Category: Tips&Tricks

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.

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.

  1. 77293539_101654354616711_1151606044287548865_nHave 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.
  2. 75372329_187920119034779_1830205886427121355_nExfoliate, 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.

  3. 69657388_911318092538608_3428025595428448619_nFor 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!

 

 

KLAIRS MIDNIGHT BLUE YOUTH ACTIVATING SERUM &VITAMIN FRESHLY JUICED DROP SERUM

Good Morning, my friends! I hope you’re all having a fantastic 2020 so far. Laura from Lifestyle Magazine reached out to me and offered me a wonderful product set that Wishtrend has and it’s called the 2 Step Recovery Set. This set includes the freshly juiced vitamin drop serum and the midnight blue youth activating drops.

 

Product Claims

  • EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1) and bFGF (sh-Polypeptide-1)The body itself produced substances called EGF and bFGF. Both ingredients are key factors that keep the outer and inner parts of the skin firm and smooth and are crucial in the skin’s elasticity, gloss, and skin tone.

Ingredients: 

sh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Angustifolium Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Guaiazulene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine

My thoughts

I’ve been using this serum for about a month now and I see a significant difference in my overall skin texture and appearance. When using this serum, I noticed that my skin was a lot smoother to the touch and also my smile lines and the wrinkles on my under eye appeared less prominent. I’m in my mid-20s and although my lines are not easily noticeable, I do see them developing. I do recommend this for those who are in their early 20s because I think early prevention is key. I mean, why wait till it happens when you can take action now to protect your skin. I have a few scars from picking my pimples and I noticed they appeared a lot more light when using this.

  • Texture: 4/5 – Is really runny and can be challenging to work with if you’re one of those people who like to apply product straight from the applicator to the face. Ideally, you should mix a couple of drops in your moisturizer then apply throughout the face. This is the easiest way of application.
  • Scent: 5/5 – There is no scent to this, which is excellent for those who have sensitive skin.
  • Price: 4/5 – This is kind of expensive, it retails for about 38 CAD for 20ml of product. I do however think it is worth it for the price because how gentle it was on my skin and I noticed a huge difference in my overall skin appearance and texture.
  • Performance: 5/5 – It did exactly what I expected it to do and works amazingly with other products. One of my biggest fear of serums is that they are not compatible with my other skincare products. I personally found this worked wonderfully with my existing skincare routine.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – Great. The dropper is fantastic and works nicely; it’s really easy to control dispensing out the desired amount of product.
  • Overall: 5/5 – I like it! I’m going to repurchase this and I would recommend this to anyone whose looking for a mild and gentle anti-aging product.

Product Claims

  • Energize + Rejuvenate Skin with highly concentrated, non-irritating and sustainable Vitamin C
  • Excellent for all skin types
  • Brightens complexion, hydrates, balances and refines skin
  • Free of alcohol, parabens, and eco-friendly + cruelty-free

Ingredients: 

Water, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid(5%, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Illicium Verum(Anise) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi(Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Orange Oil Brazil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Asarum Sieboldi Root Extract, Quercus Mongolia Leaf Extract, Persicaria Hydropiper Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, SH-Olgopeptide-1, SH-Olgopeptide-2, SH-Polypeptide-1, SH-Polypeptide-9, SH-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol

My thoughts

This has to be one of the most effective Vitamin C products I have ever used and also really gentle on the skin, I personally did not experience any sensitivity from using this. Now that being said, the strange thing is the claim it’s for all skin types but I see a pesky Lavender oil right in the center of the ingredients list. As many of you may know, I’m not against artificial fragrance but I did, however, have some issues with essential oils. Essential oils have irritated my skin in the past so I like to precautions when using products with them. I’m actually quite surprised I didn’t have any irritation when using this because it’s so high up in the ingredients list. Most products I use have a very low dosage of it and usually appear near the bottom of the ingredients list. I cannot say I would recommend this for those who have extremely sensitive skin for both artificial and natural fragrances however I can say those of you who are not sensitive to fragrance and are looking for a fantastic brightening product, definitely check this out. I’ve used this 3 times in the past and I came back to this because I knew it would work for me and it still does!

  • Texture: 5/5 – it has a lovely dry oil-like feel and can be applied directly onto the skin or mixed in with other products during application. If you’re scared of it being sensitizing/too strong for your skin, mix this in with a moisturizer to dilute the product then apply.
  • Scent: 4/5 – Almost has no scent to it, it has a super faint scent but it quickly goes away. Minus 1 point for the 2 essential oils. Skincare doesn’t need to smell good, it just needs to work.
  • Price: 5/5 – Pretty reasonable pricing if you ask me. One of these takes me about several months to finish and you don’t need a lot of the product.
  • Performance: 5/5 – Works like a charm, I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a nice brightening product because this is really effective and gentle on the skin. You shouldn’t have any burning or warming feel when using this.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – It’s straight forward, the packaging is attractive. The dropper works really nicely and I’m glad they chose a very stable Vitamin C. Initially, when I first tried this years ago, I was kind of nervous that it would oxidize because a lot of my Vitamin C products don’t last beyond 1-2 months. This actually lasts for a while, I personally didn’t see any oxidizing until 8-9 months down the road, which is fantastic. Even though this has stabilized Vitamin C in it, I still would suggest you store this in a cool, dark place to ensure the product does not oxidize.

Thank you Soak Lifestyle & Wishtrend for this wonderful collaboration and amazing set. I hope you guys give these products a try and please share with me how they worked for you.

Available on: Wishtrend
Use Code: 37F5B97C and get 10% off your purchase.

 

[REVIEW] LANEIGE LIP SLEEPING MASK

If you haven’t heard about this product or even seen once in your life, you’re most certainly living under a rock; This is an extremely popular item and favored by many for very good reason it is. It comes in a good range of scents and can be used whenever. Notice the name is lip sleeping mask rather than lip treatment or care, that’s because this was formulated to intensively moisturize and aid your lips overnight. I, on the other hand, use this pretty much all day, every day. Don’t be fooled by the size of the tub, this will last you at least a year with continuous use so don’t start hoarding these because they do go bad like any other cosmetic/skincare product.

Claims

  • Lip Sleeping Mask has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips for quick absorption. Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants, its Berry Mix Complex™ offers a nutritiously sweet and fragrant blend of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry extracts to indulge the senses. Its exclusive Moisture Wrap™ technology boasts hyaluronic acid and minerals to form a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture and active ingredients. A generous layer of this soothing mask at bedtime helps reduce flakiness so you can wake up to lips that feel refreshed, supple, and soft to the touch.
  • Moisture Wrap™ Technology: Features a mineral network of moisture-rich beta-glucan to form an eight-hour time-release moisturizing layer over the skin; seals in active ingredients and mineral water.
  • Berry Mix Complex™: Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants from a nutritious blend of raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, goji berries, and blueberries to soothe and soften, revealing smooth, supple lips.

Full List Of Ingredients

Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl / Isostearyl / Cetyl / Stearyl / Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax / Cera Microcristallina / Cire Microcristalline, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Synthetic Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax / Candelilla Cera / Cire de Candelilla, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Butylene / Ethylene / Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene / Propylene / Styrene Copolymer, Mica (CI 77019), Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Dimethicone, Fragrance / Parfum, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax / Cera Carnauba / Cire de Carnauba, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 6 (CI 15850), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Water, Potassium Alginate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside.

How to use:

With a clean disposable spatula/applicator or q-tip, get a dot size amount of product and apply on lips evenly. Apply product in small, thin layers and layer on more as needed.

My Thoughts & Ramblings

I’m sure most of us know how important lip care is, there were a time and place where I didn’t believe in it. In fact, I hated the feeling of lip products coming in contact on my lips; Lipsticks, lipgloss, lip stains, treatments, you name it. Roughly 4 winters ago, that was when things took a big turn and it really opened my eyes to care for my lips a lot more. I had a really bad case of dried, cracked lips and it was to the point where I was pretty much bleeding. Lip care is crucial, my friends and we have to care for them as we do for our skin, hair and etc.

I discovered this product by watching a lot of youtube videos and I purchased my first one at Sephora. Please don’t buy k-beauty products from Sephora unless you have no access to purchasing things online because they have very marked-up prices and you can find Laneige products elsewhere online for a fraction of their price. I’ll be listing the places where you can purchase this at the bottom of this post. Anyway, back onto how this helped me. I had one of the worst cases of bleeding lips and you can physically see the skin of lips peeling, no product I put ontop could conceal this. I used this sleeping mask continuously for 2 whole days and let me tell you, how much of a huge difference it made for my lips. Firstly, my lips started to recover and gradually look better than before and I love how lightweight this formula is on the lips. You don’t need to slather a thick layer of this for it to work, you can apply thin layers and it glides on the lips effortlessly.

Overall

  • Texture: 5/5 – Comfortable to wear and during the application, it feels like the product melts right into the lips. The texture is a really smooth, buttery, rich balm consistency.
  • Scent: 5/5 – I’ve only tried the berry, green apple + lime, and mint chocolate(limited edition) and I must say, my favourite scent has to be the apple+lime one. I enjoyed all the scents I own however, I find myself reaching for the apple+lime one a ton.
  • Price: 5/5 – The price is so affordable on Yesstyle and eBay, I don’t understand why Sephora’s pricing is ridiculously high. Nonetheless, there is a lot of product inside so you do get the bang for your buck.
  • Performance: 5/5 – Amazing! I have zero complaints about this. It’s super effective and recovered my damaged lips. It’s actually my holy grail lip product that I cannot live without; I bring this everywhere with me – to work, going out, sleepovers and etc. It’s a staple product of mine.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – It’s really cute, I love the frosted plastic packaging – it gives the product that expensive appearance to it and it’s super easy to use. Each of these, do come with an applicator, however, I keep misplacing mine for whatever reason so I use a fresh q-tip every time I use this.
  • Overall: 5/5 – What are you waiting for? If you don’t own this already, hop on it. This is a lip savior and works amazing. I’ve never tried a lip balm or treatment that is anything like this. I’m very pleased with this product and happy to see many enjoy it as much as I do. I’ll help you out by sharing some affordable and reliable websites you can buy this from. I repeat, do not buy this at Sephora unless you want to pay double the price for this because it’s $24 CAD at Sephora while you can get this at Yesstyle for only $16.74 CAD and you can get % off your purchase if you use my code DORKIE1.

Available on: eBay (Cheapest) |Jolse | StyleKorean | Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

STYLEVANA |Affordable K-Beauty Shop

The holidays are right by the corner and I know how stressful it is finding the perfect gift for your loved one. Fear not, I’m always here to lend a helping hand during a stressful time. StyleVana teamed up with me in perfect timing before the holidays and were kind enough to send over 3 beautiful skincare products to share with you all and you just might be interested in picking these up for yourself or loved ones. Let’s hop into it!

DSC_4434

Who is StyleVana?

There are so many online shops and it can get really overwhelming finding the perfect shop that provides timely shipping, quality customer service and also affordable prices; StyleVana is guaranteed to provide you excellent service every time. They are based in Hong Kong and ship all parcels through DHL. StyleVana sells a wide range of beauty and skincare products from Taiwanese, Japanese and even Korean beauty. Their deals are incredible and probably one of the cheapest I’ve seen so far. Did you know they also sell clothes and accessories as well?

DSC_4432.JPGShipping details – How fast is shipping, customs and etc.

I can only speak from my experience and my package got to me within a week, which is amazing because if anyone who lives in Canada, knows how difficult and slow Canadian customs can be with packages but they got to be quite fast. I was charged by Canadian customs for shipping and handling fees and StyleVana stepped in to reimburse my fees, which was very kind of them to do so. Also, I want to put it out there that they reimburse all orders that have custom fees however, you must send them a copy of your invoice as proof in order for you to get reimbursed so don’t throw away the invoice! Most companies won’t honor this so it’s fantastic to see that StyleVana truly cares about their customers and continues to provide excellent customer service.

In a hurry? They do offer express shipping via DHL for $10, this offer is only for the US only and is only available until December 19th.

Products I chose…

Cosrx Centella Cream 

This product is small but mighty, starting off the product showcase is the classic Cosrx Centella cream; this is a cult favourite product and for a very good reason. This cream is hydrating and creates a protective barrier to the skin while delivering active ingredients to promote and repair skin from irritation and blemishes. This formulated with Centella Asiatic Leaf Water for maximum hydration while calming down the skin. This product is suitable for all skin types and even, sensitive skin types because of how mild and gentle it is.  I specifically use this as a spot treatment throughout the face and I would use this continuously for a week and I will start to see results within the first 2 days of continuous use. This cream is an excellent product for those who have stubborn, inflamed breakouts that pimple patches cannot clear up on its own. The price may vary where you purchase this cream but StyleVana has by far the cheapest price I’ve seen so far. It’s currently only $14.69.
Available here

Tonymoly The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream

So there are several variations to this cream – there’s this one which is formulated for normal-combination skin types, the intense cream (dry) and gel cream (oily). This cream is formulated with pure fermented green tea extract, which is rich in antioxidants, it also provides intense hydration without being sticky or too heavy on the skin. There is over 63% of fermented green tea extract which allows the skin to retain moisture for long periods of time by forming a thin hydrating layer on dry skin. This moisturizer contains a fermented Korean green tea called ‘ChungTaeJeon’. This green tea has fermented through sunlight for over a year. This cream is made with quality ingredients to ensure maximized hydration to the skin. It’s currently only $10.59 on StyleVana.
Available here

Annie’s Way Hyaluronic Acid

Want to know the secret to a brighter complexion and having a spa-like experience? Boy, wouldn’t you like to know! Aside from using vitamin C based products to brighten the skin because it can be too strong for the skin, a great and effective alternative to that is treating your skin to a jelly mask! This mask is from the Taiwanese brand called “Annie’s Way” and has been around for over a decade now. It’s a very popular item in Asia for a good reason because of it’s lightweight, cooling gel mask texture and how relaxing it is to have on. Unlike some wash off masks that can be messy, this is mess and hassle-free. You only need a small amount of this slathered on the face and it works wonderfully. This mask is able to moisturize, firm skin while improving the appearance of the skin’s overall appearance and cleanses pores.
Available here

Buy More, Save More

If you buy 2+ more items, you will get an additional 2% off of your purchase.
If you buy 4+ more items, you will get an addition 4% off of your purchase.
If you buy 10+ more items, you will get an addition 12% off of your purchase.

Pretty much you buy more, you save more and they’re really generous with their discounts too.

If you’re shopping at StyleVana, please use my code DORK20 for a discount on your purchase. It will help you out to scoring a fantastic deal+save and also support me. Once again, thank you StyleVana for collaborating with me.

This post is an AD and I make a small commission every sale if you use my code on their website. All proceeds will help me out for my blog & Instagram to keep it running for me to continue to create content for you. I appreciate all of your support and cheers to Holiday Season! May 2020 be a wonderful and productive year for us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[REVIEW] PAPA RECIPE BOMBEE HONEY PUDDING CREAM

Honey, anyone? Papa recipe has one of my favourite sheet masks and I thought it would be nice to try out their skincare products to see how well it will perform on my skin. If you have used the Klairs Vitamin E Mask before, this texture will somewhat remind you of that. The differences I would say between the two are, this one is a lot denser, richer gelatinous texture whereas the Klairs is a lot lighter. I got this product at a whim because I was curious about it for a long time but never wanted to splurge on it so I got it with a coupon. In case you were interested in where I purchased this, I purchased this on Goryeo’s Cosmetic website. I would highly recommend you to check them out, they offer a nice variety of skincare and beauty products for a reasonable price, customer service is excellent and shipping was quite fast.

DSC_4383

Claims

  • Enriched with organic propolis and honey extract, making it intensively hydrates, replenishes and nourishes the skin.
  • It builds up a barrier against possible irritants for stronger, healthier skin, and also locks in moisture.
  • Its pudding texture enhances the moisturizing effect without generating heaviness or stickiness.
  • You can immediately see a healthy radiance and feels plump and silky smooth after application.
  • Moisturizing, nourishing, reduce wrinkles and tighten pores, enhance skin elasticity, protecting the skin, and use as a sleeping mask.

Key Ingredients

Honey Extract has a lot of moisturizing and antibacterial properties.

Propolis Extract is known for its healing, antiseptic and restorative capabilities. Propolis can also heal and calm skin. It also promotes cell growth, decongests pores, protects against bacteria and functions as a great anti-inflammatory agent.

Urea is often used as a medicated topical cream and is applied to the skin to treat against dryness and itching symptoms ex: psoriasis, dermatitis, or ichthyosis.

Lactic acid is specifically used to treat hyperpigmentation, age spots, and other factors that contribute to a dull and uneven complexion.

Papaya Extract makes an effective, nonabrasive exfoliant. An enzyme in the fruit, papain, helps to remove impurities and slough away dead skin cells.

Hyaluronic Acid is a very well-known and popular ingredient that has some great qualities and benefits such as it can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and also speed skin recovery. It also is fantastic for retaining moisture in the skin.

 

List of ingredients:

Water, glycereth-26, butylene glycol, peg-240/hdi copolymer bis-decyltetradeceth-20 ether, 1,2-hexanediol honey extract (10,000 ppm), phellinus linteus extract, caria papaya (papaya) fruit extract, propolis extract, hydrolyzed collagen, hydroxyethyl urea, polysorbate 80, arginine, ammonium lactate, usnea barbata (lichen) extract, urea, zanthoxylum piperitum fruit extract, carbomer, pulsatilla koreana extract, sodium hyaluronate, fragrance.

My Skin Type and concerns:

Combination | PIE | Congested | Dehydrated | (Occasionally) Sensitive

My thoughts & Ramblings:

There’s a really interesting blend of ingredients here, the ones that really stood out to me were honey extract, propolis extract, papaya extract, ammonium lactate (lactic acid) and urea. Honey & Propolis that heal the skin and are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. We also have AHAs that help exfoliates, improve overall skin tone and resurface the skin such as Papaya and Lactic Acid.

When I first applied this on my skin, the gelatinous texture broke down into a comfortable, cool gel-cream texture and I could physically feel my skin feeling a lot more hydrated when using this cream. I also noticed from using this cream continuously for 2 and half weeks, my skin significantly looks a lot brighter and even out.

I enjoyed this cream, I’m not quite sure if I would repurchase it because I have a lot of products to go through and this isn’t something I would label as my holy grail because I can live without this. It is a nice addition to your skincare routine if you suffer from dehydration, dry skin issues that you really want to fix, this will definitely help out with that and you’ll notice your skin is a lot more hydrated and even brightened from using this.

How to use:

They instruct to use this after cleansing and toning, however, I have an extensive skincare routine because my skin needs it and as much as I love the concept of a 3 step skincare routine, I can’t do it. I use this after I apply my serums then I sleep with it on. You can use this a day moisturizer and also a sleeping mask.

When scooping out product from the container, take a pea size amount and apply on the back of your hand and massage the product until it transforms into a gel-cream texture, do not apply this directly to your face, you will find yourself dropping the product everywhere.

ezgif.com-video-to-gif.gif

Overall

  • Texture: 4/5 – It’s oddly satisfying to look at but for me, the application process can be tricky for some so be sure to apply to on your hand and break down the product prior to applying directly on the face. Please reference the photos/gif to have a better understanding of why the texture was a bit strange for me. It leaves a protective coat/film behind the skin when trying to rinse off. I found my skin feeling a lot softer and hydrated. My skin is dehydrated and even more dry during winter so I would often have dry patches if I’m using a moisturizer that is not compatible or not giving me enough moisture but I didn’t have any issues with this and my skin looked really nice every time I used it.
  • Scent: 3/5 – I’m not crazy about honey scents because it smells “natural” and the smell does linger for a while before it goes away. I also do not like the fact they added fragrance because it’s so unnecessary and if I can have my skincare without any sort of fragrance, I would prefer that. Papa recipe, please consider making unscented products – it would be more ideal for “all skin types” because sensitive skin folks can use it too.
  • Price: 3.5/5 – Kind of pricey for what it is however it does work and if you like papa recipe, honey-based products, you definitely should give this a try.
  • Performance: 5/5 – Worked like a charm, my skin felt renewed, refreshed and a lot brighter which is always the goal for me. I love to brighten my skin and reduce the appearance of dullness.
  • Packaging: 5/5 – It’s cute. It functions fine and I like how they included a spatula to scoop out the product. It may look like honey but don’t fooled, it’s just a moisturizer. 🙂
  • Overall: 4/5 – Although it didn’t break me out and worked nicely – I like it but not enough for me to repurchase it because although texture may be important to some people, I just like a simple creamy moisturizer with no added fragrance to it. In case you’re interested in trying this, feel free to use code DORKIE1 when checking out on Yesstyle.

Available on: Goryeo | eBay | Amazon | Yesstyle

 

 

 

 

CYBER MONDAY GIFT GUIDE

Black Friday may have just past by but that doesn’t mean the party is over. Who wants to really go to physical stores and have to fight over the best deals when you can buy everything at home? That’s right, at home! Which means there will be a ton of deals online right now. Here are some products I think that would make great gifts and usually, during Black Fridays, there will be sitewide and store sales or specific door/site crasher deals; it really varies by store but hopefully you can snag these for a good deal.

Colourpop Super Shock Shadows

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These gems are so affordable as is but they can be even cheaper during their sales. Who doesn’t love a good bargain? I most certainly do. They come in a wide range of finishes from mattes to shimmers to glitters and even duo-chrome shades. I like how their products are extremely reasonable prices and sometimes even perform better than actual drugstore quality. If you’re interested in purchasing these or any colourpop, fourth ray or sol body product, definitely head over to their website right now because they have a 30% off sitewide deal. Click here!

 

 

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner (or the mist, or both)

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This bad boy has an amazing reputation because it has to be one of the most revolutionary products in K-beauty history. It’s essentially a toner that transforms into a liquid moisturizer. If you’re interested in hearing my full thoughts on this, please check my review here to see why it’s worth the hype and why it’s so good.

Available here: eBay (best price) | Yesstyle

 

 

Nails INC Polishes

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I think these would make amazing gifts for anyone who loves to paint their nails. I would honestly like to say that these are salon-quality kind of polishes because they don’t chip as easily and long-lasting. I’ve been using their nail polishes for many, many years and have really enjoyed them. They too, also come in different finishes where you can have glittery/shimmer, matte or duo-chrome finishes. The prices are pretty reasonable and I use the detachable silver cap allows my finger to rest as I apply the polish on for that finger. They often have duo sets for an amazing deal so you can always share a polish with a friend or keep it for yourself. I think these would be an amazing stock stuffer for anyone who loves high-quality nail polish. These are available at Sephora.

LANEIGE Kiss Me All Day Set

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These LANEIGE glowy lip balms make incredible stocking stuffers for Christmas, birthday gifts and etc because who can’t live without lip products? They are essentials and a really nice unisex gift. This set comes in the berry, pear and peach scent so a good variety of different scents. You can pretty much find these at a lot of online shops.

I hope these picks have helped you a bit in finding a nice gift for your loved ones or yourself! Please feel free to comment below what sort of content you would like to see from me and if you haven’t already, follow me on Instagram and check out my daily uploads.

Available here: Sephora

Well, that’s it for now, friends! Til next time. I hope these suggestions allowed you to find some awesome gifts for this holiday season and share them with your loved ones.