Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

Sunday, March 5, 2017

French Luxury Meets Korean Innovation [Review] Erborian Yuza Double Lotion, Eau Ginseng, and Bamboo Matte Lotion

One of my favorite things about skincare, especially Korean skincare, is the innovation. New ingredients, new textures, new methods: I live for that stuff. There are numerous brands bringing out some very interesting products right now, and I think Erborian is one of those brands. Keep reading to find out why I think these Erborian lotions are something special.

Erborian's lotions balance a French aesthetic with Korean ingredients and technology.


Disclosure: These products were provided as PR samples, but the views expressed here are my own honest opinions and experiences. This review is not sponsored. This post does not contain affiliate links.


Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Review: Jini Beauty Box Normal/Combination Skin January/Febuary 2017

I've been subscribing to Jini Beauty Box for about a year now, so I guess you could say things are kinda serious. I love that this box offers a mix of sheet masks, full size products, and deluxe sample sizes. Wanna see what was in the January/February box for Normal/Combo skin? Read on!






If you haven't heard of Jini Beauty Box before, they're a bi-monthly k-beauty subscription box that retails for $44.95. The box contains mostly skincare and one or two makeup items per box. You're promised 6-8 full size products/deluxe samples, 2 sheet masks, and a few bonus sample packets. 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. Ingredients for all of the products included in the box can be found here.


You have until March 13 to sign up for the March/April box!



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.



Sunday, January 22, 2017

[Review] The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2%

I'm slowly but surely making my way through reviewing The Ordinary products I purchased when the brand first launched. Previously I reviewed the Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% Blemish Serum, and I'm currently testing the 10% Lactic Acid, so if you'd like to follow along with my testing process check out my Instagram. The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2% is a treatment product that offers similar benefits to retinol, but promises less/no irritating effects such as drying and peeling skin. Is this product from The Ordinary a low-cost, low-irritation retinol option worthy of praise? Let's find out!




Thursday, January 5, 2017

[Review] The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% Blemish Serum

It's been a couple of months now since The Ordinary hit the scene and wowed us all with their staggeringly low prices. I picked up a few things when they were first released, and now after testing them for a couple of months, I'm finally ready to review them. Is The Ordinary an awesome steal or a total bust? Let's find out!



Friday, December 23, 2016

Thursday, December 15, 2016

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!


Sunday, December 11, 2016

[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.

Monday, August 22, 2016

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.


Wednesday, August 3, 2016

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.


Sunday, July 10, 2016

[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.


Thursday, June 16, 2016

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.




Friday, April 29, 2016

[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. 

Sunday, April 24, 2016

[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. 

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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.




Friday, January 8, 2016

Jini Beauty Box: A New Asian Beauty Subscription Box (Now Bi-Monthly!)

[Edit 1/8/17 Jini Beauty Box has become bi-monthly, meaning you recieve a box every other month. You can basically think of it as getting the amount you would get in two boxes, but every other month. More details below]
[Edit 5/11: All of my Jini Beauty Box reviews can be found here]

New Asian beauty subscription boxes have been launching left and right lately. After the newly-launched Jini Beauty Box was brought to my attention by the gals at BeautyandtheCat, I decided to sign up for the box and be a bit of a guinea pig, if you will. As of the writing of this post, there's not very much information available on this box (hence the guinea pig-ing), but I wanted to go ahead and sum up what I've been able to find out so far in hopes of helping anyone else who's looking for info on this box. And just to let you know, I'm not affiliated with this company in any way, and I paid for the box with my own money. I'll be doing a review of the box once it arrives, so stay tuned for that.  All of my Jini Beauty Box reviews are available at the link above! I haven't reviewed any of the bi-monthly boxes yet, but will do so starting with the Jan/Feb 2017 box.

What is it?

A bi-monthly subscription box centered around Korean beauty products, and curated to address the needs of different skin types. Every other month, subscribers receive a box of 6-8 full size and deluxe sample products, 2 sheet masks, and a few free samples. Boxes have typically included 1 or 2 makeup items as well, which I've really enjoyed.

Subscribers choose from one of four boxes, each geared toward a different skin type. There are no quizzes to take, you just choose the box you think will suit you the best. You're also able to change which skin type you're subscribed to from month to month. So, for example, I chose to subscribe to the Normal/Combination box because my skin is combo most of the year, and even though I have acne, I find most acne products to be too drying for my skin. Let's say that I get my box and I find that the products aren't quite cutting it because my skin is throwing a weather-induced tantrum and needs more hydrating products. I could go into my account settings and switch my skin type to Dry/Mature (I'll show you how to do this later), then the next shipment I would receive a box with products aimed at treating dry/mature skin. I've been very happy with the normal/combo box, so I haven't felt the need to try any of the other skin types, but I love knowing that I have the option.

If you're concerned about ingredients, Jini Beauty Box also features a list of ingredients for the products in every box, which can be found here.

Screenshot of the subscription page on jinibeauty.com *Note* This screenshot reflects the old prices, NOT the bi-monthly prices.

How much does it cost?

A bi-monthly subscription is $44.95 billed on the 14th of every other month. (ex. January,  then March)
6-month (3 box) pre-pay is $129.95
12-month (6 box) pre-pay is 249.95

Subscriptions automatically renew unless you cancel or skip before the 14th of the billing month. So if you received the Jan/Feb box but wanted to skip the March/April box, you would need to skip before the 14th of March.

Shipping is free in the US, but some states, such as New Jersey, may be subject to sales tax. I live in Nevada and wasn't charged sales tax on my order.

Where does it ship to?

At this time, US and Canada (shipping is free in the US, $8 in Canada)

When does it ship?

According to the jinibeauty.com FAQ, boxes will ship around the 5th of the 2nd month. For example, for the January/February box, you would be billed on the 14th of January, then your box would ship around the 5th of February. Typically, my boxes have arrived within 2-3 of shipping. 

How hard is it to cancel?

Super easy. It's part of why I was willing to take a chance on a brand new box. From the subscription page, click on your name in the top right corner, then click 'My Account'. This will take you to a page where you'll be able to see all of your account info and settings. There will be a box on the left-hand side labeled 'Your Subscription(s)', click the large purple button that says 'Edit'. On the next page, you'll see something that looks like this:
Screenshot from the jinibeauty.com subscription settings page. *NOTE* this screenshot reflects the old prices, not the bi-monthly prices.
From this page, you can choose to skip your next renewal (top right), change your skin type, change your subscription term, or cancel your subscription altogether. Click 'change' to save any changes you make. I love that this sub doesn't require you to make an awkward/inconvenient phone call to cancel, and even better, you're able to skip a month without having to go through the constant subscribe/unsubscribe cycle (Birchbox anyone?? hehe). There's no limit to how many times you can skip, either.

How is the bi-monthly subscription different from the old Jini Beauty Box?

The bi-monthly subscription is basically 2 boxes rolled into one, so you're actually getting more products for less money than before. The monthly boxes were $24.95, so 2 months would have been $49.90. The bi-monthly boxes are $44.95, so you're actually saving $4.95. 

I'll admit, I was skeptical when Jini Beauty Box switched to a bi-monthly format because I've never really been a fan of that type of subscription. However, the September/October boxes was one of the best boxes ever, so after giving it a try, I really think it's worth the wait. Sunny's thoughtful curation really shines through, and some of the products I've received in these boxes have become beloved favorites. I've been very happy with these boxes and would highly recommend it if you're looking for an asian beauty box that gives a variety of products. Personally, I get bored with boxes that are purely sheet masks, so Jini has been perfect for me. I've been a subscriber for a year now (skipped a few boxes here and there, but I've never once wanted to cancel) so I can confidently say that I love this box and I think it's one of the best AB beauty boxes on the market in terms of quality and value. 


I think I've answered the most pressing questions, but if you want to learn more about Jini Beauty, here are a few useful links:
Links to all of Jini Beauty's social media:
You can also contact Jini Beauty with any questions at support@jinibeauty.com

Hopefully this post was helpful to you if you're thinking of subscribing. If you want to subscribe, you can do so here.

-Cristine

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Battle of the Western Cleansing Oils: Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil vs. Sephora Supreme Cleansing Oil

Sephora Supreme Cleansing Oil, left, and Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil, right.
In Friday's post on How and Why I Double Cleanse, I mentioned that I had been using cleansing oils for a couple of years now. Julep was the brand that introduced me to cleansing oils, and I've gone through almost 2 bottles of their Bare Face Cleansing Oil. Mid-way through 2015, I decided I wanted to see what other options were out there for cleansing oils because I'm a curious kitten and no matter how much I love a product, I'm almost always interested in trying an alternative just for shits and giggles. Uh, I mean for research purposes. No, who am I kidding, it's mainly for shits and giggles. That's what led me to purchase the Sephora Supreme Cleansing Oil, which I've been using for the past couple of months. They have a lot of similarities, and in terms of everyday makeup removal, I'd say they perform almost identically, but in performing the test for this post, I actually discovered something that surprised me: one of these cleansing oils removes Benefit's They're Real! mascara significantly better than the other.



Friday, January 1, 2016

How and Why I Double Cleanse

Happy New Year!

And what better topic to chat about on January 1st than cleansers? Today I'll be telling you all about why I double cleanse, how I double cleanse, and which products I use.

I've been double cleansing for several years now and it's become so much a part of my regular skincare routine that any other method of cleansing seems strange to me. There are a few different ways that you can double cleanse: washing your face with one foam, gel, or milky cleanser, then following up with a second cleanser, such as a foam or gel cleanser or cleansing milk to get the benefits of both cleansers and to be sure that you've thoroughly cleansed your face; or using an oil or balm cleanser and then a gel/cream/liquid cleanser. The latter is what most people are referring to when they mention double cleansing, and it's also what I'll be talking about here today.

I was first introduced to the idea of double cleansing by an esthetician, who explained that the basic premise behind double cleansing is that with the first cleanse you remove anything sitting on the surface of the skin such as makeup, dirt, or sunscreen, and with the second cleanse you treat the skin and prepare it for the rest of your skincare routine. This made a lot of sense to me, and I already had everything I needed, so I gave it a go. For the first two or so weeks I used a gel cleanser followed by a cream cleanser. This was too drying for my skin, but I did feel like my skin was cleaner and I enjoyed the process even though it took a bit longer than I was used to. Around this time, I received the Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil and konjac sponge in one of my monthly boxes, and I began to use these for my first cleanse, along with whatever gel or cream cleanser I happened to have at the time. I would start by applying the cleansing oil to my dry face to remove makeup, sunscreen etc., then wetting the konjac sponge and gently massaging my face with the sponge, especially in areas such as the crevice of the nose where makeup tends to gather. Then, I rinsed my face with lukewarm water and patted it dry. Cleansing oils are formulated with emulsifying ingredients that help them to rinse cleanly from the face, leaving no oily residue behind. This means that you won't feel like there's a film still sitting on top of your skin, and it won't cause clogged pores. They're also beneficial for all skin types because they don't strip the skin of moisture like other cleansers can sometimes do, and they help to remove excess sebum from the skin, so people with oily skin may find that their skin is more balanced after using an oil cleanser. I used to have very, very oily skin (it's now oily-dehydrated) and I credit oil cleansing to keeping my more oily areas in check, while helping me to avoid aggravating my dry areas.

I've gone through two bottles of the Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil, but I'm currently using the Sephora Supreme Cleansing Oil simply because I wanted to see if there was a big difference between them. I'll have a more detailed review of both of these up on the blog next week, but spoiler alert, they're pretty similar. I've also recently tried the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm and really enjoyed that as a first cleanser, possibly even more so than either of my cleansing oils because the texture felt so luxurious. I still have a little bit of my sample left, and I have to keep slapping my hands away from it because I'm saving it for a few overnighters I have coming up since balms are more travel-friendly than oils. I've got my eye on a few other balm cleansers, including the Sunday Riley one and the cult-classic Banila Co. Clean It Zero. If you've read my post all about my skin, then you'll know I'm a bit of a Sunday Riley fan girl, and so help me god if one more person raves about that new cleansing balm, my will power will go out the window.

I no longer use a konjac sponge, simply because the one I had needed to be tossed and I haven't gotten around to buying a new one. I'm on the hunt for a new second cleanser because I'd like to see if using a 5.5 pH cleanser improves my acne and dryness, but the one I'm currently using is the Garnier Balancing Daily Exfoliator for Combination Skin. The exfoliating particles are very sparse and gentle, and it seems to keep my skin softer than any of the other cleansers I currently have.

To review: I massage the Sephora cleansing oil onto my face for a minute or two to remove my makeup, rinse that off, then follow up with the Garnier cleanser, taking the time to work it into the skin, rinse, and then pat dry. It may seem like a bit of a chore at first, but when you begin to realize how much better it makes your skin feel, it will be worth it.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

My Favorite Make Up and Skincare Products of 2015 (Plus a few non-beauty favorites!)

Most of these year-end favorites posts begin with a look back on the year, but to be honest I really don't care, and you probably don't either, so let's just get to the good stuff.

Eyes:



Makeup Geek Poppy (coral) and Creme BruleƩ (peachy tan) have become two of my all-time favorite eye shadows. Both blend beautifully, and on my pale skin, Creme BruleƩ is an awesome transition. Poppy is easily one of my most-used shadows of the past year, and I've said before that I'll find any excuse to work it into a look because I just love the warmth that it adds, especially to neutral looks. Confession: I've actually used Poppy on my brows when they were coming off a bit too cool-toned for my liking. Sounds horrifying, but as long as you use a light hand, it works wonders and no one will be able to tell that you have a coral eye shadow in your brows.

I love these two palettes from Anastasia Beverly Hills (World Traveler, bottom, and Self-Made, top). I think they're an excellent value for the money and with the exception of one shadow in each palette, they perform beautifully. I'm especially fond of the titanium finish shadow included in both of these palettes, Pink Champagne. It has an incredible reflective quality, similar to a foiled eye shadow, and it can really alter the look of other shadows depending on how you layer it. I also really love Morocco and Intense Gaze from the World Traveler palette, and Blush and Sherbert (especially in the crease) from the Self-Made palette. In general, I love the formula of the ABH eye shadows and I can't wait to get more (come to mommy, Henna, you beautiful orange gem).

The Julep Gel Eye Gliders are such an underrated product. These are the softest, silkiest eye pencils I've ever used. Not even Urban Decay makes liners as soft as these, and I don't have the same problem with these smearing that I do with many of the Urban Decay 24/7 pencils. These truly do glide when you apply them, so much so that I'm sometimes not even sure if I'm touching the pencil to my skin. The formula of these is just absolutely beautiful, and I plan on purchasing the entire line eventually. I already have several more of these, but I wanted to include my two most-used shades, which are Champagne Shimmer and Bronze Shimmer. I love Champagne Shimmer as an inner corner highlight, and Bronze Shimmer is a great alternative to black for adding definition without the harshness of a black liner.

You can tell I really love a product when I've worn the writing off of it! On the right is ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in XO, which was part of the limited edition collaboration with Shannon from Shaaanxo. I love all of the shadows in her ColourPop collection, but this one is my absolute favorite. I love it as an inner corner highlight or all over the lid. It's a more neutral gold than many of the others in my collection, which is part of why I wear it so much, it's just so versatile! I'm going to be so sad when I run out of this shadow. On the left is ColourPop Mixed Tape which also gets a lot of use from me. Because of my uber-dark under-eye circles, I have trouble wearing purple eye shadows without emphasizing the darkness under my eyes, but between the satin finish and the slight grey and brown tones, Mixed Tape is a lot more flattering on me than most other purples.

Face:

Thursday, December 17, 2015

[Review] SK-II Essential Power Moisturizing Cream

Today we're talking about the SK-II Essential Power Moisturizing Cream. I received this product complementary from BzzAgent for review purposes, however all views expressed are my own, authentic opinions. To learn more about my review policies, click here. To learn more about BzzAgent, click here*.
This is a deluxe sample size (0.51 fl. oz./ 15 ml). The full size (shown below) is $215 (yes, two hundred and fifteen dollars) for 2.71 fl.oz. Are your eyes rolling out of your head yet? Mine are. 

Full size of the SK-II Essential Power Moisturizing Cream from the Sephora website. Geez, Sephora, why isn't your lighting this good in your stores? I'd never go home with the wrong foundation shade again. 
I use a few luxury products and I'm perfectly willing to splurge on a product here and there if the quality is high enough, but good lawd I think this price per ounce ratio falls under the "not even if I won the lotto" category.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Skincare Woes and My Introduction to Asian Beauty

To put it quite simply, my skin and I have been duking it out for some time now (the same goes for my hair, but that's a story for another day). As a teenager, my skin was super oily with the occasional blemish, and, like most teenagers, I used products I probably shouldn't have to try to combat this (I'm looking at you St. Ives Apricot Scrub!). Around the time I started college, my skin was getting worse and I was rarely without at least one active blemish. I also suffered from the occasional cystic acne spot, probably from sleeping with my makeup on every once in a while. It was like this for a few years, and while it's never been something that's bothered me to the point of tears as I know is the case for many acne sufferers, it was frustrating because I felt like my makeup never looked as good as it would have if my skin was smooth and blemish free, and I felt like I always had to wear foundation.