[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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