Etude House - Angel Kiss Lip and Cheek

Etude House - Angel Kiss Lip and Cheek

Price: 7500won (~$7.5)
Color : Darling Angel (Peach/pink)

Are you obsessed with cream blushes??? I am, they look so bright and young and fresh, and blend so easily! (that was a lot of 'ands')
But first the name.... Etude House - Angel Kiss Lip and Cheek in Darling Angel - That is a serious mouthful! Why in the world does the name need to be so loooooooooong!!!
I feel bad for the Koreans trying to translate it!

And the packaging.... eww. I'm not really into angel motifs. It's both too plain (just a clear jar with a pink cover and no style) and over designed (the useless 'angel wing' wrapper and the ugly picture on the cover.)

What do you think? I normally like Etude's packaging, even if it tends to be overly pink and frilly.

Inside, is ALOT of blush. For a cream blush. It's kind of huge, and deep.
It's also made of Glass, for anyone who wants to buy it, so it's kind of heavy to ship.

So the actual blush.
You can see that the color is a pale peach/pink. I used to be obsessed with peach/pink blushes, mostly because I had warmer toned skin and hair (I am am even paler now, if that's possible).
Now, I am not as keen on peach pink, because it doesn't work with my coloring. However this is a nice color. It is in between light pink  and peach, so it is a more flexible color, with good range. For a peach, it has a slightly cool tone. It applies a bit more peach than it appears.

The texture itself  is really nice, soft and creamy. It feels like one of those cream foundation compacts, as in thick and dense, but smooth and creamy.
It is also Super pigmented!!!!
It blends really well, but I have to be careful in application, its really easy to take too much. I have to use about 1/4 of what I would for a Canmake cream blush.  Again, it really does blend well, so just be careful!

So between the giant size, and the super pigmented, it's really good value for the money.
It also lasts well, for a cream blush. Better than I am used to.
oh.... and as a lip product - It's useless. But really when is a cheek product ever good on the lips? Really????

All in all, the product is really solid, I really want another color, maybe just pink!

Conclusion

Holika Holika Nail Polish - Peach

Holika Holika Nail Polish - Peach

Price : 3000won (~$3)

I am madly in love with the Holika Holika Cream nail polishes. So you can skip my review, and just go order it :D

This color is GORGEOUS. Peach is usually boring and conservative (or salmon and nasty). This color is gorgeous, and bold, and gorgeous!

The texture is beautiful, smooth, creamy, and just the right thickness.
I love love love it....
I have no negatives.... Honestly... Even the price is good!

Conclusion :

The Face shop - Matte Yellow Nail polish

The Face shop - Matte Yellow Nailpolish

Price : 4000won (~$4)

Matte polishes tend to be disastrous.... I like the look (sometimes), but it works out better with a mattifying top coat, then buying seperate matte nail polishes.

So streaky and so Neon!!

This color, kind of sucks. It has the weirdest texture!!! It is thick and CHALKY and flaky. It is actually really horrible to apply.

You have to put a lot on (since it is so thick), and the finish is really bad, unless you apply it perfectly.

Ugh, it's awful.

Indoor light - looks pastel!

On the plus side, It is neon. Really neon. Under florescent lights, it looks like something from the 80's. The color is kind of awesome. This is a color that REALLY changes in different lighting, you can see in the pictures it can look pastel, bright, or Neon. It's weird.

But the polish is terrible...

On the plus side, it didn't stain my nails!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay!!!!!!!!!

Pass or Buy :

Skinfood - Honey Pot

Deja vu? Skinfood + Honey + lip gloss?

I don't know why but skin food has two honey lipglosses, one is in a pot and one is in a tube.
I've already reviewed the one in a tube!

But, don't stop reading they are VERY different.

Obviously, the honey pot is adorable. If you suspect that is why I bought it, you would be right.....
But look at it! And the little honey scoop thingy for application, it is even made out of real wood. How cute is that!

Within the unimportant packaging is a golden transparent lip gloss. It's texture is completely unlike the tube gloss (which was sticky). This is lovely and smooth. It's like a clear vaseline.

The usual Skinfood Cherub!

So, like vaseline, it is great on the lips!!! I really like this as a night gloss, since it is very moisturizing, and thick.  Since it isn't sticky, it doesn't get in my hair(or on my pillow).

As a lip gloss, rather than a night treatment, it has a nice shine, and stays on well for this sort of gloss. It's a bit boring, since it is colorless, essentially flavor and scentless.


Beyond that, it isn't very exciting. But it does a good job at being a lip gloss.

The only problem I have is with the packaging.....
What???? Is that the whole reason i bought it????
Well yes, but the silly thing is so deep!!!! It's like an inch between the rim and the product.
And it is narrow, so you can't use your finger without getting lip gloss under your nail(it is to deep to swipe with the pad of your finger).

So you Have to use the little applicator. But the little applicator just sits on the side (they were clever and there is a little piece of platic that keeps  the applicator with the gloss), but since the applicator is just out there, it get's dirty!!! And the little ridges hold onto dirt!
So after you have used it once, you don't want to use the applicator again!
But you can't use your fingers....
It's really weird.

So a lip brush, I guess?

Skin food Honey Lip gloss

                                      

Skin food - Honey lip gloss/ Lip treatment

Price : 3900 won

Mmm. Honey. I love the idea of a honey lip treatment! It sounds delicious and wonderful!. 

So I bought 2 different honey treatments from Skinfood. I will review the honey pot soon!

This is a lip gloss. The packaging is a little bit cute, I like the gold pattern of honey combs, and the gloss really looks like honey.

The gloss itself is on the thick side (really, it's what you expect from something with honey!), it has a very slight honey scent, and tastes sweet(but not like honey!)
                                   
As a lip treatment it is not very good.... It's not moisturizing, it doesn't make my lips soft...

As a lip gloss, it's not very good..... It's a bit too sticky, and doesn't last!
It applies clear, and has a nice shine, but that's about all it has going for it....
                         
It was cheap, and It's not a bad gloss, just not great.

Honey lip gloss = Mediocre.

The Face shop - Matte polish in Neon Yellow!

The Face shop - Matte polish in Neon Yellow!

Price : 4000won ($4)

Are you ready to hear something stupid???

I bought another Matte, yellow polish from The Face shop. Does anyone remember my DISASTROUS encounter with a yellow matte polish last year???
If not, go read my post! My nails were YELLOW for 6 months!!!!

I don't know what I was thinking when I bought this Neon Yellow.  I bought the Neon green too.

I think it's the fact they are Matte, and Matte are so hard to find! I'm not sure If I even like the look of matte polish....

Do you like Matte Nail polishes?

So the Neon yellow, as you can see, it is bright. Under florescent lighting, it is blindingly bright.

The color is really cool. It is so different. I have never before, and never again since seen a color quite like it.

The polish itself is creamy, and super thick. It's like paste, and goes on like glue.
This is quite possibly the worst Nail polish to apply. No definitively, I have never encountered a worse nail polish.

I bought it when It first came out too, so it's not like it is old and dried out. It started out nasty and thick.
It's really really hard to get a smooth coat.  If you look at a closeup of my nails, they look uneven and streaky, it is just that thick.

It also stained my nails. Even with a base coat. Mind you, it was only a slight yellow tint, like day old highlighter, but what a pain!! Not to mention, it is expensive (for a Korean polish, they are generally 1-2$.)

Verdict, AVOID Face shop's Matte polishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Etude House – Hand Bouquet Rich Butter Hand Cream in Steam Milk

Etude House – Hand Bouquet Rich Butter Hand Cream  in Steam Milk

Price: 5000 won (Less than $5)
Size: 50ml

5% Shea Butter

Than Hand Bouquet cream comes in 2 types. Steam milk or Collagen. I LOVE the collagen cream. So I bought the steam milk.
I don’t like it nearly as much.
It’s a thick off white cream, with such a mild smell it is barely noticeable.
The cream itself absorbs well, but not completely.

It’s really thick, but not as thick as the Collagen version.
All in all I do like it. I keep this one in one purse, and the Collagen version in another.

The tube packaging is really handy. I have a number of pots of hand cream(or jars if you will), which makes application a pain, because your fingertips always get greasy, and I end up with moisturizer under my finger nails.
The tube is great, because it lets me dispense it on the back of my hand, or my palm, or wherever, without involving my fingertips!

It’s kind of weird thing to like, but it’s handy when you don’t want to sit around and wait for your moisturizer to absorb.

The Faceshop Apple Hand cream

The Faceshop Apple Hand cream

 Price : 4,400won ($4)

Size : 30ml

I may be addicted to hand creams…. My hands always end up so dry! I think It’s because I hand wash so many dishes.

A lot of Korean brands have been coming out with Fruit shaped Items, possibly ripping of the Japanese B&C which has been doing fruit shapes for ages.
So has Tony Moly. Now Bavi Phat is into, and the Face shop, and I am sure I have seen stuff at other shops!!

The Faceshop apple hand cream smell divine!  It smells like apple, still like perfume, but there is a freshness, and a realisticness to the scent that makes it enchanting.
The cream itself is really nice. It’s surprisingly white(Most moisturizers tend to be cream colored). It absorbs well, and has an almost gel-cream like texture. It does leave a bit of a greasy layer. I know some people hate that!
It’s really not bad though, it just leaves hands a bit slick. Just a bit.

All in all it’s a really nice hand cream, but other than the scent it isn’t anything special!

Skinfood Biscuit Eye shadow Duo

Skinfood Biscuit Eyeshadow Duo

Price 5,900won (Less than $6)

Color : 3 - pink and gold

Color: 6 - green and copper

Do you see the adorable little biscuit shaped eyeshadow? I squealed when I saw it! It is Sooooo tiny and adorable!

It is in the shape of a little Korean biscuit. The kind that comes free with Alcohol sometimes. Usually with delicious fresh fruit juice and soju!

I had to snap one little compact immediately.

Inside the golden biscuit, are two colors of shadow, imprinted with stars. On  the top, there is a teeny tiny mirror.

The mirror is almost too small to be useful. But I like that fact that Skinfood included a mirror. I feel it shows quality.

Obviously there isn't any room for a brush. So when I bought my first biscuit eyeshadow, it didn't come with one, but I noticed later that little sponge applicators were included within the plastic wrapping sealing it shut. I ended up with an applicator when I bought the second shadow. Then promptly lost it, since there is no room for it inside, and no way to attach it outside.

I picked the pink and gold duo initially.  Texturally the shadows are Gorgeous, smooth and silky. They feel like really good quality shadows.  The pink and gold are really nice. The pink is of average to medium pigmentation, and the gold is sheer. Both have little  gold sparkles and are shimmery. The sparkles are tiny, and the shimmer isn't too pronounced.

Later I bought the dark army green and copper. Even though the green looks really dark, it comes out kind of sheer! It's kind of odd.... The green also has a gold sheen to it.  The copper is just how it looks,  and very similar to the gold. I don't really like the green and copper duo..... But it's because I don't like how the green looks on me. I feel it makes me look drab and old...... Blah.

The pink and gold duo I love.  The colors look really pretty on. It is the tiniest eyeshadow compact I've ever owned, and makes for the easiest eye look. I took it with me Backpacking, along with a cream eyeliner, highlighter and BB cream. It was super minimal (for me.....)

This eyeshadow is sooooo perfect, because it is soooo tiny.

Holika Holika's Peach Girl BB cream

Holika Holika's Peach Girl BB cream

SPF 37

PA ++

Price: 13,000won ($13)

Size : 50ml

I love BB cream's. Don't you?
But it can be hard to find the right color.... Especially since most people can't go to Korea and test out all the shades before they buy. It SUCKS to order one online, only to find out the color is HORRIBLY wrong!


*laughs* But BB creams are still worth the hassle.

So I want to introduce you to an AMAZING BB cream. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

It's Holika's Peach girl BB.
It looks so out of place at Holika! The packaging is far more like something I would expect from Etude house(but not as pretty), or maybe Bavi Phat (which I hate). It's bordering between ugly and boring.
What do you think?

I bought it with low expectations, but it was the only BB at Holika that even came close to my coloring. Since they have 4 different lines of BB creams, this was really surprising. I am SUPER pale, and since BB creams in shade 1 tend to be SUPER pale, they work perfectly for me.
In fact, I am so pale, I can't wear most western makeup. The lightest shade in drugstore lines like cover girl, Maybelline, Revlon, etc.... are too dark(usually).

But the peach bb seems like it could be a good match. But Honestly, I bought it because of the little flip up top, with the blush and little mirror.


*swoons* I love getting 2 products for the price of 1!!!!!!!!!

The Actual BB cream inside was worth the buy. It  is a perfect medium coverage. It's thick enough to give good coverage, but thin enough to blend easily.  It gives a beautiful flawless but natural finish (That's a hard thing to find!)

Shown are the two color's the Peach Girl BB cream comes in; 01 (lighter) and 02(darker). My boyfriend bought me 02, as a part of a gift pack. Which was so sweet, if unusable.....  so I gave it to my mom. It matches her more tanned, golden skin beautifully.
The color are pale beige, and slightly cool toned, as I find Korean BB's tend to be.
You can see from the picture that it is a bit darker than I am, but they do blend in beautifully.


This is truly a wonderful BB, mostly because it blends so beautifully. So that my mother and I can both use the same line, even though our skin tones are vastly different.
Texturelly Peach girl is a really nice BB cream, it is heavier than Korean BB's are usually. Which I actually find a plus. So does provide heavier coverage (relative to other BB creams). This is perfect for problem areas, like dark under eye circles. And for the rest of my face I dilute it with a highlighter (Skin food's secret shine base!!!!!!!!)
The cream does feel slightly heavier and it is a bit stickier. But I also feel it has better staying power.
And let's face it, it still feels nothing like foundation (yuck...).

This is my 2nd favorite BB, My fav still being skin79's absolute BB, but since the Peach Girl BB is 1/2 the price of skin79's, Peach girl is what I reach for day to day.              

The Blush

The blush, tiny little compact atop to cover on the BB, is a standout product on it's own. It is basically a mini version of Holika's cream blush, but I swear the Peach girl blush is even more concentrated. a tiny dab is all I need. 
It blend so well though a tiny dab can easily be spread out. The color is gorgeous, a strong peach pink. I love the color and it does go beautifully with the BB, but I find it a bit odd that they have paired a warm toned blush with a cool toned BB. It does work though :)

Holika Holika's other BB creams.
Until Holika releases new BB creams, you probably won't see any more Holika BB cream reviews from me. ALL of their other BB creams are really DARK!!!

At least they are on me. But this is good news for you readers, since I am sure not all of your are so pale. If you are looking for darker BB creams, try Holika, they have a lovely range of colors!!!!!!!!!                  
                                         GWP.... (Gift with purchase)Holika Holika is AMAZING for free gifts :D.With my Peach Girl BB I got deluxe samples of the Secret Shine Toner and Emulsion. Along with a whole bunch of other samples tossed in the bag :D

Holika Holika Aqua jelly Trio!

Greetings Bloggers!

I’m Back officially!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It took me a while to get here, I am no longer in Korea, and am now in the possession of a new Laptop, with which to blog.

But as exciting as all this is, here is My first post.

With a little bit of the peculiar from Holika Holika!

 For the summer season(2010) Holika Holika released a new line called Aqua Jelly.  The colors and look, bright pastels, all done in cheap plastics, did not suit the style of Holika Holika at all. But then again, Holika Holika has tons of stuff that doesn’t suit the witchy, border line gothic style.

The selling feature of the whole Jelly line is awesome, its all about moisture J. I personally have dry skin (ugh which is s so irritating). So a line of moisture enhanced beauty products, sounds good to me!

But does anyone else think it’s a bit odd for them to be releasing a moisture line for the summer? Don’t most brands do that for the winter?

The line included, foundation and highlighters in jello type molds (cute and different). I tested the foundation out, and it’s lovely, it smooth, and the texture is quite unlike a jelly, but it is very moist . I really wanted it, but the lightest of the two shades was WAY too dark for me. And the highlighter was far to similar to other highlighters I have to justify bothering….

Lip glosses, in totally boring cheap looking packaging.

And this thing…. The Aqua petit Jelly – Triple kit.

I was shopping at the new Holika Holika store in Ulsan(korea) with a friend, and I came across the triple kit in a display. I picked it up, tested it on the back of my hand, and was suitably puzzled.

What in the world is it for?

So of course I had to immediately buy it and find out!

What it is, is an eye cheek and lip kit.

It has three products, purple sparkly, peach sparkly,  and green gloss.

And when you mix the purple and the peach, you get pink.

So you can where these products anywhere. The purple and the peach can be applied directly onto the eyelids as a cream shadow, or on the checks as a blush. The green gloss, is meant to go on the lips. When applied alone, it applies clear, or when applied in combination with the other colors, it goes on colored.

The little tube at the top of the case, is a double ended sponge applicator.

So, what do I think of the kit?

It’s stupid.

Here are the colors swatched. The colors are accurate(My skin is currently really pale...)

After the three colors, the shiny bit, is the gloss...

The purple and peach colors are boring and weak. The texture doesn’t work well as an eye shadow at all. It’s better as a blush, but still very weak.  They are creamy but dry, very much like other bad cream eye shadows I have tried, and they dry out, with a tendency to clump. The gloss itself isn't glossy, it's more like lip balm.
And the colors mixed with the gloss are too dry to be a gloss.

The whole kit seems like something you get for kids. You know the kind, with magic makeup that changes color, and is easy to wash off…

What a waste!

Giveaway!!!!!!!!

CLOSED!!!!

Giveaway!

5 Winners, over 5 weeks!
I've got a ton of Samples, so I'm going to share :)
Each winner will get 2 Korean sheet masks (Super popular, of random types... Daily Fresh, Etude House, It's Skin, etc.)
and a bunch of samples, at least 5 each winner, plus a toner and emulsion(moisturizer set)
The first winner will get

                  

  Rules (They suck but…. It’s free stuff!)
1. You must be a follower! (So you need to be logged in when you leave your comment so I can identify you!)
2. Please leave a comment on any post regarding samples, telling me what YOU would like to try!
3. The contest is open world wide!
4. Triple entries for anyone who reposts this on their blog or twitter feed!
5. There will be a winner drawn every SUNDAY, until June 13th. 5 Sunday's, 5 winners!

Your chances of winning something are really really good!
6. You can't win twice, but every entry counts for every draw! So you will have 5 chances to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!