Hello, lovelies! It's been a while since I did Gel Nails, so I thought that I'd give it a go since I'm going to be learning how to do Acrylic Nails very soon. When I had my nails done in Seoul I went with a really pretty Purple Glitter Gradient design that I absolutely fell in love with, so I wanted to go with something similar. I got pretty close and I'm really happy with the result!

 

    

The nail polishes I used are IsaDora 104 Purple Crush & China Glaze 806 Techno. The nail polish is actually encapsulated under a layer of UV Gel, but I still felt like using the OPI Natural Nail Base Coat before the nail polish and also finished off with the OPI Top Coat on top of everything.

The IsaDora Purple Crush has been my favorite Nail Color for quite some time now. However, I really dislike the consistency and it is impossible to get off when I use it on my natural nails (even when I apply a base coat first). I'm starting to run out of it and I'm really hoping to find a similar color from another brand instead, so feel free to leave me a suggestion in the comments if you have one in mind. I'd really appreciate it!

Bye for now, lovelies!

[Review] Etude House Kissful Lipcare Scrub, Essence & Lip balm

Hello, lovelies! Since my lips got pretty dry when the weather got colder I wanted to get some actual lip care products; I've never put much effort into lip care except for using lip balm occasionally. I did some research on lip care products and I was trying to decide wether to get these products or some similar products form Tony Moly. After reading some reviews I found out that these products are supposedly pretty mild which I thought was perfect for me since I've never really had problems with my lips except for the slight dryness I get sometimes. The funny thing is that once I received these items my lips were already back to normal. However, I still want to start giving my lips some extra care even when they're not dry. With that said, let's take a closer look at these products.



Kissable Lip Smooth Care (Lip Scrub)
"This lip scrub makes lips soft and moist with its fine of sugar, smoothing away dead skin".

    

    

Texture & Scent
The texture is pretty watery with sugar grains in it. It's like a thinner, more watery version of vaseline. The grains are quite solid at first but dissolve very quickly when you massage it onto your lips. It has a delightful scent of peach.

    

This scrub is perfect if your lips only get slightly dry. I don't think that it will actually do much for very dry lips after just one use, but It might help in the long run. Even though the grains dissolve quickly I still feel like it exfoliates my lips properly without being too harsh or make my lips feel sensitive afterwards. It leaves my lips feeling very smooth.

Kissable Lip Moisture Care (Essence)
"Supplies deep penetrating moisture and nourishment for soft, supple and smooth lip sensation".

    

    

Texture & Scent
The texture is really creamy and smooth. I just love the feeling of it on my lips. This one also has a scent of peach, but it's more subtle than the scrub.

    

I use this every night before bed which makes my lips feel healthy and hydrated in the morning. For me, a regular lip balm is more than enough for me which makes this one feel a bit too heavy too heavy during daytime. If your lips are more on the dry side however, I would recommend to use it even during daytime. It really does feel like it goes deeply into the lips and locks in all the moisture. It definitely does what it claims!

Packaging & Container
The containers and design is very simple and cute; The overall impression it gives is that it looks kind of vintage. Both of the containers are regular, soft dispenser tubes with the images and information being stickers attached onto the tubes. The application tip is slanted and the lid is a regular screw-on lid. I really like that both of the containers are regular tubes which makes application easier. All of the containers in this series actually remind me a lot of the lip balms and lipglosses I used to have when I was a child. Like I mentioned, very vintage. I guess that they might have been aiming for this. I don't mind it, but the packaging and containers of the products from Etude House are usually more cute and impressive than this.

Kissful Lipcare #2 Strawberry
"3 effects (firming, smoothing, moisturizing) lip care that keeps lips moisturized and healthful all day".


This product is pretty much just like any lip balm, but a good one! I compared it to some of my other lip balms, and the texture is actually very similar to the popular EOS lip balm; It's very creamy and smooth. Even though I love my EOS lip balm, I actually prefer this one because I prefer the wonderful but temporary scent of strawberry, which disappears pretty much as soon as you've applied it, and it doesn't leave that bitter taste in case you get it in your mouth.

Unlike pot-type lip balms, a stick type lip balm like this is great to take with you during the day to give your lips that extra moisture whenever you need it since it is much more hygienic. It pretty much absorbs into your lips after an hour or so, and it leaves my lips feeling super smooth and moisturized without leaving them with an annoying sticky feeling.

I didn't bother to take any pictures while wearing it since it's completely clear and just looks just like you've applied any lip balm.

Results

This is what my bare lips look like after using these products for about a week. I didn't take a "before" photo since I didn't really have any problems to begin with, and there's actually no significant difference in their appearance. However, they do look a bit smoother than before and I can definitely feel a significant difference. They feel so much smoother, healthier and more moisturized than before.

I highly recommend all of these products to you who have slightly dry and/or sensitive lips. I'm not sure how effective it will be for those with really dry lips, but it's definitely worth a try since I do think that they will definitely give you some sort of improvement if you use them continuously. I think the key to improving dry lips is not only to exfoliate, but also to deeply moisturize them which is what the essence does.

Thank you for reading this review! Make sure to check out my other reviews for more beauty products.

Bye for now, lovelies!

Introducing W2Beauty - US$5.00 Voucher

Hello, lovelies! I'd like to introduce you to my newest sponsor, w2beauty.com. They have a huge selection of korean cosmetics and skincare products for great prices. To celebrate this partnership, I have a special offer for you. You can now enjoy a US$5.00 voucher when you register at w2beauty.com!

All you have to do is register by clicking the link (http://w2beauty.com/) or enter my sponsor code "147034811" in the registration form.

After registration, you will receive a mail with your voucher which you can use at their store immediately.

The following products are some of my favorite korean cosmetics and skincare products that are available at w2beauty.com. I highly recommend all of them, so feel free to check them out.

MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream, Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips-Talk, Skinfood Black Sugar Mask & Etude House Drawing Eyebrow

Etude House Precious Mineral Any Cushion, Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint, Mizon Multi Function Formula - All in one snail repair cream & Etude House Lash Perm 3 Step Volume-cara

The shipping at w2beauty.com is free worldwide and they will also give you lots of samples and gifts for every order. Simply amazing, right? Who doesn't like free stuff? Let me know if you find anything nice or placed an order. I would love to know what you got!

Happy shopping, lovelies!

[Review] SKINFOOD Black Sugar Mask

    

First off, I heard so many good things about this face scrub/mask, and since I love a good exfoliator I just had to have it.

Details & How to Use
Enriched with vitamins and minerals, this face scrub effectively exfoliates that prevents makeup application, while revitalizing skin. To use, apply desired amount onto face after washing, avoiding eye and mouth areas. Mix with water or toner to reduce skin irritation, and massage. wait 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash off with warm water. It contains 100g of product.

Container
The container was surprisingly much larger than I expected. The container itself is made out of plastic and has a plastic screw-on lid which can be closed securely. When opening the lid there was also another thin plastic lid covering the product.


Texture & Scent
The texture is a very thick and gritty paste. You could compare it to a lot of sugar mixed with a tiny bit of vaseline. It has a very pleasant scent of lemon.



When I first tried this scrub I was actually terrified because it felt so harsh on my skin. You really have to make sure to mix it with a proper amount of water and massage it on your face very gently to prevent eventual skin damage. The first seconds into massaging it onto your face almost feels like rubbing your face on asphalt, but after a few seconds, when mixed with water the robust sugar parts will start to dissolve and the whole procedure will feel much more pleasant. It also stays well on the skin when leaving the mask to set for 10-15 minutes. It doesn't dry up and is easily washed off without leaving any residue.

    

Result & Conclusion
I was surprised how effective this scrub was! My skin felt and looked so clean after using it. Despite the slight discomfort when first starting to massage this paste onto my face, this is honestly the best exfoliating scrub/mask I have ever tried. My pores were noticeably cleaner after using it for the very first time. This is definitely not suitable for those with sensitive skin, and even if you have normal/oily skin, I recommend you to use it no more than once a week (less is more when it comes to exfoliation and face masks). However, this is an amazing scrub/mask in general and is perfect for those who want to get rid of blackheads and dead skin cells.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this review. Don't forget to check out my other Reviews for more info about Skincare and Cosmetics.

Let me know what you think about this scrub in the comments. Would you buy it? You can get it here!

[Review] SKINFOOD Egg White Pore Foam

    

Details & How to Use
The SKINFOOD Egg White Pore Foam is a pore-refining cleanser with egg white extract that deep-cleanses pores with white foam. Egg white, enriched with alumin, promotes firmer skin and smaller pores. To use it, dispense an ample amount onto wet palms and lather. Rub face thoroughly in gentle massaging motions, and then wash off with lukewarm water. Splash on cold water for astringent effect.



Packaging & Dispenser
The container is quite big and the main material feels like some sort of soft rubber. It contains 150ml of product. The lid is a simple plastic lid that opens and closes firmly. It's also possible to remove the lid completely.

    

Texture & Scent
The texture is solid and creamy at first. It turns into a thick, smooth, and creamy foam when lathered with water, and feels very pleasant on the skin when applied. The scent is kind of soapy but subtle; It smells nothing like egg white (which is a good thing), and if I'm not mistaken it does rather have a hint of olives. It's somehow similar to the scent of creams from Nivea, Dove, etc.

Result & Conclusion
I use this cleanser as my first and only cleansing product in my morning skincare routine since double cleansing with oil or exfoliation is unnecessary in the morning. I only need a tiny pea-sized amount of product and it will still lather really well. It feels so smooth when massaging it onto the skin and it doesn't leave any annoying residue after washing it off. My skin feels squeaky clean and remarkably more firm after using this foam, without making it feel dry afterwards. After continued use, my pores are noticeably cleaner and smoother than before. This cleanser is perfect for oily skin and is probably a good cleanser for normal skin too. I wouldn't recommend it for those with dry skin. It has worked great for my oily skin and I personally really love this foaming cleanser and will definitely repurchase it once I run out of it.

You can get this SKINFOOD Egg White Pore Foam here.