Innisfree Canola Honey Serum {Review}

At the beginning of winter here in Korea my skin really needed some extra moisture and I had been wanting to try a serum for a while. In case you were wondering, serums are a more concentrated form of essence that is packed with vitamins that seeps into the skin. Most people (or I should say Koreans as I have yet to meet any one else who uses so many products in their skin care regime) use serums and essences as additional steps in their skin care routine. Ideally, your DAYTIME skincare routine would follow the following steps:

• Cleanse

• Tone

• Essence

• Serum/Amploue

• Eye Cream

• Lotion/Cream Moistouriser depending on your skin needs (lotions are lighter in formulation while creams are 'thicker' delivering more moisture.

• Suncream

Most serums and essences are rather pricey, granted they contain much higher concentrations of key ingredients, vitamins and minerals, but I find I still can only justify one so choose to use a serum. This particular honey serum from Innisfree was priced at W16 000 when I bought it and has lasted me the entire winter season.

The product comes in a very handy pump dispenser, which means it it also very hygienic. No more dipping dirty fingers into pots and jars of cream. I use 2 pumps of product for my skin. The texture is just like honey, and it smells just like honey. It's the most bizarre but very pleasant experience. Even though it feels and smells like honey, this serum is not sticky, sinking into your skin after a few moments of wear. It's also non greasy and can be worn both day and night time, without leading to shiny skin when worn during the day. 

Overall I have loved using this serum and it has given my skin the extra boost of moisture it needed during the winter. It also felt and smelt wonderful while applying, and I will most definitely be purchasing it again when mine runs out.

Innisfree Face Designing Duo Contour & Highlighter {Review}

This duo highlighter and face contour powder is one of my current makeup favourites! You can see it in action in my 'Get Ready With Me Youtube Video'. 

Half of the compact is a highlighter, and the other half is a darker shade specifically for contouring. If any of you are wondering what exactly contouring is, it's basically using different shades of makeup to slightly change the appearance of your face structure. In other words, defining your cheekbones, slimming areas and giving you a more defined face. I have always been very put off by the huge number of steps involved in a lot of contouring tutorials. Most contouring involves the use of both a highlighter and a contour powder and so this powder helps me to take a lot of the guess work out of which powder should go where as it's already got both products in one. This powder works best with an angled makeup brush (pictured below) as an this type of brush really helps to define and contour without spreading product all over the place.

This particular product comes in three shades; #1 Cozy Afternoon Sunlight, #2 Calm Sunset and #3 Leafy Path. I have shade #2 which I found to be just right for my skin tone. The shade on the left hand side is the highlighter and contains shimmer pigments which really give your face a pretty glow. The darker shade on the right is the contouring shade. Both are highly pigmented and I found it lasts all day long! You can use each side separately for a definition, or use them like I do, together, for an easy and subtle highlighting and contouring effect.

Image from InnisfreeWorld

I bought mine at the Innisfree store in my town for W12 000. 

Have you ever tried this highlighter and contour powder? Do you have any other contouring or highlighting products that you love? Please share them below!

Innisfree Eco Beauty Angled Makeup Brush & Powder Brush

On a recent splurge at Innifree I spent some time browsing through their range of makeup  brushes. They have quite a large range and I was rather intrigued especially when I saw their Eco Beauty range which has wooden handles (the ones pictured in this post are part of the Eco Beauty range). They reminded me of my favourite Eco Tools Brush set which I was able to buy online through Iherb (click here) and have delivered here to South Korea.

At the time I was buying my favorite Face Designing Duo  highlighter and contour powder (review coming soon) and so was on the look out for a brush to apply it. Angled makeup brushes work really well for applying blush or highlighters as you have a lot more control over where you want the product to go. I bought the Eco Beauty Powder Brush and the Angled makeup brush. Keep reading for a more detailed review of both brushes.

As Innisfree is a one of the more natural orientated skincare brands here in Korea (they use less nasty chemicals in their products) all of their brushes are synthetic and animal lover approved, at least by me that is!

Eco Beauty Powder Brush W12 000

I love this powder brush. The bristles are super soft and very gentle on your skin. I use it to apply my setting powder over foundation and it works really well. I am a little sad that the bristles are white, as it's hard to keep them looking clean and new. This is also one of the reasons why I only use it to apply my setting powder and not as a blusher or bronzer brush.

The wooden handle is one of the many things I really like about this brush as it gives it a very professional and clean appearance. The synthetic bristles are not itchy on the skin like a lot of other cheaper skin care brands and I really like the little cover that comes with the brush to help keep it's shape and to help keep it clean.

Eco Beauty Angled Brush W8 000

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this angled brush. I love it because it works really well to apply my bronzer and highlighter, but I hate it because of the fall out (fall our refers to the actual bristles of a brush coming loose and falling out). Even though I have been using it for a few months, I am still experiencing fall out of the bristles, and it gets really annoying having to constantly worry about bristles going into my eye. It could just be that I got a bit of a dysfunctional brush, but I was very disappointed. As my Korean is rather limited, going back to the store and asking for a refund is more trouble that it's worth to me, trying to explain a dysfunctional brush and then hoping they refund me or give me a new one. 

But even with the annoyance of fall out, the bristles are soft enough whilst still being course enough in picking up a good amount of product for application. The bristle are not as soft as the powder brush though, and might irritate very sensitive skin. I will continue to use this brush until the day there are no bristles left in it, or until I find a nicer looking one. I really like the wooden handles of these brushes and I especially like how they match my EcoTools brushes. It's the small things in life right? 

I wasn't too mad as I had picked up both of these brushes during one of Innisfree's 30 - 50% off sales and so didn't pay full price for either of them. But if I was paying full price I would give the angled brush a skip but I would repurchase the powder brush for sure.

Have you given any of Innisfree's Eco Tool makeup brushes a try? Any others that you would recommend? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

You might also like these:

Elisha Coy 3D Spin Cleaner {Review & Video}

I have been wanting to try out this face cleansing tool ever since I first spotted it on WishTrend. Then when I saw it was on special for only $48 instead of the usual $120, I ordered it right away and haven't looked back since. This little beauty has been an amazing addition to my skin care routine, giving me smoother, brighter and softer skin than ever before.

WishTrend currently has the face cleaner as part of an ElishaCoy Cleansing kit which includes the cleaner, 2 brush heads and the ElishaCoy Vita Capsule Cleanser all for $48 instead of the usual $120. 

The one brush is a large white, soft bristled brush designed for everyday use. It's very gentle on your skin and my skin (which is often very sensitive to new products) has had no bad reaction to either the brush or the Vita Capsule Cleanser. I was a little worried that my skin would be red and agitated after use, but that hasn't been the case at all. The whole experience of using this brush incredibly relaxing. After filming the video below, even my husband wanted to give it a try. The first thing he told me was how surprised he was at the how relaxing he felt using it. If you are still worried about your skin having a reaction, then try using it twice a week until your skin feels used to it. I use the brush every other day, in total about 4 times a week. It is gentle enough to use everyday, so see how you skin feels after the first use.

The bristles are incredibly soft and feel like silk on your skin. The smaller brush is designed to target blackheads and works in the same way as the larger brush head but as it is smaller is able to really get into the corners around you nose to deep clean your pores.

Both the brush head rotate 360 degrees allowing the bristles to thoroughly cleanse your pores and scrub deep down removing dirt and other impurities. The cleaner runs on 2 AA sized batteries which are inserted into the bottom and covered with a waterproof piece of plastic to make sure you don't electrocute yourself in the bathtub. The Cleansing kit from Wishtrend includes 2 batteries so you can get scrubbing right away.

I've used a lot of face scrubs before (my favourite being this one from SkinFood and this one from Klairs) but even these don't clean my skin like this little machine does. What's great about it is you can use it with your regular face cleanser for a much deeper clean. Just squeeze a dollop of your face wash onto the bristles, dip the brush head into water, place on your face and press the on button. Slowly move the brush over your face, being careful not to get any product in your eyes and then after a few minutes, rinse off with warm water. Your skin will feel softer, cleaner and ready for the rest of your skincare routine. The brush has two settings, fast and slow, so you can adjust accordingly to your skin. I started off the slowest setting, and now only use the fast setting.

The biggest thing I have noticed with my skin after using this cleaner is how much better the rest of my skin care products respond to my skin. Everything I put on after cleansing literally melts into my skin. I no longer have to stand around rubbing my face for ages to wait for creams to absorb and as a result, my foundation goes on better. What this means for your skin is your pores are squeaky clean and able to absorb so much more of the active ingredients in your creams, lotions and serums. I hadn't expected to feel such a difference in the rest of my skin care routine, but I have pleasantly surprised.

ElishaCoy Vita Capsule Cleanser

This foam cleanser works wonderfully with the 3D Spin Cleaner. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean without over drying and leaves me with brighter skin after every use. This cleanser is formulated for all skin types and a contains a blend of 10 different vitamin capsules. Although formulated as a thick and rich cream, once mixed with water it becomes a fluffy and light foam. 

The tube contains 80ml of product, and as you only need a little to get a rich foam, it's going to last you a good long time. I love the scent of the cleanser too, it's light and refreshing and leaves me feeling thoroughly pampered like I've just been to the spa. 

Here is a quick little video of me giving you a quick preview of this cleansing brush. As you can see, I'm all about the pink...

Have you ever used a face brush or cleansing tool like this one? Do you want to try one? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream, Rich Moist Soothing Serum & Supple Preparation Toner {Review}

We are nearing the end of winter here in South Korea, and these Klairs products have been amazing in helping me deal with the winter dryness. I use the rich moist cream for day, and use my favourite Innisfree Eco Science Deep Cream (review to come) for night time. This toner, cream & serum work perfectly with the Black Sugar Scrub & Cleansing Oil I reviewed a little while ago (click here).  Another of my favourite products from Klairs is their Illuminating Supple BB Cream (click here to see the review).

And the best part about Klairs: 

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream 50ml ($23.99 on WishTrend)

An ultra light cream for normal to dry skin. This cream leaves skin feeling soft, supple and looking radiant while providing a great canvas for makeup. This cream is particularly perfect for sensitive skin, helping to calm redness while restoring your skins natural balance. I've been using it for the last 3 months and have found my skin has become a lot calmer, with little to no redness after washing and exfoliating my skin. It also absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any sticky residue.

It has faint traces of lavender perfume which always makes me feel  calm and relaxed. I have really liked using this cream and it has become a firm favorite, especially for day time wear. I have been needing something heavier for night time use, but for day time this cream is perfect!

You can read more reviews of this cream over on the WishTrend website, where over 100 women have left their thoughts on this great cream. 

For the Ingredients list click here.

Klairs Supple Preparation Toner 150ml ($21.99 on WishTrend)

This toner balances the skin’s pH levels, helping to improve the effectiveness
of your entire skincare regime by gently cleansing your pores to allow for full absorption your other skincare products. This toner is gentle yet effective and never once leaves my skin feeling dry or tingly.

Toning is a very important step in your skincare regime no matter what skin type you have. Toner helps to remove excess dirt and sebum from the skin after cleansing. Once your skin as been cleansed (using both your cleanser/wash and toner) it is prepped and ready for your serums and creams. Toners also aid the skin in being less prone to skin irritations from the environment and pollution by closing your pores. This limits the amount of pore clogging particles that can enter the pores of your skin and lead to potential skin troubles like blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.

Some of the key ingredients the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner are:

• Phyto-Oligo ingredients which helps moisture flow evenly throughout the skin to help with dryness.
• Amino Acids which are anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce inflammation in the skin and provide deep hydration.

These anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce redness in the skin, calm irritation as well as reduce redness in acne pimples (WishTrend).

Read reviews from over 60 women on the WishTrend website.

For the ingredients list click here. 

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum 50ml ($22.99 on WishTrend)

This serum definitely lives up to it's name as I found it to be incredibly soothing and moisturising. It literally melts into your skin and leaves no sticky residue. I've ben using it under my cream both day and night and have found my skin looks healthier, but it feels softer too.

Why do you need to use a serum? Serums, are considered to be the most important step in any skincare routine as they contain smaller molecules with higher concentrations of beneficial ingredients compared to regular moisturisers. Serums are intensively infused with higher concentrations of active ingredients that can penetrate deeper into the skin, delivering more targeted results. Serums fit perfectly into every skin care routine to provide you with the optimal results your skin needs, no matter your skin type. 
Serums are also a great alternative for makeup primers. Use a serum to prime your skin before applying your skin makeup to get the most smooth and soft looking makeup application with all the benefits of serum; re hydrate fine lines, smooth over the appearance of pores and create a soft skin surface that is ready for makeup application (WishTrend).

For the ingredients list click here. 

You can read the reviews of over 60 other women on WishTrend.

Do any of these products sound like something you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments below!

Disclosure: I received the above products for review purposes but the opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links. 

Easy Natural Evening Makeup Look {Video}

A super easy to do, natural look to wear for evening (or day if you felt like wearing a slightly darker eye during the day). See below for product info.

Enjoy!

PRODUCTS SHOWN IN THIS VIDEO 
-L'Oreal True Match Foundation in R3 C3 Beige Rose
-The FaceShop Dual Veil Concealer in V210
-Maybelline The Colossal Volum Express in Blackest Black
-Innisfree Mineral Single Shadow in #1,#38, #38, #41
-Mac Matte Powder Blush in Harmony
-Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in 015 Cherish Devotion

-Eco Tools Brushes (Mineral Powder Brush & Crease Brush bought on iHerb: http://bit.ly/1Fcex1A
-Innisfree Diagonal Cheek Brush
-Sigma F80 Stippling Brush: http://bit.ly/1Fcex1A 
(the following online store ships Sigma Makeup brushes to South Africa: http://bit.ly/1AZxG09)
-Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment

I hope you enjoyed this makeup video, let me know in the comments section below what you'd like to see in my next video!

x

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil & Gentle Black Sugar Facial Scrub {Review}

Last week I received a wonderful package from Wishtrend to review and share my thoughts on. It was a package of products from Klairs ; The Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil and Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish.

My last experience with Klairs was with my favourite BB cream, the Illuminating Supple BB Cream (click here to see the review). And the best thing about Klairs:

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil 150ml ($22.90) 

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is made up of a number of various vegetable oils that are super great for your skin. The easily washable texture of this oil cleanser allows a mild yet effective cleansing of dirt and makeup without causing any irritation. I've even found it was able to remove my 'impossible-to-remove-but-incredible-for-your-lashes' mascara from Innisfree. All of this without making my eyes sting or itch. I've only tried one other oil cleanser (it was of the home made variety) and I must say that I am beyond impressed. I'm sure I'm not the first person to think that cleaning your skin with an oil would leave my skin oily, but this is just not the case. In fact I have found my skin to be cleaner using this oil cleanser than with my regular cleanser. How I can tell is by looking at the cotton wool after toning. There are only tiny traces of makeup left on my skin after using this oil cleanser, compared to the amount that is left after only using my Cetaphil cleanser. 

The three black oils that make up this product are:

Black Bean to control sebum production and leave you with smooth skin

Black Sesame Oil which is a natural antioxidant, helping to remove nasty toxins from teh surface of your skin

Black Currant Seed oil which is rich in minerals and vitamins to leave your skin glowing from the outside.  This seed oil strengthens the skin by providing a protective layer to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the skin and promotes skin cell regeneration .

The bottle has a pump dispenser with a little plastic stopper to prevent the product from spilling when you travel. Thats also very handy if you're like me and have a lot of products in your bathroom, as I tend to knock things over all the time. You only need one or two pumps of oil. Using warm water, simply massage the the oil onto your face (it becomes a milky white liquid) that is easy to rinse off, along with any dirt and makeup on your skin. It has a very pleasant, fruity fragrance and leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean without being tight. 

**Wishtrend is currently offering free (international) shipping with this cleansing oil, so no matter where you are in the word you can get your hands on this cleanser!

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate , Isopropyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate , Polysorbate 20, Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Scrub ($18.99)

This gentle sugar facial scrub keeps your skin soft and supple by providing a deep (yet gentle!) exfoliation. The scrub has anti-bacterial & anti ageing properties that help take care of your skin while removing those pesky dry and flaky bits. This product contains no alcohol, no parabens and no artificial colourants.

The scrub contains the following active ingredients:

Black Sugar which exfoliates away dead skin to leave your skin soft and glowing

Shea Butter which providse extra moisture and comfort for your dry skin

Cranberry Oil which helps to prevent your skin from aging

Vitamin E which enhances your skins elasticity and ability to retain moisture (essential for those of us currently going through winter!)

Andiroba Oil which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and is an anti-inflammatory due to the presence of compounds known as limonoids. This helps to calm any signs of redness that you may have.

Although this is an exfoliating scrub, it is very gentle on your skin. I found that unlike my favourite Black Sugar Scrub from SkinFood, this scrub doesn't dissolve as fast therefore it gives my skin more of a polish. If you find the exfoliation is too much for you, try using it in combination with your cleanser (or even better, in combination with the Klairs  Gentle Oil Black Cleanser). 

The scrub has a wonderful scent (it smells just like sugar!). You take a small amount and massage it with your fingertips using warm water. Then apply it to your face (paying close attention to those areas you may need more exfoliation like your nose and chin). Rinse off with warm water and follow with your toner and moisturiser. 

You only need a tiny amount and so this tub will last for ages, making the price ($18.99) not so bad after all. 

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Black Strap Powder, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Candelilla Wax Esters, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polysorbate 20, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Powder, Fragrance, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

Do any of these products sound like something you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments below!

Disclosure: I received the above products for review purposes but the opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links. 

Innisfree Mineral Melting BB Cushion Review

This BB cream cushion is another in the line of 'air cushions' being sold by beauty stores all over South Korea. The 'cushion' is essentially called a cushion because the BB cream is in liquid form and you apply it using the soft cushion included in the compact. As the product is liquid, you are able to control the amount of coverage yourself making this my favourite form of foundation. 

I love how easy my foundation routine has become, and the best thing is that the compact is super easy to travel with and there are no worries about spillage as the sponge holds all the makeup in place.

This mineral melting BB cushion contains Jeju green tea water to create what Innisfreee describes as 'dewy and clear skin'. The actual BB cream itself is made up of a 5-in-1 formula for the following:

-Sebum Control (I didn't notice any)

-Whitening 

-UV Protection

-Cooling (I didn't notice any cooling effect)

-Make up

Available in 3 shades: 01 - Pink Beige, 02 - Natural Beige and 03 - True Beige (pictured below)

A lot of people worry about hygiene when it comes to cushion puffs like the one in this compact. As this particular puff is of a higher quality than most, you can clean it (using something like this brush cleaner) without it falling apart. And replacements puffs are available for W1 500 at all Innisfree stores.

To use this BB cream simply dab the puff onto the BB soaked sponge and then dab onto your skin. When I first tried using this I was 'wiping' the BB cream on my skin and found that I ended up using a lot of product for each application. A little goes a long way if you use it with a dabbing, patting motion when you apply it to your skin. This is also the best way to build coverage. The finish is 'dewy' something that is very popular here in Korea, but that can easily be amended with a light dusting of your favourite setting powder for a more matte finish. What I do love about this BB cream is its very high SPF (50+) this means you know your skin is well protected from those harmful UV rays.

The actual coverage is very light, and I would say suited to people with good skin who just want the added protection that comes with a BB cream(moisture, sun protection, primer and foundation) . Even though the coverage wasn't great for me, the wear of it was. The overall glow that it gave my skin lasted throughout the day. Another thing  I loved is the fact that the actual compact itself is refillable. This means that I could try out another of the BB cushions without the hefty price tag of buying another compact. I have started using the Long Wear BB cream refill inside this compact and have found that coverage to be perfect for my skin. 

I would recommend this Mineral Melting BB cushion for the winter months as it is very moisturising, or if you only need a a BB cream to add glow and light coverage to your already good skin (luck you!).

Have you tried a cushion BB cream before? What did you think? 

Innisfree Cream Mellow Lipstick #8

I want to introduce you all to my very first, proper grown up person lipstick. It's a beautiful red from Innisfree, with slightly orange/blue base notes and is part of their CreamMellow range of lipsticks. Don't let the sound of blue or orange scare you off, or the bright hue of the lipstick itself when you see it. This shade is surprisingly adaptable and looked as good on my olive skin as it did on my friend who has fair, pink undertones to her skin. This shade (#8) just works. It seems to effortlessly adjust to the natural colour of your lips and just looks gorgeous and sexy.  

The texture is creamy, and stays creamy throughout it's wear due to it's gel like hydrating formula. As this lipstick is more moisturizing, it isn't as long lasting as some of Innisfree's other lipsticks (I got about 2 hours worth of wear out of it). Even though the wear isn't it's strong point, you aren't left with any flaky bits of lipstick once it does start wearing off as usually happens with the longer wearing formulas. So the fact that it doesn't last forever on my lips doesn't count against this product for me at all.

Here is a super cheesy Instagram pic of me with my red lips:

I have never been brave enough to attempt red lips before, and finding just the right shade of red can be daunting. But after putting all fears aside and forcing myself to try this shade, I am now an avid red-lip-wearer. 

As with all Innisfree's products, the packaging is pretty in it's simplicity. It comes in a cream twist up tube with the colour of the lipstick itself on the bottom. This makes things really nice and easy in your bag or makeup drawer. No more wasting time opening and closing tubes to find the one you're looking for. It's the small things in life.

You can find yours at your local Innisfree store for W12 000 or online at W2Beauty where  you can get a $5 voucher for your first order  by signing up through my link http://w2beauty.com/?s=277629511 and entering code 277629511 at registration. With my discount code (277629511) you'll only pay $11.50 with free world wide shipping!

Some exciting new beauty products from Klairs South Korea

I am always keeping an eye on the Wishtrend site for their new arrivals, and this month those arrivals are from Klairs, one of Wishtrends most popular Korean beauty brands. If you want to find out more about Wishtrend and and how to get free international shipping on great South Korean skincare brands then click here!

I recently reviewed one of Klairs most popular products, their Illuminating BB cream. Click here to read more about that. I really love the Klairs BB cream, and am really looking forward to trying the following new products from this great South Korean skincare brand.

1. KLAIRS Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil $22.90

Containing the best combination of black oils for your skin; Black Currant Seed Oil, Black Soy Bean Oil and Black Bean Oil. This gentle cleansing oil removes makeup in 1 swipe, leaving skin moisturized, calmed, soothed and clean.

2. KLAIRS Gentle Black Sugar Charcoal Soap

Hand Crafted for your comfort, this facial bar soap contains only the best ingredients; 
Black sugar, charcoal and volcanic ash. These natural elements help treat and care for your pores while still providing your skin with a deep, yet gentle clean.

Do any of these products sound like something you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments section below!

Also, you can find these products and lots more on the WishTrend site. If you use this code at check out  >>>052313605 you'll get $5 off your first order too.

Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: Financial compensation was not received for this post. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links.

Introducing...The Beauty Wolf

There are millions of beauty bloggers out there, some producing high quality reviews, and others that are just a bit sad to look it. I have developed quite an interest in graphic design lately, and when I stumbled across The Beauty Wolf's blog you'll understand why I fell in love; and why you will too.

I love finding blogs that are unique, that set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd, especially those that do so unpretentiously. These are the kind f bloggers that inspire me to blog, that inspire me to keep producing content, and to keep doing so in my own 'voice' and style.

This is what you get when you pair the already gorgeous packaging of South Korea beauty products with a keen eye for detail and design...Introducing The Beauty Wolf:

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL PUDDING AQUA SHAKING BB REVIEW

SULWHASOO CONCENTRATED GINSENG RENEWING CREAM REVIEW

SO I WROTE A THING

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL DINOPLATZ CINEMA CITY MULTI CC REVIEW

TONY MOLY MY LOVE CURE BALM REVIEW

TO COOL FOR SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL BB FOUNDATION LUNCH BOX REVIEW

ELISHA COY MILK CACAO BLACK SUGAR SCRUB REVIEW

HOLIKA HOLIKA FACE 2 CHANGE LIQUID ROLLER BB REIVEW

Coco, the wonder woman behind The Beauty Wolf, is an American born graphic designer who currently lives in Montreal, Canada with her husband and little girl. You can find her work here:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Please let me know of any other great beauty blogs that you love reading. I'm always on the lookout for new blogs to peruse!

WishTrend Korean Beauty Products with Free Worldwide Shipping

WishTrend is a Korean online beauty store which stocks some of Korea's most loved products. One of my favourite items they stock is the Klairs Illuminating BB cream (you can read my full review by clicking here) which I just love and which is still a firm favourite in my foundation routine. 

WishTrend is currently offering a selection of their best products with FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING!

Now you can get your hands on some of the products that help Korean women look so young and vibrant, well into their fifties, sixties and even seventies! That was the first thing I noticed about the women here, everyone looks so young! The older ladies especially, have the most beautiful skin (a few have surgery to thank for that) but for the most part women learn to really take care of their skin from a very early age. 

Here are the products I have my eye on.

This serum claims to brighten the skin, help heal scars, remove blackheads, and tighten pores. From what I've read on other Korean beauty blogs this little brown bottle delivers on it's promises and I going to be purchasing some for myself very soon.

Click here to order.

I haven't done too much research into these eye lash curlers, but I mean really, how cute and nifty are they? The wand is heated up so that when you brush it through your lashes, each lash is curled and the heat locks the curl in place, meaning luscious long and curly lashes, for much much longer. Besides, the white and gold one just looks so fancy, it belongs in my makeup bag.

Click here to order.

You can read my full review of this BB cream by clicking here. 

This is a slightly more unusual product. A powder spot treatment by Enca. It comes in a small, travel-friendly bottle (15ml)  and a little really does go a long way with this product and so the 15ml will last you for quite a while. You apply the powder to the offending area using a cotton bud or leave overnight and let the active ingredients do their thing. Seems to work remarkable from the blogger reviews I have seen, and need to get my hands on a bottle soon. 

Click here to order.

Do any of these products sounds like something you'd like to try? Wishtrend is also throwing in extra sample sizes of the Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Scrub with all orders if you use the following code: WISHGIFTSEP2014

Happy shopping everyone!

Disclosure: Financial compensation was not received for this post. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links.

Gradient Nail Art Tutorial

My Korean friend Heejoung (who was my model for the spring flower crown photoshoot Storm and I did a few months ago, click here to see the beautiful photographs) came over for tea yesterday and ended up helping me with my first ever gradient manicure. 

This is a super easy to do manicure. It can be adapted in so many ways but works best with 3 colours in varying shades. You need a dark colour, a medium shade and a light shade (but these are not rules set in stone, try mixing it up with any colour combination for a fun alternative to the original gradient nail).

You need 

3 nail polish colours

base coat

top coat

sponge (I first tried with a regular makeup sponge, wich failed miserably. So make sure to use the 'spongey spongey' kind of sponge, if that makes sense. I ended up having to cut my kitchen scourer sponge up to use the end with more 'holes').

Directions

Start with a coat or two of your favourite base coat. This protects your nails from the chemicals inside all nail polish, and prevents your nails from discolouration.  I would suggest painting one coat of a white polish after your base coat as it would make a better 'base' for this kind of manicure.  But it's up to you, I didn't and wish that I had done so as it would have made my colours pop a bit more, especially my lightest shade which ended up looking a little bland.

Then paint your nail polish onto the tip of your sponge. Work quickly so as not to let the polish dry too quickly on the sponge itself. 

Place the sponge on your nail, first applying pressure to the top of your nail closest to your cuticle and then move the pressure to the middle and finally to the end of your nail keeping the sponge in contact with your nail the entire time. You are making a kind of backwards 'C' motion with the sponge. You can also use a side to side motion for the first coat (as pictured above). Once you have you first coat, dab the nail with the sponge to apply more colour. The more you dab, the more natural the gradient look will be. Repeat on all your nails, finishing off with a couple of coats of your top coat to seal in the polish and protect your nails from chipping

Your sponge will make the manicure look textured and not as smooth as a regular manicure. But this can be changed by using a smoother sponge. 

Next you've got a bit of cleaning up to do:

Use an earbud dipped in nail polish remover to clean up your cuticles. You can also apply a lotion or vaseline to your cuticles before painting as this makes the clean up process very easy. I forgot to do this and had quite a job removing all the edges. This is a very messy manicure and does require quite a bit of work to make it look perfect. But the hard work is definitely worth it, don't you think?

Next I'm going to try a pastel combination, what colours do you think would work best?

If you try this yourself, share your work on my Facebook page (@citygirlsearching) or on Instagram (@roxyhutton) I'd love to see what combination you choose.

Klairs Illuminating Supple BB Cream {review}

I have been after a BB cream for a while now, and as I now live in the original home of the BB cream you'd have thought it would be easy to find one that suits my skin. But alas, I have been nervous to be too adventurous with my choices and have fallen back on my trusty Essence BB Cream from back home in South Africa. That was until I was recently sent this one by WishTrend  to review (click here for more info on WishTrend and how you too can get your hands on South Korean beauty products wherever you may be in the world). 

This Illunminating BB Cream from Klairs is very popular here among Korean women. Here is the blurb from Klairs (their English translation is a little off but you get the idea):

For dry skin- Offers great Hydration with the best moisture ingredient; Hydraluronic Acid

For sensitive skin- Brings soothing effect with calming component such as Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice

For ageing skin – Great wrinkle improvement with highly concentrate moisture formula

For trouble skin- Does not worsen the trouble spots with low irritant ingredients and skin-friendly components. 

Klairs’ Unique smart color system is suitable for any skin type tone. No need to cover up with unhealthy looking artificial color of other BB creams. Sun screen + Primer + Foundation + Finishing Powder = [Klairs] Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream! Save your precious time in the morning and finish the base makeup with great BB cream Korean women die for.

The truthful brand, Klairs is eco-friendly cosmetics. Against animal testing, no alcohol, no parabens, no artificial coloring. Low irritation to the skin with safe and great ingredients, especially safe cosmetics for sensitive or trouble type skin."

When I first opened up the packaging I was a little nervous as the product only comes in one shade. All of the other reviews I had seen had been done by Asian girls with very light skin. So I thought it would be far from suitable for my naturally darker complexion (thanks to the countless number of hours I spent in the sun as a young child). BUT I was wrong! The product blended effortlessly into my skin (both on my hand and on my face). Most BB Creams have a greyish cast to them, making your face look sullen. But this product, with it's slightly yellowish undertone, suits my skin perfectly. From all of the reviews I have seen on this product, it suits most skin tones (although, for my very much darker skinned lady friends, this one probably won't be suitable, although it would be interesting to see if it did blend).

The packaging is simple in design, just like the product itself and has a small nozzle to dispense just the right amount of product. This helps you control exactly how much product you want to use, without making a mess. The packaging is written in both English & Korean. 

The initial coverage is very light, but definitely buildable leaving skin with a very natural, dewy finish. Korean women are very into the 'dewy' look, especially the older ladies, so finding a matte finish can be tricky. But, with a dusting of your favourite powder, your skin will look just the right amount of dewy, and not like an oil slick.

This is suitable for all skin types, and one of it's promises is that has sebum control. I have combination skin, and it didn't provide very much oil control for me. But, with a dusting of translucent powder and my favourite Innisfree Sebum Control powder I had no shiny skin, even after a full day of wear. Most BB creams make skin appear oilier than other foundations because of all the added elements they provide, things like sun protection. This would naturally make a product oilier. I didn't notice excessive oiliness though, the same amount I experience from any foundation I use, regardless of the brand. I also always apply a sun cream under my foundation/BB cream (I am currently loving the Sebum Control Moisture Sun sun cream from The FaceShop...review to come soon).

Here is the ingredient list for those of who would like to know what exactly goes into the product:

This image of the ingredients was found on AegyoPrincess.

And now for the results. In the before photograph I am barefaced (this is my skin after following my morning skincare routine of cleanser, toner, eye cream, lotion, suncream & primer...blog post to follow soon).

The after photographs were taken with only the BB Cream applied, no other makeup was used in the shot.

My biggest skin concerns are the pigmentation I have on my forehead, nose/under eye area and my upper lip region so this was the biggest test for me. I wanted to make sure that this BB cream would provide adequate coverage. You can see from the photographs below what the results were for me.

I really like this BB cream, and even though it doesn't offer that much oil control, I love how natural my skin looks. I am able to build up the coverage, and have noticed that the coverage is better when applied with my fingers, and not with my trusty Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Foundation brush. Both application methods give a smooth finish, but I prefer the brush as I don't have to get my fingers messy. My skin is left illuminated (as promised) but without the shimmer that most illuminating products have. This is a big plus for me as I'd rather add my own shimmer exactly where I want it, and not walk around looking a unicorn. 

I tend to get dry, flaky patches on my nose, so when applying this and any other foundation/BB cream, I am just careful to either have exfoliated the night before, or to make sure I apply a primer (I am currently loving this Velvet Skin Primer from The Face Shop). 

You can purchase this BB Cream online from WishTrend for $24.99.

If you enter this code 052313605 at check out, you can also save yourself $5!

Happy Shopping!

Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Compact {Review}

I bought this wonderful setting powder at the same time when I purchased the Pink Beam Mineral Highlighter a few months ago. Both this and the Pink Beam highlighter come in the same sweet round compact, but this one is mint green and the other is soft pink. They both form part of Innisfree's Mineral range of products and have less harmful ingredients and additives than most other brands. 

As with the highlighter, this sebum (or oil absorbing) powder comes in two forms, a pressed powder (this is the one I have) and a loose powder. The loose powder is a little too messy for my liking, but would work well when dusted over the face. I still love my (very old) Yardley translucent  loose powder for setting my makeup, so this pressed version is perfect for me.

It's small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and perfect for slipping into your hand bag. I carry my with me all day for touch ups on the go. 

As the packaging states, this sebum control powder is designed to give you a "soft and powdery finish". I'm not exactly sure what that means really, but doesn't it sound lovely. This powder absorbs all the oil and shine on my face and lasts all day. We haven't hit summer yet, so I can't say for certain that the oil control will last all day when things get really humid here, but if it doesn't it's not a worry as I am happy to touch up throughout the day.

The powder is white, but when rubbed into the skin it becomes translucent and doesn't leave any white residue or noticeable white streaks or lines. As with the Pink Bean highlighter, my only complaint is that the sponge is white, as when applied over my foundation or BB cream, the powder puff undoubtedly gets dirty. But this isn't so much of a worry to me as I am able to buy replacement puffs easily and they are very affordable.

I am loving this new addition to may makeup products, and the packaging is just so sweet. You can find yours at your nearest Innisfree store for W12 000 or online through Gmarket.

For international buyers, I'm afraid I haven't seen it for sale on any of the international sites that sell Korean makeup. When I do I'll be sure to let you know. For now you can find other great Korean products for international purchase at the following online stores: w2 Beauty, Soko Glam and WishTrend.

Introducing WishTrend...helping you get your hands on South Korean beauty products

A lot of my readers have been wanting to know how they can get their hands on some of the amazing skincare and beauty products here in South Korea. Todays post is about an online beauty haven filled with make-up, skin care products, hair care and beauty tools as well as bits for the man in your life.

WishTrend is a South Korean based online beauty store specialising in products that are really popular here in Korea, but that many people may not have heard.  WishTrend has introduced over 400 products from 30 brands to 50 countries with more than 100,000 loyal customers, and is still growing! Their tag line is this:

We believe that as long as you ‘WISH’ to be beautiful, you will be beautiful. We explore the world to find the best cosmetics and introduce them to them to beauty inspired explorers.

The website itself is set up in a very clear way, and you can easily find what you are looking for using the categories function.

WISHTrend also stocks beauty boxes called WishBoxes which are filled with different goodies in a particular theme or product line.

Here is a small selection of some of their best selling products:

I have recently become an affiliate with WishTrend and what this means is that if you use my link to purchase something from their store, I receive a small commission from the sale. I am in no way endorsed by WishTrend, and all of the reviews I do of their products will always be honest and be my own. Affiliate links are not a way for bloggers to make a sneaky buck off you, but are rather a way for us to to earn a tiny amount of money for the work we put into our blog.

Wishtrend offers free shipping on orders over $69 and your package will include loads of free samples too! Any order over $129 and you get yourself free EMS shipping (EMS is the premium shipping method here in Korea and you get your goodies within 5 days - 9 days).

I was sent the following Klairs Illuminating BB cream and will be doing a review on it soon. 

For my South African readers here is a little information on shipping costs and times:

Shipping Cost

Standard Shipping: 13 USD

EMS shipping: 45 USD 

Delivery Time 

Standard Shipping: over 30 business days

EMS shipping: 5-9 business days

Here is a little collection of what I've got my eye on in their store, although every time I visit their site my wish list gets longer and longer...The First Boosting Essence, Ciracle Radience Eye Miracle, WishBox Nail Polish Box, Ciracle Pimple Solution CC Cream, ElishaCoy 3D Spin Cleaner, OST Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum + Vitamin Sleep 9 to 5 Crema, MISQS Creme de Velvet Lip Matte in Iron Lady or Burgundy

You can find WishTrend at the following places:

Facebook/Twitter/Blog/Pinterest

And one more way for you to save, if you enter this code 052313605 at check out, you save yourself $5...pretty cool hey?

Happy shopping!

Innisfree Pink Beam Mineral Pact Highlighter {review}

I stumbled across this lovely little highlighter while on a shopping spree in Seoul. After hearing nothing but raving reviews about Innisfree's 'No Sebum' range of products I decided I needed to try them out myself in the hopes of finding a good blotting/setting powder for my oily skin before the humidity of summer arrives here in Korea. I picked up the Mineral Melting BB Cushion and the No Sebum Mineral Pact (reviews to come soon) at one of the Innisfree stores in Myeongdong, and added this Pink Bean Mineral Pact to my shopping basket. It's a delightful new addition to my makeup routine and I am so happy to have it join my collection. It makes a nice change from my Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Correcting Bronzer (which is too dark to wear here in Korea, where pale skin is favoured over the bronzed look) and my ultimate Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz (reviews to come soon!).

As with all of Innisfree's products, the packaging is simple but elegant. This compact fits into the palm of your hand and is the perfect size for slipping into your handbag for mid day touch ups (although I haven't needed to touch up once when using it). It comes in two forms, a pressed powder (pictured here) and a loose powder. I found the powder rather messy, whereas the pressed powder gives more accurate application and you don't need to worry about having a makeup brush handy. The powder puff included in the pressed version does the job perfectly.

The soft pink shimmer lasts all day, and leaves me looked slightly flushed and glowing in a very pretty way. It's gorgeous and I can't quite get enough of it. I use it as my eyeshadow on days when I don't feel like applying anything else.

My only problem with this highlighter is the white sponge applicator. It's so pretty being white, but very impractical, this powder is a highlighter and that means it get's applied over your foundation. The sponge ends up looking dirty as it absorbs the foundation underneath. It's not the end of the world, but still a little annoying. I need to see if I can find replacement puffs for it, then I can just pop a new one in and not worry about it being unhygienic. 

I am loving this new addition to may makeup products, and the packaging is just so sweet. You can find yours at your nearest Innisfree store for W12 000 or online through Gmarket. For international buyers, I'm afraid I haven't seen it for sale on any of the international sites that sell Korean makeup. When I do I'll be sure to let you know. For now you can find other great Korean products for international purchase at the following online stores: w2 Beauty, Soko Glam and WishTrend.

Nail Inspiration

You may not believe me when I tell you this, but I used to bite my nails...badly. Not just the kind of biting that trims your nails, I'm talking nasty nail biting, fingers that I was too embarrassed to let anyone see, and then I would also bite my cuticles. It was horrible. Then I started eating a lot more yogurt and the extra calcium intake gave my poor stumps a little extra strength and I stopped biting. My nails were stronger, they weren't as brittle and finally they stopped chipping and flaking and began to grow slowly. When they started growing they looked better, and I became less embarrassed to show them off and began painting them and taking better care of my hands. Thank you yogurt (luckily I married a dairy farmer so I can have long, strong nails for ever and ever!).

Here are some snaps of what I've been doing to my nails over the past few months. These are very simple nail polish ideas, and usually you only really need 2 colours to achieve the look. Glitter polish is a great addition to your collection as it can update a manicure in a matter of minutes and prolong the wear of your polish by covering up small chips. If you want to read more about growing your own beautiful, strong nails...click here.  Remember to always use a base coat to protect your nails before painting.

Do you have any other nail art ideas? I have yet to really dive into the world of nail art, I don't think I have enough patience to wait for a million layers of paint to dry, but maybe this weekend I can put a few hours aside to get creative.

A touch of glitter {nail art}

I love painting my nails (for me, this means one color on all nails…very boring) but have recently dabbled in the field of nail artistry (not that the picture above is anything fancy or 'artistry' like but with only a few extra minutes and another colour or two, you can really add a little something extra to your standard manicure and update your look). 

Glitter has sparked my fancy lately, and I have been painting one nail differently to all the others. Not just because its effective in it's simplicity, but if you make a mistake, it's only one nail that needs to be repainted, and not the whole bunch (ain't nobody got time for that).

I used a warm greyish mocha colour as my base colour, and then used a rosy pink shade for my focus nail, topped off with a slick of silver glitter from The FaceShop (my all time favourite skincare and makeup brand here in South Korea).

When painting your nails, always make sure to apply a base coat first (to protect your nail base from staining and being damaged) and then a top coat (to extend the wear of your manicure). Here is a post I did a little while ago on growing your own beautiful, strong nails. 

Homemade Natural Facial Cleansers

I recently stumbled upon the beautiful Free People blog which is filled with beautiful photography, beauty tutorials, fashion inspiration and so much more.

The blog is run by four creative young women who aim to inspire their readers to 'embark on creative, fun, enlightened and fashionable adventures each day'.

This post if all about their natural homemade facial cleansers. Dump the chemicals and raid your pantry and fridge your skin will thank you for it.

{Each of the photographs and graphics in this post are credited to Free People

First up is a cleanser for DRY SKIN.

This is the first one I am going to try as the hard water and cold weather has wreaked havoc on my skin. If only honey didn't cost an arm and a leg in Korea...

'The base for this cleanser is plain yogurt, which, apart from its natural cleansing properties, is full of protein to soften your skin. It’s also a bit acidic, so it acts as an exfoliator, removing unwanted dead cells from the surface of your skin. Honey acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into your skin and keeping it there, as olive oil adds further moisture. Apples give your skin vitamins A, B, and C, as well as a dose of antioxidants to keep you looking fresh'.

Next up is a cleaner for NORMAL SKIN:

Oh I wish my skin was back to its normal-ness. I have't had norma,l or combination skin as it's sometimes referred to, since I've been here in South Korea.

My skin fluctuates between oil slick and parched, depending on the snow or the humidity.

'For those whose skin tends to be somewhere in between dry and oily, this cleanser is for you. The yogurt and cucumber nourish and clear your skin without drying it, while the mint adds a pleasant soothing experience'.
 

Last of all we have a cleanser designed for OILY SKIN.

I have been told on numerous occasions that oily skin ages a lot slower, and as such will lead to fewer wrinkles with age. I'll get back to you on that in 15 years time.

'For those whose skin tends to be on the oily side, let lemon and oatmeal be your new friends. Lemon acts as an astringent as well as a disinfectant, killing any bacteria that may otherwise cause breakouts, while oatmeal exfoliates the skin, absorbing excess oils in the process. Honey will restore moisture into your skin, balancing out any dryness that could have been caused by the lemon'.

Have you ever tried to make your own cleansers or masks? A fellow South African bloggers, Luzanne of Pink Peonies, blogs about wonderful homemade face masks she creates for different skin types. Pop on over to her blog for more DIY beauty recipes.