Beauty Favorites for the month of June 2016

Hello guys! I know this is a super late post but I've been contemplating on whether or not to continue my favorites for each month. I wanted to post this earlier but this was the only time that I had to gather what I used the most last month. Without further a do, here are my favorites for the month of June. 

1. Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer in 05 Warm Beige - I have been hearing a lot of good reviews from a lot of beauty bloggers and beauty influencers and I joined the bandwagon. This is one of the best foundations I have tried to date. Best part is, it is from the drugstore. It gives you full coverage and it doesn't cake plus this is only PHP500 (US$10). 

2. The Face Shop Soul Perfume - we went to Seoul, South Korea last April and of course, I spent most of my stay there at Myeongdong. I saw this perfume at the Face Shop boutique. It was love at first smell. At first I was hesitant to buy it because it wasn't my usual go-to scent. I'm more of a fruity vanilla person than a flowery Titas of Manila scent lol (if you know what I mean). It's kind of the second one but it smells so good. Plus, this is only Limited in Seoul. Too bad, TFS doesn't carry it here in Manila and I'm almost out of it. If I remember it correctly, it retails for KRW14,000 or US$14. 

3. Coty Airspun in Translucent - this is one of my go-to powders for baking. It is heaven but the scent is awful lol it reminds me of my grandma. Anyways, as I said earlier, this is good for baking your makeup. It also is a drugstore product. I bought mine for PHP500 I think or PHP400. More or less that range. 

3. Ofra x MannyMua in ARIES - this was the first liquid lipstick I tested again after a long time of not using liquid lipsticks. I fell in love with the formula. It's non-drying and the shade is great. It's also cheaper than other brands in the market. I got mine for PHP800. Roughly around US$17. 

MISSHA Swisspure x Le Petit Prince BB Cream

Hello lovely ladies! I am back with another review, this time it's from the Korean brand Swisspure and I will be reviewing the Limited Edition Le Petit Prince Compact Case. 

I received my package from one of the online sellers yesterday and I decided to give this cushion a review. I think this is the second time that I'll be reviewing a Cushion foundation (the first one was the Peripera Cushion foundation). 

The first time I saw this product, I told myself I need it in my life! I grew up reading The Little Prince as a part of our Reading class. It was one of those stories that I cannot forget because of the lessons it gave. Anyways, that being said, I immediately bought it when I saw someone was selling it. 

Packaging

It comes inside a pinkish-white box with the little prince design on it. Take note that it doesn't have any extra refill nor extra powder puff included (most Korean cushions include extra refill and puff as part of their promotion) 

Packaging is very straight forward. It has a pinkish-white color plastic cushion case with a little prince design imprint.

 What I like about the packaging though is that you can remove the foundation compartment. Meaning, once the foundation is finish, you can just buy a refill. Unlike the Peripera Frozen Cushion where there is no removable cushion compartment. 

The puff also has the little prince imprint on it, which is cute :) 

Claims

I needed to research on the product because everything on the packaging is written in Korean. It says in the website that it is for brightening, wrinkle care and for sunblock. Non-darkening, non-smearing, long lasting and it has a magic coverage. It also claims to have a soothing, firming and moisturizing effect. 

Ingredients 

Argan Oil, Witch Hazel and 34% Water 

Testing out the product

This is my bare face without any primer nor moisturizer 

You can see I have dark circles and some dark spots over my cheeks. Just to give you a background, I have normal to dry skin. I am NC 35 but sometimes lighter shades like NC 20 works for me. Korean cushion foundations usually cater to lighter skin tones. 

Here is the end result, using the Cushion Foundation 

As you can see, it actually covered the dark spots and gave a dewy finish. I like the coverage. It's not patchy and it applies evenly. The product also doesn't emphasize fine lines which is a plus for me. 

Pros 

- has a nice dewy finish (great for those who have dry skin) 

- covers dark spots and blemishes 

- applies evenly 

- affordable (only PHP800 or US$17) 

Neutral 

- has a scent but it doesn't bother me 

- lasts for 3 to 4 hours which is okay because it's really humid here in Manila

Cons

- hard to find 

- doesn't have a refill 

- doesn't have any extra puff 

Product Rundown

Name: MISSHA Swisspure Cushion Foundation Limited Edition design Le Petit Prince

Price: PHP800 or US$17 

Where to buy: Korean Online Stores 

Shades: 21 and 23 

What's New: Holika Holika X Gudetama

Hello loves! I am back again! I'm here to update you on what is new with Korean Beauty Brands. 

Disclaimer: I bought the products with my own money. There is no affiliation or sponsorship happening between myself or the brand that I am reviewing. 

(Photo from Holika Holika) 

Holika Holika recently tied-up with Sanrio to bring the lovable egg Gudetama to our beauty products. 

(Photo from Holika Holika) 

A seller who has some connections in Korea recently had a pre-order for the Rilakkuma x A'pieu collection and I asked if I can pre-order the Holika Holika x Gudetama collection. 

I only bought the Character Face Mask and the cream blush. 

Korean Skincare: Dewytree Aqua Keeper Panda Mask

Hello loves! I am back with another review. This time it is from the brand Dewytree. The product that I am reviewing is the Aqua Keeper Panda Mask.

Disclaimer: I bought this item for the purpose of researching the best skincare products. This is not sponsored in any way. 

I was looking at my box of goodies from Malaysia and while looking, I discovered I had a stash of skincare products that I haven't used yet. I saw this cute looking Panda mask. I remember buying it because a few years back, character masks were so popular in Korea. Up until now, it is still popular. I have more character mask reviews in the coming days. 

The back of the package have some English translation on how to use it. It also has a straightforward picture on the steps. 

How to use: 

1) After cleansing soothe your face with toner 

2) Take the mask out of the package, place mask on face, positioning it carefully around the eyes 

3) Rest for about 15-20 minutes and remove the mask 

4) Let the skin absorb the remaining essence by gently patting gently on the skin. 

This is how it looks like on my face 

Hahaha :) it's really fun to use and it's filled with hydrating essence which is good for my skin because I'm Normal to Dry. 

Pros

- does what it claims 

- it didn't break me out and it doesn't few itchy on the skin 

Neutral

- it has a scent but it doesn't bother me 

Cons

- a little pricey. I think I paid US$11 for this pack alone. Most mask sheets are only $0.80 per piece

- not reaadily available in the market. You need to purchase it overseas and have it shipped

Would I recommend it to others? 

Yes :) 

Would I repurchase?

Yes if I go back to Korea or if I get to order it from my supplier. 

Product Rundown

Product Brand: Dewytree

Product Name: Aqua Keeper Panda Mask 

Nature of product: Skincare 

Price: US$11

Where to buy: TesterKorea 

Holika Holika 3 Step Pig-nose Clear Blackhead

Hello my loves! I am back again with another review. This time it's from the brand Holika Holika. 

Disclaimer: This product was bought with my own money for the purpose of research. This was not sponsored in any way. I'll always try my best to give the best unbiased review in my blog. 

Anyway, I bought this from my favorite Korean Cosmetic supplier Ji Yuri. She had a flash sale a couple of days ago and I've decided to dive in and try it. 

What it is

This is a 3 step Pore Strip pack. It cleans your skin with impurities such as black heads and white heads. 

How to use it

Steps are pretty simple although everything is written in Korean language so I cannot decipher what it actually says but basically just do all 3. 

First step: Use the first pack which is like an essence that will open your pores and make your pores open so that the impurities can be easily removed. 

That is how it looks like. You need to leave it on your skin for at least 15 mins. 

So after 15 minutes, you go to step two. 

Step Two: The second step is using the actual pore strip that removes the impurities. You need to wet your nose first before putting on the second strip. If your nose isn't wet, the strip would not adhere. You need to leave it on your nose for another 15 minutes. 

**WARNING*** 

Gross picture ahead

After 15 minutes (30 minutes total including the 1st step) this is what my strip looked like

It did remove a lot of black heads and white heads. 

Afterwards, you need to do the last step 

Step 3: Use the last pore strip to soothe your nose. Basically, it's like the healing step of the 3. 

Pros 

- easily available in the market (there's a Holika Holika kiosk in Watsons) 

- you can also buy it online 

- it does the job 

Neutral 

- it can be a little messy to do 

Cons 

- a little bit more expensive than the usual pore strips available 

Would i recommend it to others?

Yes definitely

Would you buy it again?

Yes, I would repurchase 

Product Name: Holika Holika 3 Step Pig-nose Clear Blackhead 

Price: I bought it for PHP80 from Ji Yuri 

Where to Buy: Watsons, Online Shops 

Banila Co. Clean It Zero

I am back with another review! This time it's from the Korean Brand Banila Co. The product that I'm reviewing is their best selling product which is the Clean It Zero. 

Disclaimer: I bought the product with my own money for the purpose of research. Nothing here is sponsored. 

Banila Co. is one of those Korean brands that is popular around the world. In fact, it already has its own physical kiosk here in Manila. Everyone in the beauty sphere has been raving about this product and I finally had the opportunity to try it. 

I was able to buy a sample size of it from my favorite Korean Cosmetic supplier Ji Yuri. Best part of it is that I only paid PHP40 / US$0.85 per tub. She only had the pink tub available which is suitable for those who have normal skin. 

Claims

It claims to instantly removes makeup. It also claims to be an exfoliator and it breaks down dead skin cells. 

Product Ingredients

-Papaya extract

-Acerola Extract 

Usage 

Take a small amount and massage gently on to the skin. Rinse with lukewarm water or use facial tissue to wipe off the balm. 

Verdict:

I really like the product. It's easy to use and it does the claims. It doesn't leave any residue on your face. It is better used with lukewarm water then rinse it than using with a facial tissue.

Pros

-Easy to use 

- readily available at Banila Co. (It has a physical store in Landmark, Trinoma) 

- price is on point and worth the money

- It is also available world wide via other websites like TesterKorea 

Neutral 

- it has a very flowery spring scent. It smells really good but I know not every one likes scented products 

Cons

- none I can think of 

Would i repurchase it?

Yes, definitely. It's a must-have. I am planning to buy the full-size product next time. 

Would i recommend it to others?

Yes! Specially to those who have sensitive skin. 

Product Rundown

Product Name: Banila Co Clean It Zero 

Where to Buy: Banila Co Trinoma, AltheaKorea, TesterKorea, or from sis Ji Yuri if you live in the Philippines 

Price: PHP1,040 or US$22.12 (100 g/full size) I bought the sample size for PHP40 or US$0.83 per tub 

Variety: I bought the pink one which is for Normal skin, there are 3 more varieties. 

First Impression: A'pieu Air Fit Nude Foundation

Hello Guys! I am back with another review. This time, I'll be reviewing a product from the Korean brand A'pieu. The product that I'll be reviewing is the A'pieu Air Fit Nude Foundation. 

Disclaimer: This product was not sponsored in any way. This was bought by me for the purpose of research.

 

As you can guess, aside from looking into liquid lipsticks, I have been on the hunt for the perfect foundation. For the months of June and July alone, I think I already have bought 5 to 6 liquid foundations. 

Packaging 

- Packaging of the product is simple. Product is inside a plastic cylinder with a dropper top. It contains 18g of product which is equivalent to only 0.60 FL.OZ.  It's not the standard amount since you get 1 FL OZ/30 ML for a standard liquid foundation. 

Product Materials

Since I cannot read Korean language, I opted to do a little research of the elements that make the foundation and I found out that it contains mineral water, water essence, plant oil, Apple mint extract and rose water plant extract. 

Claims

The product claims that it will give you a soft skin look, it will cover skin blemishes and will sooth your skin because of the aloe vera element. 

How to use

- Shake Well 

- Use puff or hands and apply gently on the skin. 

This is how it looked like when I applied it on my face. 

A little bit of background

I have normal to dry skin. I'm NC35. Korean foundations usually have 2 shades (no.21 and no.23). I choose shade 23 because it's darker than 21. 

As you can see, it did some color correction and covered some of the dark spots on my skin. It gave a dewy finish on my skin which is a plus for me. It also doesn't have a flash back when taking pictures which is another plus. Though being nc35, the shade looks a little bit light. Although I have noticed that it is a trend in Korea that their foundation doesn't really match their skin tone. 

Pros 

- lightweight foundation 

- dewy finish 

- no harmful ingredients 

- has soothing factor 

- covers dark spots and blemishes 

- travel size 

- you only need a few drops to get full-coverage 

- cheap compared to other makeup brands 

Neutral 

- has a scent but it begins to diminish once applied on the skin 

- product amount is small but I think size doesn't matter because a small amount will give you enough coverage 

Cons

- only has 2 shades (no.21 and no.23), not suitable for women of color 

- not readily available in the Philippine Market (no physical store unlike Etude House, Tony Moly, Banila Co., etc.) 

- if you do not do proper hydration (toner, Essence, serum, primer) prior to putting on the foundation, it would look patchy 

- dries up fast, you need to work fast in blending the product, I find using the brush and then working with a beauty blender better than using your hands. 

Would i repurchase it? 

I probably will repurchase for back-up. I like the foundation although it's a bit too light for me

Would I recommend it to others? 

Yes! Highly recommend it to those who have normal to dry skin. Even those with oily skin because when it dries, it kinda dries with a powdery texture and it sticks to your face. Plus it has a luminous effect. 

Product Rundown

Product Name: A'pieu Air Fit Nude Foundation 

Price: PHP282 or US$6 

Where to Buy: if you live outside South Korea, you can buy it from TesterKorea or Korean Depart 

If you live in the Philippines, you can get it from Yuri Ji of Korean Cosmetics Supplier PHILIPPINES 

Shades: Shade 21 (Light) Shade 23 (Light Beige)