Spiked Shoes

These shoes from Sam Edelman are totally hot! Studded/spiked heels are everywhere and I definitely want a pair.

Lorissa peeptoe spiked heels - $189.90 at Akira Chicago.com

Also saw a similar pair of Christian Louboutin - black leather pumps with studs everywhere. Can't seem to find it online, but here's the flats version...

 

Pigalle spiked ballerina flats - $995 at Net-a-porter.com

And the ultimate studded Louboutin... if only I could afford these!

Pigalili pumps - $3,545 at Christian Louboutin.com

Beauty Review: Skinfood Peach Sake Sun Lotion SPF32

Hi readers (:

I know it's been forever since I've blogged and I'm so sorry about that! I had some serious personal issues come up recently and I've also been swamped with schoolwork, job search, and internship. I'm going to try to blog a little bit more regularly now although it won't be as frequent as before.

For this post, I decided to review Skinfood's Peach Sake Sun Lotion SPF32.

 9,900KRW at TheSkinfood.com

I bought this a few months ago while I was in Korea. I have to say that this is one of my favorite sun lotions. Most sunscreen moisturizers for me are too greasy or don't have enough SPF.

The texture is lighter than I expected. It's not heavy or greasy, but not watery. I love the texture the most... it makes it easy to apply and doesn't make my combination skin oily yet still is able to moisturize.

I also love that this lotion is SPF32, not 15 like most moisturizers I've used. I haven't seen any new sun spots since using this product, so the SPF is effective!

The only thing about this lotion is that I've noticed with the colder weather lately, that it hasn't been moisturizing my skin as well as it used to in the summer. I'll have to switch to something heavier in the winter, but other than that I love it!

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodbye shu uemura...

I know this is old news, but for those of you that don't know, Shu uemura will be discontinued in the U.S.! I went to buy a cleansing oil at Nordstrom and the MA told me that their products will only be available for the next week or so and they will start pulling them out. So get your shu products asap!! If you don't see a certain product in stores, they can probably order it for you. That's what I did for the cleansing oil at Nordstrom. I'm so sad to see this great brand disappear from the U.S. market! =(

Skinfood + Etude House Summer Haul

Here's the last of my summer haul from Skinfood and Etude House. I also bought some last few items from Holika Holika, but I won't post a picture of that because I already reviewed one of the items (the Magic Mascara) and the rest are just some reader goodies and small items.

1. Skinfood Black Sugar Mask: 7,700KRW
2. Skinfood Black Egg Pore Primer: 10,000KRW
3. Etude House Code B Cream Liner: 9,000KRW
4. Etude House Proof10 Liquid Liner: 7,000KRW
5. Skinfood Tomato Spot Serum: 13,900KRW
6. Skinfood Peach Sake SPF32 Sun Lotion: 9,900KRW

I've only used the Black Egg Pore Primer and Tomato Spot Serum so far, but reviews for all of these will be out in the near future! So far, I'm liking both products I've tried, although it's too soon to see results. I'm really going to miss being able to shop at Korean makeup stores =(

Beauty Review: Holika Holika Enamel Magic Melomovie Mascara

Hello! I'm back with another beauty review. This time for Holika Holika Enamel Magic Melomovie Mascara. I've only tried a couple of their products recently and this the first makeup product from them that I've tried. Holika Holika is a relatively new brand endorsed by CNBLUE. They have a cute purple witch theme for the brand. The purple actually reminds me of Urban Decay.

Cute packaging

I bought this mascara because the sales girl was just so convincing. Apparently this mascara is so popular that it's been sold out for weeks and only recently restocked. And all employees who tried it bought it right away. The hype about this mascara is that it's totally waterproof and doesn't smudge while still giving you long and lush lashes. Sales girl even demonstrated by swiping the mascara on her hand and rubbing with water. It didn't come off at all! 

Inside of the box - mascara + remover

The packaging is cute and comes with a mini bottle of mascara remover. Mascara comes in two colors: black and brown. I bought the black.

I've worn it a few times already, in humid and rainy weather. It really is very waterproof but surprisingly easy to remove! I used Holika Holika's Orangeade remover wipes instead of the mascara remover and it still was easy to take off.

 

Close-up of mascara wand

It's not 100% smudge-proof... I don't think any mascara is totally 100% smudge-proof though. It definitely is one of my less smudging mascaras though. Very minimal smudging in 80F degree weather and rain. My other daytime mascara is MAC Zoom Lash and compared to that, this Holika Holika mascara smudges much much less.

As for application, there's zero clumping even after 2 coats. It lengthens my lashes, but I wish it gives more volume. I wouldn't really say it's "Magic Melomovie Mascara", but it's still a good product.

Rating: 4.5/5
I only wish it gives my lashes more volume!

2PM Concert in Korea

A couple weeks ago, 2PM had their first concert here at the Olympic Park Stadium. I saw posters for it awhile ago, but couldn't get tickets because they were all sold out! But I was actually able to get tickets on the day of the concert for only 50,000 won for 120,000 won seats! I was lucky to be in the standing section closest to the stage. Here are a few pictures from the concert:

miss A! They are my new favorite these days. They performed "Bad Girl Good Girl".

2AM performed "Can't Let You Go Even If I Die" and "I Did Wrong".

2PM performing "Without U". They had water raining down at the end of the song... not only raining on stage but on the audience too!

Right after performing "Without U".

Towards the end of the concert, performing "Heartbeat".


I thought the concert overall was great! It was really impressive for their first concert. It was my first time going to any concert in Korea and it was crazy. So many girls going wild for 2PM and it was amazing to see 12,000 people under one roof all for 2PM.

They performed all their hits, did individual performances, parody performances, and some miscellaneous songs from their album. Definitely impressed with the concert!

Busy busy busy

Sorry I haven't updated!! I just started work at a private equity firm (previous KPMG internship didn't work out) so I've been busy and super tired!

I have bought a lot of beauty goodies since my last post, including some future giveaway prizes for readers - from Etude House, Skinfood, The Face Shop, and Holika Holika!

Gotta keep shopping during my last few days here (:
I will review all new products asap, so hold tight!
Until then, you can keep updated through my twitter~

<3

Etude House Proof10 Jewelry Eye Pencil review update & swatch

Someone requested a swatch from my latest review of the Etude House Proof10 Jewelry Eye Pencil in gold.

The left is one swipe and the right is about 4 swipes. 

Here's what it looks like on the eye.  I gave the product another try a couple days ago. It's still a bit flaky, but I discovered that it has good staying power. It lasted around 6 hours in hot and humid weather. But with its staying power and the fact that it's glittery, it's difficult to remove at the end of the day. 

I'll upgrade my review to 2.5/5 just for the staying power, but I wouldn't recommend you to buy this. Honestly, the product seems like something I can easily find at the drugstore.

Beauty Review: Etude House Proof10 Jewelry Eye Pencil

From my earlier post about my Etude House haul, I mentioned I bought the Proof10 Jewelry Eye Pencil. It comes in silver, gold, aqua, and black. I bought the gold and tried it a few times already.

The pencil is very slim, which is nice since it can fit anywhere and you can even tuck it away in a small purse. It's also a twist-up, which I prefer. Also I've been looking for thin sparkly pencils since most of the sparkle pencils I own are thick.

I applied this on my lower lash line for a bit of sparkle. First of all, the pencil is quite glittery. Definitely better for night time looks or else only use a very thin line for day time sparkle. Also, I was expecting the pencil to be much softer. When applying, I noticed it was hard to apply and it became flaky. I had to use a q-tip to smooth out the line and remove the flakes.

The color is nice, although nothing too special. Just your basic sparkly gold. Although I think the aqua sparkle would be interesting. I wish they had a purple sparkle as well.


Rating: 2/5
The color and amount of glitter is great adding a pop to a night time look. I also like that this pencil is slim so you can draw thin lines, but the flaky application totally turned me off. I really wanted to love this product, but it's surprisingly difficult to apply. Maybe the glitter is too clumpy?


50+ followers! Thank you everyone for your support. It's only been about 6 months since I've opened this blog and it's great to already have people following and reading my posts. Thank you!

Beauty Review: Skinfood Milk Creamy Nail Polish in Lavender Milk + The Face Shop Shimmer Top Coat

After I purchased Skinfood Milk Creamy Nail Polish in Mint Milk, I bought a few more colors: a light blue, purple, and cream colors.

The purple is called Lavender Milk.
It's a creamy purple color, but it's too dark for summer in my opinion. I would have preferred a pastel lilac color instead. But it's a nice color anyway. It's very similar to OPI Parlez-vous OPI?, except this one is lighter.

Without TFS Shimmer Top Coat

With TFS Shimmer Top Coat

For some reason, it was hard to capture the true color of the polish. The actual color is a bit darker than the picture.

Here's a picture of OPI Parlez-vous OPI? from an old post to compare.

I did 2 coats which seems fine, but under light it appears streaky. I'll have to use at least 3 coats next time. I also used The Face Shop Shimmer Top Coat. It adds a very subtle shimmer that gives some oomph to any color.

Skinfood Lavender Milk
Rating: 3/5
The consistency and application are the same as Skinfood Mint Milk, which I reviewed previously. However, the color doesn't excite me. In my opinion, it is too dark for summer and reminds me of OPI Parlez-vous OPI?.

The Face Shop Shimmer Top Coat
Rating: 4/5
I like the soft shimmer, but I can't say that this is an excellent top coat in general.

Trick to Get Rid of Nail Polish Without Remover

Here's a beauty tip that might come in handy!

If you don't have any nail polish remover, but need to get rid of polish on your nails, you can use clear nail polish remover! I've heard of using rubbing alcohol, but I didn't have that either so I googled and found the clear nail polish trick. It definitely works!

Just spread a coat of clear nail polish over the area (nail or skin) and wipe off immediately with a tissue. It'll get rid of the polish instantly!

I have a bottle of old top coat that has somehow been tinted pink. I don't use it anymore because it gives a pink top coat instead of clear, so I use that to get rid of stray polish. (:

EOTDs: 07/04/2010 & 07/05/2010

I've been slightly bored these days so I'm trying to experiment and improve my eyeshadow skills! I have a small crease and uneven eyes so eye makeup can be pretty hard for me. Here are a couple of recent EOTDs.

EOTD for 07/04/2010
A daytime pink look

Products I used:

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance

- MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch

- MAC Eyeshadow in White Frost

- Etude House Eyeshadow in PK003

- MAC Eyeshadow in Swift
- MAC Eyeshadow in Paradisco

- Etude House Proof10 Liquid Liner in Black

- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

- MAC Zoom Lash Mascara (forgot to curl & apply mascara to lashes in the pic!)

EOTD for 07/05/2010
A daytime light smoky look

Products I used:

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance

- MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch

- MAC Eyeshadow in Mancatcher

- Etude House Eyeshadow in  EP301

- MAC Eyeshadow in Nighttrain

- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

- MAC Eyeshadow in Black Tied

- Etude House Tear Drop Liner
- MAC Eyeshadow in White Frost

- Etude House Bling Bling Eye Stick in Shooting Star

- YSL Faux Effet Cils Mascara

BB Cream Comparison - TFS vs. EH vs. Missha

Here's a short comparison on the three BB creams I've used. FYI, I'm about NC15-20 and have combo skin.

The Face Shop Face It HD Perfect BB
Etude House BB Magic Cream
Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream

You can see that Etude House is the darkest and closest to my natural skin color, while The Face Shop is lighter. Missha is also light but has gray undertones compared to The Face Shop.

This is what it looks like after one smear. Etude House has the creamiest texture, while The Face Shop has the most thick texture.

This is what it looks like blended. The Face Shop makes my skin a bit whiter, Etude House is most similar to my natural skin color, and Missha is too light for my skin. 

The Face Shop Face It HD Perfect BB

- SPF30

- Thick texture

- Difficult to blend

- Matte finish

- Good oil control

- Medium coverage

- Middle price out of the three (about $15USD)

This is harder to blend and has the thickest texture, however I still love this BB cream. It has good oil control and it makes my skin look great. It makes your skin look very smooth! The coverage is good enough to even out your skin tone, but not enough to cover up my darker sun spots. It makes my skin lighter, which I wish it didn't but I like it enough to keep using it.

Etude House BB Magic Cream

- SPF30

- Liquid texture

- Easy to blend

- Dewy finish

- No oil control

- Low coverage

- Least expensive out of the three ($9USD)

Due to no oil control and its dewy finish, I always use a pact as a finishing touch and for oil control after using this BB cream. This cream has low coverage though. It doesn't even cover up the lightest of my sun spots. However, this is my preference because of its easy blending and I like the natural color.

Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream

- SPF25

- Creamy texture

- Medium ease of blending

- Matte finish

- Medium oil control

- Medium coverage

- Most expensive out of the three ($19USD)

I really do not like this BB cream! First of all, it makes my skin look too light and washed out. The shade I purchased is No. 21 Light Pink Beige. I have fair skin so I was told the other shade (there are only 2) would be too dark for me. Well, this one is too light for me! Otherwise, it is just mediocre. The oil control and coverage is not as good as The Face Shop, but better than Etude House. 

I reviewed Etude House and Missha more extensively, but have yet to review The Face Shop so I'll post a review sometime soon. Hope this has been helpful to someone out there!

Taeyang - I Need a Girl

Really loving this song, but I think maybe the video is too... happy-go-giddy for Taeyang's style? Still the song is good and Sandara Park looks great! I love her style and personality. She's one of my favorite Korean celebrities!

I've been trying to master this kind of light smoky makeup look for my small crease. I'll post up a tutorial later!

Etude House, Skinfood, The Face Shop Haul

Bought more stuff from Etude House, Skinfood, and The Face Shop.

1. Bling Bling Eye Stick in #01 Shooting Star: 4,000KRW
2. Milk Screw in Coconut Milk:  3,500KRW
3. Fresh Cherry Tint in Peach: 6,000KRW
4. Dear Darling Nail Care (to make nails stronger): 3,000KRW
5. Tear Drop Liner in #01: 6,000KRW
6. Eyeliner Brush: 3,000KRW
7. Eyeshadow in OR201: 4,500KRW
8. Eyeshadow in PK003: 3,000KRW
9. Code B Eyeshadow in 03: 4,500KRW

1. The Face Shop Face it HD Perfect BB Cream SPF30 in Shade #01: 14,900KRW

2. The Face Shop Shimmer Top Coat: 3,000KRW

3. Skinfood Milk Creamy Nail Polish in Lavender Milk: 2,500KRW

4. The Face Shop False Eyelashes XOS: 1,500KRW

5. The Face Shop False Eyelashes XLH: 1,500KRW

6. Skinfood Premium Touch Point Shadow Brush: 4,500KRW

I know I just bought a bunch of makeup stuff, but I had a 30% off coupon for Etude House so I bought another haul. Then I stopped by Skinfood and The Face Shop for a few more products that I had wanted to buy.

Time to stop shopping! >.<

Beauty Review: Etude House Dr. Oil Solution Pact

This review is for Etude House Dr. Oil Solution Pact.

The pact opened up with the applicator

The color of the powder

I use Etude House's BB Magic Cream and apply this pact over it as a finish and for oil control. As the product says, it definitely does control oil. The powder helps control your oil for hours. From personal experience, I usually do not have to reapply or only reapply once after about 4-6 hours, unless it's an extra humid day.

I apply all over my face, but especially in the T-zone area and around my nose. This is actually the first pact I've ever used because I was always afraid of looking too powdery and white. But this merely helps add a finishing touch to my BB cream. It doesn't make me look too powdery at all. I also wear this without BB cream and still does not make me look too powdery. Loves it!

The price is cheap since all Etude House products are reasonably priced. This pact is smaller than other Etude House pacts, but I actually prefer the smaller size. It's compact and fits neatly into the little pocket inside my purse. The packaging is cute as always, however not as girly as their other products.

The only downside is that there is only one shade. I have regular fair Asian skin, about NC20, and this shade is right for me. However, I can see that it would be too light for many people. 

Rating: 4/5
This pact is great, but I feel like I can find something better out there. Perhaps something that will not only control oil but provide some extra coverage as well?

Jinny Kim

I recently bought a pair of shoes from Jinny Kim. At first glance at the brand, I couldn't believe how unbelievably cute all the shoes are. They carry all types of shoes, like flats, heels, sandals, and pumps. But they all have the same cute vintage Hollywood style.

I have never heard of Jinny Kim before so I did a little research. Jinny Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea but studied fashion at FIT in Manhattan, New York. After working as an assistant editor for Vogue Korea, she launched her first collection in 2006. Described as "Vintage Hollywood with Modern Flair", Jinny Kim has definitely introduced a brand that is to be remembered!

A few of my favorites:

 

I bought a pair of high-heeled white sandals:

278,000KRW = $229USD at Jinnykimshoes.com

They're so adorable! Apparently they are one of the most popular styles right now. They come in white, black, brown, pink, or light sea green. Also comes in two different heights: 8cm and 10cm. Mine pictured above is 8cm. The 10cm has a small platform in the front to make them a bit more comfortable.

Jinny Kim has a gold label and pink label line. Gold label shoes are at least $200USD while pink label shoes are under $200USD.

These shoes are not only available in Korea, but also available in boutiques in Singapore and California. According to her website, the shoes are also available on revolveclothing.com and Nordstrom stores! 

Definitely check out these cute modern vintage shoes at jinnykimshoes.com!

LV Mahina L in white

Meet my new baby! Louis Vuitton Mahina L in white.

3,930,000KRW = $3,305USD at Louis Vuitton.com

I cannot describe how much I am in love with this bag! The perforated LV pattern is fresh and chic. The gold embellishments are classy. The size is perfect. The color is clean and refreshing.

Inside, there is a leather strip that can be hooked across the top to keep the bag in shape and your belongings secure. The fabric on the inside is a soft gray suede. The only disappointing thing is that there is only one additional zip pocket. I would prefer at least another pocket for a cell phone.

On the USA Louis Vuitton website, it is only available in a few colors in XXL, but the Korean Louis Vuitton website has many more colors and sizes in L and XL. I already thought XL was too big so I can only imagine how big XXL must be. 

I absolutely love this bag! The size is great because it's big enough for all your small goods, plus bigger things like a book or a magazine. But it's not too big that it's overwhelming your body. What I love most is the perforated LV pattern. It's a fresh take on the LV pattern and it's subtle enough to slightly blend in with the bag, but not too subtle that people can't see it. 

<3 <3

Beauty Review: Skinfood Milk Creamy Nail Polish in Mint Milk

This review is for Skinfood Milk Creamy Nail Polish. The shade I purchased is BL005 Mint Milk.

BL005 Mint Milk (in natural light near the window)

Excuse my short stubby nails in the pics! 

The color is great. I absolutely love it. It's very similar to Essie Mint Candy Apple. Just like the color says, it's a creamy milky mint color.

The formula is just okay. I didn't expect much since it's pretty cheap. It can be quite streaky if you apply too thin and too gooey if you apply too thick. So I did several thin coats topped with Etude House top coat. 

Although the formula is not great, the lasting power is nice. It's been a little over a week and no major chipping! Only very little chipping on my index finger, but that's it. 

Rating: 3.5/5

The formula can make it a little difficult to apply, but the colors and the lasting power is great! I will definitely repurchase. I've already purchased BL001 Ice and BE002 Coconut Milk. They're a milky light blue and milky vanilla color respectively.

Beauty Review: Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream

This review is for Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream.

On the box, it states:
- SPF25
- Wrinkle repairing
- Whitening
- UV Blocking cosmetic
- Lasts for up to 12 hours
- Made with organic ingredients

 12,000KRW = $9.97USD at Missha.net

There are two shades. I purchased the lighter one (No. 21 Light Pink Beige). The application is smooth and the texture is creamy. I find it just a bit harder to blend compared to the Etude House BB Magic Cream.

The big problem is that this BB cream is too light for me. When applied, it makes me look washed out and too white compared to the rest of my body.  The other shade seems too dark for me. If only they had more than 2 shades... The shade may work for some people, but I already have relatively white skin, so this shade just made me look way too washed out!

The good thing is that it has a better oil control than Etude House BB Magic Cream. Also, I like the packaging because the tube is encased in plastic. but other than that I prefer Etude House BB Magic Cream.

Rating: 2/5
I will not be repurchasing this! I've heard Missha BB Creams are great, but this one was very disappointing.

Beauty Review: Etude House Proof10 Liquid Liner

If you've seen my latest Etude House & Skinfood haul post, you'll know that I've recently purchased Etude House's Proof10 Liquid Liner in black.

I had the chance to use it and I have to say that it is amazing! Even on a hot and humid summer day, the eyeliner did not budge one bit.

 7,000KRW = $5.73USD at EtudeHouse.com

Application is really easy, especially for a liquid liner. The brush can easily create both thin and thick lines with clean and smooth application. Usually with a new liquid liner, it takes some time for me to get used to the brush, but this one was pretty easy from the beginning. I was amazed at how easy it was to use and how clean the lines were from the first try. I usually apply my top liner with wings and with this, it's easy to apply a clean and precise winged eyeliner look.

This morning I applied Proof10 liner on top and my usual MAC Fluidline on the bottom so I could compare the two. By the end of the day, the bottom liner had smudged but the top looked like I had just applied it. It has better staying power than my MAC Fluidline!

The only downside is that it is a bit difficult to take off. I use Clinique Take the Day Off, which easily takes off most makeup since it is oil-based, but even with that, the Proof10 liner was a bit difficult to remove. I guess that just further proves its staying power.

Rating: 5/5
I will definitely repurchase and stock up before I leave Korea!

UPDATE: I wore this eyeliner for 10 hours while I went to see the Korea vs. Argentina world cup game. Not only was it hot and humid, but there were thousands of people to the point where it took me at least 30 minutes just to exit the subway station. By the time I got home at 12am, the eyeliner was still perfect! No smears, no smudges. Even the double wingtips I applied in the morning were still perfectly shaped. The eyeliner didn't even smudge onto my top lid as it usually does with other eyeliners. Amazing!!

Skinfood & Etude House haul

Since I arrived in Korea last Sunday, I've been literally shopping nonstop!
Here's my Skinfood & Etude House haul...

Skinfood Avocado Leave-in Fluid

5,500KRW = $4.50USD at TheSkinfood.com

A leave in fluid, applied to wet hair directly after shower. Moisturizes dry hair. I like this so far! The smell is nice and I've noticed my hair to be less dry in this summer heat.

Skinfood Black Sesame Hot Mask

8,600KRW = $7.04USD at TheSkinfood.com

This mask is much thicker than the previous one I've purchased (banana yogurt mask), but I like that it is a hot mask. I thought the smell of sesame might be a bit weird, but it smells nice. Haven't seen much results yet since I've only used it once.

Skinfood Milk Creamy Nail Polish

2,500KRW = $2.05USD at TheSkinfood.com

I love all the colors in their milk creamy nail polish line! Tested the application in the store and it seems to be okay. Haven't used this one yet, but if the application is nice, I will buy all the colors!

Skinfood Green Tea Foot Buffer

4,800KRW = $3.93USD at TheSkinfood.com

Just bought this yesterday so haven't used it yet. But I was debating between this and the orange & mint foot scrub, but I chose this because of the better scent.

Etude House Base Coat

3,000KRW = $2.46USD at EtudeHouse.com

Bought this because I'm in need of a base coat! The bottle is super cute (:

Etude House Proof10 Liquid Liner in Black

7,000KRW = $5.73USD at EtudeHouse.com

Heard the liquid liners are Etude House are pretty good. I bought this one to try it out. I might get the Code B gel liner later as well.

Etude House Hello Kitty Mini Hand Lotion

4,000KRW = $3.28USD at EtudeHouse.com

Mini Hello Kitty hand lotion! It's citrus scented. Bought it because it's so adorable!

  Etude House Dr. Oil Solution Pact

7,000KRW = $5.73USD at EtudeHouse.com

 This hot weather and daily use of BB cream has not been helping oil control for my face! So I bought this pact in hopes of a solution!

Etude House Proof10 Jewelry Eye Pencil

6,000KRW = $4.91USD at EtudeHouse.com

This pencil is great for adding sparkle to any eye makeup look! I bought this pencil in gold to add sparkle to my nighttime looks.

Look forward to more detailed reviews for all of these products!