are my own, authentic opinions. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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[Review] April 2016 Jini Beauty Box for Normal/Combination Skin

Hey friends! Today I've got another review for you, this time for the April 2016 Jini Beauty Box for Normal/Combination Skin. This has quickly become one of my favorite subscription boxes, and I think this is the best box yet!

If you haven't heard of Jini Beauty Box before, they're a monthly Asian beauty subscription box that retails for $24.95. The box usually contains mostly skincare and occasionally one makeup item per month. You're promised 1-2 full size products and 3-5 samples. The unique premise with this box is that it's curated by skin type (normal/combination, dry/mature, oily/acne, or sensitive/troubled). If you want to learn more about this box, I have an entire post here that explains everything about this box in-depth. I also have a review for last month's box here if you're interested. Ingredients for all of the products included in the box can be found here.

Disclosure: I paid for this box with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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[Review & Swatch] Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint in Namaste (on NC 10/15 Skin)

Oh, Tarteist Lip Paint, I wanted to love you, but I just don't think it's going to work out. It's not me, it's you.

Let me start off by saying, some people are going to like this product, I'm just not one of them. I'll do my best to explain why this product may work better for some people than others, but like all products, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. 

Disclosure: I purchased this product with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions and experiences with the product. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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April 2016 Favorites

If this was a food blog, the picture below would be the absolutely delicious flatbread pizza I had for lunch today, or maybe the spicy vegetable soup I made last Friday night. Alas, we're talking about beauty favorites today, so you'll have to find your foodporn elsewhere. And, uh, sorry if I just made you hungry. On the bright side, I've got some great products to share with you today.

First up, the two foundations I've been absolutely in love with for the past couple of months.

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[Review] Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick

I tried the cult-favorite Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, and all I got was a face full of zits.

Yes, this cleanser made my skin throw a wee bit of a tantrum. However, before we get into the rest of the review, I just wanna remind you that everyone has different sensitivities, and the products that break me out, might not break you out. Obviously loads of people have had great experiences with this product or it wouldn't be a cult favorite.  This was just my experience. I think it's important to mention the good and the bad, so that you have all of the information you need to make the decision that's right for you. Alright, on with the review!

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me with my own money.  All views expressed are my own authentic opinions. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

First, a bit about my skin. I've got oily-dehydrated, acne-prone, reactive skin. I do suffer from product-related breakouts, but haven't been able to pinpoint any of my personal acne triggers yet. 

The Su:m 37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick is a twist-up, soft, creamy solid stick cleanser manufactured by LG and originating from Korea. The Su:m 37 brand is centered around natural and fermented ingredients. This cleanser is unique because of the rose petals in the top layers of the product and the fermented damask rose extract. 

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[Review] Jini Beauty Box Normal/Combination Skin March 2016

Aaaand we're back. Excuse the long break between posts, I've been bogged down with schoolwork and also went out of town for a bit. You know how it is when you go out of town, it takes awhile to get everything back to normal, especially when you go out of town the week before finals start (thanks mom). I may or may not still have a load of laundry to do. Ooops. Anyway, on with the review.

If you haven't heard of Jini Beauty Box before, they're a monthly Asian beauty subscription box that retails for $24.95. The box usually contains mostly skincare and occasionally one makeup item per month. You're promised 1-2 full size products and 3-5 samples. The unique premise with this box is that it's curated by skin type (normal/combination, dry/mature, oily/acne, or sensitive/troubled). If you want to learn more about this box, I have an entire post here that explains everything about this box in-depth. I also have a review for last month's box here if you're interested.

Disclosure: I paid for this box with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions. This post contains one referral link (Memebox).

This month's box included 3 full-size items (sheet mask, hand mask, and cleansing water), and 3 samples. 

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[Review] Jini Beauty Box February 2016 (Normal/Combination Skin)

It's here! It's here!

I'm so excited to be bringing you guys another review of a new subscription box—and in one of my favorite categories: Korean skincare!

When this box was first announced I did a whole post explaining the concept and features, so if you're looking for more in-depth information head over here for a full run-down. The Sparknotes version: Jini Beauty Box is a new Asian beauty subscription box launched by blogger, Geekinheels (Jenny) and her friend, Sunny. The box is unique among the quickly growing AB subscription market because it focuses on monthly boxes curated by skin type (Dry/Mature, Normal/Combination, Oily/Acne, and Sensitive/Troubled). Each box contains 1-2 full-size products, and 3-5 deluxe samples for $24.95 per month (discounts available for longer subscriptions).

Disclosure: I paid for this box with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions. This post does not contain any affiliate links. 

Now on to the fun stuff!

February 2016 Normal/Combination Skin 

The products were securely packed in a cardboard box with the company logo on it. They also included an info card, which is very important for a box that deals with skincare, especially when the instructions and ingredients on the packaging may be in another language. The card doesn't contain an ingredients list, but they've provided an ingredients list for all of the products on the website here. Additionally, they've posted the contents of all of the February 2016 boxes here, which may help if you're having trouble deciding between skin types. Or maybe, like me, you just have to peek into everything. Look, we both know we've been through each others' medicine cabinets, so let's just own up to it and call it even, shall we?


What the card does contain is a brief description of each product and directions for how to use it. It also tells you where it fits into your routine, which I think was very smart and helpful. We're off to a great start!

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MaskBox: Sheet Mask Subscription Box Review February 2016

Today I've got a brand new subscription box to share with you!

Maskbox is a monthly sheet mask subscription box. Each month you will receive between 2-6 masks, depending on the plan you choose. Plans start at $10. I'll discuss the subscription options in more detail down below. Maskbox is based in Los Angeles and ships between the 5th and the 8th every month. The plan that I chose for my first month is the Combo Box, which contains 3 masks and retails for $10/month.

Disclosure: I purchased this product with my own money. All views expressed are my own, authentic opinions and experiences with the product. This post does not contain any affiliate links.

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Grunge-Inspired Burgundy Smokey Eyes With Brown Lips

I'm so excited to share this look with you today! I know it's going to be something you either love or hate, but I had so much fun creating this look, and I love the way it came out. My day-to-day style is more on the glam side, but I love and appreciate all styles of makeup. I've got a definite soft spot for messy grunge looks like this one. Something about it just felt right. I may have to start wearing messier, smokier looks more often! Details on how I created it are down below.

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SocialEyes Lash Try-On

Mmmm, lashes. I never really thought I'd be a false lash junkie, but over the course of the last eight or so months, I've purchased more lashes than I can fit into my little 3-drawer Sterilite tower. Oops. Time to reorganize things, I guess! Because I can't resist affordable lashes, I picked up a bunch from SocialEyes when they had a sale at the beginning of the year. So far I've been loving them, but I did have a bit of trouble picking them out online. Even though there are photos on a model, I just couldn't quite tell how they were going to look on my eyes. If you're having the same issue or are just interested in seeing some of the styles that SocialEyes has to offer, hopefully this post is helpful for you!

If this is the first you're hearing about SocialEyes, here's a little background: SocialEyes is a cruelty-free, vegan lash company created by Canadian siblings Karissa and Hayden Pukas, and based in Sydney, Australia. The lashes are primarily made from sterilized human hair, though some styles also use synthetic fibers.The lash glue made by SocialEyes is latex free, but it's important to note that the lashes are held to the tray with a glue that contains a small amount of latex. If you're allergic, be very careful to remove all of the glue before wearing them! SocialEyes ships internationally, and if you're in the US or Canada shipping is free on orders over $30. For more info on shipping click here. You can purchase SocialEyes lashes, lash glue, and the lash tweezers online at SocialEyesLashes.com.

If you watch YouTube videos or spend a fair bit of time on Instagram, then you may already be familiar with Karissa's work as a beauty and lifestyle vlogger. I highly recommend checking out her channel because she puts out excellent quality content, and though I've never met her, she comes across as a very sweet, funny, and genuinely lovely person. I especially love watching her vlogs, and if you're nerdy like me, you'll definitely want to check out the vlog where she visits the SocialEyes factory in Indonesia and shows a behind-the-scenes look at how the lashes are designed and created by hand. It was fascinating! Together, Karissa and Hayden have launched over 25 styles of lashes, all of which are under $10. Today I'll be showing you: Butterfly, Playing Coy, Siren, Dolly, Minx, Sweet Talker, and Forget Me Not. Fair warning, there's whooole lot of resting bitch face ahead. Sorry y'all.

I picked up seven styles in total, including one pair of bottom lashes, Dolly, plus some lash glue.

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Why Do So Many Asian Beauty Products Mention Jeju Island?

As someone who has recently (as in the last 6-8 months) taken the plunge into Asian beauty, I spend an absurd amount of time scouring the internet for info. What can I say, I like rabbit holes. *shrug* My nerdiness makes me want to know ~all the things~, so my spare time has quickly been filled up by reading blog posts and reddit discussions old and new, seeking out trustworthy sources of products and information, and endless amounts of scrolling through site after site in order to understand who has the best prices on what (the discount diva in me strikes again, did someone say 'free shipping'?) and to get a better feel for what's out there and what I might want to try next. In all of my nights spent scrolling through TK, RRS, and about 20 other sellers, I've seen numerous references to Jeju Island, but its significance to AB is rarely explained outside of promotional info. So, a curious-kitten mission took shape and now here we are, trying to answer the question: What's the deal with Jeju Island and how does it relate to beauty products?

Jeju Island is located off the coast of South Korea.

Jeju Island (제주도) is a South Korean island, located just south of the mainland in the Korea Strait. It has gone by many names over the years, but you're most likely to see it referred to as Jeju Island or Jejudo. The island was formed by a volcanic eruption around 2 million years ago, which gives the island some interesting geographic features, such as lava tubes and an abundance of volcanic soil. It's well known for its natural beauty, and has been named as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The primary industries of the island are agriculture and fishing, which is where it begins to intersect with Asian beauty.

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