Skincare Products from Kiehls

March 10, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Etude House - Pink Cherry Blossom Collection

≪ Previous: Missha x Line Friends Season 2 Collection

I recently received a gorgeous box from Kiehl's! I am so in love with their packaging - the red box and white ribbon, makes it all cute for everybody and it's a lovely present to give. Kiehl's is a brand that it's in the market since 1851, can you imagine how long ago that is? It's still a very well-known brand now-a-days all over the world. Want to know what's inside the box? Keep on reading!

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KIEHL'S SKINCARE PRODUCTS
As you all know I love skincare products. I have been wanting to try their skincare products for ages, but wasn't able to get them in The Netherlands since these products are often out of stock. There are a few products that are very popular within the bloggers world and are the customer's favorites as well!

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CALENDULA HERBAL EXTRACT TONER - ALCOHOL FREE
This is one of the most popular toners of Kiehl's. It gently cleanses and soothes normal to oily skin types. It doesn't contain any alcohol or any harsh synthetic drying agents. You can use it to soothe, balance and improve problem areas on the skin. It contains calendula petals which come from the marigold flower and you can even see these petals floating in the toner. I really have high hopes about this product since I have read amazing reviews about this toner and that it balances the skin very well. If you are interested, the Calendula Herbal Extract Toner is sold for $21.- for a 4.2 fl. oz. bottle.

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KIEHL'S CREAMY EYE TREATMENT WITH AVOCADO
This eye cream gently moisturizes the delicate eye area. It contains naturally-derived avocado oil and provides hydration for the sensitive eye area. It's ophthamologist- and dermatologist-tested. I can't wait to give this a try! The sound of natural ingredients in this product and that it hydrates really well makes me want to give it a try. If you are interested too, the Creamy Eye Treatment with avocado is sold for $29.- for a 0.5 fl. oz. jar.

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KIEHL'S MIDNIGHT RECOVERY CONCENTRATE
Another well-known product of Kiehl's is their midnight recovery concentrate. If you have heard of the Estee Lauder advanced night repair serum or the Missha time revolution night repair ampoule, you might have heard of the Kiehl's midnight recovery as well since they are similar to eachother. The Estee Lauder night repair serum didn't work out for me and I have been seeing great results after using the Missha ampoule. However, I am really curious if this one works for me as well. The Kiehl's midnight recovery concentrate regenerates, restores and replenishes the skin for smoother and healthier skin. It's 99.8% naturally-derived and paraben-free oil for face. If you are interested in this concentrate, it's sold for $46.- for a 1.0 fl. oz. bottle.

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED ANY KIEHL'S PRODUCTS?

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

note: these products were sent to me as a gift.

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Etude House - Pink Cherry Blossom Collection

March 17, 2016, 6:17 am

≫ Next: The Face Shop x KaKao Friends Collection

≪ Previous: Skincare Products from Kiehls

Cherry blossom season is about to start and Etude House has released a brand new collection to celebrate that - the Pink Cherry Blossom Collection. If you love cherry blossom, this collection might be perfect for you!

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM COLLECTION

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM EAU DE TOILETTE

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM ALLOVER SPRAY

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM PERFUMED HAND CREAM

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM PERFUME MULTI BALM

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM MAKEUP BAG

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ETUDE HOUSE PINK CHERRY BLOSSOM PLAY 101 PENCILS - 5 COLORS
This includes 5 shades: 4 from the previous 101 pencils collection and one is new which is especially created for this collection.

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WHERE TO BUY?
You are able to purchase this collection at etudehouse.com, kpoptown.com and twofacemall.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS COLLECTION?

note: these pictures are from the official website from etude house.

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The Face Shop x KaKao Friends Collection

March 19, 2016, 11:32 am

≫ Next: Review: Aritaum All Day Lasting Primer SPF44 & Foundation SPF30

≪ Previous: Etude House - Pink Cherry Blossom Collection

Oh the competition! The Face Shop has released a brand new collection in collaboration with KaKao Talk (더페이스샵× 카카오프렌즈). I am sure this collection is going to be popular, just like the collection from Missha x Line friends. Check out the whole collection in today's blogpost. The collection includes, sunscreen products, perfumes, adorable sheet masks with KaKao talk friends on it, hand creams and more!

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COMMERCIAL
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THE FACE SHOP x KAKAO FRIENDS COLLECTION

SUNSCREEN:
• natural sun eco baby mild sun cream SPF 30 PA++
• natural sun eco no shine hydrating sun cream SPF40 PA++
• natural sun eco photogenic sun blur SPF50+ PA+++ (this one seems interesting to me!)
• natural sun eco body & family mild sun milk SPF40 PA+++
• natural sun eco baby sunscreen cushion SPF34 PA++ (this has been repackaged)

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GET A BETTER VIEW OF THE COLLECTION
To get a better view of the collection and the shades, youtubers So Young and Mia made a video about it.
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WHERE TO BUY?
A lot of the products in this collection are sold at ibuybeauti.com who has a sale at the moment!, koreadepart.com, kpoptown.com and some items are sold at jolse.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS COLLECTION?

note: the pictures are all from the face shop, see disclaimer.

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Review: Aritaum All Day Lasting Primer SPF44 & Foundation SPF30

March 25, 2016, 2:46 pm

≫ Next: Korean Make Up Gurus on Youtube Part 4

≪ Previous: The Face Shop x KaKao Friends Collection

Hi all! I'm here today with a review of two products from Korean brand, Aritaum! I will be reviewing the All Day Lasting Primer SPF44 PA++ and the All Day Lasting Foundation with SPF30 PA++. I've been loving Aritaum products for the past two years, so I couldn't wait to try these. Now I've been using these two products for 4 months (not every day) and I can finally write my full review about it. Check it out in today's blogpost.

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ARITAUM ALL DAY LASTING PRIMER SPF44 PA++
This is a primer that you should apply on the skin, as your first step before applying any make up. It contains whitening ingredients, has anti-wrinkle care and UV rays block because it has SPF44 PA++. It claims to absorb sebum and it gives the skin a silky texture. It also naturally fixes uneven skin tones. This primer has 35ml of product.

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SWATCHES
Make sure your skin is moist before you apply this primer. It has a very thin, liquid texture, light scent. The shade is light pink. It only comes in one shade. You only need a little bit to cover the face, so make sure you don't apply too much. I love how the finish is, it's very soft and it applies very smoothly, very good as your base make up.

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DOES IT WORK?
I am using this with the all day lasting foundation and I do get the feeling that it last a little bit longer than without the primer and it controls my sebum slightly longer, but unfortunately it's not a drastic change. It's probably a difference of one hour or something. This also has to do with the climate of the country where you are in though. Currently, it's pretty cold in The Netherlands, so no sunshine or hot weather here =(.

ALL DAY LASTING FOUNDATION WITH SPF30 PA++
I bought it in the color natural beige (yellow undertone), but it's also available in the color light beige. It claims to be a long lasting foundation with a silky skin texture. It lightly adheres on skin and covers freckles and dark spots. It has whitening ingredients, anti-wrinkle care and it's a UV rays block since it has SPF30 PA++. It also contains ingredients that controls sebum. I purchased this foundation after I read this description, it sounds very good right?! The product is big and contains 40ml. It comes in a pump so it's easy to get the product out.

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SWATCHES & TEXTURE
It's a liquid foundation with a pleasant light scent. You got to make sure that your skin is moist, otherwise you will be able to see dry patches on the skin. It has a very natural tone and I don't look like a ghost after applying this onto my face, it adheres to my skin tone which is great. It has a medium coverage, is buildable to a full coverage but it might look a bit cakey if you apply too much, so be careful with the amount you put on. It glides easily onto the face leaving a natural, matte finish. I don't have a feeling that it does much for sebum control. Make sure to apply a powder afterwards, otherwise it can smear during the hot days or when your face is very oily. Therefore, powder and touch ups are needed when having this foundation on.

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BEFORE

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AFTER
The lighting is slightly different compared to the picture above, but this is how the shades look in real on my skin. The best way to apply this foundation is with a sponge or with a good foundation brush. If you don't use a good foundation brush, it may look streaky. I used a sponge in the picture below. As you can see, it covers my freckles pretty well, not fully, but it's less dark, less noticeable. These pictures are not photoshopped.

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FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I like how the primer feels on the skin, but I don't think it works really well on sebum control and it doesn't make my foundation last longer (just an hour longer or so). I do like the texture of both products, it just glides on the skin and it adheres to your own skin tone. I love the coverage of the foundation and that you are able to build that up into a full coverage. It doesn't last a full day, but I only need to touch up once which is good. My T-zone tends to get oily (i got a combination dry skin)
during the day, so it does smear a bit which is why I need to touch up.

Would I purchase this again? I wouldn't purchase the primer again, since it didn't give a drastic change on sebum control. The foundation is nice, but I actually prefer the Aritaum full cover BB cream way more and that concealer of the full cover line is very good as well. I was hoping this foundation would be better but nope.

WHERE TO BUY?
I bought both products at w2beauty.com, the lasting primer is sold for there for 12,77 euros and the lasting foundation for 17,22 euros. Both very affordable I would say.

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Korean Make Up Gurus on Youtube Part 4

March 27, 2016, 9:58 am

≫ Next: Review: Skinfood - Black Sugar Wash Off Mask

≪ Previous: Review: Aritaum All Day Lasting Primer SPF44 & Foundation SPF30

Oh WOW! It has been almost a year since I posted an update about Korean make up gurus on Youtube. I will be sharing Part 4 today. Make sure to visit Part 1, Part 2& Part 3 since I won't be mentioning those youtubers again. Every year, there are more and more Youtubers who talks about Korean make up which I love, it's almost too hard to keep up haha. I am going to add a few into my list today, check them out!

src: picture from pony makeup taylor swift transformation

1. JOANKEEM
I have discovered her Youtube channel just recently via Sunnydahye. I like her Korean beauty videos so far and she recently made a video about her favorite Korean beauty stores in South Korea which is quite entertaining. She shows mostly empties, hauls and favorites videos of Korean make up products on her channel.
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2. DUMA
Duma is a Korean Youtuber and often creates Korean looks and gives make up tips. In the video below she gives tips on how to remove dust on a cream blusher. I always have dust on my powder or cream products when I leave them in my make up bag somehow, so her tips did help. .
3. PONY MAKEUP
I made a blogpost about Pony before when she made videos for the channel InsiteTV (Now called Onstyle). Her own make up channel has grown massively the past years and it's still growing. Her make up looks are on point and I just love how it's edited and the quality is amazing. The good part is also that it has English subtitles! In the video below she is showing a Taylor Swift transformation and I got to say that it's really alike! This video has been shared multiple times on many websites which is why it has more than 2 million views now! She deserves it for sure!
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4. BAMBIGIRL
I have been following bambigirl for a while, she is always quick with showing the latest collections and swatches & reviews them. Many videos of her has English subtitles so we are all able to understand it. In the video below she shows the latest collection of Pony Makeup - Pony Effect!

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5. THE BEAUTY BREAKDOWN
This is Morgan, a Korean American Youtuber. I have been liking her videos more and more since she gives a very good view of the products that she uses. Her voice is pretty high, but you just need to get used to it. She creates a lot of Korean beauty related videos which can be informative. In the video below she's showing her Etude House berry delicious haul.

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DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER KOREAN MAKE UP GURUS?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.

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Review: Skinfood - Black Sugar Wash Off Mask

March 31, 2016, 12:27 pm

≫ Next: Etude House Bubble Tea Sleeping Pack

≪ Previous: Korean Make Up Gurus on Youtube Part 4

Skinfood! When I first started with Korean skincare products, 6 years ago, I heard of the brand Skinfood already. This brand has been in the market for a very long time and their products are still popular. I have reviewed their Rice Mask Wash Off Mask before and today I am going to review the Black Sugar Wash Off mask. Feel free to continue with reading if you want to know my thoughts about it.

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SKINFOOD - BLACK SUGAR WASH OFF MASK
The black sugar wash off mask is enriched with minerals and vitamins. You can definitely smell the brown sugar that this products has. While massaging it on the face, it will exfoliate the skin, leaving a smooth and soft skin. The hydrating formula moisturizes your face as it sets, once you rinse it off your skin glows! It contains 100g of product.

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INGREDIENTS
Sucrose, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Clycerin, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Macademia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Lanolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Laurate, Butylparaben, BHT, Caramel, Parfum.

HOW TO USE
After washing, apply desired amount onto face, avoiding eye and mouth areas. Mix the black sugar mask with water or oil to reduce skin irritations, and massage your skin with it. Wait 10-15 minutes, and then wash off with lukewarm water. Recommended to use it once a week.

THE SCENT AND TEXTURE
The product doesn't come with a spatula but I do recommend to use once for hygiene reasons. It smells very sweet and it just looks and smells like black sugar. The texture is just like sugar as well - the sugar grains feels just like a rough scrub . If you don't mix this with lukewarm water, it feels very rough. Therefore make sure to mix it and massage it on the face so the sugar melts a little bit before you leave it on the skin. You are also able to mix it with an oil, which makes it less rough.

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FINAL THOUGHTS & FINAL RESULTS
This affordable mask (around USD$8) exfoliates the skin very well and because of this, you will feel a baby soft, smooth skin afterwards. It helps to removes flakey skin as well (yay!). The brightening effect is visible after rinsing it off, but keep in mind that the effect is temporary. I am happy that it doesn't feel dry or greasy afterwards. The texture can be a hit or miss for some. You have to mix it with either water or oil to make the sugar grains melt, otherwise it would feel extremely rough. I have the feeling that mixing it with water is too rough for me, so I use the method with oil, which I think is fine for me. Besides that, it's a pity that the packaging is not hygienic, it doesn't have a spatula or spoon.

If you are looking for an exfoliating mask, that removes flakey skin and you don't mind the texture of sugar, this product will be for you.

If you got very sensitive skin or if you prefer a soft exfoliation, I wouldn't recommend it. I would recommend the rice mask instead.

WHERE TO BUY?
You can purchase it at jolse.com (now on sale here), KollektionK.com, Koreadepart.com, and ibuybeauti.com.

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Etude House Bubble Tea Sleeping Pack

April 3, 2016, 8:45 am

≫ Next: Review: The Body Shop - Drops of Youth Skincare Line

≪ Previous: Review: Skinfood - Black Sugar Wash Off Mask

Etude House always creates adorable packaging and they do it again this time. They just released a bubble tea sleeping pack in green tea, strawberry and black tea. The packaging is to die for, it even has those tapioca pearls in it and a little spoon as applicator haha. I have no idea if it's good, but I want to buy it already just because of the packaging. All three delivers moisture into the skin, the tapioca pearls includes moisturizing ingredients which makes your skin even more plump. More details in today's blogpost.

BUBBLE TEA SLEEPING PACK - GREEN TEA
The bubble tea sleeping pack in green tea takes care of pores and excessive sebum.

BUBBLE TEA SLEEPING PACK - STRAWBERRY
The strawberry version is more for people with a dry skin, since this version includes more ingredients that makes this mask moist.

BUBBLE TEA SLEEPING PACK - BLACK TEA
The black version improves the elasticity of the skin.

HOW IT LOOKS IN REAL

source: eBay seller etudehouse2012

source: twinkle recipe

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HOW TO USE
Use the small spoon/spatula that is included and apply some mask and 1-2 tapioca pearls onto the palm. Gently make the bubbles flat with the spatula and mix it with the mask. Apply evenly onto the skin while massaging the skin. Leave it overnight and wash off with lukewarm water the next morning.

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WHERE TO BUY?
This product has just been released so it's not sold everywhere yet. However, you are currently able to purchase it at kpoptown.com, at Ebay seller etudehouse2012, Ebay seller biz-inside and it's sold in the Etude house stores in South Korea.

note: pictures are from etude house official page, unless stated differently

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Review: The Body Shop - Drops of Youth Skincare Line

April 24, 2016, 9:48 am

≫ Next: Etude House - Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon

≪ Previous: Etude House Bubble Tea Sleeping Pack

The Body Shop is a very popular brand who has shops all over the world. This English brand surprises me over and over again with their skincare lines. Surprisingly their skincare ranges starting to make me think of the Korean skincare lines. E.g. they have skincare lines that are aimed to create a brighter skin tone, there are sleeping packs in their skincare line, serums, essences. There is a line with mainly tea tree ingredients in it etc.

Today I am reviewing a few products from their Drops of Youth line, this organic range has been created for the first signs of aging and giving hydration to the skin.

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THE BODY SHOP - DROPS OF YOUTH
The collection contains an essence lotion, eye concentrate, youth concentrate, youth cream, a bouncy sleeping mask and wonder blur. In today's blogpost I am reviewing the youth concentrate, essence lotion and the youth cream. This range is infused with stem cell technology along with other ingredients for fresh, youthful-looking skin. Designed with Edelweiss, Sea Holly, and Criste Marine, these plant stem cells help to protect, firm and renew the skin. 99% of ingredients are of natural origin.

DROPS OF YOUTH - ESSENCE LOTION
A gel-to-water liquid care, the essential first step after cleansing to prepare skin for the next steps of the routine. Skin will feel instantly smoother and replenished with moisture, well that's what they claim.

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INGREDIENTS
Alcohol is high on the list, it contains many fragrance ingredients and also many plant extracts in the list! So if you like natural ingredients, this one has a lot of them!

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TEXTURE
It's a gel type of essence that is liquid. You just need to put some product onto your palm and pat it onto the face. It's easy to spread, but does leave a sticky feeling after applying. It absorbs within a few seconds and it makes my skin feeling moist afterwards.

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DROPS OF YOUTH - YOUTH CONCENTRATE
This concentrate helps to enhance the surface skin condition, leaving it looking smoother, more moist, fresher and healthier.

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INGREDIENTS
There is an amount of Salicylic Acid, BHA in this concentrate and once again Alcohol is high on the list. Also this one has fragrance ingredients and many plant extracts.

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TEXTURE
The youth concentrate feels like a serum. Only 2 drops are needed for the whole face. It's easy to spread and gives a lot of moisture to the skin. Also this product leaves a sticky feeling onto the skin. No other effects could be felt or seen after usage.

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DROPS OF YOUTH - YOUTH CREAM
A velvety air-whipped moisturising cream to leave skin feeling smoother, more supple and refined with a youthful-looking bounce. Sounds great, but you can just compare it with a moisturizer that you can use during the day and night time.

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INGREDIENTS
There is Salicylic Acid, BHA in here too and once again Alcohol is high on the list. This cream is reacting bad onto my skin with a tingling itchy sensation, so I stopped using it after 4 days. The fragrance in this product seems more noticeable here too which I don't like.

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TEXTURE
The Youth Cream isn't heavy or thick or oily. It's a cream that you can easily spread and it absorbs into the skin very fast, leaving a moist skin.

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SCENT
I am not a big fan of the scent of this skincare line, since it has a strong herbal scent to it. Unfortunately this whole line has the same scent. This is very personal though, so if you are not sure if you like the scent or not, you can always visit one of their stores and try their samples before purchasing the full size product.

WHERE TO BUY?
You are able to purchase this range at the body shop stores and online at thebodyshop.com. The price varies: the essence-lotion is sold for €15.-, the concentrate for €28.- and the youth cream is €25.-.

FINAL THOUGHTS
To be honest, I don't like products with alcohol. It's an ingredient that I personally try to avoid. However, I know that some people with an oily skin tone for example are okay with alcohol in their skincare products. Alcohol does has its use in the products such as thinning out the product. The 3 products that I have tried in this skincare line has alcohol inside it and it's high on the ingredient list too, but luckily this didn't dry out my skin. It contains many fragrance ingredients. It also includes many plant extracts which is great for people who prefer natural ingredients.

I just added these products into my skincare routine. This range made my skin feel moist, but no significant effects could be seen after using it for 2 weeks. I stopped using the cream after 4 days since it gave me that itchy/tingling sensation every time I used it. The other 2 products I kept on using for 2 weeks. Hopefully better results can be seen after using it for a longer period.

If you are looking for skincare products that are lightweight, absorbs fast, is moisturizing, if you like natural ingredients and if you don't mind herbal scented products and alcohol in your products, this might be a great choice for you. If not, you may want to look further.

note: these products were sent to me for review purposes, but this didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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Etude House - Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon

May 7, 2016, 3:29 am

≫ Next: Review+Giveaway: The Yufit Mirapack Sheet Mask & Miracle Care Cream

≪ Previous: Review: The Body Shop - Drops of Youth Skincare Line

Etude House has released some new lip products that's called Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon (디어 마이 블루밍 립스 톡 쉬폰). This collection contains 12 colors and the difference between their normal lip products is the finish: chiffon.

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COMMERCIAL

DEAR MY BLOOMING LIPS TALK CHIFFON - SHADES
The definition for a chiffon finish is cream + matte = chiffon finish.

This is how shade PK027 looks on Krystal.

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WHERE TO BUY?
These products aren't sold online yet. I will update this page once it's sold online.

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HOW THE PACKAGING LOOKS IN REAL

note: these pictures are all from the official etude house website, edited by me, see disclaimer.

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Review+Giveaway: The Yufit Mirapack Sheet Mask & Miracle Care Cream

May 8, 2016, 7:31 am

≫ Next: April Skin Magic Snow Cushion Pink SPF50+ PA+++

≪ Previous: Etude House - Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon

I am reviewing products of a Korean brand that you might haven't heard of yet. I am talking about the brand: THE Yufit. It's a brand who is in the Korean beauty market for over 10 years, but they are launching some of their products in the US for the first time soon. I will be reviewing their sheet masks and their miracle care cream in today's blogpost. The name of the product sounds interesting isn't it?

This blogpost also contains a small giveaway, make sure to read this blogpost, so you can see how you are able to join the giveaway (open worldwide)!

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THE YUFIT MIRAPACK SHEET MASK
This is a 5th generation cellulose sheet from 100% cotton that delivers active ingredients deep into the skin. This unique sheet mask is able to hold 35g of ingredients which is the largest amount of ingredients contained in a single sheet mask compared to other brands in South Korea (march 2016). The mask is made from hydro-gel based cellulose, that helps to cool down the skin and effectively deliver the ingredients into the skin. It's safe to use for sensitive skin as well.

The sheet mask also contains adenosine, which will tighten the skin. It works as one of the most effective wrinkle improvements to the skin, which keeps it healthy looking. It also contains niacinamide, which is a water-soluble vitamin that will brighten the skin. The sheet mask contains many extracts that are from natural sources.

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COMMERCIAL
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I like how simple but nice the packaging looks. It has a grey packaging with English as well as Korean descriptions on it.

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INGREDIENTS
Since the product is new in the US market, I made a new page at Cosdna.com, so you can have a better view of the ingredients. The product does contain perfume. The scent of the sheet mask is not overwhelming to me, but does have a cream-like scent to it and it smells fresh. It smells like clean clothing to me (this is so hard to describe hahah). Bioduoferm (saccharomyces ferment filtrate, lactobacillus ferment) is also inside this mask, it makes your skin firm and healthy looking.

Water, Butylene glycol, saccharomyces ferment filtrate, lactobacillus ferment, xanthan gum, peucedanum graveolens (dill) extract, niacin amide, vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract, ceratonia siliqua gum, agar, alcohol, resveratrol, scutellaria aicalensis root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, houttuynia cordata extract, adenosine, citrus junks fruit extract, caprylyl glycol, artemisia princeps leaf extract, glucose, tamarinds indica seed gum, cellulose gum, parfum, phenoxythenol, disodium edta

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As you can see it has 2 steps, one is the actual sheet mask, the second part is the miracle care cream.

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The sheet itself got 3 parts (eye area, mouth area and neck area), once I got the mask out of the packaging I could already see that there was no essence dripping off, which is definitely a pro. The sheet mask locks all ingredients inside it, without dripping! The size of the sheet mask was just right for me, it also covers the lips and eye area.

HOW TO USE
1. Apply a toner on a clean face and neck
2. Remove each protection film of the mask sheet which are divided into 3 sheets
3. Apply the embossed side of the mask onto the face. Once the sheets are properly applied, remove clear film.
4. Leave on for 15-20 minutes, then remove the mask gently
5. Apply the miracle care cream on your face and neck where additional moisture is needed. Tap softly until it is fully absorbed.

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FINAL THOUGHTS OF THE SHEET MASK
Once I got this sheet mask on I could feel the cooling effect, it feels very nice on the skin when you're tired or when it's a very hot day. The good thing about this mask is that it really locks the ingredients inside it. No product was dripping off when I took the mask out of the packaging or while I applied it on or when I had it on. You can really feel that the product sicks into the skin. I normally do other things while I have a sheet mask on, but the neck mask part didn't stay at one spot, which is why I really had to lay down to prevent it from moving around. The mask is hydrating, I couldn't feel any tightening effect though. I had the mask on for 20 minutes and took it off after. There wasn't much excess product on my face since it was all absorbed into my skin which is great. It also showed a healthy looking glow, which is the brightening effect that it gives. My skin felt soft after and I moved on with the next step: The Miracle Cream.

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THE YUFIT MIRACLE CARE CREAM
The miracle care cream is also available as a full size product. This cream gives you an extra layer to protect moisture loss. It contains active ingredients which helps to renew the skin elasticity. It holds moisture up to 72 hours, at least that's what they claim. It contains 30ml of product and comes with a spatula.

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INGREDIENTS
I made the following page at Cosdna.com, so you can see which ingredient might irritate your skin. Bioduoferm (saccharomyces ferment filtrate, lactobacillus ferment) is also inside this cream, it makes your skin firm and healthy looking.

Water, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, dipropylene glycol, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, glycereth-26, niacinamide, silica, peg-100 stearate, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl olivate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, sorbitan olivate, saccharomyces ferment filtrate, lactobacillus ferment, 1,2-hexanediol, butylene glycol, wine extract, illicit serum (anise) fruit extract, fragrance, allantoin, diospyros kaki leaf extract, castanet crenate shell extract, scutellaria baucalensis root extract, adenosine, disodium edta, resveratrol, peucedanum graveolens (dill) extract, phenoxyethanol, xanthan gum.

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TEXTURE
It has a gel-type texture that is easy to spread. It has the same scent as the sheet mask but slightly stronger. It doesn't feel sticky on the skin which is great, but it does takes a while to absorb into the skin. I am not a big fan of the texture since it feels a bit like silicone and it sits on the skin rather than that it absorbs.

You can definitely see on this picture below that it just sits on top of the skin and doesn't absorb fully. I only touched my skin a little bit after 45 minutes and small bits of the product (the white stuff) came off. And no my skin is not flakey, it's the cream that flakes and it clumps. I didn't use a big amount of cream as well. I have been using this cream with the mask for a few times and it had the same effect on me. I do would like to point out that this might not happen to you when you use it, as every skin is different and can react differently on certain products.

Also it claims to lock moisture for 72 hours, it's hard to test this since I do wash my face twice a day (morning and evening) and apply other products during the 72 hours. My skin didn't feel extra moist after using this.

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WHERE TO BUY?
Currently it's hard to purchase this product online. As they will launch in the US soon, this page will be updated after it has been announced where the selling points are. This product is available in South Korea though.
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GIVEAWAY
I am not a big fan of the cream but I am a fan of the sheet mask! I will be giving away one sheet mask to one lucky winner so you can give it a try as well. It's open worldwide, make sure to follow below rules to be able to join the giveaway. This giveaway will be open for a week, starting today (8th of May 2016). The winner will receive an e-mail or DM on Instagram. Please follow the rules below to enter :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

note: these products were sent to me for review purposes, but this didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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April Skin Magic Snow Cushion Pink SPF50+ PA+++

May 8, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Beyond x Alice in Wonderland 2nd Collection

≪ Previous: Review+Giveaway: The Yufit Mirapack Sheet Mask & Miracle Care Cream

Korean brand, April Skin got really popular in the past few months because of their gorgeous pink Magic Snow Cushion! It's a cushion foundation with SPF in 4 different shades: pink, green, purple and beige, so there is one for every skin type. Is your skin dull, pale and in need of some brightness, you can use the pink version. If you got redness on the skin, use the green version and so on. As you can see, every color triggers certain skin problem that people could have. If you want to know more, keep on reading!

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APRIL SKIN MAGIC SNOW CUSHION PINK

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INGREDIENTS

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WHERE TO BUY?
You are able to purchase the April Skin Magic Snow Cushion Pink at W2beauty.com (you can use discount code: W2APRIL16 to get 10% off), Jolse.com, testerkorea.com, koreadepart.com and at Ebayseller: buyourbest.

note: all these pictures are from the official april skin website, see disclaimer.

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Beyond x Alice in Wonderland 2nd Collection

May 9, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Review + Swatches: MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer

≪ Previous: April Skin Magic Snow Cushion Pink SPF50+ PA+++

Beyond collaborated with Disney Alice in Wonderland and created a gorgeous collection again called Alice in Blooming. This is their 2nd collection as there was already one out in 2015. This collection contains a cushion foundation, lip products, nail polishes, a skin tone sun base and an aqua cream. Look at how gorgeous the packaging is!

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WHERE TO BUY?
You are able to purchase these items at w2beauty.com, testerkorea.com and at Ebayseller rinishop.

SWATCHES
You can go to Korean blogger: minju1004b for swatches and to get a closer look of the products.

pictures from: minju1004b

note: pictures are from the official Beyond website, this post contains affiliate links , see disclaimer.

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Review + Swatches: MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer

May 14, 2016, 12:00 am

≫ Next: Haul: Beauty Products from Feelunique.com + Discount Code

≪ Previous: Beyond x Alice in Wonderland 2nd Collection

I am always searching for the best lip products that suits my skin tone, so I am always willing to try new lip products. I recently received the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers because they released 6 new shades in The Netherlands and I am in love with the colors! Check out my review and swatches in today's blogpost.

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MUA LUXE VELVET LIP LACQUER
These are the 6 shades which are new into the collection in The Netherlands. I love the shades and I love how the packaging is. Only one layer is needed since it's very pigmented, it can be easily applied without making any mess because of their silky smooth formula. Once applied you can feel that it's very drying to the lips, so I usually put some vaseline before application so it feels less drying.

All shades have a velvet-matte finish. It's long lasting, it won't go away if you go through it with your tongue but if you eat or drink, it will transfer onto your cups etc., so I wouldn't say it's super waterproof, re-applying after having a drink or having food is needed. One thing that I didn't like is that it also feels drying while eating, but I am really in love with the shades and would keep on using them, so I just make sure to moist the lips first before applying this baby.

If you don't like the feeling of dry lips, you might not be a big fan of this product, but keeping the lips moist before applying the velvet lip lacquer does help. If you don't mind the dryness, this product will be perfect for you.

In The Netherlands it will be sold mid-May at drugstore, Kruidvat. In the UK it's sold at Superdrug, also at website: muastore.co.uk.

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SHADES
Tranquility - Zest - Reckless - Vicacity - Moxie - Kooky
My favorite out of these 6 got to be tranquility, the other shades are a bit too bright for an every day look for my liking.

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SWATCHES MUA LUXE VELVET LIP LACQUER

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TRANQUILITY - NUDE SHADE

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ZEST - ORANGE SHADE

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RECKLESS - RED SHADE

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VICACITY - LIGHT PINK SHADE

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MOXIE - DARK PINK SHADE

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KOOKY - DARK PURPLE SHADE

note: these products were sent to me for review purposes, but this didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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Haul: Beauty Products from Feelunique.com + Discount Code

May 16, 2016, 3:27 am

≫ Next: Holika Holika x Gudetama Lazy & Easy Collection 2016

≪ Previous: Review + Swatches: MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer

I recently got a few products from Feelunique.com and I really can't wait to try them! Feelunique.com is an online webshop that sells products of many US and European brands like Urban Decay, REN, Glamglow, Origins and way and way more, you name it and they got it. Besides that, they also sell different kind of beauty boxes and I reviewed their Radiant Skin Box before. I just love how large their assortment is. I got a few products from Urban Decay that I wanted to try for a long time now, you will also see a product from theBalm, Benefit and more. Check out my haul in today's blogpost. I will also share my discount code so you can save some money when purchasing!

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FEELUNIQUE HAUL
I got things from Feelunique.com before and I love how fast their shipping is. I got my package within a week which is super fast! Another great thing about it is that they are based in the UK, so you won't get custom problems if you live in Europe when you order anything from them. They accept IDEAL, which is the number one payment method in The Netherlands. The shipping is free when purchasing more than €40.- worth of products when shipping to The Netherlands. Visit Feelunique.com if you are interested and feel free to use my code ELISA10 to get 10% OFF when purchasing over €35.-! They ship worldwide, so if you want to know if your country is included, check out their shipping page. Now lets start with my haul!

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THEBALM - MARY LOU MANIZER LUMINIZER
Who doesn't have this luminizer in their beauty collection yet? Many bloggers have been raving about this product and I am dying to try it out! I will write a separate review for this including swatches so please wait for it! TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer is sold at Feelunique.com for €23.10.-.

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REAL TECHNIQUES MIRACLE COMPLEXION SPONGE
I have been hearing a lot of great things about the Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge, some even say that it's better than the beauty blender since it doesn't tear that easily. I am curious how it is, it's sold for €7.91.- there.

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BAREMINERALS BARESKIN PERFECTING VEIL
I got this in shade: light to medium, it's sold in 4 shades. I was sold after reading the description of this product on their website: "BareSkin Perfecting Veil is an utterly weightless finishing powder, formulated with light-reflecting optics to help diffuse the look or appearance of fine lines, Lilac Plant Stems Cells and Vitamin C to help brighten your skin and a special blend of minerals to absorb excess oil and balance skin texture." Who doesn't want a powder that diffuses the look of fine lines and brightens the skin at the same time? The BareMinerals Bearskin Perfecting Veil is sold for €29,04.-.

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URBAN DECAY NAKED FLUSHED COMPACT - NAKED
I think everybody has seen this compact before, I love that it has a highlighter, blush and bronzer in one. It's a small palette which you can put in your bag, so you can easily travel with it. All 3 shades matches with my light skin tone as well, leaving a natural finish. The Urban Decay Naked Flushed Compact is sold for €31,02.-.

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BENEFIT THE POREFESSIONAL PRO BALM PRIMER
This is UK's number 1 best selling primer and it's one of Benefit's most popular products. I have never tried anything from Benefit before and I have heard a lot about this primer so I cannot wait to try it. It claims to quickly minimize the appearance of the pores. You need to apply this product before applying make up, so you will get a smooth finish and can easily apply makeup after. The Porefessional from Benefit is sold for €32,34.

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URBAN DECAY GOOD KARMA OPTICAL BLURRING BRUSH
Urban Decay created this brush so you can use this in combination with the Urban Decay's Naked Skin Liquid Makeup, but you can use it for any liquid, cream or powder foundation obviously. This cruelty-free brush blends and buffs makeup to a flawless finish. The makeup artist at the counter of Urban Decay used this brush on me to apply their liquid foundation and I noticed that it creates a flawless finish on my skin, so I got one! The Urban Decay Good Karma Blurring Brush is sold for €27,72.-.

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URBAN DECAY NAKED SKIN ONE AND DONE HYBRID COMPLEXION CREAM
This is a new product in their assort and is similar to a BB cream. It blurs imperfections and evens out the skin tone, at least that's what they claim. It comes in 6 shades for very light skin tones but also for darker ones. I got it in shade Light. I will write a separate review about this product, I can't wait to share this one with you! The Urban Decay One & Done Complexion Cream is sold for €33.-.

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Don't forget to use my coupon code ELISA10 to get 10% OFF when purchasing over €35.- at Feelunique.com.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE ANY REVIEWS OF ANY OF THE ABOVE PRODUCTS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.

note: these products were sent to me for review purposes, but I chose them myself. this is not sponsored and didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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Holika Holika x Gudetama Lazy & Easy Collection 2016

May 17, 2016, 1:28 pm

≫ Next: Get a Sun Tan with Yves Rocher!

≪ Previous: Haul: Beauty Products from Feelunique.com + Discount Code

Holika Holika collaborates with Sanrio Gudetama and created this lovely Lazy & Easy collection, from blushers, cushion foundations to dry shampoos. You might have not heard of the name gudetama, but I am sure you have seen this egg before. Actor Jin Goo (Soo DaeYoung from Descendants of the Sun, I am in love with this Kdrama btw.) is the face for this brand. Are you egg-cited to see the whole collection?

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY FACE 2 CHANGE PHOTO READY BB CUSHION SPF50+ PA+++

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY ALL IN ONE MASTER (similar to essence)

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY JELLY DOUGH BLUSHER

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY MELTING LIP BUTTON

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY ALL KILL CLEANSER OIL TO FOAM

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY STIQUICK NAIL KIT

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY CHARACTER MASK SHEET

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY ALL KILL SHEET - CLEANSING TISSUE & ALL IN ONE MASK SHEET

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY SMOOTH EGG PEELING GEL

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HOLIKA HOLIKA LAZY & EASY DRY SHAMPOO

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TO HAVE A GOOD VIEW OF THE PRODUCTS, CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FROM MADE IN MIA:
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WHERE TO BUY?
Some of the products in this collection can already be purchased at jolse.com, kpoptown.com, testerkorea.com and koreadepart.com.

ARE YOU EXCITED FOR THIS COLLECTION? WHAT WOULD YOU TRY?

note: these pictures are from the Holika Holika offial website, see disclaimer.

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Get a Sun Tan with Yves Rocher!

May 26, 2016, 12:53 pm

≫ Next: Unboxing: Oyatsubox - Premium Japanese Snacks Box - April

≪ Previous: Holika Holika x Gudetama Lazy & Easy Collection 2016

Yves Rocher released some new products for this Summer for their Solaire Peau Parfaite line. These are product which creates a lovely tan on the skin for the Summer, while protecting it. Check out today's blogpost for the products that are included.

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YVES ROCHER - BEFORE SUN BEAUTIFYING MIST TAN ACTIVATOR
This beautifying mist prepares your skin for sun exposure while moisturizing it. It offers an instant sensation of freshness. This product doesn't protect your skin from the sun. This mist is sold for €12,50.-.

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YVES ROCHER - SPRAY INVISIBLE SPF 30
The skin is effectively protected against UVA/UVB rays and sunburn when applying this. It instantly moisturizes, makes it supple, soft and it's pleasantly perfumed. Its light and invisible texture allows for an ultra-practical zero-trace application in only a few seconds. The spray invisible is sold for €16,70.-. This product is only for the body, not for the face.

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YVES ROCHER - SUN VITAMINS ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION FOR A BEAUTIFUL SKIN
I seriously never tried this before! Each capsule contains a high concentration of active ingredients for your skin. For best results, start taking Sun Vitamins 1 to 2 weeks before leaving the Sun area. Each Sun Vitamins capsule contains key active ingredients for dual effectiveness on your skin:
• Embellish: copper boosts the natural pigmentation of your skin. Beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) and zinc help to keep your skin healthy.
• Protect: the concentrated antioxidant complex, vitamin E - zinc - selenium helps to protect cells from the oxidative stress which can result from exposure to the sun.
The vitamins are sold for €13.-.

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YVES ROCHER ANTI-AGING CARE SPF 50
I always apply SPF50 sunscreen on my skin in the morning, no matter if it's Summer or Winter. It's great to protect the skin from UVA/UVB rays during the day. After applying this cream the skin will be effectively protected against UVA/UVB rays and against signs of aging caused by the sun. Intensely moisturized, it is smooth, supple and plumped. Its anti-aging, fluid and non-sticky formula effectively protects the skin against damage and marks caused by the sun. Sold for €15,50.-.

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YVES ROCHER SOLAIRE PEAU PARFAITE - AFTER SUN MILK
After sunbathing, your skin requires specific care. This fresh and silky lotion refreshes the skin and soothes sensations of tightness. Intensely moisturized and soothed, skin will be repaired and recovers its suppleness. Can be applied on the face and body. This product is sold for €10,40.-.

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WHERE TO BUY?
The products can be purchased at the Yves Rocher stores or online on their website: www.Yvesrocher.co.uk (dutch website: Yvesrocher.nl).

note: these products were sent to me to try, I didn't receive money from it and it didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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Unboxing: Oyatsubox - Premium Japanese Snacks Box - April

May 28, 2016, 8:55 am

≫ Next: Hotspot: The 8 Best Places to Eat in Manchester

≪ Previous: Get a Sun Tan with Yves Rocher!

It has been a while since I have done an unboxing for asian snacks! Oh I just love them since it's always a surprise how it would taste and the packaging is just too adorable! Oyatsubox sent me their Premium Japanese snack box of the month April and I am going to unbox it today! Check out today's unboxing blogpost!

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WHAT IS OYATSUBOX?
Before the big hype of Japanese snacks became viral, I knew of Oyatsucafe. Oyatsucafe had been selling Japanese snacks for a long time now and they send them worldwide so that everybody in the world could try it. They created Oyatsubox a few years ago, which is a monthly subscription box with Japanese snacks from just USD$11.99 per month including worldwide free shipping how amazing is that? A very well priced box I would say, they got different snack box plans:

Oyatsubox Junior: USD $11.99.- per month box includes 3-4 full sized Japanese snacks
Oyatsubox Original: USD $20.- per month box includes 6-7 full sized Japanese snacks
Oyatsubox Premium: USD $30.- per month box includes 10-14 full sized Japanese snacks

All is included with worldwide free shipping and tracking code and insured, so you will ALWAYS get the package in front of your doorstep. They send it straight from Japan so it takes around 2 weeks until it arrives. I love how they always send me an email when the new box will be send out and the estimated period when you will receive it, very useful! The next box will be shipped in the beginning of June so if you are interested, you are still able to sign up for the June box HERE!

PREMIUM JAPANESE SNACKS BOX - APRIL
They have send me the April premium box which includes 12 full sized Japanese snacks and it even has a big bag of mini Raspberry kitkats which are very limited! Every box includes a description per snack that you received so you will always know what it is cuz hey not everybody can ready Japanese right? and you can't always tell from the packaging what it is, so such a description leaflet is definitely useful. If a DIY kit is included in your Oyatsubox there will always be instructions included.

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MILKY - ULTRAMAN EDITION
This is a new collaboration between Milky & Ultraman. Who doesn't know this milky girl? Ohh childhood memories are coming back haha. The milky candy just takes the same how it used to be, such a milky, sweet and creamy taste.

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POCKY SWEET MILK
One of the new flavors from Pocky in Japan. Each crunchy stick is coated in a thick layer of sweet milk cream.

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NATORI NERI PLUM CANDY
This is my first time trying this candy but it is a traditional snack in Japan. This plum candy is pretty sour but is actually my favorite snack out of the box! I just love sour food haha.

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KIT KAT RASPBERRY
This is the latest kitkat from Japan and it has a sweet raspberry taste to it. It has pink chocolate with a creamy raspberry flavor, the sweetness is just right! You can even see the layers of raspberry inside the kitkat!

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UMAIBO CHOCO CREAM
My least favorite out of the box is this puff chocolate. These puffs are very airy, it's almost empty inside with a tiny layer of milk chocolate. It's like I'm eating nothing and the amount of chocolate is just too little.

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APPLE PIE CARAMEL CORN
I never tried caramel corn before, but lots of people seems to like it. I have tried the cheese version for the first time and OMG, this is really bad. It's like sweet stuff with Apple pie together with a bit of corn flavor. Really not my thing. It somehow taste like cheese to me.

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PUCCHO PEACH
I have always loved Puccho, and I usually buy the soda flavor. This one has a peach flavor and each piece is infused with tangy, squishy candy bits.

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JAN-KEN-PON GUMMY
These are grape gummies and taste wise it's pretty nice! I love the sweet grape taste, the gummy texture and it's even shaped in Rock, Paper, Scissors!.

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PETIT BAKED PIZZA
Ohhh this one is so good. It just taste like mini pizza's! These are tiny biscuits, the dough has been baked with cream cheese and tomato. I have finished this within one day, so good!

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KAMEDA VARIETY PACK
I loved this crunchy pack! It mostly tasted like fish though, but so good! There are 10 different kinds of snacks inside it. Yes, the mini fried fish is in it too lol.

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KRACIE HIMOHIMO CANDY
You should braid the candy gummy and combine the coke (orange line) with ramune flavors (blue line.

If you are interested, make sure to check out their webshop: www.oyatsubox.com.

note: these products were sent to me for review purposes, this post contains affiliate likes, but this didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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Hotspot: The 8 Best Places to Eat in Manchester

May 29, 2016, 3:30 pm

≫ Next: Haul: Korean Products from Bits and Bobs of Beauty

≪ Previous: Unboxing: Oyatsubox - Premium Japanese Snacks Box - April

It has been a while since I have posted a hotspot blogpost. If you have been following me on my Instagram @Kawaiipeachies you can see that I go to the UK pretty often. I just love it there, since the food industry is so big and I just love to try new foodie places! In today's blogpost I am sharing my hotspots in Manchester. If you are going there any time soon, check out these places and put them on your to go list! All these pictures were already shared on my Instagram, so feel free to follow me there if you haven't!

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1. FEDERAL CAFE
This is a New Zealand & Australian cafe in the city centre at Northern Quarter. Great brunch place and they serve brunch all day and their coffee is great. Their menu will be changed every month. Good place to start your day, they even got matcha latte there! In below pictures I took the halloumi & shrooms and veggie breakage bagel. Check out their menu on their website: www.federalcafe.co.uk.

Address:
9 Nicholas Croft, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1EY

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2. GRINDSMITH
This is an espresso and brew bar. If you are a coffee lover this is the best place to have a fresh cup of quality coffee and chill. The vibe is very relaxed here. I wasn't really up for coffee so I just grabbed one of their teas. They serve it in gorgeous cups and create pretty latte arts when you grab a coffee! For the hungry ones, they also serve sandwiches there. Check out their website for all their locations: www.grindsmith.com.

Address: 231 - 233 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN

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3. CHA KEE
Cha Kee is definitely one of my favorite places in Manchester. It's a Hong Kong Style cafe where they serve many Hong Kong snacks such as these egg puffs with matcha ice cream! One of the best I have tried, such a pity that they don't have this here in The Netherlands. They also serve sandwiches and waffles. Go to their website for their menu: www.chakee.co.uk.

Address: 1st floor, 72 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 4GU

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4. TAKK Coffee House
TAKK Coffee house doesn't only serve fresh coffee but it's also a lovely brunch place! This place is at Northern Quarter. My boyfriend had the TAKK Sandwich and I had the House beans on toast. Price wise it's pretty cheap, everything priced at 5-6 pounds. Their menu is pretty small but it's still good! Check out their website for their whole menu: www.takkmcr.com.

Address: 6 Tariff Street, Manchester M1 2FF

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5. EZRA & GIL
Another place at Northern Quarter is Ezra & Gil! Ezra meaning 'Helper'& Gil meaning 'Happiness' is an evolutionary concept in urban coffee, cafe culture and general provisions. They got some quality coffee and it's an amazing brunch spot! I really loved their full breakfast there, plenty of space for you to sit too. Go to their instagram to check out their space.

Address: 20 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1FR

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6. EVELYN'S CAFE & BAR
I was in the mood for some healthy food, so I ordered a green smoothie and poached eggs with smashed avocado and tomatoes on toast at Evelyn's Cafe & Bar. I love the interior in this cafe, and this cafe looks more high class than the other cafe's which is why the prices are slightly higher too. A normal dish for brunch is around 7-8 pounds. The smoothie was 4 pounds. However, I gotta say that the service is very good too at Evelyn's. Check out their website for their whole menu: www.evelynscafebar.com.

Address: G18 Smithfield Building Tib St, Manchester, M4 1NB

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7. HOME SWEET HOME
I love the name of this place: Home Sweet Home! They got two locations and we went to the one at Northern Quarter. Their menu contains waffles, burrito's, poached eggs and more. As you can see I ordered poached eggs with smoked salmon, smashed avocado on a toast. Their burrito's are really good too, gotta try when you are there! Everything is fair priced from 6-9 pounds. Check out their menu on their website at: www.homesweethomenq.com.

Address: Northern Quarter 49-41 Edge StreetManchester M4 1HW

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8. GORILLA
It's always so packed at the bar Gorilla and I am not surprised. It was the bar of the year in 2013. Their menu is big, so it took me a while before I knew what I wanted. Eventually I ordered the Vegetarian breakfast, which tasted great! A really recommended place for breakfast & brunch. They are priced at around 8-12 pounds which is pretty pricey compared to the rest. They also serve burgers but I have never tried them. For the whole menu, check out: www.thisisgorilla.com.

Address: 54-56 Whitworth street, Manchester, M1 5WW

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO MANCHESTER BEFORE?

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Haul: Korean Products from Bits and Bobs of Beauty

May 31, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Review: L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Toner

≪ Previous: Hotspot: The 8 Best Places to Eat in Manchester

I recently got a few products from the webshop Bits and Bobs of Beauty, which is a shop that sells Korean Beauty products. What's great about this shop is that it's based in the UK, so no worries about import taxes, custom costs and stuff, since the shop paid for it already WOOHOO! Also, the shipping time is short since the shop is in Europe, I received mine within a week! I just love that there are more and more Korean webshops out there which are based in Europe, which makes it a lot easier for us (Europeans) to purchase.

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BITS AND BOBS OF BEAUTY
Bits and Bobs of Beauty sells make up and skincare products of Korean brands such as: Etude House, Holika Holika, Innisfree, Banila co, Missha, The Face Shop and more! A lot of well known brands I would say. The assortment isn't big and their stock is limited so you need to be quick. They do sell some popular products such as the Missha Line Friends Mascara and the Etude House face blur that I will show you today. Besides that, they also sell BB Mask Bags, which are bags with 10-12 selected sheet masks, more information about that later in this blogpost.

MY HAUL FROM BITS AND BOBS OF BEAUTY

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ETUDE HOUSE BEAUTY SHOT FACE BLUR
Many bloggers talked about this product when it came out and said that it worked, so I have been dying to try it out! It's like a primer that blurs out the skin, makes your skin smooth, it hides your pores while making your skin flawless. I will write a separate review about this product. It's sold at their shop for €22,35.-.

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THE FACE SHOP NATURAL SUN ECO WHITENING MIST SUN
This is a sun mist from The Face Shop with SPF 40, which is great for the hot days to protect the skin from UV rays. Just spray it and you are good to go. I always love to try out suncare products for the face since I think it's important to protect it from the sun. Unfortunately, it's sold out at their store at the moment.

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HOLIKA HOLIKA SMOOTH EGG SKIN PEELING GEL
This is a peeling gel from Holika Holika. This facial peeling gel is formulated with natural eggs from Mountain Jiri. It removes dead skin cells and dirt from the skin leaving a smooth and supple skin. Currently also sold out at their store.

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BB BAG 4TH EDITION
This is their 4th edition BB Bag. It contains 10 sheet masks that they have selected. It includes not only Korean sheet masks but also Taiwanese ones. There is no fixed subscription for this and you can choose when to purchase, so it allows you to purchase whenever you feel like it. This BB Bag was sold for €22,35.- while it's worth over €33.-, and you can now preorder for the next BB Bag on their website.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANY REVIEWS OF THE ABOVE PRODUCTS, LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.

Eventhough their assortment is small, they do sell some popular items that you may want to try. Feel free to visit BitsandBobsofBeauty.co.uk to check out their assortment and once again they are UK based, so no customs cost at all if you order within Europe and fast shipping! If you want me to share more Korean shops that are based in Europe, let me know as well so I can make a list for you!

note: I didn't receive money to blog about this, these products were sent by the shop and chosen by me, see disclaimer.

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Review: L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Toner

June 2, 2016, 11:00 pm

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I am sure you have heard of the brand L'Occitane before which is well-known of their lovely hand creams. In today's blogpost I am going to review a perfecting toner of the Pivoine Sublime skincare line. This was my first time trying a skincare product from L'Occitane to be honest. Read today's post if you are interested, the packaging is divine!

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L'OCCITANE PIVOINE SUBLIME PERFECTING TONER
This is the description that it has: this perfecting toner with alcohol completes the cleansing process and helps to moisturise and refresh the skin. Enriched with a skin-perfecting peony extract, it helps to soften and tone, to reveal all the radiance of a perfect-looking complexion. The skin's texture seems smoother, pores appear less visible and you're ready for the next steps in your skincare routine after applying this. It comes in a beautiful red hard plastic bottle and it contains 200ml of product.

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INGREDIENTS
You can see paeonia lactiflora extract (peony extract) one of the first ingredients on the list which means the product contains a high percentage of it. This product also contains acids such as citric acid and salicylic acid (BHA) so it might irritate the skin if you got sensitive skin.

Aquawater,glycerin,poloxamer 184,paeonia lactiflora extract, pelargonium graveolens water, peg-40 glyceryl cocoate, polusorbate 20, sodium pca, levulinic acid, sodium levulinate, sodium coceth sulfate, sodium benzoate, disodium edta, salicylic acid, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexandediol, citric acid, parfum fragrance

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TEXTURE & SCENT
The Peony collection has a floral fragrance, it contains peony extract from Drôme in the south of France. I think the scent is pretty strong. It has a runny watery consistency. I simply apply this on a cotton pad every morning and swipe it all over my face to make my skin moist again after cleansing.

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WHERE TO BUY?
You are able to purchase it at the local L'occitane stores and on their website at loccitane.com and it's sold for €17.-.

PROS
- the packaging is amazing, so adorable and sturdy
- refreshes the skin
- has a floral scent to it (peony), it smells like Spring! lol.
- feels moist on the skin
- didn't break me out

CONS
- skin feels sticky after application
- the scent might be too strong for some
- radiance effect cannot be seen
- pores doesn't seem to be less visible

FINAL THOUGHTS
First time seeing this I was totally sold by their gorgeous packaging, it's so pretty! Once I opened the bottle, I could already smell the peony scent which is pretty strong. I am normally not a big fan of scented products, and this one was slightly too strong for me at first. However, after I have been using it every morning for a good 2 weeks, I got used to it, so I think it's ok now. Unfortunately I am not blown away by this toner, yes it refreshes and moisturizes my skin which is great, but that's about it. I am not a fan of the sticky feeling after application as well. There are many other toners out here which has more and better effects on my skin, so I wouldn't purchase another bottle of this.

If you love peony scent and am searching for a toner to refresh and moisturize the skin after cleansing, this might be for you. If you are looking for more benefits in a toner (like brightening effect/anti-aging) you might want to look further. Please be aware that this toner does contain acids so it might irritate if you have sensitive skin. No irritations occurred on my combination dry skin after usage.

note: this product was sent to me for review purposes, but this didn't affect my opinion about the products, see disclaimer.

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