January Loves

I've been meaning to share some of my current favorites ever since last month, hence the title --- and am so happy that I finally got this blog post up along with a video before mid-February comes around. What are some of your current favorites?

| STYLE |

Olivia Burton watch

I've completely fallen in love with this watch. The simplicity of the details is every minimalistic's dream come true. The subtle tan leather band paired with the gold face creates a very classy, yet chic look. It's such a versatile piece that I wear it every day!

Cat Ears Headband (similar)

This was a last minute purchase for my Halloween costume in October, but this has been super useful for keeping my baby hair out of my face when I'm doing a mask or just washing up before bed. I love that I've found a new use out of it, because otherwise it would've just been lost in a drawer somewhere. Bonus points for looking cute with these ears on when your face is covered in charcoal hehe.

Quay Sunglasses

The purple-orange lenses really set it apart from my other pairs of sunglasses. It has a fun and playful style to it, which is perfect for Spring and Summer. I also like that it's very light so I don't have to worry about having marks on my face after wearing it for a long time. I can't wait to wear this on beach days.

| BEAUTY |

Shiseido UV Protector

I've always dreaded putting on SPF, because of its' thick formula and artificial smell, but this product is AMAZING. It has a watery consistency, but goes on matte and absorbs quickly. It doesn't clog my pores and is perfect for people with oily and sensitive skin like me. I'm never going back to drugstore sunscreen after this. 

Urban Decay Lipstick in Sheer Berry

This lipstick is an old favorite of mine, and honestly it's one of the beauty products that I will always come back to. It's super moisturizing and has been a staple piece in my winter makeup routine. From the tube, it looks like a dark grape color, but it actually comes out to a pretty fuchsia shade, which complements  my skin tone as it brightens my complexion.

I'm Eyeshadow Stick in Falling Star

The eyeshadow stick is in this soft champagne color that's perfect for either everyday looks or girls night outs. I use it on my eyelids and on the inner corners of my eyes for a natural bright-eyed look. 

Body Butter in Cocoa Butter 

This body butter from The Body Shop smells like dessert in a jar. It makes me feel like I'm indulging in something sweet and heavenly every time I put it on before I go to bed at night.

| FOOD |

Belvita breakfast biscuits in Cranberry Orange

I'm addicted to these. I would grab one every morning before heading out the door during the weekdays. They're the next best thing to having a real breakfast. They only have a hint of sweetness and I find them to be super satisfying compared to a regular granola bar. 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares - Dark Chocolate Collection 

Not a bad word can ever be said when it comes to chocolate, especially dark chocolate. It's so hard to simply have just one of these. If you haven't tried their dark chocolate collection (contains dark chocolate with caramel, 72% cacao , and 60% cacao), I definitely recommend it. Being that I haven't had chocolate for a while, this is a very dangerous thing to have around the house.

Essie in Topless & Barefoot

I don't do nail posts often, as the previous one was written more than a year ago! Don't get me wrong, I love nail polishes and tend to stand in the nail aisles for way longer than needed just to take in all the pretty seasonal shades. The idea of painting my nails gets me excited, but when it really comes down to it, I just don't seem to have the patience. There were so many times where my freshly painted nails didn't even last 5 minutes before I managed to ruin them with my clumsiness. It's frustrating and a huge downer to find them smudged after spending such a long time on them. My perfectionist side comes out when I do my nails. There can't be any finger marks and not even the smallest missed spots can go unfixed. I've accepted the fact that since nail polishes get chipped eventually, it's not worth doing my nails every so often. Plus I feel like I have to be really careful with my hands when I have my nails painted. Is that weird? 

But with all that being said, I'm going to do a sneaky post on this Topless and Barefoot Essie nail polish before it starts to feel like actual fall weather and everyone is searching for the perfect fall and winter shades. I'm a big fan of Essie's nail polishes, as the quality and smooth application are amazing. The colors last at least 7 days when used with a base and overcoat. I kept coming back to this barely-there color this summer, which is in a creamy soft shade that screams minimalistic. It's a staple piece in my abandoned collection of nail polishes, as it goes with everything that I wear. Neutrals just work with everything, I LOVE it. I've worn this color so many times in the past two months and completely left the rest of my nail polishes in the dust. You can't go wrong with an understated nude shade.

What's your favorite nail polish at the moment? 

Korean Beauty Review: SOKOGLAM

High-quality ecommerce shops for Korean beauty products have made a big name for themselves in American pop culture, as they have quickly become one of the hottest trends. From snail creams to gel masks, the Korean beauty industry seems to be way more advanced all the while keeping the products at an affordable cost. I haven't done much shopping for Asian beauty products since my Memebox haul in March, and being that the site reduced its selection of skincare products since then, I decided to try a different shop. 

Sokoglam is a Korean beauty and lifestyle site that offers quality skincare and makeup products - all hand-picked by beauty experts. Read below to see what I purchased from the trusted brand: 

Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil 

Comes in a sleek design, with the twistable pencil on one end and the spoolie on the other. The pencil is easy to use, and the dark brown shade goes on smoothly. It adds definition to my brows, while creating a soft and natural look. 

Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Cream

A lightweight moisturizer that claims to lock in hydration all day long. I was a bit thrown off when I opened the lid and it looked like 1/4 of the formula was missing. It could've simply been a design flaw. A little goes a long way with this lightly scented cream. It has a cooling effect, and makes my skin feel fresh and clean. It also absorbs quickly and gives my skin a dewey look that unfortunately lasts about 5 minutes after applying. The airy consistency is similar to Etude House's Collagen Sleeping Pack. The Super Aqua Cream has a long list of ingredients, as the formula contains 30 different extracts for deep hydrating purposes. I recommend using this cream at night for deep hydration.

Klairs Supple Preparation Toner

Formulated for those who have extremely sensitive skin. The product claims to reduce irritation and provide hydration. This may be strange to point out, but I'm so used to seeing the gunk left on the cotton pads from my previous toner that this one doesn't seem to collect as much dirt and oil after each use. Not sure if it works differently or that it's just not as effective. Though it contains fragrance, the toner doesn't have a smell upon use. Even though it's a simple and gentle product, it's nothing impressive compared to other toners that I've used. I especially enjoyed the Holika Holika toner from awhile back.

Review: 3 things from TBS

Aloe Gentle Exfoliator

With the help of this product, I'm hoping it would get me into the habit of exfoliating daily to remove my stubborn blackheads. It's gentle and non-irritating. Though it's fragrance-free, it has a salicylic acid smell to me. It's faint, so it doesn't bother me. It cleared away the blackheads on my nose after the first use, but the stubborn ones managed to come back days later. I will definitely be holding onto this one to see if it makes any long-term differences for my skin. The exfoliator is no longer available on The Body Shop's website, but you can find their Aloe Gentle facial wash here.

 Color Crush Eyeshadow

This is a classic nude color in the shade Champagne & Gold. It's versatile, as it can be used as a base or on its own. It blends easily and is never cakey. I like to dab some on my inner eye corners for a brightening look. The shade has a bit of shimmer, but it's very subtle and doesn't get all over my face. The only downside is that it comes in a small size (it's about the same size as the Nivea lip butter), so price may not seem reasonable. 

Hand Cream 

Whenever I use this mango hand cream, it makes me think of a fruit stand in the summer time. It has a light citrus scent that lingers for a while after application. The gel-like cream absorbs easily, and the non-greasy formula leaves my skin feeing very soft. The twist cap can sometimes be too much to bother with, but the packaging looks nice and elegant!

Look out for a monthly favs (and not-so-favs) video from me where I will be mentioning some of these things!

Review: Best of Memebox Set

I guess we can call March the month of Memebox, because this marks the third time I will be talking about products purchased from their online Korean Cosmetics and Skincare store. Ever since I discovered the trendy Korean beauty company a few months ago, I've been wanting to try a box from their wide selection of affordable beauty box sets. From special USA boxes, such as The Hangover Box to exclusive mystery boxes, like the Easter Mystery Box, I was really intrigued by it all. Being that the boxes are limited and they tend to sell out fast, I was excited that I was able to get my hands on the "Best of Memebox Set". In it contains five products that had rave customer reviews, and some were winners of the 2014's Memebox Beauty Awards. As a first-timer, I'm very happy with the products. Their range of beauty boxes are unique and affordable, and they are great for those who are new to the Korean beauty trend. 

1  MISSHA Pure Source Sheet Mask

I'm a huge fan of Korean brand sheet masks, and this one did not disappoint. I could tell it was extremely hydrating when I teared the packet open, and some of the essence splattered out. I wouldn't say it brightens, as I've only used it once. It's great to use in the warmer seasons, because it instantly cools and refreshes the skin. 

2  IT'S SKIN Babyface Gel Pencil Eyeliner

Though the product says it's "gel", it seemed more like a regular pencil eyeliner to me. The eyeliner came in Champagne Pink, which is a lovely pale color with sparkles. I use it on the inner corners of my eyes for a bright-eyed look. It's long-lasting, which makes the white flecks hard to wash off. The sparkles don't like to stay in one place, but a little eyeshadow primer should do the trick. 

3  TONYMOLY Bunny Gloss Bar 

The site claims this to be a lipgloss/lipstick, but the lack of shine and color of the product reminds me of a lip balm. It glides on smooth, and has a soft peach-colored tint. It acts as a good base for layering on other lip products. On the first few applications, the product left behind bits of colored residue/flakes on my lips. It's not a super hydrating formula, and I discovered that it contains parabens. 

4  IT'S SKIN Babyface One-Step Base

This is a 3-in-1 primer, with SPF 15. Mine was in Lavender Pink, which claims to be best for people with yellow undertones and helps to brighten dull complexion. A little goes a long way for this product, as the formula is on the liquidy side. It's easy to squeeze out more than you need because it's very runny. The formula has a sweet scent, and is in the shade of a light lavender color. It becomes white when blending it onto the skin. Be careful not to use too much, or it might leave a white cast on your face. It's very gentle, and helps even out my skin tone. 

5  Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer Goddess Cream

This is actually my second jar. The first time I got it was when I first discovered Memebox, and bought it as an individual product to try. I was running low on the first jar, and didn't mind getting it again because it was more affordable to get it as part of the box set. As I mentioned in another Memebox review, I like to use this at night, as it delivers incredible hydration and soothes my skin. It has a clean scent, and the airy consistency absorbs easily into the skin. It's an all around great product!

Have you stepped into the Korean beauty trend? 

A little update + Memebox

Hello! Happy 1st of March! I will say it again and again, how is time flying by so fast?! I'm drowning in my studies, as week 9 of the school's quarter system is just around the corner. Final class assignments and papers are all I can think about right now. And preparing for next quarter has got me all nervous, because it means i'm this close to graduating in Spring. Oh my goodness, don't even get me started on my plans after graduation. It's very overwhelming and makes me want to crawl into a Alice's rabbit's hole. As i've clearly been absent on the blogging front, I wanted to do this quick update and say, (or maybe just remind myself), that i am well and (barely) surviving these few weeks i have left before spring break. I probably won't be posting much until then. But i leave you with another beauty-related review!

_   _   _

If you love the Korean beauty trend, then you'll be very excited to hear about Memebox (pronounced me-me-box), a company known for selling exclusive boxes filled with the hottest Korean beauty products. Aside from their special boxes, they also have a USA shop where you can purchase individual products. I opted for this feature, as I was looking to stock up on a few skincare products. Being the indecisive person that I am, it took forever to pick out the products (when i only needed three things), because there were so many to choose from. Everything looked high-quality and it was hard to resist all the cute packaging.
Shipping was very fast, as it came two days after my order was processed. I'm completely obsessed with the site now, and it will be the first thing I hit up when looking for Asian-brand beauty products.

INSIDE MY MEMBOX:

Tony Moly Sheet Mask

Being that this is a very popular Korean brand, I was disappointed to find how poor of a quality the sheet mask was. It teared when i was unfolding it and ripped some more on the side when I was smoothing it onto my face. Though the scent was nice, I probably won't be getting it again.

Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer Goddess Cream
I mostly use this at night before i go to sleep. It absorbs easily and has a cooling effect, which suits my oily skin type. It's extremely lightweight, and the airy consistency is very similar to the one from Etude House (link here).

Missha Near Skin Cleansing Cream
This cleaning cream doesn't work up to a lather, as it completely absorbs into my skin when I message it onto my face. The scent-free cream has tiny yellow beads, and according to the product details, they contain vitamin E, which help get rid of impurities. I've never used anything like it before, but i like that it's gentle and makes my skin super soft. I've also noticed that I've been breaking out less since using it. I highly recommend it for those with sensitive skin! 

3 things from Sephora

This is a long overdue post, because I purchased these items around Christmas time. But being that I don't usually buy things from Sephora, this is something I thought would be fun to share. I'm completely clueless when it comes to makeup, but I'm always curious so I like to play around with it here and there. Most of the time though, my face just ends up looking no better than what I started out with. But that doesn't stop me from going to Sephora and looking at all the pretty makeup and beauty-related things.

Here's the 3 things I picked up:

Aanastasia Brow Wiz

Having been strangely obsessed with having some eyebrow game going on lately, I picked up the Anastasia brow pencil. I heard great reviews about it, and for the price, I definitely had high expectations. I find the pencil extremely easy to apply, but apparently I didn't get the "a little goes a long way" memo because I used a good few inches of the pencil after just my third use. Because the pencil is super thin and I happened to chose a light shade, it's easy to keep on applying without noticing a big difference. I like that it creates a very soft and natural look however. With my black hair and medium skin tone, I wanted to soften my features a bit and picked out the shade in "medium brown". It lived up to my expectations, but for a college student like me, the price is just a little too steep. I'll be keeping my eyes open for a more affordable alternative after using up this one.

Rosebud Salve

I picked this up from those display boxes on the side while waiting in line to pay for my things, telling myself that there's no such thing as having too many lip balms. I'm really happy I got it. It has a light flowery scent and I bring it with me everywhere I go. It's very hydrating, which means I don't have to constantly worry about reapplying it throughout the day.

Precision Pore Cleansing Pad 

I'm putting all my hopes of getting rid of my stubborn blackheads onto this little pad right here. It has a suction thing on the back that you can use to stick it on the shower wall or the bathroom mirror, which is super helpful when letting it dry. There's also an area on the bottom end of the pad that has massage beads instead of the soft bristles. I usually stick to the bristles, but the massage beads are great for when you want to try something different. I like that it gives my face a deep cleanse, but after using it for over a month now, those blackheads just won't budge. Maybe the fact that I haven't been using it on a daily basis could be why I'm not seeing much of a difference. Will definitely keep you updated on that! As you can probably tell, I'm pretty horrible at keeping a consistent skin care regime. Does anyone else go through this?

Empties & almost empties review

Hi there! I'm typing this post up as I just got out of a nice and long shower after doing one of Blogilates workouts on Youtube. Tried the 5-minute ab workout for the first time and boy, was it intense!

Anyhoo, after I used up my bottle of Aveeno shave gel the other day, I thought I would do a quick review of it along with a few other products that are close to emptying out. I was thinking of saving the empties and do a collective review on all of them later, but I hoard enough things as it is that I think it's going to be hard to keep track of everything. So here are my thoughts on the things I've used up (and almost using up): 

Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel

First impression: Very gentle on the skin and has a light scent. It works into a creamy lather and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. 

Product details: Helps you to shave less often and helps prevent nicks, cuts, and razor burns. It's gentle enough to use on sensitive skin. 

Final thoughts: While it didn't irritate or dry out my skin, I still managed to get a few razor burns from time to time. After multiple uses, I noticed that I didn't have to shave my legs as often as I used to. The hair on my legs seemed to have grown back slower and lighter. Though the same cannot be said about the armpit situation. 

Mini Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel

First impression: A basic, travel size shower gel that has a refreshingly crisp and clean grapefruit scent. 

Product details: Soap-free, lather-rich, refreshing grapefruit scent 

Final thoughts: This tiny bottle is not worth the retailing price ($4). While I enjoyed the scent, the shower gel didn't stand out to me.

Nuance Airy Ultra Honey Hair Mask, Japan

First impression: It made my hair feel light and soft. It has a flower scent that's not overwhelming at all. 

Product details: Formulated with honey and milk protein that strengthens and protects severely damaged hair. Leaves hair soft, elastic, and easy to manage. Gives limp and flat hair a light and bouncy feel.

Final thoughts: A quick hair profile ~~ I have naturally wavy thick hair with no split ends. ~~

With all the sun and heat damage my hair has gone through, I feel that this mask has really helped with keeping the ends of my hair hydrated and protected as they aren't as dull-looking as they used to be. Overall, it's a good moisturizing hair mask that leaves hair feeling extremely light and smooth.

I hope you have a warm and wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

The Body Shop Review | A hit...and a miss

If you've been reading my review posts lately, you've probably noticed that a majority of the stuff are from The Body Shop. Maybe it's because I'm still a newbie when it comes to beauty things, but I always find myself going back to The Body Shop to look for products to try. I think it's their endless sales and promotions that keep reeling me in. Here are two of their "best-seller" products, Nutriganics Drops of Youth and Vitamin C Skin Boost that I'm going to review. One's a hit and one's a miss. 

Nutriganics Drops of Youth

It didn't take me 'till now to realize that Nutriganics Drops of Youth is actually an anti-aging serum that targets the first signs of aging. I think this just goes to show how clueless I am when it comes to beauty-related things, ah bare with me please haha. I do love to experiment and play around with new products however! 

I was very impressed by this serum when I first used it that I bought another one after finishing the first (note: this item no longer ships to California, can be purchased in stores only). It does exactly what it claims as it enhances surface skin condition, smoothes, and instantly moisturizes. For such a small bottle with a pretty big price tag, I mostly use it at night time after washing my face and it leaves my skin super soft, dewy, and fresh looking. On occasion, I would use it during the day to give my skin a fresher and healthier look. The serum has a light scent and unlike FAB's liquid serum (review here), it has a slightly thicker and goo-y consistency, making it easy to apply and massage onto my face. In terms of its anti-aging claims, I haven't noticed any major differences, but it has made my face look a lot brighter and smoother than it used to. 

This serum is an essential part of my daily skincare routine. It's gentle and non-drying while leaving my skin looking smooth and fresh. I would highly recommend this serum to those of you who have a dull/rough complexion. 

(P.S. You can usually get the product at a cheaper price than it originally retails with the sales & promotions that they always have going on!)

Vitamin C Skin Boost

Now onto the one that was a miss...

I was really excited to try this because I was looking for something to help brighten my skin tone. After the first use however, my thought was that this small bottle was not worth the price. It claims to create instant smoothing radiance with a silky smooth finish and enhance your glow. But in actuality, this product did not work for me at all. Since it's slightly oily, I would use it in the mornings before I put on my moisturizer. It dispenses a tiny amount in one pump and it's more than enough to smooth over my entire face. Although it was an easy application as the formula glided on my skin and had a nice citrus scent, it really didn't do any more than that. The "glow" that it supposedly gives is from the light-reflecting specks in the formula, but I honestly did not see any brightening effects.

In short, the Vitamin C Skin Boost left my skin smooth and soft, but only temporary. At $27 a bottle, I would not be buying this again because I didn't see any long-term results. I think this would make a good base for makeup, but that's not really what I was looking for. 

I hope you found this review helpful and thank you for reading :) 

[Empties]: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Liquid Recovery

This is the first beauty product that I've emptied in a very long time. I have this thing where it takes me forever to finish anything that is skincare and beauty related. I have tons of half used lotions, chapsticks, and makeup products sitting around the house - forgotten and probably way past its expiration date. I'm not the only one who's like that, right?

So it was somewhat of a surprise when I noticed that I was nearly done with this whole bottle of First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Liquid serum. Since I have sensitive skin that gets inflamed super easily,  I picked up this particular product, which claims to "hydrate, reduce redness, and repair stressed skin."

Personally, I was disappointed to find that the product did not make much of a difference to my skin. It was indeed light and hydrating, but other than that, nothing else stood out. Firstly, it had a very funky smell. Scent is everything to me when it comes to skincare products so I was thrown off by the unpleasant smell. Second, because the serum is liquid based, I did not like that it was designed in a way where I had to squeeze the tip to get the formula onto my palms. Often times, the liquid would drip right through my fingers before I could even pat it onto my skin, resulting in a bit of a waste. 

Like most skincare products out there, the serum did a good job providing temporary results. My skin appeared the smoothest and hydrated when I used it right after showering and washing my face. But that could just be the result from my other skincare products that I'm using.

Overall, I was not impressed and considering the price, it could've been better. But then again, it might work for someone with a different skin type.

Review: Origins Charcoal Face Mask

I've been wanting to try a charcoal mask for a while now and decided to try the Origins Clear Improvement Mask. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or how my skin was going to react to it so I got the travel pack edition, which comes in four individual packets. 

The mask has a light scent and hardens after 20 minutes. I'm not going to lie, that moment when I feel the mask tightening on my face is just oh-so-satisfying because that's when I know it's working and sucking out all the dirt from my pores. It gets me pretty excited haha. The best part was seeing the results - I noticed a clearer and brighter complexion in my face after each use. 

As far as blemish-control goes, the product doesn't make me break out, but it doesn't completely prevent breakouts either. I could tell that the mask definitely reached deep into my pores and did its magic because it helped get rid of the blackheads that were around my nose. I was bummed that it was only temporarily though. A few days after each use, those feisty blackheads reappeared in the same exact spots on my nose as if they've never left. 

In short, the charcoal mask was gentle on my skin, did an amazing job getting all the gunk out of my pores, and left my face touchably soft and clean. 

Skin type profile:

✳︎ Sensitive 

✳︎ Oily/T-zone

✳︎ Redness/Inflammation

✳︎ Enlarged pores around nose area

End of the year favorites! | 2013

Far left: I got this Pomegranate Mango candle from a friend on my birthday and ever since, I've been OBSESSED with candles.

Note: Not everything mentioned is pictured

Youtubers

Bethany Mota

 Bubzvlogz

Zoella

Tanya Burr

...this is only some of my favorite youtubers. 2013 was the year I really got into watching beauty videos and vlogs.

Music

Do What U Want by Lady Gaga ft Christina Aguilera 

Say Something by A Great Big World 

Let It Go by Idina Menzel 

Movies

Silver Linings Playbook

Frozen 

...you can't go wrong with a Jennifer Lawrence movie and a disney animated film

Television

Revenge (ABC)

The Originals (CW)

The Blacklist (NBC)

Books

-  Catching Fire

- Lock & Key and Two Way Street are my go-to summer reads

- The Mazerunner

Beauty

- EOS lip balm

- NIVEA Raspberry Rose lip butter

- Clinique chubby stick in voluptuous violet  

- Nutriganics Drops of Youth serum 

- Tea Tree Purifying Toner 

- Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizer 

- Essential Honey Hair Mask in rose 

Food

- Andes mint

- Ferrero Rocher 

- Celestial Tea in Sleepytime Vanilla 

Misc

- Festive and fancy boxes 

- Colorful clothes pins (from the crafts aisle) 

Random 

- ALDO shoes

- Keyboard decal 

- Rings 

What's in my bathroom

From left to right:

Cranberry Mandarin candle

Smells soo good and I like that it gives my bathroom a pop of color!

Dove body wash in Pomegranate and Lemon Verbena

Refreshing and light scent and is gentle enough for those who have sensitive skin

Johnson's body lotion in Shea and Coco butter

I mostly use this for when I get out of the shower and it keeps my skin soft and it smells so good!

Biore pore strips

Does not get rid of blackheads, but I still use this occasionally to clear my pores.

Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer with SPF 15

An okay product- even though it says it's for combination/oily skin, I usually find my skin getting oily later in the day. Planning on changing my daily moisturizer after finishing this one. 

Organix Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner in Coconut Milk

This stuff smells amazing (and it's sulfate-free) though it doesn't make my hair as soft as I'd like. 

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Shampoo & Conditioner

Minimizes my frizz and makes my hair smooth and soft. Doesn't do much for the shine though

Bath & Body Works Crimson Plum foam hand soap

Smells like a garden of sweet plums and I'm just gonna just leave it at that. 

Conair blowdryer

My bathroom essentials isn't complete without one.