Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation moisturizer. This is the product that finally made me a fan of the brand....

 $45 at Sephora.com

+ Great for combo skin, not too oily yet still moisturizing
+ No overpowering smell
+ Good for both day and night
+ Don't need to use a lot at once
+ Anti-aging effects and fades/prevents skin pigmentation. It barely faded my sun spots, but helps prevent new ones.

- Jar packaging
- Probably not moisturizing enough for dry skin. I feel that it doesn't completely nourish my dry spots in the winter.
- No SPF

Rating: 4.5/5

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

Beauty Review: Missha Sun Protect Cream SPF30

Because I didn't want anymore sun spots, I bought a sun cream a couple months ago from Missha called Sun Protect Cream SPF30+. It is a Korean brand, but I bought it in Shanghai. For anyone who is in the area, there is a Missha store in Zhongshan Park at Cloud Nine shopping mall.

I couldn't find this on the US or Korean Missha website, only the China one - so it may only be available in China. Or it could be discontinued elsewhere or only available in stores in Korea.

120RMB at Missha China website (approx. $18USD)

The cream is more like a cream rather than a sunscreen. It is thicker than my Chanel UV Essentiel SPF50 cream, so it feels like a lotion. I do prefer this rather than a milky sunscreen feel. Although thicker, it feels light on the face, but perhaps that is because it is a lower SPF than my Chanel cream.

After weeks of applying this every morning, I noticed my sun spots getting slightly darker, but no new sun spots were discovered. Therefore, I've moved on to Chanel SPF50 cream. However, I do still use this for days when there is low/no sun.

If you're looking for basic sun coverage, this may be right for you. I find that it is hard to find SPF moisturizers above SPF15 in the states, but in Asia, it is quite easy to find high SPF since many Asian girls prefer white faces. This cream, although SPF30, feels almost as light as many creams in the states that are only SPF15. The tube is 50ml; should last you barely a few months if you use it almost everyday.

Rating: 3/5
I like the formula's consistency, but it is not enough sun protection for me.

Beauty Review: Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté

So all my Thailand pictures have escaped my computer... when I get them back, I'll update with the rest of the pics from my spring break. Until then, here's a beauty review.

During my travels in Thailand, I definitely did a little shopping in the duty free store. Bangkok's duty free is pretty nice with a wide selection of cosmetics and skincare. I think they have a lot of great fashion brands as well.

I bought this Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté, which is a foaming cleanser designed to clean pore, give a healthy glow and control oils for combination-to-oily skin.

$45 at Chanel.com

Original price is $45, but I bought for around $40 at the Bangkok airport. The price is reasonable because it's a good-sized bottle and you only need a pea-size amount each time so it will last you awhile. It's perfect for my skin because it doesn't dry out the normal areas of the skin, yet it still rids of the oil on my oily areas, specifically my T-zone. It's gentle enough to use both morning and night. I use it religiously, twice a day, and it doesn't dry out your skin at all. 

Like I said earlier, you only need a pea-sized amount because it foams up. After you use this, your face feels so refreshed and literally it is squeaky clean. 

It's a great cleanser, but if you're looking for something with drastic benefits, this isn't it. My skin does have a healthier glow and feels overall much cleaner, but it didn't do drastically improve my hormonal blemishes. I did have some kind of a blemish-like thing on my nose that was in the process of becoming a scar, and this cleanser helped get rid of it completely. The cleanser also helped with the blackheads on my nose

Rating: 4.5/5

It's a great product, but I will only give a 5 to a product that can pretty much be considered magical. 

I may repurchase this again when I run out, or I might try the other Chanel cleansers.

Side note: I'm thinking about starting a website of reviews of all restaurants, shopping, sightseeing, and nightlife of Shanghai -- directed towards young people like me, especially fashionistas who read this blog. I was thinking about doing it on blogger, but realized that blogger cannot be access in China without a VPN, so I'll open a website instead. Look forward to this sometime this summer!

Beauty Review: Skinfood Banana Yogurt Mask

I just recently started using Skinfood banana yogurt mask. It smells delicious! Just like the Korean banana milk hehe (:

It's very gentle and made for sensitive skin, so it will not cause any breakouts or redness. I use it about twice a week. It's a creamy texture with little exfoliating beads. I apply, massage the beads into my face, and wash off after 15 minutes.

It really gives you very smooth skin! Just after one use, I can already feel my skin texture becoming much smoother. It doesn't do much for blemishes, so if you're looking for a blemish-clearing mask, this is not it. This is more just a gentle mask to help smooth your skin texture. I think it's even gentle enough for everyday use. Skinfood products are all good prices, so that's also another advantage to this product.

Rating: 4/5.
The sweet smell, easy application, smooth skin are all pros, but I feel that I can find a better weekly mask.

I also have samples of rice wash off mask and black sesame mask. After I use those, I'll do more reviews and a comparison.

Beatuy Review: bliss vs. The Body Shop Body Butters

I recently received a sample of Sweet Lemon body butter from The Body Shop. According to the sales associate, it's a new upcoming scent that will be released soon.

$20 (regular), $8 (mini)

I've never tried any of The Body Shop's famous body butters before, but I've heard plenty of good things so I was expecting a lot. It's definitely very moisturizing and smooth. The only thing is the scent. It's a sweet and citrus-y lemon scent, but after smelling it on my skin for awhile, it was starting to make me feel sick. After awhile it starts to smell like plastic dolls or playdoh. The scent lasts for awhile too and it's a bit strong.

I also got a few small bumps on my skin after using, which was weird. I've never had any reaction to a skin product. It wasn't major though, but I probably won't purchase because of this.
Rating: 4/5

 

$35 at Sephora

I also tried bliss body butter in vanilla and bergamot. Some people say they dislike the smell, but I actually love it. It's like an herbal vanilla smell. I like it because it has that vanilla scent without being too sweet. Also, bliss' formula is thicker and has less of that oily "just put on my lotion" feel.
Rating: 3.5/5


Lately, I've been having terrible dry winter skin on my arms and back of my hands... so to compare the two, I did a little experiment.

Night 1: I applied The Body Shop body butter on the back of my left hand and left arm. When I woke up in the morning, I still had smooth moisturized skin. Even days later, I still had smooth skin and the dry scratchy winter skin didn't come back for almost a week!

Night 2: I applied bliss body butter on the back of my right hand and right arm. I woke up and it was still slightly moisturized and skin was smooth. The next day, the dry winter skin came back. Even as I am typing this, my left (Body Shop) hand is smooth while the right (bliss) is dry and scratchy.


Even though I love the vanilla and bergamot smell, I prefer The Body Shop body butter. It's cheaper and more effective. I'll just have to try a different scent next time :)

Beauty Review: Ole Henriksen + The Body Shop

Before I left, I made a few skincare purchases and now it's time to review them!

Ole Henriksen
Herbal Day Creme with SPF15

 

$35 at Sephora

I bought this because Juice Beauty SPF15 moisturizer was out of stock and I needed an SPF moisturizer asap. It can be a little heavy, so I do not recommend for oily skin. Even for combination, you need to be careful to use a thin layer or else it'll be too heavy. It takes a little time for it to completely sink into your skin so I would apply this about 15 minutes before you do any face makeup. However, it does moisturize well, it has SPF, and it's a reasonable price.


Overall though, I do like this cream. Many people say they dislike the smell, but I don't mind. It's kind of an herbal smell that might take some time to get used to. The jar will last me awhile since I only had to use a little bit for my entire face. I'm not sure if I will purchase just because I'm worried it's too heavy on my combination skin, but I'll happily use this jar until it runs out!
Rating: 4/5


The Body Shop
Vitamin C Skin Boost

 

$26 at The Body Shop

I've heard so many great things about this, so I just had to try it out. It's a good alternative to pricey serums. The first thing I noticed about this is the smell! It's very very strong!

The effects are great though. Until recently, I've never used serums, but now I don't think I can live without them! They immediately brighten your face and smooth out the texture. I've already been using a serum before this one, so the immediate effect wasn't as big as I'd hoped. But it's still a great product and I recommend it for all skin types.

I don't think I will repurchase though... only because the smell is so strong! I don't want people to smell my face from a mile away... -_-
Also, I feel that with Juice Beauty antioxidant serum, you use less for your entire face compared to one. So even though it's almost twice the price, Juice Beauty may last you longer.
Rating: 3.5/5

Beauty Review: Juice Beauty

I finally tried out some of the Juice Beauty products for the first time!

Cleansing Milk

 

$22 at Sephora

After taking a shower, I washed my face with this cleansing milk. My first thought was that it was creamy, yet very light! I hate cleansers that are way too thick, so this lightweight milky cleanser was great for me. It's very gentle and makes you feel refreshed. I don't use facial cleansers to remove makeup, so I don't know how well it does with that. As for the scent, it's made with raspberry and white grape juices with aloe vera and grapeseed oil. I was expecting more of a very sweet and fruity smell, but this one is more like a herbal raspberry scent. I didn't mind, but some people will dislike it. I would definitely repurchase this one!

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Hydrating Mist

  

$22 at Sephora

Instead of spraying directly on my face, I sprayed a few pumps of this onto a cotton pad and applied all over my face. Immediately my face felt refreshed. It's made with white and red grape juices, aloe vera, rosehip, and grapeseed oil. It has a floral scent, which is not really my favorite scent, but the smell isn't strong. I might repurchase this if I don't find a better toner. 

Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Nutrient Moisturizer

 

$36 at Sephora

For me, moisturizer is the most important part of my skincare regimen. The main thing about this product is that the consistency is very thick! It felt like I was putting sunscreen on my face. You really need to rub it into your skin to make sure you don't have white spots. The instructions say to warm in your palms before applying, but I didn't read that part until later... oops! I applied again at night by warming in my palms and it was still too thick. However, since it is quite thick, a little will go a long way. Made with grape juice, carrot juice, and essential fatty acids, the smell is not terrible. You can definitely smell the ingredients... like I said before, some people will love the scent and others will hate it. I don't think I will repurchase this one as it was way too thick for me and it doesn't have SPF.

Rating: 2.5 / 5.0

Green Apple Peel - Sensitive Skin

 

$39 at Sephora

In my opinion, this peel smells terrible. It's made with apple, lemon, grape juices and raw cane sugar. To me, it smells like a V8 fruit juice. After washing my face with the cleansing milk, I applied a layer of the peel onto my face and washed it off after 10 minutes. The peel turns into a smooth film on your face so it takes some time to wash it all off with water. Afterward, I followed up with the hydrating mist, antioxidant serum, and the nutrient moisturizer. This product definitely makes your face feel so smooth. I never use peels or masks, so I didn't know what to expect. But you can see the effects immediately. Sometimes I have red areas near my nose and this peel lightened those areas and improved the texture of my skin. The effects are amazing after just one use. I'm not sure if I will repurchase though, because I don't normally use peels and $39 is a bit pricey for me. 

Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Antioxidant Serum

 

 $52 at Sephora

I love this product! This serum immediately brightened my skin. I could see the effects right away. It gives my skin a healthy radiant glow. The smell is not bad, but the price is quite expensive. I think the next time I use this, I'll try it without the peel to see the effect of the serum by itself. I'd love to repurchase, but it's a bit expensive.

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Overall I love that all their products are natural and organic. If you want to try out Juice Beauty, I recommend getting the Organic To Go set. It's a good value and a great way to get introduced to their products.

Beauty Review: Shiseido The Skincare

So lately, I've been trying to find some new skincare products. I've used Shiseido Pureness (aimed for breakout prone skin) for the past several years, but now that I'm older, I need something else.

That's why for the past couple days I've tried out Shiseido The Skincare. I've had good experiences from the Pureness line, so I thought I'll get the same benefits from The Skincare line. Definitely not!

I didn't try the facial cleanser, only the toner and moisturizer. The moisturizer had SPF in it, which was nice. But it made my combination skin oily and greasy. I thought it would go away after the product sinks in a little, but definitely not. My little brother even asked me why my skin was so oily -_-

$39 at Sephora

 

This would be great for normal or dry, but for my combination skin, it was too heavy and felt like it was clogging up my pores.

The softener was a little better though... it absorbed into my skin right away. Honestly, I'm not an expert in skincare to know how softener/toners benefit your skin. I guess it's something to do with preparing your face before applying moisturizer? But, yeah... even though I don't exactly know the benefits of softeners, I liked how this one felt on my skin.

$34 at Sephora

 

It felt heavier than the Pureness softener, but I didn't mind. 

Overall, I won't be using this as my new skincare. For those of you with normal or dry skin, I definitely recommend this, but not for combination. I'm still on the hunt to find something for my combination skin that has SPF in it. Any suggestions?

Beauty Review: Etude House

I've seen some people curious about Etude House makeup products (from Korea), so I decided to do a quick, but detailed, review on some of the products that I've tried.

For those of you that don't know Etude House, it's a super cute makeup store in Korea. Its directed toward younger people and they have good prices on all their products.

An example of one of their super cute stores in Korea!

Now, some of the items that I purchased before are now discontinued. I can't seem to find them on the official site, but I'll give a brief review of them anyway.

From their discontinued line, Trouble Eraser, I used both the gel moisturizer and the cleaning pads.

Honestly, it's a good thing they discontinued this line, because it did not produce any great effects for my skin. Never made me break out or anything, but it claims to "erase" all your acne trouble. I didn't see that much of a difference in my skin after using these products, but they didn't have any negative effects either. The lotion did help moisturize my face and I liked that it was a gel lotion. The clear pads were pretty much useless for me though.

Now for the makeup!

This O~ m'Eye Lash Mascara is cheap (around $4 I think) and works well for its price. It's a great basic mascara. Of course, it can't compare to YSL or Dior mascaras, but it's good for the price.

I had minor clumping issues with this mascara, though I think it's because the mascara was getting a bit old. Also, this mascara advertised maximum volume, which I didn't really get. It's more of a basic mascara for me.

More with eye makeup... these shine up sticks are awesome! I have these three colors and I want to get more when I go back!

04: Pink, 05: Berry, 09: Lavender

My favorite is #04 Pink. It's a little bit darker than #05 Berry, which is more of a light pink. These sticks are super glittery, so I only recommend them for going-out makeup. Easy to apply and just a little bit gives you a lot of shimmer. I think these were $3 or $4 each.

Lastly is this lip & eye makeup remover. It works very well! It works just as well as my Clinique "Take the Day Off" makeup remover which is around $13, whereas this EH remover is only about $5 or $6.

Similar to Clinique's makeup remover, there are two layers and you have to shake the bottle to mix the oil and water liquids together. There is another EH remover specifically for mascara, but this remover was able to get my mascara off too. I don't wear waterproof makeup though, so I don't know how effective this will be for that. But it worked well for me.

Hope this quick review was helpful for some of you guys who were curious about EH products. I know there's only a few that I've tried so far, but I'm hoping to get more products when I go to Korea next month. I'll do another review then!