Holika Holika: Love Who You Are Palette Review + Swatches

It’s been a long while since I’ve done a makeup product review on my blog so here it is! This is the Holika Holika Limited Edition: Love Who You Are Eyeshadow Palette. Jolse kindly gifted me this a while back to review for you all. Because of COVID, I have not been wearing much or any makeup nor have I’ve been inspired to do any eyeshadow looks. I finally gave this palette a shot and used it during the holidays and this week so I’m ready to share with you how I feel about it.

My Thoughts:

I use to not gravitate towards K-Beauty eyeshadows because I found them too sheer for my liking but I’ve grown to really enjoy them for what they are, how natural and buildable they can be. I also find K-Beauty shimmer shadows waaaay better than western eyeshadows as they come in a nice variety of fine to bigger shimmers/glitters. This palette most certainly impressed me for it’s performance alone and with primer. It can pretty much last all day without primer and looks roughly the same from application time; very minimal creasing to no creasing without primer. There’s a good variety of transition shades that are matte and shimmers to play around with. Majority of the shimmer shades have that gorgeous multi-dimensional appearance to them. The camera does not go any justice for this palette and you need to see them in person to believe it for yourself. They’re sparkly but not in an obnoxious way and can be used as an everyday palette!

Texture: 5/5 – Formula is dense and almost creamy to the touch, you can use brushes or your fingers. I personally find finger application best for shimmer shades as you can build it up and it has better even application when doing so.
Price: 4/5 – It’s currently listed $24.79 USD | $31.63 USD on Jolse, which is somewhat expensive for an eyeshadow palette but the pans are MUCH better than most eyeshadow palettes around this price so you are getting your money’s worth when purchasing this. There’s also 13.5g of product in it so it will last you a while even if you use it as an “everyday palette”. I would prefer this over the Anastasia Beverly Hills Palette that everybody loves – I personally have grown out from loving their palettes and find their formula DRY.. it’s like a dry pigment even and I prefer more creamy, dense formulas such as this palette.
Performance: 4/5 – I’m very impressed with the longevity of this palette as it survived through an 8 hour shift and I could skip primer if I wanted to with this one.
Packaging: 5/5 – Super cute, iconic. Love the colours and it most certainly grabbed my attention.
Overall: 4.5/5 – I’m pretty happy with this palette! I have no complaints about it and I see myself using it a lot during this coming fall because look at these colours! They’re gorgeous and so versatile for all year round.

[REVIEW] MISSHA TIME REVOLUTION TONE UP TONER

Missha is one of the very few brands that I continue to use. When I was 16, I purchased myself my very first Korean beauty product and it was the Missha Vita BB cream. I really liked how it filled in my pores and made everything so smooth. I do recall using a lot of their foam cleansers a lot when I was younger and I really enjoyed them. Jolse kindly sent this product over to me back in November and I’ve been using it for quite a while now.

Claims

Clean & Bright Skin
Provides vitality and energy to dull skin
Protects Skin from Environmental Factors
Protects the skin from harmful environmental factors that cause skin to lose its natural glow
Refreshing Moisture Care
Cream provides rich and refreshing moisture to help skin maintain a healthy and moist condition

Full List Of Ingredients

Water, Peg/Ppg-18/4 Copolymer, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Freesia Alba Flower Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Niacinamide, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Gnaphalium Leontopodium Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Betaine, Cyclomethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Sea Water, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide, Benzophenone-4, Tocopheryl Acetate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Copper Sulfate, Glucose, Polyacrylic Acid, Sodium C14-17 Alkyl Sec Sulfonate, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Disodium Edta, Methoxy Peg-45 Thioctate, Phenoxyethanol, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Tin Oxide, Squalane, Fullerenes

How to use:

After thoroughly cleansing your face, apply toner with a cotton pad or on hands and apply it evenly throughout the face. You can even make a toner mask out of this product if you want.

My Thoughts:

There were a lot of positive reviews online so I was hoping this was going to be amazing for me but let’s just say I had high expectations for this and really wanted it to work for me but it did quite the opposite. I expected it to have a mild scent as a lot of products do, have a lightweight watery consistency and possibly provided longterm brightening results as the product claims. I was not wowed by this product and I do hope Missha decides to reformulate or possibly create a line that is specifically for sensitive skin types with no fragrance added. I didn’t realize Missha had so many products that contained heavy amounts of fragrance in them until I rediscovered them. I do believe my preference for skincare has definitely changed a lot throughout the years.

Texture: 3/5 –The texture surprised me the most because I was expecting almost a watery consistency but instead it was quite thick. It really reminds me of the Whamisa Organic Flowers Rich Toner’s consistency. I wasn’t a big fan of it as I was hoping for something lighter.
Scent: 2/5 –Sensitive skin friends, stir far away from this product. I was shocked when I smelled this. It has quite a strong floral, clean scent to it and it lingers. Unlike some products scents that do eventually go away, this kind of just stays.
Price: 4/5 – Missha products are affordable so the price wasn’t an issue.
Performance: 1/5 –Did absolutely nothing for me. No brightening, wasn’t really moisturizing either and kind of just sat on my skin.
Packaging: 5/5 – Gorgeous packaging! The bottle is glass and has a beautiful gradient design. It doesn’t spill the product everywhere and is really well made.
Overall: 2/5 – I must say I am beyond disappointed in this and I was expecting more from Missha. I’m starting to believe they are quite comparable to The Saem. The Saem makes great makeup product products but when it comes to skincare, it’s like they poured a bottle of perfume in their products. I would not recommend this to anyone who has sensitive skin. Maybe those who have dry skin would enjoy this as this does have a thicker consistency to it but I personally didn’t see any amazing results from using it on my dehydrated, combination skin.

[REVIEW] TATCHA EYE PEARL EYE TREATMENT

Tatcha is one of the most well-known Sephora brands and they’re famous for their luxury Japanese inspired skincare and beauty. I stumbled across this product early of last year and wasn’t initially fond of it but it definitely grew on to me as I was always looking for a new product to try out. Could this be the new big thing? Stay tuned to see what I have to say.

Claims

A tinted treatment that awakens eyes with a pearl-like luster, hydrates, and reduces the look of dark circles and wrinkles — instantly and over time.

This 2-in-1 makeup and treatment formula breaks upon application to deliver both refreshing moisture and natural coverage for a healthy, well-rested look all day.

Awakens: Light-refracting pearl pigments work with Akoya Pearl extract in an active skincare treatment formula to restore radiance by helping to address the three causes of under eye darkness: thinning skin, blue undertones, and pigmentation. The Pearl works to address dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles by helping minimize glycation and the appearance of hyperpigmentation. It is boosted by niacinamide, known to visibly brighten and firm.
Smooths and Protects: Silk powder smooths the look of fine lines and imperfections, while a blend of botanical extracts protects from makeup and pollution that can cause signs of aging.
Anti-Aging Hydration: Lightweight cream powered by Hadasei-3™, a proprietary trio of Japanese anti-aging superfoods, and hyaluronic acid, which nourishes and hydrates for a plump, refreshed appearance.

Full List Of Ingredients

AQUA/WATER/EAU, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIPHENYLSILOXY PHENYL
TRIMETHICONE, DIGLYCERIN, GLYCERIN, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE,
SILK POWDER, HYDROLYZED SILK, SERICIN, HYDROLYZED CONCHIOLIN PROTEIN,
SACCHAROMYCES/CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF/CLADOSIPHON OKAMURANUS/RICE
FERMENT FILTRATE*, NIACINAMIDE, ROYAL JELLY EXTRACT, LONICERA
JAPONICA (HONEYSUCKLE) LEAF EXTRACT, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL, GERANIUM
ROBERTIANUM EXTRACT, CAESALPINIA SPINOSA FRUIT EXTRACT, PERSEA
GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNEL OIL,
MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, KAPPAPHYCUS ALVAREZII EXTRACT, SODIUM
HYALURONATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, PROPANEDIOL, SODIUM CITRATE,
HYDROGEN DIMETHICONE, PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE,
DIPENTAERYTHRITYL TRI-POLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE/PHENYL
VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DIMETHICONE/PEG-10/15
CROSSPOLYMER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE,
ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, NATTO GUM, MICA, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE,
PHENOXYETHANOL, ALCOHOL. [+/- TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES
(CI 77491, 77492, 77499), SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE]
* HADASEI-3

How to use:

The container looks like it’s a pop open kind of jar however you need to twist the lid for it to come off. With clean fingers and clean face, apply a small rice grain amount of product on each under eye and massage the product to breakdown on skin. Please be gentle with also massage it until you see the product breaking down evenly into almost like a lightweight paste then pat it on like an eye cream.

My Thoughts

I really think this is a very revolutionary product because it’s an under-eye treatment that acts as a concealer that contains brightening and also hydrating benefits to provide the skin long-term and longlasting results. I personally found this so easy to use and the skin on my under eyes instantly looked brighter and smoother. I could actually get away with just using this and some powder for the day. I’ve tested this with makeup and how I prefer to use this is I would apply on my skin first then I go in with foundation to complete the look. I normally do foundation then concealer but because this is an under-eye treatment with hybrid concealer properties, I find it works best when applied directly onto fresh, clean skin.

Initially, I was not convinced by the marketing for this product and what it did but throughout time, I gradually became more intrigued by the concept of it. Christmas came around and I got a Sephora gift card as a gift so I decided to pick this up to try for myself. There was a lot of mixed reviews on this when it first came out, some people were saying it’s lifechanging and it truly brightened the skin under their under eyes significantly and some said it was cakey, crepey. From my experience from using this product, you only need a rice grain amount of on each eye then you must break down the product and blend evenly throughout the skin. I truly do believe some of the negative reviews are due to user errors on using the product because all you need is a rice grain amount for each side. Another part of me believes that those who struggled with dry, cakey issues from using this product are likely not moisturizing that region enough therefore whatever you apply on top of the dried region of skin, it will reflect that way as well.

The reason why I speak so highly of this product is that I watched a lot of demo and review videos to have a better understanding of what exactly this is and how to use it prior to purchasing it. It is a very expensive product so I want to know what exactly I’m doing prior to purchasing it. I wouldn’t speak highly on any product if I didn’t believe in it and this is very likely going to be a repurchase because it’s just fantastic and there’s so much product in it.

Before & After

Overall

Texture: 5/5 – The consistency appears to be a lightweight cream with a skin tone pigment and as you massage it in your skin, you will notice that it’s breaking down the product and pigment so it spreads more easily into your skin. It also has this hydrating factor to it because of the Koya pearl extract in it.
Scent: 5/5 – Doesn’t really smell like anything to me, maybe like a really, really faint floral scent.
Price: 4/5 – Arguably this could very much be expensive for many people and to be quite frank with you, it was expensive at the first glance for me as well but when I used the product and understood what it did for my skin, I was so impressed and honestly, I think this is definitely an item worth splurging on because it’s such a delicate and effective formula, I’m absolutely blown away how it’s brightened and also smoothened the skin under my eyes.
Performance: 5/5 – Amazing, this product definitely wowed me and I really like what they did with the formula and I found my skin looking so much brighter and smoother right after applying it on. It’s almost like silk! No concealer, no eye cream has looked this nice on my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried a lot of products and liked them but this has such an incredibly finely and well-developed formula where it almost looks like your skin! It doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup or have some concealer on.
Packaging: 5/5 – It’s Tatcha, are you kidding me? They have the best looking packaging and very aesthetically pleasing.
Overall: 5/5 – Love it, would buy more of it, would repurchase it the moment I finish this. I have no complaints with this products and hope to see more awesome products from Tatcha.

Available on: QVC |Tatcha | Sephora

JAPAN IN THE BOX

Japan in the box is a carefully curated Japanese themed subscription box that consists of a wide variety of self-care items from skincare, bath, and even Japanese treats. You’re likely to find some popular, familiar products and some new ones. I personally only have seen two things before in this box and it was their kit kat and also the lululun mask set. This box did take a while to get to me however I eventually got it because if you’re not familiar with Canadian customs, they often take a while to clear packages because they want to ensure they check package contents prior to releasing them.

They offer free shipping worldwide, which is amazing because most subscription boxes do charge for shipping so it’s nice to know you’re paying a fixed price without worrying paying additional fees. I personally did not have any issues with custom and duties fees with this package and it got to me in tip-top shape, everything was also beautifully wrapped securely.

Kit Kats are classic and popular snacks in Japan and they often come in a large range of flavors and when I mean large range, I mean all sorts of flavors from citrus, milky, fruity even. There are all sorts of flavors so this is always exciting to see and you can even write the recipient’s name at the back if it’s a gift.

Lululun masks are very well-known universally and it’s likely because of how affordable they are and they’re marketed towards sensitive folks. If sensitive skin people can use them, so can everyone else. I like the concept of having 1 package and multiple masks inside because it limits out producing so much waste and because I sheet mask every single day, these kinds of masks will come in handy for sure.

Bath salts, anything bath care is very popular in Japan because you’ll often get these with as a gift with purchase from a beauty shop online or instore. They’re a great way to detox and unwind for the day. Some have heating/warming features to them making your bath experience more luxurious and relaxing.

If there any specific products you’re curious to know more about, Japan in the box created a unique QR code where you can scan with your phone and find further information about the box. How innovative and exciting is that? Ditching long, lengthy info cards and using your phone to read on more information about the products. I’ve been using Japanese skincare for as long as I remember and they always have one of the best quality products.

Lastly, can we just appreciate the detail of the box? it’s absolutely beautiful and I love the art and design for this. For a new subscription box company, I am very impressed with what I see and look forward to seeing what else they have to offer in the near future. Please be sure to check out their website for more information + follow them on Instagram.

[REVIEW] CELIMAX DERMA NATURE FRESH BLACKHEAD CLEANSING OIL

At times, removing makeup can be a hassle but it needs to be done no matter how exhausted we are from a long day. I’ve been seeing the Celimax cleansing oil all over Instagram and I’m definitely intrigued simply because I love cleansing oils. I actually prefer them over any kind of cleansing balm because of the consistency and how it removes off my makeup. I don’t really like how some cleansing balms leave a weird residue behind my skin and I find cleansing oils don’t do that to my skin. Jolse kindly sent this over for me to try and review for you guys so here it is!

What is it?

Light & non-greasy cleansing oil for all skin type
Six nourishing natural plant oil ingredients
Jojoba oil helps to dissolve blackheads & whiteheads
Sebum control
Strong emulsification, zero irritation
No tightness after cleansing

Full List Of Ingredients:

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Water, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil (1500Ppm), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alcohol,Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol

My Thoughts

I always wear waterproof makeup because of my oily eyelids and I need a cleansing oil that does the job of removing it off. This does the job, it removes the most stubborn, waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and even lip tint!

The first thing I noticed was the citrus scent from the Bergamot oil. No matter how much a brand talks highly about essential oils. Essential oils are essential oils and are a form of fragrance whether artificial or not. Now, I’m not against them completely however, I just find them very unnecessary in products. My skin has once been compromised because of them, I used a brand that specifically only used them and it really took a toll on my skin. Whether you have sensitive skin or not, it does sensitize the skin and not ideal for long-term use. I’m still on the hunt for a cleansing oil with no “natural fragrance”/essential oils and so far, no luck but the search goes on! Most cleansing oils I’ve tried do contain some form of essential oil so this isn’t the first one that has this sort of problem.

Texture: 5/5 – Super lightweight oil and feels like silk on the skin, it breaks down makeup effortlessly and you only need a pump of this for your entire face.
Scent: 2/5 – Why is bergamot oil so high up on the list? I wouldn’t even mind if it was on the lower section but it wasn’t. There’s also alcohol in it which was shocking because it didn’t dry, make skin tight and worse, make my eyes bloodshot red. I have a complication with alcohol as an ingredient and prefer to stray away from it completely. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t have any bad reactions from using this regardless of the 2 questionable ingredients I put in italics.
Price: 5/5 – For what it is and the amount, I think this is a really reasonable price for a cleansing oil and it performs nicely, it’s also pretty accessible online. I’ve seen on it Jolse, yesstyle, amazon and etc.
Packaging: 5/5 – Very nice. It comes with the stopper from spilling the product everywhere and you can travel at ease with it. I also like the design of the bottle and the pump because it’s not thin and small like some pumps are and I find it really sturdy.
Overall: I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a good cleansing oil that will remove off basically everything and also waterproof eye makeup. It’s very important to me to find a cleansing oil that will remove off my waterproof makeup off effectively and gently. This does the job and I think it’s worth a shot, just be aware of the ingredients list before purchasing it. Those who do not suffer from sensitive skin are likely to enjoy this cleansing oil.

Available at: Jolse(cheapest) | Yesstyle | eBay

[REVIEW] MISSHA TIME REVOLUTION NIGHT REPAIR PROBIO AMPOULE

We all know how much I love Jolse and how incredible their deals are. I’ve been eying on this specific product since it released but wasn’t sure when I was going to buy it. Jolse kindly sent this product in exchange for a review and let me just say, this product really surprised me in a way where I didn’t expect it to. Sometimes products just don’t meet our expectations, here’s why!

Product Claims

This is an anti-aging ampoule that improves skin’s elasticity and also diminishing the appearance of fine lines while providing deep skin hydration, anti-aging benefits and also promotion skin radiance. This formula is gentle and can be used on sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

*bold = nice ingredients, italics = questionable, irritating ingredients
Bifida Ferment Lysate (>50%), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Water, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactococcus Ferment, Lactocaccus Ferment Lysate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Squalane, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA

My thoughts/ rant

There are a lot of fantastic ingredients such as niacinamide, fruit&veggie extracts, squalane, panthenol, Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, Ceramide and etc. I blindly chose this product to review for you all because I was very curious to know more about this line thus I wanted to see if I could find a dupe for any of the anti-aging high-end products I already own. I clearly did not read the ingredients list prior to choosing this so that was on me but I am curious to know how this would work on my skin.

Luckily, I did not break out or had any negative reactions to using this. That being said, as much as I wanted for this to work for me, it was a very meh kind of product. I don’t care if whether I had it in my routine or not. I saw a lot of positive reviews on this and was so excited to try it out but I’m not sure if these people were are reviewing the products are experiencing placebo effects or not because I too have experienced that with other products in the past. Regardless of the reason, I definitely wouldn’t repurchase this.

Rant: I’m not a fan when companies throw some crazy claims to upsell a product. First of all, that’s great that you have all these incredible claims of what the product can do, however, that being said, don’t say can be used all skin types/sensitive skin user-friendly because there are quite a few questionable ingredients in this product that are potential skin irritants.

Texture: 3/5 – It has a thick consistency to it but it breaks down nicely into the skin. The only thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the sheen in left behind on my skin. This is definitely more of an evening skincare product than morning because you will see a residue left behind on your face when using this. I would say the texture resembles a jelly sheet mask essence in a way, the consistency really reminds me of that.
Scent: 3/5 – I would say the scent is quite pleasant but that’s because there was a sneaky blend of essential oils in it, minus 2 points because of them and why they’re so high in the formulation. Preferably, I would have been okay if it was lower in the ingredients or even better, none. But it is what it is, my friends. I think what bothered me so much was that sensitive skin claim and seeing the ingredients list. Ideally, brands that market to sensitive skin types really needs to consider going fragrance-free all together.
Price: 4/5 – Pricing is okay, there’s a lot of product in here so you have a lot to work with.
Performance: 3/5 – Although this product was able to provide my skin hydration + nutrition, I wasn’t wowed by this and I’m also not convinced that it has effective anti-aging ingredients. Whereas the Klairs Midnight Blue Youth drops were way more effective and gave me faster results than this. Mind you, I’ve been using this for over 3 months now and the Klairs? only a month so the results and time usage speak for themself. Anyway, wasn’t too crazy about it. It’s not a bad product but if you’re curious about it, wait for a sale then get it. Jolse often has amazing sales between 20%-70% off.
Packaging: 3/5 – It’s so pretty! I was convinced that I had to get it because Missha is very well known for their time revolution line, especially for their first treatment essence that a lot of people cannot get enough of. To be quite frank with you, I wasn’t wowed by that product when I first used it but I will revisit it again because I do have a fresh bottle in my stash so stay tuned for a review on that. The dropper is kind of bad, it doesn’t always grab enough or any product so that really sucks.

Available: eBay | Jolse | Yesstyle

HOW TO USE: A BEAUTY SPONGE

I’m sure you read the title and you probably got confused because it’s such a straight forward thing and most people use them specifically to apply liquid/cream foundation on. What if I told you there are other ways to use your beauty sponges as well? You don’t need to have the original beauty blender, there are blend of dupes out there that are just as great such as the QUO, Shop Miss A, eco tools, Real Techniques, and etc ones. Listen, if you love your makeup brushes, continue to use them. I’m just sharing my opinion and experiences with using a beauty sponge and how it’s worked for me!

Products you can use:

Powder: Yes, you can apply on powder using your beauty sponge. For this method, it doesn’t need to be wet because you’ll be doing the complete opposite of what you’re trying to achieve, a more matte appearance. Use a dry beauty sponge and apply a generous amount of powder onto it whether pressed or loose and apply the product directly onto your face. You’ll be surprised how effective this is and how even the application is compared to a brush application. I’m not too fond of using makeup brushes because they have a very splotchy application, you’ll have some oily regions and some matte, which is not a cute look. Don’t be afraid to come back in with a beauty sponge for touchups. Some of us get oilier than others and it’s fine to go back in to smoothen your skin’s appearance.

Cream blush: Who said beauty sponges were limited to one kind of product? I wear a ton of cream blushes and some can be more challenging to apply than others. Now, the best technique I like for cream blushes is usually using the warmth of my fingers and warming up the product so it blends easily but you can also use a sponge for more an even application. Apply a small amount of the cream blush and dot it on your face then use the sponge to blend.

Concealer: Whether it’s liquid or cream, application with a beauty sponge is most ideal with this step because the application is not only the easiest (user-friendly) but best. I absolutely hate brush applications with concealers and find it a very old school. Brush application often comes off as harsh and does not evenly distribute product out, it often emphasizes lines around the face because there’s just too much product there. Nobody wants a cakey, crepey looking concealer.

Liquid Highlighter: I don’t care what people say, liquid highlighter is definitely for more intermediate makeup users because it’s not as forgiving as a powder highlighter, if you apply too much, you’re likely going to end up looking like the tin man. The trick for a beautifully distributed, beaming highlight look is to dot a tiny amount of product on both cheeks and use your damp beauty blender to soften the look and blend. You can use your beauty blender dry for this however I find damp beauty blenders help melt the product better into the skin for a seamless beaming look.

Other ways you can use your sponge:

Makeup mistakes

We are all guilty for making small to big mistakes, no one’s really off the hook here. Even the most professional MUAs make mistakes because that’s how we learn and maybe we’re just having a bad makeup day. Eyeliner seems to be the most common thing to mess up because you can be a pro but if you wing it out too far, it’s too thick or it’s lopsided/doesn’t match the other eye, then you’ll need makeup remover to fix it. Once you remove the error, use your beauty sponge with the remaining product from the foundation and apply it to the area that doesn’t have makeup. It’ll save you a lot more time than going back with a “precise concealer” brush because sometimes it looks super obvious or we apply way too much product to conceal that specific region.

Cleaning

You don’t need to buy those beauty blenders solid soap cleaners to clean your beauty sponge. All you really need is a good cleansing oil. Yes! You can use this to remove your makeup off of your face and also your makeup sponge. You’ll also notice you’ll waste less product because you only need a small amount of cleansing oil to thoroughly clean your sponges. The one I enjoy using is the Fourth Ray BFD Cleansing oil and it’s amazing for removing off my waterproof eye makeup gently.

I hope these tips helped you and hope you get more use out of your beauty sponges! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions.

PRODUCT FLOPS: CHAPTER 3

You win some, you lose some; what can you do right? It’s been a long while since I’ve done these and just so you know, I came across a lot of mediocre, fail products but I just didn’t really care enough to announce them until now. I think I have a good amount of products to share with you that just didn’t work out. Nothing against these brands, some things just don’t out as plan or work the way we want them to.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask

I’ve tried time overtime to make this sleeping mask work for me, I really wanted to enjoy this. Don’t get me wrong, I love their other products such as their watermelon mist, pineapple-c serum, avocado sleeping mask, and blueberry cleanser but this, this was not a hit for me. No matter how thick or thin I applied this on my face, it would just pill on me. Whether I had skincare underneath or no skincare, I had the same issues. I’ve tried really hard to make this sleeping mask work for me and it just wouldn’t.

Etude House Double Lasting Serum Foundation

I used this foundation a handful of times and every time I was left disappointed. Not only it separated on my skin, but it also made my skin appear extremely oily. Somehow it clung onto dry patches and leaving a layer of grease on my skin, not sure what to think of this. Perhaps I got a dud, perhaps I didn’t shake it hard enough for the serum to mix well with the foundation. I know what dewy looks like and this ain’t it. Luckily, I got this from PR because I would have been annoyed spending 20 bucks on it and just have to throw it away. I ended up giving this to my friend and she said it works for her dry skin so yay.

Farmacy Honey Potion

You may have seen this on my Instagram feed a while ago and I liked it but maybe it was all placebo. Sure, it gave my skin that warming sensation but I didn’t really feel a significant difference when removing it off my skin. I think I just liked how it was warming and it didn’t irritate my skin. It’s quite overpriced if you ask me and I don’t think I should have gotten it in the first place. I should have gotten the smaller size and tried it prior to getting the medium size. I did like the packaging for its magnetic lid and spatula but other than that, there are better honey masks out there, such as the Naisture – honey honey mask and also the “I’m from – honey mask”.

RiRe Liquid Eyeshadow

This is a small Korean brand and I got one of their liquid shadows from a Joah box and let me tell you, it was the chunkiest glitter shadow I have ever seen in my life. It’s definitely not eye-safe and I don’t even know why these brand develops these glitter products without being mindful of the environment and also user’s health. I swatched a tiny bit of this on my hand and it instantly turned red without me putting any pressure during the application. Could you imagine if I put it on my lids? It would have been over for my eyelids. You want a good liquid shadow, try Peripera – they’re just as good as the Stila liquid shadows but a fraction of the cost.

It’s Skin Tiger Cica Calming Serum

It’s funny that I’m mentioning this because I had a huge obsession for It’s Skin products and the more I learned about the ingredients and the more I understood what works for my skin and what doesn’t. I have dehydrated skin issues so gel creams are not ideal for my skin type because they don’t serve that much purpose for me. During summer, I tend to use them the most but other seasons? no. This particular serum is a gel-based serum and it just does absolutely nothing for me. Sure, it might be a TINY bit hydrating but nothing more than that and it kind of just forms a film on top of my skin doing absolutely nothing. I think I’ve “graduated” from using It’s Skin skincare. I still enjoy their power 10 ampoules and hand creams but other than that, I don’t think they really interest me as much as they did when I was a lot younger. You know when you have certain phases in your life and you’re over it to move onto the next big thing? yeah, that’s how I feel about their products.

Colourpop Pretty Fresh Tinted Moisturizer

Why? This isn’t the worst product I’ve tried however that being said, why is so overhyped? I don’t understand why this is so hyped up. It’s a very underwhelming product, you won’t get that glow as promised. Also, it’s not that hydrating nor has tinted moisturizer coverage. It’s pretty full coverage for a tinted moisturizer and just doesn’t really match the name of it. I purchased this myself and I am a fan of Colourpop products but this one was probably not as good as a drugstore foundation and you guys who have followed me from time would know I don’t like drugstore foundations that much. I mean, I have a lot of product left so I’m contemplating to use it up or forward to someone who may like it.

I Dew Care Plush Party Lip Sleeping Mask

Their packaging is so stinking cute and I had so many hopes for this little guy. It burned my lips like no other, I was in shock because I was hoping it to be similar to maybe the Laneige lip sleeping mask but for a fraction of the cost. You know when a product burns your skin on the surface you feel it, right? This product penetrated into my lips and burned it on the inside. How is that even possible? Luckily I didn’t have an “allergic reaction” to this where it could have been swollen but I did, however, have that burning sensation and it was ongoing for a good hour before it went away. Concerning and a big nope for me, I’m SuRpRiSeD by the amount of “positive” reviews on Instagram about this specific product. Anyway, I did repurpose the container and I put some vaseline in it instead.

The Saem ICELAND Hydrating Toner

Oh man, where do I even start with this? The first thing you’ll notice is it’s the heavy fragrance the moment you open it. Not to mention it was very drying on the skin, it was far from hydrating. It also left an unnecessary strange slight tack to the skin, which I did not appreciate. I’m not sure why The Saem thinks it’s a brilliant idea to pour a bottle of perfume in their products. I said this once, I will say it again. Skincare doesn’t need to smell good, it just needs to work. It’s as easy as that but to some brands, they believe fragrances make a product more attractive. It might attract certain consumers but fragrance is a very irritating to the skin.

Glowhill (In General)

They gifted me their products and I was so excited to try their products when I first got the PR package. I want to share that just because a product looks pretty and cute, doesn’t mean it will work on your skin. I should have known these would bad news the moment I opened their peel-off masks. Peel-off masks are extremely harsh on the skin because think about it, it dries on top of your skin and you’re peeling it off and sometimes, it really hurts when you peel it off. Anyway, this was heavily fragranced as well so I don’t know why I thought it was a great idea to apply it all over my face. I left this mask on then peeled it off, my skin was very red afterward. No surprise here because peel-off + fragranced, those are two red flags right there. Another concerning thing, there’s glitter in these masks. Why is there glitter in skincare? At first, I was attracted to the concept but the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s not as great as it seems. Roughly 2 days after, I got a giant pimple on my forehead and I’m 99.9% sure this triggered that because I don’t break out that easily and I’m pretty blessed with clear skin for the most part. It’s usually irritating products and poor diet that triggers my breakouts.

That’s it for now, friends. I know there were a lot of products I shared today that may or may not work for you but keep in mind, no two skin types are alike with one another. Be mindful of what you buy and use and also check the ingredients.

3 Easy Steps To Achieve Glowy Skin

I would like to confidently say that my skin’s overall appearance has tremendously changed for the better in the past 4 years of my skincare journey and a lot of what I did was trial and error and learn more about my skin. The biggest thing I want to share with you is to not follow other people’s routines step by step. If you’re interested in hearing more on my journey definitely check out this blog post I wrote early of last year.

Have a structure and elaborate skincare routine. Which means you don’t necessarily need 9 step routine. I personally can get away with a 6-7 step routine and it works for me. I don’t think it’s possible to achieve that skin glow with just 3 products (cleanse, tone, moisturize). I’ve tried this a handful of times and it just didn’t do enough for my skin. What I do is double cleanse, use a hydrating toner, brightening/resurfacing serum, hydrating serum, moisturizer, facial oil/sleeping pack. If your skin is moisturized, it will reflect that. If your skin is dry and dull, that means you’re not doing enough for it and you need to change up your routine. You also need to be consistent in order to see results, stopping/pausing on your skincare routine can potentially change the outcome for your skin.
Exfoliate, this is obvious but it also is very tricky. Many people including myself have exfoliated in the past and it can truly compromise your barrier and cause irritating. My skin can only tolerate chemical exfoliators and I can only use them once a week. If I really need it then I’ll exfoliate once more at the end of the week. The exfoliator I’ve been using a ton is the Paula’s Choice BHA Solution.
For makeup users: Choose radiant, illuminating makeup rather than opting for matte. When you use matte products, you’re doing the complete opposite of what you want to achieve. For oily skin babes, you need to be aware that when using illuminating products, you will likely need to touch up and blot more. I prefer using bb creams with dewy finishes, cream blushes, soft highlighters and tinted lip glosses/balms. I’ve been using a lot of illuminating bases lately and the one I’ve been adoring and I find very comparable to the Mac Strobe Cream but for a fraction of the cost has to be the Peach-C Peach Glow Base Cream.

I hope that was straight for you and helped you get a better idea of how to achieve that skin glow. Have yourself a wonderful week and good luck on your skin glow journey!