Korean Brushes!!!

Korean In-Store Brand Brushes (Etude House, Holika Holika, It's Skin, etc.)
So, do you uses make-up brushes??? When I first go into makeup, I didn't, I thought they were stupid.
I was also woefully inept at all things makeup.....

I have since come to appreciate a good brush. My eyes look better with properly applied eye shadow, beautifully rimmed with creme eyeliner. My eyebrows are even straighter, and more dramatic.

So I've purchase a number of brushes from Korean In-store Brands.
I have Etude House, Skin food, It's Skin, Holika Holika, and.... um.... Oh, one from Tony Moly.
To be honest, I'm probably missing some....

Different Packaging 

The thing is, all the brushes are the EXACT same!!! It's so weird. The only difference is the packaging, and the name printed on the handle.
But the brush, the shape/size, texture, same same same!

So I thought I would do ONE BIG review for Korean Brushes....

The prices range from about 3000 won to 12000. The most expensive is the foundation brush.
I have a few different size eye shadow brushes, and a couple of eyeliner brushes.

See! Same same same!!! All the little ones are the same, just different sizes!!!

Honestly, I love them all.....

They are beautiful quality for the price.

I've had this one since 2009! It still looks the same!

I've never encountered any shedding. The bristles hold their shape really well, they are soft, with a bit of structure. I have cleaned them countless times, the labels have worn off, but the bristles and handle are still like new!

The handles are a bit stubby for their height, and kind of soft(a little like rubber). So they are very comfortable to use.

So, if you use makeup brushes, pick up some by a Korean in-store brand. I love them....

It's Skin - Honey Nutri cleansing foam

It's Skin - Honey Nutri cleansing foam

I am in love.
With this cleanser..... (Maybe that was a little bit too dramatic) This really is my favorite cleanser. Of all cleansers. 

What it is a creamy foaming cleanser, with a light honey scent(very light).  The cleanser itself is a light golden yellow. It's thick, and foams into tiny little bubbles.  

Why is it so awesome?

It's so simple.
I like all kinds of fancy cleansers, multiple steps, oils, powders, scrubs, etc.
But when I get up each morning, and sleepily wash my face, I don't have the energy or patience for anything complicated, I just want a quick simple cleansing, that leave my face feeling fresh, clean, soft, not dry and ready to face the day. That's what this cleanser is.

Are you thinking that I could get a simple cleanser from anywhere, any brand? Well yes, basic cleansers are everywhere. But rarely does one do the job so well.
It's not that the Honey Nutri cleanser does anything different or new, it just does things better. When I wash with it, it has a nice texture and is easy to use, it washes away cleanly. When I am done, my skin feels just a bit softer and younger, a bit fresher, than with other cleansers. After days and days, my skin always feels that lovely.

Most simple products are mediocre. This is perfect at being just a simple cleanser!

Holika Holika Candy Pop Nail Polish

Holika Holika Candy Pop Nail Polish
Price: 2000 won ($2!)
The Candy pop Nail series is all bright 'summery' gel polishes.
Gorgeous!

This color is my least favorite of the Candy Pop series. But I still like it....
It's kind of weird, because every other Candy pop color is clear, and gel like (is that what those kinds of polishes are supposed to be called), but this color is kind of creamy....
It's like half candy pop, half regular Holika line (blue tops are all creamy goodness).
So it's just very out of place, and doesn't do either way that well....

It's a solid 3 coat polish, which is how many I have on in the picture.
The color itself is nice. It's not my favorite, but It's a very wearable color for me, since it's a pinky purple!

Anyway, don't be scared off from the Candy Pop series by this review. The rest of the line is stunning!

Hi fellow bloggers!
I will return soon, my computer has broken again, so it is off to be fixed *hopefully*
One last post, then I will be gone until my beloved laptop returns to me......

The Best month of the year!!

It my absolute favorite time of year, no it's not thanksgiving, It's National Novel Writing month!!!
I've been participating for 5 years. Sadly, last year was the first year I failed to finish :(
This year I plan on making up for it!
Who cares that I have 3 presentation, 4 assignments, 2 midterms and a 25 and 12 page paper, all sue this month????

So please join me, write your own awesome novel!!!

BB cream swatches!!

BB cream swatches!!

Since I accumulated a number of BB cream samples, I thought I would swatch them for you!!!

Super Magic BB by Hanskin
            Supposed to be whitening and wrinkle preventing
Etude House Precious Mineral - Sheer glowing skin (color 2)
              SPF30
Banilla co - Let me BeBe
           SPF37, and supposed to be illuminating'
Hanskin Control Skin BB
            For less than perfect skin
It's Skin - i code W
              SPF17 PA++, and wrinkle control          
Hanskin Nutritive
              SPF35

As you can see, not a single good color for me in the bunch!!! They are all on the darker side for BB creams

Banilla co's was the lightest, and very yellow.
It's skin and Hanskin's Nutritive we the most neutral toned.
Etude's looked super orange when blended in! Yikes!!!

New Blog look!

Hi Fellow bloggers!  I was tired of my old blog look, so I changed it!
I think It's Much better!
The background picture was taken in Cambodia, of the Lake, Sras Srei.
I took the picture at 5:30-6 in the morning!!

I also added a home button on the left, under followers, since my page doesn't have a header... Hopefully it will make navigating a little easier!!

Well let me know what you think, if anything is working, or hard to read!!

Thanks guys :)

Holika Holika Polish in - Orange!

Holika Holika Polish in - Orange!
Price : 2000won

For Halloween, I though I would review a couple of colors of orange nail polish. I bought this color, cause I liked it, not for the Holiday, but hey, it works for Halloween!

This is one of the Many Holika polishes in my collection, because Holika makes GORGEOUS Nail Polish.

This bright, almost pumpkin orange is no exception.
The texture is perfect, it's creamy, with 2 coat coverage, but smooths itself out, eliminating streaks.
 The finish easily looks impeccable.
I really love the creamy polished by Holika, they are such great quality!

The color, I love. Its so truly, unapologetically orange. 
The color also makes my hands look good.  It's not too yellow (makes my skin look dull), or too red (makes my skin look pink). It's just right.
...
So in the end, Iove it!!
Does anybody else think my skin looks blue???? I swear the nail polish is true to life!!

Worst Etude house item EVER!!!

Do you see the adorable little penguin? He's(or she's?) so adorable!

I was on my way out of Korea (*sob*), and in the Incheon Airport (Seoul), shopping at the little Etude/Missha shop.
Where they upped the prices soooo much it was ridiculous!
But the little Lip gloss pot was so cute! It says hug me (which is odd...)
 Plus it's an apple scent, I LOVE the smell of apple!!!! So I kinda overpaid for it.

Inside, is this really hard lip cream. It's hard like pots of cocoa butter.... Which is not a bad thing, since it melts at body temp, and moisturizes really well.

It's really smooth. 
The penguin is colorless, and with just the barest sheen.  
It's the perfect texture to toss in a bag, for those days when I am chapped, or just dry, or planning on doing some kissing.....

Doesn't it sound wonderful???

.....
I vaguely remember it being wonderful, but, I haven't been able to use it more than 3 times, because the cover sticks.
The little pot is made out of metal, and the top gets wedged on the bottom so firmly, I, even with a screw driver and pliers, can not get it open.
My Dad and Boyfriend, cannot get it open.

The stupid thing WILL NOT OPEN!!!!

I managed to get it open once after it got stuck, It just mysterious opened one day.....

But I couldn't leave it open, I had to put the top back on.
That was back in July.

I really wish I could open it.....

Foot pad healers from Sasa

Footpad Healers

Price : ranging from 1000won to $1.60

Hello, strange. Have you noticed I have an obession with weird beauty things? The foot pad healers are one of my more recent forays into the odd.
I picked up a few,  Kokubo- Aloma in Rose,a Germanium and heating one from Sasa,  and from Daiso, a "Natural Diet" one!

I was Backpacking in Cambodia, so I thought My feet would be sore. So I thought they would be worth a try.

Inside each packet are two little sachets. Inside is a powder/granules. One side being sticky. You peel off the cover, and stick a square on the bottom of each foot.
Then your feet begin to sweat, it's oddly uncomfortable. My feet weren't warm, but I had a strong urge to wash.
After ~10 minutes, the pads have dark spots, where the sweat has soaked into the pads. And then you take them off.

Except for the sweat, they didn't do anything.... I know that they are supposed to make your feet sweat, that's the point, but It's not like they made my feet feel more relaxed, or fresher, or helped with swelling.
They were sweaty then nothing...
It was odd.
The heating one was the best, since it did heat up, which could be nice.

Other wise, I can safely recommend a pass!

Sasa free shipping over $29 today and tomorrow! Hurry!!

Hey fellow Beauty Addicts! Sasa.com shipping is free for purchase over $29 the 5 to 7th!

Since shipping is usually only free for purchases $75 or more this is awesome, at least for me since I just got birthday money!!

The broken :(

I haven't had much luck with eyeshadows. Singles tend to be of terrible quality, quads and trios are much nicer, but then, there is always one color I use more than all the others. One color that I always want in a single.

This Trio was finally one that I loved each and every color. They blended seamless, and looked fantastic.

But.... It broke, and It's skin stopped making it....
So There is no EOTD, because I dropped the compact, and it turned to a powdered mess.

But I wanted to show you what once was a lovely compact, and share my woe.....

It's skin - Color play - Trio Eyeshadow

Price : 6000won I think....
 It's a baked shadow, with a light, dark and in between shade. I got a trio of cool bronzes. The compact is super simple, a mirrorless matte black.

The show really doesn't look like much.... But trust me, it was gorgeous....

*sigh*

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School Supplies!

Since I decided to go back to school, I had to buy some cute Korean school supplies from G-market! (I swear I don't work for g-market, I just love it so!)

Here's what I got

Highlighters
They look boring on the outside, but inside, they are crayons (not markers!), which is so cool, because they are ERASEABLE! So at the end of the year I can sell my books back!!

Study Planner

It's super cute, but only a 1/2 year planner, which I did not realize! But It's got adorable details, like little customizable cover pieces (Time tables, or motivational sayings, and other random ones!)

Sticky Notes!
I love Sticky notes, the little packet has list notes, timetable notes, indicator tabs, and just regular!

Study Timer

Best thing EVER. It counts down or Up. So I will say set 30minutes, and then keep working until the timer goes off! It's great for keeping me motivated!

Staple-less stapler

It's so odd. It staples paper, without staples! It really works!

So those are my new supplies. I think I am disproportionately excited.... But they are so awesome!

Greetings Toronto!

I have moved! Not to Asia this time ( :( )
I am in Toronto! I've decided to go to university this year.
I am a bit nervous, I don't know anyone here! So if there are any readers out there in Toronto, and want to hang out, send me a message :)

Holika Holika nail polish in Baby blue

Holika Holika nail polish in Baby blue

Price: 2000 won (Less than $2)

There is one word to describe this color - Gorgeous!
I LOVE IT!
You might be thinking it's just another baby blue.
Sure I could see that, baby blue is pretty common.
But this nail polish by Holika Holika is just gorgeous. It is really bright and fresh. So instead of being a boring pastel, the color really pops. It's oddly strong for a pastel. You have to admit the tone is gorgeous, it is super flattering, my hands look younger and brighter in this color.
 It's so good.
(Sorry about the rant :D )

The polish is also a wonderful texture, thick enough for easy 2 coat coverage, but this enough it applies like a dream. The finish is gorgeous, even when my nails are less than perfect.

This whole line by Holika has some of my favorite polishes!

Shisedo Tsubaki Shining Treatment

Shisedo Tsubaki Shining Treatment


Price: 5000 won I think....
Ages ago I wrote a post about how much I adore the Shisedo Tsubaki line of hair care. It works so well for my dry dyed hair.
Of course I had to buy the condition treatment too!

It comes in a squeeze bottle, but the look coordinates with the rest of the series.
It's slightly thicker than the conditioner, but works the same.

It is no more conditioning than the conditioner, even when used as a hair mask. In fact, when I ran out of conditioner, I started using this instead, and there was no difference!!! My hair was not greasier, not more conditioned, no noticeable difference at all!

I wouldn't say it was a disappointing, but it is completely unnecessary if you already own the shampoo and conditioner!

Etude House Orjel Light Lipstick - Take 2!!!

Etude House Orjel Light Lipstick - Take 2!!!
Price: 8000won

Color: 2

Ages ago, when I first moved to Korea I bought the Etude House Orjel light lipstick color 4, and I didn't like it! But a lot of readers commented how they had liked it, and I had read on other blogs how much they liked it....

I hated color 4, it was sooo drying, it made my lips flake, and ewww, that is Not attractive!!!

I was in the airport in Korea, on my way back from Thailand, and I bought a bunch of lipsticks from Etude House and Missha  (they were merged together into this weird round store....

By accident I picked up a second Orjel light. I was trying to get a soft pink from one of the other lines, but I got the soft orjel pink....

Ooops.

Luckily for me, it was the color I wanted, not soem really ugly unusable shade!

So I started using it.

I LOVE it.

I was wrong.  I still hate color 4 but color 2 is different. (I even pulled out the peach color, and tried it again, it dried my lips out again!)
It isn't drying. It doesn't last long, but It isn't at all drying, it is soft, and the color is gorgeous.
It's sparkly, but only a bit. It's sheer, with enough tint to alter the shade of my lips.
It looks gorgeous, natural but better!

it has become my go to everyday lipstick. It's so sheer, it is almost a gloss, with a soft satin finish.

SO If you are looking to buy from the Orjel Light line at Etude house, be warned, it seems to be quite inconsistent.....

Ah well.

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.

Holika Holika UV Magic Shield

Holika Holika UV Magic Shield - Body Spray Sun
SPF 50+ PA+++
Price : 10,000 won ($9.75)

I can't believe I haven't posted about this before!!!! This is an AWESOME can of Sunscreen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am always looking for an alternative to my Anessa sunscreen, since it is so expense(worth it, but at $40-50, it's a lot!)
So I picked up the UV magic shield, thinking it might be ok. It has a high SPF which is my preference.
What it is is the perfect Aerosol can of sunscreen. It applies in light layers. It is easy to apply, and it's easy to apply more or less.  It's white going on, but absorbs super quickly, and doesn't leave a white cast!!!
Best of all is how it feels, It feels like nothing. It's NOT greasy, It's NOT thick, It DOESN'T smell funny!!!!!

So you can see how it applies white.  But that was a super heavy coat! Then it fades to invisible. 

It looks similar- But its NOT!
When I got back to Canada I tried to find a substitute for the Holika Magic Shield. I found the Presidents Choice SPF50 Aerosol. It was More expensive than the Holika(before shipping) an $9.

The president's choice sunscreen is the worst stuff EVER! It sprays out so much that after one quick spray It's running down my arms(ewww). Then  it dries in this gross way, like dried out slime, it get's crusty, and sticky, and feel greasy, all at once! Plus it attracts dirt, so my arms look like they have streaks of dirt.....

Can you see the drips? This is as lightly as I can apply! SO GROSS!!!

In comparison the Holika Magic Shield, applies evenly, lightly, making application super easy. It absorbs into the skin, and feels like I'm not wearing any sunscreen!!!

I LOVE the Holika Holika UV Magic Shield  Body Spray Sun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!