Midsummer Newbies

Summer is still blooming around...perhaps it is more drying to skin than you anticipated. Or, when going city-tripping you can find your pores going congested like nothing else.

• For the occasional bout of dryness I gotten myself this cute Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin pill mask. I've been sheetmasking before K-beauty gotten mainstream and it's fun they have gotten easier available. 
• I've already gotten the Boscia Detoxing Black Cleanser in a sample size, and absolutely loved the warming effect on the skin. I love this liquid form of charcoal cleansing and I noticed it really helped getting to those pesky blackheads. Something not many products are effective off with my skin.

I also went on the bandwagon with Son & Park's Beauty water...

Ohh, I really love how the air in the water is looking in the bottle.

I had to decorate it with my Luxdivine (etsy) armband and the scarf is D&G summer collection.

I rediscovered cheeks with NARS Nars-issist Dual intensity blush palette.

 It is certainly a fantastic blending blush texture...I'm smitten. My cheeks glowwwww...

I have been upping up my foundation game with an oldie and a newbie:

• Mac Face & Body is and oldie but still high in the ranks of makeupartists. I've picked a darker colour for my body as I have some white spots that I need to even out.
• Nars Velvet Matte Skin tint is new on the market. I was not enterely sure as the colours tend to look a bit too yellow for my colouring, but they look velvety and real on (self-)tan skin. I still think the gap between Cusco and Annapurna is too large in colour dept.

One of the Sephora Beauty reward boxes contained Alterna. I love their Caviar Protein line but feel (and can see) that my hair might be healthy enough to alternate with moisture. So bring on the moisture with the CaviarAnti Ageing Replenishing Moisture line.

Ok, I say I'm team Alterna but I also have team Christophe Robin and I've been enjoying some other shampoos lately as well. But in the end Alterna would be my desert island brand!

Last but not least, nails. Since everybody and their grandma have been into nailart, gellnails everything etc, I have been neglecting my mani with a simple coat of strenghtener. Very sheer, kinda blah.

• I thought some Chanel could bring back my colour game: Turban looks bright enough for summer and classic enough for always.

• Another pretty one is the Damask Rose from & Other Stories. It looks so foiled on nails, incredible.

These have been some of my midsummer hauls. I'm already eyeing up some of the Autumn lines. Kose Addiction by Ayako has released these amazing new eyeshadows with names like Dancer in the Dark, Hazy Night, Volcano & Modern Nostalgia. The colours are as awesome to boot with their names and instagram is not holding too many secrets when recently renewed (just browse on the Japanese names). 

As for skincare, I think I will hold on on some new finds that I will review soon for it. I'm kinda behind my reviews: being stuck into the instagram picturing mode makes me kind of lazy on the writing front...It does make me attempt to make prettier photos : )

New Vanities

I complained about not having my beauty-Mojo a couple of posts ago.

FaceQ Hello Kitty Sheet-Masks on a happy plate

 In the meanwhile I bought some new vanities:

This Works has a new line going on named "In Transit": aimed for the frequent Travellers. I am still looking for my perfect primer and 'Camera Closeup' has the right name & raves (see here & here) to get me curious. My review will be there soon after I have tried it for a while

I have gotten in a neo-teenager period, facewise, which means I had to buy a good pimple buster: Skin Doctor 'Zit Zapper' also has the right name & reviews . I hope it will make my skin behave because combatting the wrinkles is a task high enough for my vanities right now : ).

Rouge Bunny Rouge is having an awesome sale (hurry, still a couple of days left). Some eyeshadows that I was already curious about went from €24.00 to €14.40. The teal top one is Mysterious Tinamou and the bottom Periwinkle Cardinal. I also bought the peachy Tantalising Lovebird. The lipstick was the only colour on sale: Perfume of his Gaze. It has been reviewed as too sheer & neutral (here) but since it has been discounted from €24.00 to €9.60 and I love a sheer with a sparkle in a pretty tube I though "oh well".

Product availability:

The Hello Kitty FaceQ sheetmasks were bought from ebayseller whitecat3845724: I gotten 2 free masks when buying 5. The This Works & Skin Doctors are from lookfantastic.com: they give out a free Macademia Haircare kit worth £45 when you spend more than £50: code THGMAC.

My beauty diary 2-step Winter Bright Pack

This pretty sheet-set ended up in my shopping-cart a while ago. I have been trying a My Beauty Diary 2-step pack before (here), and the words 'Winter Bright' got me in...

Moisture and hydratation has been highly needed this long-lasting winter. I made a photo beginning winter of my hairline for the Phylia [de M] hairgrowth project and a second one last week: Conclusion is that my hair grew and got somewhat restored, but my skin has a bit more redness. It's still quite good after enduring the longer winter-weather, but not as smooth/calm as pre-winter.

That means I have to up my mask-routine a bit more. Something that targets especially for winter could be up for some soothing & brightening.

Shortly, an overview of the Steps:

1: Just like the previous My Beauty Diary 2-step system, it has a sheetmask in one compartment; an Olive Leaf mask. The smaller compartment contains Shea Butter creamy gel.

2: Ingredients of the Olive Leaf Mask:




Ingredients of the Shea Butter Creamy Gel:

 
3. How to use: similar to other (MBD) sheetmasks. The cream should be applied afterwards.

4. Date of production for controlling freshness.

Swatch of Step 2: the Shea Butter Creamy Gel

It has a lighter, fresh consistency which reminds me of Japanese Toner/lotion formulas

Step 1, the Olive Leaf sheetmask, is of a similar shape as most of My Beauty Dairy sheetmasks so I haven't made a photo of that one.

VERDICT:

• The Olive Leaf Sheetmask is quite drenched with liquid, being a moisture-bomb skins often needs for colder winters
• step 2: Shea Butter Creamy gel feels like a normal moisturizer instead of gel, but a thinner one.
• this time I really like an extra cream afterwards for extra hydratation
• Calming effect: yes...my redness around the nose reduced
• Brightening? I think so: my skin looked more translucent, moisturized & calmer afterwards
• lasting effect: until 3 days afterwards I had calmer, better skin with the same skincare regime
• scent sheetmask: somewhat fragant of a enhanced olive flower (bit chemical, but still fresh)
• scent Shea butter cream: neutral, fragance-free

CONCLUSION:
I really like this mask and wanna repurchase 2 or 3 more.

Availability:
I'm glad Sasa still has them for $ 1.70 per piece (here)

My Beauty Dairy 2-Step America Soothing Pack

I love my sheetmasks...I once learned that sheltering the skin from the outer elements while doing a masks enhances it's effectiveness, and sheetmasks have this element included by covering the face with a cloth.

My Beauty Diary has already been one of my favourite brands. Trying out their 2-step system was on my wishlist, and I picked the America variety as I normally need soothing and calming the most during this time of year.

There are other continents represented with their properties as well: eg. Africa being hydrating, Asia being brightening and Europe being clarifying.

I can understand why Asia would be connected to brightening (as brightening and having lighter skin is high on most Asian skincare-user's wishlist) but I wonder why America got soothing. Perhaps Obama being reelected and trying to sooth the world economy into better states?

Sasa explains it that the ingedients connected to being soothing are found in (North-)America: "marigold, cotton, mimosa, echinacea plant and Crafts essence". But, the cheaters, there is also "organic bamboo water from the mountains of Asia" being found in there. 

So what is so 2-step about this system. Simply, you use the sheetmask first, and apply their taylored face-cream afterwards.

The quality of their sheetmask is like most of the MBD varieties: although I found that it tore quite easily when I tried to place it differently on my face.

sheetmask: nothing unusual

The second step, applying facecream, wasn't the most handy way for me: (Uhoh)

step 2: cream pours out when making a small tear...not too handy

I think this step is not really necessary when having done step 1 (the sheetmask). I found my face to be calmed and hydrated enough. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful step for the dryer skintypes out there.

VERDICT:

• designed for soothing? Yes, it has a calming effect on the skin and didn't irritate it (and I'm quite sensitive on the field of skin lately)
• scent: a bit of a mild chemical cucumber...I almost wanted to say "an American cucumber" as I smell this type of "cucumber"-scent a lot in American body-products. It is really light and not obtrusive. However, the people looking for a fragance-free mask will probably have to skip it.
• anti-ageing? Not really. Although lessening irritation can also qualify as "youth-defending". However, priorities have to be made with skincare and if your skin gets red/irritated, then diminishing that element is often more important than anti-ageing. However, there are products on the market that do both, such as Ren Hydra-Calm Youth defending serum
• 2 step necessity? Not really to me, but I use the moisturizer separate from the sheetmask and try to remember to make a really tiny tear.
• Hydrating properties of sheetmask? plenty serum/liquid. The mask is still moisturizing enough after 20 minutes of use.
• Size Sheetmask? It is on the smaller side on the width of the face. I'm from North-Europe and I wonder if broader face-types can fully cover the whole width of their face.

CONCLUSION:

It's a lovely mask and it's quite soothing. It's scented lightly. I personally think the 2-step is a bit gimmicky, but the extra face-cream (somewhere between lotion and cream) is nice and penetrates easily. I think the quality of the sheetmask itself is a bit thin and I think it could have been designed a bit wider for the Asian market. Nevertheless, I think My Beauty Diary has delivered a wonderful mask that keeps it's promise of soothing, and the names attached to the use to the continent is really cute.

AVAILABILITY:
I bought my package on sasa (here) for $18.70

Cosmetic newbies

I bought some new cosmetic things:

My Beauty Diary Rose & White Peony Brightening Mist

It's from the same company that makes the infamous sheet masks. I figured out that I might like their spray too. Until now, I do: it's quite neutral but still lovingly hydrating.

And one of their masks too: The France Apricot masks...these are so dewy and lovely. (both are from sasa)

I also bought this:

Yep, from strawberrynet...

And it is?

Edward Bess compact (cream) rouge in Island Rose.

Gosh, I have read so many raves on this product. I was looking for a lighter cream pink blush for the summermonths and initially I wanted to go for Bobbi Brown cream pot in Pale Pink based on someone's gorgeous makeup, who is a brunette as well (I first thought pale pink was just for blondes).

I saw in a review (here) that this one is quite similar so I went for Edward Bess instead. This one is cheaper via strawberrynet (with my discount € 20  and BB is € 25 in our shops). Also, I remembered one reviewer saying this one is travel-friendlier in size, and that is true as well. I also prefer Edward Bess as a brand because his ingredients are more naturally based. And this one got high reviews as the hybrid product it stands for: normally the hybrid lip/cheeks only work well on one part, either cheek or lips, but the raves said and showed it performs good at both tasks...

gonna find out for myself...;)

Also, the shop had a massive action going on (buy something via your mobile get a Calvin Klein lipgloss and buy something before a certain date get a Lancaster Lipstick, both by choice:

The Lancaster CM46 is a sheerer fushia pink with a blue-toned glimmer: really lovely for cooler complexions and the Calvin Klein LG 13 has the most perfect golden shimmer:

Kind of a face & lipstick haul this time....

Biotherm Skin Vivo Reversive Anti-Aging Expansive mask: A Non-Asian Sheetmask

A couple of months ago I received this Biotherm Skin Vivo Sheet Mask as a freebie after buying some goodies from Burberry Beauty.

I have tried my share of sheetmasks and brands, probably not as much as some of the beautybloggers I follow but I have tried the known & lesser known brands

Sheetmasks strike me as a typical Asian-brand product. Even when they market for the Caucasian market, such a SKII or Shiseido.

Biotherm is (I think) a French brand. So let me see how this one lived up to my, rather elaborate, experience in sheet-masks.

The instructions are quite clear: both in written and animated language.

Opening the package: quite the familiar formula:

I was surprised that it was quite wide: normally sheet-masks that target specifically for an Asian market will have a wider size, but this one sized up 9" at the largest part:

It also has the option for closing the eyes by the sheet and let you get fully rested (and moisturize the eyelids too)

Verdict:

• It was reasonably moisturized, but not completely drenched as some sheetmasks can be
• It didn't irritate my skin!
• Thick enough: doesn't tear
• It has a slightly scented base, but not hindering
• I loved the after-effect: I didn't put any other nighttime-care after having this masks and I woke up quite fresh.
• Anti-Ageing: not sure, as I only tried it once but my skin look fresher and slightly younger afterwards.

Conclusion:
I think Biotherm took notes from the Asian brands and incorporated the instructions (Asian brands often use pictures/animations). I kind of have the feeling it is a bit of a copy from another brand: but they did a good job on it.
I would repurchase this if the price was similar to their Asian ones: I found a single one over here for $4 but I estimate the retail price will be more expensive around $25 for 10.

Etude House Milk Talk showergel in Choco & Sheet Mask Royal Jelly

People, this is post no 499 of this blog but I will keep it rather short & sweet for today! 

For people celebrating the Eastern celebration I want to wish you a wonderful day. People not celebrating I want to wish you a pleasant day as well!

I will continue reviewing the latest Etude House products I have received in my latest haul from them (here). Actually, both are a foody bunch and over here Eastern celebrations is a lot about food & eggs, so it is a good theme for today ;)

First, the Milk Talk Shower gel in Chocolate.

I think the bottle is both cute and funny. It looks like a oldfashioned milk-bottle, but I think that 'Oh' on the left side is rather funny.

I once read that people that like to eat less of the so-called naughty foods can diminuish their cravings by smelling the food. The Dailymail has an article about it, but somehow I am a bit sceptic about this one because when I enter a bakery and smell delicious croissants, I only feel more inclined to eat one.

So actually dieting or eating less chocolate was not the reason I bought this showergel. I just like to smell wonderful things and the scent of chocolate is rather pleasant.

the gel: it also has a chocolaty colour

It is a mini review because there is not so much to analyse about showergel. However, I like it because:

• it smells like Hersey's Chocolate. 

Lot's of showergels and bodylotions are not able to get it right: the authentic scent of a food-product. Or sometimes they get it right but it goes weird after a couple of minutes. This one is able to maintain the Hersey's scent. They also have the Milk Talk shower gells in strawberry, steam milk, banana & apple. I wonder how they will be able to get the scent right...

• It cleanses quite well

The only con about it is that it isn't moisturizing enough. It isn't really drying either, but I think my Therme showergel is more moisturizing.

• It is really affordable for $5.05 (here) or on ebay (here)

Continuing to the sheet Mask: It is actually called the "I need you" Royal Jelly mask Sheet, how romantic.

I really like those little fellows carrying something on the left side of the mask.

Sorry for this flash-picture. I normally check them before I throw the packaging away. I hope you can still read most of it.

 I found this description from this ebayseller

Opening the satchel:

The mask is made for Korean faces: That meant it was a bit on the wider side for me, but not too much.

There was enough room for my eyes, nose but the mouth was a bit on the smaller side. Oh well, I never eat stuff while taking a sheetmask.

My verdict:

• The cloth is a bit rougher than sheetmasks such as Mybeautydiary, MyBeautyFriends & MySheming. Not hindering at all, but still a bit rougher. On the positive side it meant that it didn't tear so easily.
• It has enough moisture inside. Normally the satchels are drenched in moisture & you can reapply the leftover part in the satchel after you have been using it, but this one is enough.
• The liquid felt very comforting on my skin. It is scentless.
• BEST THING: THE EFFECT. Although the things mentioned above aren't pure rave-ville, I really loved the effect. I took this mask at night and went to sleep without my usual night-prep, only the effect of the liquid of the mask. The next morning I actually looked younger, revived and my skin looked a lot fresher & tighter!

Basically, I will rebuy this one for it's effect. Probably not on the EtudeHouse gmarket side but from one of the ebay sellers who lists them.

Mini Review of My Beauty Diary Hello Kitty Honey Strawberry Mask

This week I finally got my highly anticipated collector's item in the world of sheet masks: The My Beauty Diary Hello Kitty Honey Strawberry Mask.

 I do not have to say why I bought this set of masks in the first place: Kawaii factor!

I might be a grown up person but Hello Kitty makes my heart melt a little.

I also noticed that I enjoy a couple of the sheet masks from My Beauty Dairy. And the idea of using a mask with honey extract that is often really good for sensitive skin, and strawberry that has brightening properties was something that appealed to me.

The packaging of the masks is so cute, with the beehive-esque exterior and the strawberries, bees and Hello Kitty decorated on them.

How does the mask preform:

First I like to say that I have used this mask today for the first time, so I cannot say too much about the long term effect.
But I really enjoyed this mask a lot for a couple of reasons:

• The masks really hydrates the skin a lot: 

This morning I woke up with semi-dehydrated skin. A couple of nights ago I finished my Antipodes Joyious oil (blogged over here) and I did not have any skincare oil for nighttime use ready for hands. So my skin was a bit dryer than usual. Not extremely dry, but not plump either. Well, that is often a sign that it would be good to add some moisture in a more concentrated way, such as a serum or a mask.
The effect after 10 minutes was a plumper skin that looked more hydrated than before...so yey, results!

• It has soothing properties.

I have a tendency to have blotchy skin. Right now I am not completely flawless, but after the mask I noticed that the honey essence (or another ingredient in the mask) had a beneficial effect on getting my skin less blotchy. I needed less makeup, so that is a big plus in my book.

•  It had a brightening effect on my skin

  As I wrote before, the whole effect on my skin was that it became a bit brighter.

I also noticed that a lot of essence was packed inside an onto the mask. I found it a bit wetter than the usual My Beauty Diary Mask. But I prefer it when something is a bit too much than too little, and it plumped some moisture in my skin, so it was not hindering at all

So overal, I am so glad I got this collector item. And besides its incredibly cute exterior, it actually is a fantastic mask for skin that is a bit dehydrated and sensitive. I cannot say too much if it is really diminishes ageing lines, but brightening is always good for looking that bit younger.

I bought this mask on ebay over here. When they sell out, watch and check them every now and then, because they restock..

Newbies tries...

Nothing much has been going on, beautywise!

But I still like to share some new things I accumulated lately...

Yey, one of my ol' Korean loves...Lotree!

I bought a set, which included this dainty lipbalm with the fantastic Korenglish name "Kissing the Lipbalm Macademia".

Right, I only want to kiss the lipbalm and not the lips behind them ;-)

I know it looks so cute and girly, but I would not recommend this for the inside. It is a plain vaseline like lipbalm with some weird substance included that makes your lips burn a bit.

Another cute and girly item I bought in the local drugstore is this floraly blush from Catrice.

Au contraire the lipbalm, this is actually really good and gorgeous product for a cheap blush...

To continue on the girly path...Look at this adorable cover from Dainty sheetmasks!

This is their Lotus mask, and it is quite good! It smells lightly soapy but tolerable. The sheet is thin, but the essence is in abundance and sooo soothing. (bought it here)

Unlike the Coffee mask of Dainty I tried...

No allergies, fortunately :D, only a weird smell of coffee breath mixed with soap...bleerg. (bought it here)

I also have been wearing Ruffled Bottoms....

Just the nailpolish version of Jessica.

If I would post my ruffled bottoms in a blog, I would have created a different kind of blog, right?

So, have you been trying some new cosmetica lately? And, did you like it?