I'll try to keep it short and sweet today, hence the combined review of:- Grinif Vitamin ACE Moisture line (we'll take a look at the toner, lotion and cream)
and
- Grinif O2 Bubble Mask Cleanser.
Their website is entirely in Korean
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Grinif Vitamin ACE Moisture line and Grinif O2 Bubble Mask Cleanser
I'll try to keep it short and sweet today, hence the combined review of:and
Their website is entirely in Korean
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 02, 04, 07, 09 and 10
Point makeup terrifies me. And baffles me. But mostly just terrifies, so for the most part I don't even bother.
While I can hold my own when it comes to base makeup (cushion foundations saved my life, or rather - cushion applicator puffs), the whole liquid eyeliner, eyeshadow, contouring, strobing, sculpting bullshit is not for me.
Trust me, I've tried. Multiple times. And I've failed. Multiple times. I just don't look good with a lot of war paint on. Why? My face is extremely asymmetric and it takes a lot of skill to make sure I don't end up looking like a drunken clown. So much skill that even some so-called "pro" makeup artists gave up on me after a few attempts.
So now, I just don't bother.
Yes, I do own a few eyeshadows, all in fairly neutral colors, that I hardly ever use. Instead I have a staggering collection of color eye pencils, because they're easy and don't require makeup brushes.
I have 2 very neutral liquid highlighters, both non-sparkly, because I realized that shiny balls, while pretty and all that, are not for me.
I have 3 undereye concealers, of which I only use 2 anyway.
I have a stack of blushers, because I'm as white as a freshly painted wall and look sick without a touch of color on my cheeks.
And I have a staggering collection of tinted lip balms and lip glosses. But not one lipstick*.
Why? See above - asymmetric face means crooked lips means lipstick emphasizes that means I look like shit.
I'm not going to tell you how many I have, because it's just embarrassing.
Today I'll show you five of them.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N
And I can only hope I'm not the only person who obsessively saves cosmetic outer packagings, unfolds them and then files them alphabetically in a special folder? Or am I? Help me out here, folks!
If you've ever wondered what a simple sheer lip gloss with a touch of color, in an awesome tube, looks like, now it's your chance.
Jill Stuart knows how to play this game.
Pretty colors? Princess packaging? Shut up and take my money already.
Jill Stuart is a Japanese cosmetic brand that is famous for its... well... packaging. It's over the top girly, it's over the top cute, and it makes your inner princess wet her pants with giddy excitement.
Swarovski elements (whatever they are), tiara shaped tube caps, encrusted blush and powder compacts, Jill Stuart has got you covered.
And the products themselves? They are good. Not outstanding. But solid, decent makeup. Is it worth the money? It all depends on how much you love your princess bling. (Hell yeah, just shut up and buy it already!)
When it comes to lip gloss, or tinted lip balm, with a very few exceptions (yes, Dior, I am looking at you), I prefer Japanese brands.
Why?
The formulas are lighter, the textures are less sticky, they spread easier, adhere better to your lips and last longer. Usually they don't have stupid flavors and annoying fragrances.
And in the case of Jill Stuart, they make your inner princess so very happy.
I mean, just look at this stuff:
"I want MOAR!!!" (shut up princess!)
On the company's website, this is what they say about Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N:
You heard them. Now this is what I say about Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N:
Let's look at them one by one, shall we?
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 02 - Light Lavender:
My favorite of the bunch. Goes on nearly clear with just a hint of sparkle. Looks pink in the tube, looks clear on my lips. Perfect everyday all-purpose gloss. Reminds me of Lavshuca BB Lip Essence in pink.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 04 - Honey Lemon:
Looks yellow in the tube, goes clear on your lips. A nice all-purpose moisturizing gloss for everyday use.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 07 - Cherry Flame:
Looks very fierce in the tube, but goes nearly sheer on the lip with just a hint of color. Perfect for the summer. Reminds me of Lavshuca BB Lip Essence in red.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 09 - Apple Cinnamon:
Apple cinnamon? Seriously? It's a nice pinkish all-purpose gloss.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 10 - Treacle Pudding:
Beautiful pink beige, very subtle and dare I say, sophisticated?
On the company website the colors of Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N look like that:
source: http://www.jillstuart-beauty.com/
This is what my colors look like in real life:
In natural light, no filters applied.
As you can see, they are all very sheer and not as sparkly as they appear in the tube.
In natural light, when the sun hits them, they are very, very subtle, sweet and extremely delicate.
Light Lavender has the most shimmer. Honey Lemon appears completely clear.
Each tube hold 16ml (15g) of product:
If you buy your gloss outside of Japan, you won't have that ugly sticker on your tube.
Nothing exciting under it anyway:
And here's the applicator tip:
All very standard, nothing earth shattering. Just cute. Very cute.
I don't have full ingredients for you, but if you're not ok with Rosemary extract or Lavender oil, Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N is not for you:
And that's about it for these cute, little guys.
You like?
You want more Jill Stuart on the blog?
There's plenty more where these came from!
Disclosure: Products purchased by me from a local shopping mall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* The sole liquid lipstick I got from a fellow blogger turned out too drying for my lips, so I mixed it with a clear Verite lip shiner and voila - a new lip gloss, yay!
While I can hold my own when it comes to base makeup (cushion foundations saved my life, or rather - cushion applicator puffs), the whole liquid eyeliner, eyeshadow, contouring, strobing, sculpting bullshit is not for me.
Trust me, I've tried. Multiple times. And I've failed. Multiple times. I just don't look good with a lot of war paint on. Why? My face is extremely asymmetric and it takes a lot of skill to make sure I don't end up looking like a drunken clown. So much skill that even some so-called "pro" makeup artists gave up on me after a few attempts.
So now, I just don't bother.
Yes, I do own a few eyeshadows, all in fairly neutral colors, that I hardly ever use. Instead I have a staggering collection of color eye pencils, because they're easy and don't require makeup brushes.
I have 2 very neutral liquid highlighters, both non-sparkly, because I realized that shiny balls, while pretty and all that, are not for me.
I have 3 undereye concealers, of which I only use 2 anyway.
I have a stack of blushers, because I'm as white as a freshly painted wall and look sick without a touch of color on my cheeks.
And I have a staggering collection of tinted lip balms and lip glosses. But not one lipstick*.
Why? See above - asymmetric face means crooked lips means lipstick emphasizes that means I look like shit.
I'm not going to tell you how many I have, because it's just embarrassing.
Today I'll show you five of them.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N
And I can only hope I'm not the only person who obsessively saves cosmetic outer packagings, unfolds them and then files them alphabetically in a special folder? Or am I? Help me out here, folks!
If you've ever wondered what a simple sheer lip gloss with a touch of color, in an awesome tube, looks like, now it's your chance.
Jill Stuart knows how to play this game.
Pretty colors? Princess packaging? Shut up and take my money already.
Jill Stuart is a Japanese cosmetic brand that is famous for its... well... packaging. It's over the top girly, it's over the top cute, and it makes your inner princess wet her pants with giddy excitement.
Swarovski elements (whatever they are), tiara shaped tube caps, encrusted blush and powder compacts, Jill Stuart has got you covered.
And the products themselves? They are good. Not outstanding. But solid, decent makeup. Is it worth the money? It all depends on how much you love your princess bling. (Hell yeah, just shut up and buy it already!)
When it comes to lip gloss, or tinted lip balm, with a very few exceptions (yes, Dior, I am looking at you), I prefer Japanese brands.
Why?
The formulas are lighter, the textures are less sticky, they spread easier, adhere better to your lips and last longer. Usually they don't have stupid flavors and annoying fragrances.
And in the case of Jill Stuart, they make your inner princess so very happy.
I mean, just look at this stuff:
"I want MOAR!!!" (shut up princess!)
On the company's website, this is what they say about Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N:
Colors like fresh fruit and delicious sweets.
Lustrous gloss in a wide variety of hues.
Pouch (Embroidery Flower)
In stores from August 2, 2013
New product JILL STUART Jelly Lip Gloss N
11 colors, 1 limited edition color
2,200 Yen each (not including tax)
Product features:
･Lip gloss that transforms your upper lip into a "Cupid’s Bow", bringing you the aspect of an innocent angel.
･Spreads easily with the lightest touch, providing a full, rich luster and pure sparkle.
･Provides highly uniform application, for lips that leave a full, plump impression.
･A cherubic fresh oil formulation, thoroughly moisturizing by sealing in moisture while also placing no burden on your lips, for a lasting sensation with zero stickiness.
･The diagonally cut tube allows for easy application on the lips, and perfect coverage.
･A cap design with a sparkling Swarovski, as though topped with a tiara. The entire cap is also scalloped, giving a three-dimensional presence to the finish of the design.
･Fragrance of Crystal Floral Bouquet.
You heard them. Now this is what I say about Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N:
- Innocent angel? Hahaha, nice try, Jill.
- Spreads easily, full luster, shine all that - all true.
- Uniform application, plump lip - yep, all true.
- Moisturizing and non-sticky - yes and yes (well, as non-sticky as you can imagine lip gloss to be).
- Slanted tube, easy to get the product out - yes.
- Cute, cute cute - yes, yes, yes.
- Fragrance - very slight, delicate smell which goes away super fast.
Let's look at them one by one, shall we?
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 02 - Light Lavender:
My favorite of the bunch. Goes on nearly clear with just a hint of sparkle. Looks pink in the tube, looks clear on my lips. Perfect everyday all-purpose gloss. Reminds me of Lavshuca BB Lip Essence in pink.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 04 - Honey Lemon:
Looks yellow in the tube, goes clear on your lips. A nice all-purpose moisturizing gloss for everyday use.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 07 - Cherry Flame:
Looks very fierce in the tube, but goes nearly sheer on the lip with just a hint of color. Perfect for the summer. Reminds me of Lavshuca BB Lip Essence in red.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 09 - Apple Cinnamon:
Apple cinnamon? Seriously? It's a nice pinkish all-purpose gloss.
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N in 10 - Treacle Pudding:
Beautiful pink beige, very subtle and dare I say, sophisticated?
On the company website the colors of Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N look like that:
This is what my colors look like in real life:
In natural light, no filters applied.
As you can see, they are all very sheer and not as sparkly as they appear in the tube.
In natural light, when the sun hits them, they are very, very subtle, sweet and extremely delicate.
Light Lavender has the most shimmer. Honey Lemon appears completely clear.
Each tube hold 16ml (15g) of product:
If you buy your gloss outside of Japan, you won't have that ugly sticker on your tube.
Nothing exciting under it anyway:
And here's the applicator tip:
All very standard, nothing earth shattering. Just cute. Very cute.
I don't have full ingredients for you, but if you're not ok with Rosemary extract or Lavender oil, Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss N is not for you:
And that's about it for these cute, little guys.
You like?
You want more Jill Stuart on the blog?
There's plenty more where these came from!
Disclosure: Products purchased by me from a local shopping mall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* The sole liquid lipstick I got from a fellow blogger turned out too drying for my lips, so I mixed it with a clear Verite lip shiner and voila - a new lip gloss, yay!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control No 13 (True Beige) and No 14 (Pink Beige)
After using Iope Air Cushion Matte (in color M13), I decided to dig out my Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control and ponder the differences. And finally post something about Pore Control, because I need to work through the backlog of cushion entries that are sitting saved as drafts.
So, let's get started, shall we?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's contestants:
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF 50+ PA+++ in these two colors:
I have written before about the standard Laneige BB Cushion, also in No 14 - Pink Beige. In the meantime I also got a refill of the new shade No 11 - Light Beige.
So, right now, my Laneige cushions shades are as follows:
You can jump for joy that I don't own any Whitening or Anti-Aging Laneige Cushion versions.
(But if any store wants to send me a refill for review purposes, I'll happily accept it, hahahaha!)
What's a cushion foundation?
For the benefit of those readers, who are new to cushion foundations - it's a type of base makeup, where the liquid is housed in a foundation-saturated sponge, a.k.a. cushion.
The cushion sits in a specially designed compact and features a special applicator.
You press on the cushion with this applicator and then in a stamping motion apply the foundation to your face.
And that's it, in a nutshell.
Click on the tab "cushion foundations" to read about other cushions in my ever expanding collection.
Laneige is a well known Korean skincare and makeup brand hailing from Amore Pacific. Amore Pacific, despite its silly name, is a number 1 cosmetic company in Korea.
Think of it as the L'Oreal of Korea. Just like L'Oreal, Amore Pacific also holds a varied portfolio of brands - from inexpensive drugstore ones like Etude House, to high end fancy schmancy ones like Sulwhasoo.
Laneige is somewhere in the middle. Not high-end, and not bargain bin. Just a solid mid-range brand featuring a full assortment of skincare and makeup.
If you live in the US, you can buy certain Laneige products at Target. If you live in Europe, you can buy them online from Korea.
As with nearly all other cushions currently on the market (nearly, because there are always exceptions), Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control comes to us in a simple box.
My versions came to me from Korea, so they have Korean writing on them. I am only assuming that Singaporean and American versions have English text on them instead of hangul.
In the box (as you can see in one of the photos above), we get a cushion compact with a refill (15 gram) already loaded, a sealed refill packet (15 gram) and a leaflet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's see what the leaflet for Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control has to say:
Wow! It promises quite a lot.
Eventually, through trial and error, I noticed that it worked like magic when paired with Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV sunblock/base. When applied on top of Canmake, the cushion would last and last and last.
It's the semi-matte, non-dewy finish that is responsible for the illusion of perfect pore coverage.
Yes, it is non-greasy. That is definitely true.
It gives a beautiful powdery finish that I liked so much that I didn't bother to set with a powder. There was no need. My face wasn't shiny or dewy. But at the same time, it was still pretty glowing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cushion compact itself is pretty standard:
You can't tell what type of Laneige cushion it is from looking on the cover.
To check the details, you need to flip it over and look at the bottom:
And there you also can see the date of manufacture.
As you can see, this compact is loaded with a Pore Control No 14 Pink Beige refill.
Right side up and opened, there is the eponymous white and blue Rubycell applicator puff.
The puff picks up just enough of the product and ensures even application. Its special porous material (Rubycell technology) has antimicrobial properties that inhibit growth of mold and bacteria. So it's supposedly safe to dunk it in the cushion time and again, even after touching your face. Unfortunately, cleaning it an arduous task that I'd rather avoid, so I just buy multi pack replacements. Makes life a lot easier.
As you can see, this poor puff got a bit mangled by the lid of the compact.
And speaking of the puff and the lid.
Cushion compacts are equipped with an inner cover to protect the surface of the cushion. And the applicator puff fits nicely on top of that cover.
Yes, I know, stuffing a damp puff in there and closing the compact gives me nightmares, too. Yet oddly enough, despite being too lazy to wash the puff after each application, my face hasn't rotted off yet.
When you lift the inner cover, you can see that when the cushion is brand new, its surface is protected by a security sticker.
Some people save these stickers and reuse them to keep their cushions fresher longer. I don't bother.
I just peel it off and toss it in the garbage.
Pretty, pretty, hey, hey!
And this is what a cushion foundation it.
A chunk of sponge saturated with foundation. Of course, for this type of foundation to work, the liquid must be pretty, well... liquid.
That characteristic and the stamping application technique are responsible for the "second skin", flawless finish that cushions are famous for.
The cushion itself looks pretty dark, but when you dunk your finger in it, you realize that the actual foundation color is a lot lighter.
The cushion has a scent, but mercifully, it goes away pretty quickly (unlike other Laneige products, cough, sleeping pack, cough, white renew essence, cough).
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Swatches of Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control No 14 and No 13 (for comparison):
Recently, Amore Pacific has been adding new cushion shades to its many different brands.
Iope got a new shade number 13.
Laneige also got a couple of new colors, one supposedly lighter (No 11) and a darker one too?
I can't speak for the darker shades, though I understand that finding a cushion suitable for a darker skin color is a challenge.
Here's how the story goes for the pale and pasty folk:
It's frustrating. Very frustrating.
All swatch photos are unfiltered and were taken in natural light, just in different conditions, and with different cameras.
I decided to try No 13 True Beige on my face (unedited photo in natural light):
I didn't use a primer that day, this is how it looks on bare skin without any corrector or concealer.
As you can see, it didn't fully cover the melasma splotches on my forehead. The dark circles under my eyes are still there.
And you can clearly see that my face is not dewy wet but powdery and glowy at the same time.
The color is still a tiny bit too dark for the rest of me. My neck and collarbone area looks lighter than my face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF50+ PA+++ ingredients:
According to the Korean list on the leaflet, colors No 13 - True Beige, No 14 - Pink Beige, and No 21 - Natural Beige, have the same ingredient lists.
Color No 23 - Sand Beige has a slightly different list. Nothing important, all the basic ingredients are the same.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where to buy:
All reputable online stores selling Korean cosmetics should have a full assortment of Laneige cushions.
I got my cushions from TGI Wholesale (yes, you can buy retail from them) and from W2Beauty.
If you register on W2Beauty using this code: 182991708, you'll get $5.00 off your first order. You need to use this code 182991708 to receive the discount. Free worldwide shipping directly from Korea. Enjoy!
I honestly don't remember how much I paid. Check the websites to see current prices.
No 13 came through a trade with another blogger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conclusion:
I like it.
So, let's get started, shall we?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's contestants:
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF 50+ PA+++ in these two colors:
- No 13 - True Beige
- No 14 - Pink Beige.
I have written before about the standard Laneige BB Cushion, also in No 14 - Pink Beige. In the meantime I also got a refill of the new shade No 11 - Light Beige.
So, right now, my Laneige cushions shades are as follows:
- No 11 - Light Beige Laneige BB Cushion
- No 14 - Pink Beige Laneige BB Cushion
- No 13 - True Beige Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control
- No 14 - Pink Beige Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control
You can jump for joy that I don't own any Whitening or Anti-Aging Laneige Cushion versions.
(But if any store wants to send me a refill for review purposes, I'll happily accept it, hahahaha!)
I know this cushion is not for everyone. There are some less than flattering opinions on it out in the cyberspace.
Even for me, it took the heat and humidity of Japanese summer to fully appreciate this cushion's potential.
But first things first.
What's a cushion foundation?
For the benefit of those readers, who are new to cushion foundations - it's a type of base makeup, where the liquid is housed in a foundation-saturated sponge, a.k.a. cushion.
The cushion sits in a specially designed compact and features a special applicator.
You press on the cushion with this applicator and then in a stamping motion apply the foundation to your face.
And that's it, in a nutshell.
Click on the tab "cushion foundations" to read about other cushions in my ever expanding collection.
Laneige is a well known Korean skincare and makeup brand hailing from Amore Pacific. Amore Pacific, despite its silly name, is a number 1 cosmetic company in Korea.
Think of it as the L'Oreal of Korea. Just like L'Oreal, Amore Pacific also holds a varied portfolio of brands - from inexpensive drugstore ones like Etude House, to high end fancy schmancy ones like Sulwhasoo.
Laneige is somewhere in the middle. Not high-end, and not bargain bin. Just a solid mid-range brand featuring a full assortment of skincare and makeup.
If you live in the US, you can buy certain Laneige products at Target. If you live in Europe, you can buy them online from Korea.
As with nearly all other cushions currently on the market (nearly, because there are always exceptions), Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control comes to us in a simple box.
My versions came to me from Korea, so they have Korean writing on them. I am only assuming that Singaporean and American versions have English text on them instead of hangul.
In the box (as you can see in one of the photos above), we get a cushion compact with a refill (15 gram) already loaded, a sealed refill packet (15 gram) and a leaflet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's see what the leaflet for Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control has to say:
Wow! It promises quite a lot.
- Semi-matte finish?
- Long-lasting?
Eventually, through trial and error, I noticed that it worked like magic when paired with Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV sunblock/base. When applied on top of Canmake, the cushion would last and last and last.
- SPF50+PA+++?
- Cooling sensation?
- Pore coverage?
It's the semi-matte, non-dewy finish that is responsible for the illusion of perfect pore coverage.
- Pore Control?
Yes, it is non-greasy. That is definitely true.
It gives a beautiful powdery finish that I liked so much that I didn't bother to set with a powder. There was no need. My face wasn't shiny or dewy. But at the same time, it was still pretty glowing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cushion compact itself is pretty standard:
You can't tell what type of Laneige cushion it is from looking on the cover.
To check the details, you need to flip it over and look at the bottom:
And there you also can see the date of manufacture.
As you can see, this compact is loaded with a Pore Control No 14 Pink Beige refill.
Right side up and opened, there is the eponymous white and blue Rubycell applicator puff.
The puff picks up just enough of the product and ensures even application. Its special porous material (Rubycell technology) has antimicrobial properties that inhibit growth of mold and bacteria. So it's supposedly safe to dunk it in the cushion time and again, even after touching your face. Unfortunately, cleaning it an arduous task that I'd rather avoid, so I just buy multi pack replacements. Makes life a lot easier.
As you can see, this poor puff got a bit mangled by the lid of the compact.
And speaking of the puff and the lid.
Cushion compacts are equipped with an inner cover to protect the surface of the cushion. And the applicator puff fits nicely on top of that cover.
Yes, I know, stuffing a damp puff in there and closing the compact gives me nightmares, too. Yet oddly enough, despite being too lazy to wash the puff after each application, my face hasn't rotted off yet.
When you lift the inner cover, you can see that when the cushion is brand new, its surface is protected by a security sticker.
Some people save these stickers and reuse them to keep their cushions fresher longer. I don't bother.
I just peel it off and toss it in the garbage.
Pretty, pretty, hey, hey!
And this is what a cushion foundation it.
A chunk of sponge saturated with foundation. Of course, for this type of foundation to work, the liquid must be pretty, well... liquid.
That characteristic and the stamping application technique are responsible for the "second skin", flawless finish that cushions are famous for.
The cushion itself looks pretty dark, but when you dunk your finger in it, you realize that the actual foundation color is a lot lighter.
The cushion has a scent, but mercifully, it goes away pretty quickly (unlike other Laneige products, cough, sleeping pack, cough, white renew essence, cough).
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Swatches of Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control No 14 and No 13 (for comparison):
Recently, Amore Pacific has been adding new cushion shades to its many different brands.
Iope got a new shade number 13.
Laneige also got a couple of new colors, one supposedly lighter (No 11) and a darker one too?
I can't speak for the darker shades, though I understand that finding a cushion suitable for a darker skin color is a challenge.
Here's how the story goes for the pale and pasty folk:
It's frustrating. Very frustrating.
All swatch photos are unfiltered and were taken in natural light, just in different conditions, and with different cameras.
I decided to try No 13 True Beige on my face (unedited photo in natural light):
I didn't use a primer that day, this is how it looks on bare skin without any corrector or concealer.
As you can see, it didn't fully cover the melasma splotches on my forehead. The dark circles under my eyes are still there.
And you can clearly see that my face is not dewy wet but powdery and glowy at the same time.
The color is still a tiny bit too dark for the rest of me. My neck and collarbone area looks lighter than my face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF50+ PA+++ ingredients:
According to the Korean list on the leaflet, colors No 13 - True Beige, No 14 - Pink Beige, and No 21 - Natural Beige, have the same ingredient lists.
Color No 23 - Sand Beige has a slightly different list. Nothing important, all the basic ingredients are the same.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where to buy:
All reputable online stores selling Korean cosmetics should have a full assortment of Laneige cushions.
I got my cushions from TGI Wholesale (yes, you can buy retail from them) and from W2Beauty.
If you register on W2Beauty using this code: 182991708, you'll get $5.00 off your first order. You need to use this code 182991708 to receive the discount. Free worldwide shipping directly from Korea. Enjoy!
I honestly don't remember how much I paid. Check the websites to see current prices.
No 13 came through a trade with another blogger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conclusion:
I like it.
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF50+ PA+++ is PERFECT for the summer. It survives crazy heat and humidity. It doesn't clog my pores (maybe the magical pore care is really working?). It doesn't make me break out.
What more would a girl want?
(from a mid-range foundation anyway).
The end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer:
This post contains an affiliate link. Shopping through the affiliate link helps support this blog.
All products featured in today's post were purchased or traded by me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer:
This post contains an affiliate link. Shopping through the affiliate link helps support this blog.
All products featured in today's post were purchased or traded by me.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Solanoveil White Milk and Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk sunblocks
You know what annoys me to no end?
Two things:
- when my local store is selling something that disappeared from the manufacturer's website, meaning it has been discontinued, most likely,
- sloppy CosDNA entries - I'm not an ingredient nazi, but I know many people are and CosDNA is their bible. And I'm realizing now that in their overenthusiastic zeal to enter as many products into the database, many times they tend to get sloppy or take shortcuts. Missing ingredients due to poor copy-paste skills, missing ingredients due to poor translations, missing ingredients due to careless typing...
I've realized that unless I input it in there myself, I can't trust the existing entires.
OK, rant over...
Let's introduce today's contestants.
- Solanoveil White Milk SPF50+ PA+++ 40 ml (made by Omi and also known as Solanoveil Medicated Bihaku Milk)
and
- Mentholatum Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++ 40 ml (made by Rohto and, fortunately, only going under one name, yay)
Solanoveil White Milk SPF50+ PA+++ has disappeared from the manufacturer's website, but it's still available at drugstores, at least in my neck of the woods.
Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++ is just one of the 23423 different sunscreens in the Skin Aqua range.
They are both in the very affordable category costing less than a 1000 yen a piece.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's start with Solanoveil White Milk SPF50+ PA+++.
Here is the entry about it on Ratzilla's website.
In the ingredient section (in Japanese), Ratzi links to Omi's (the company) website but this particular sunblock no longer appears in their current lineup. Oh well... It happens. And while Ratzilla doesn't list it as "discontinued", it certainly looks like it went bye-bye.
It's supposed to be moisturizing and the word "white" in the name refers to the fact that it claims to prevent hyper-pigmentation due to UV exposure. In other words - no sun spots, or so it says.
Solanoveil White Milk SPF50+ PA+++'s active ingredients are Tocopheryl Acetate (a form of Vitamin E, anti-oxidant), Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate (a form of Licorice extract, soothing for dry skin) and pig placenta extract (who the heck knows what that is supposed to be doing).
Ratzi has the ingredients on her website, but here's a closeup of the Japanese version:
Not sure which one of these is responsible for the smell of this sunscreen, but let me tell you, this thing stinks.
It smells like furniture polish. That fake, vaguely citrusy smell of furniture spray, you know what I mean, right? Yeah, that's the smell of this sunscreen.
Due to this smell I couldn't use it on my face. The smell lingers and sticks to the skin. Pity, because otherwise it's a very decent sunscreen.
Despite only PA+++ rating (PA ranking refers to the amount of protection from the UVA rays, SPF - from UVB rays.) it was a surprisingly effective sunscreen.
Solanoveil White Milk SPF50+ PA+++ gets its sun protection from these UV filters:
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate a.k.a. Octinoxate (to absorb UVB rays)
- Zinc Oxide (to protect against UVA and UVB)
- Titanium Dioxide (against UVA and UVB)
And this is how it looked on the skin:
It's a quite thick, milky liquid that spreads easily and dries to a semi-matte, semi-satin finish. Non-sticky, non-greasy, non-filmy. There was no noticeable white cast on my skin.
I used it far away from my nose (the awful scent!) and it worked great.
It's supposed to be water-, sweat- and sebum resistant but I reapplied often.
I used an oil cleanser to remove it while taking a shower.
As I only applied it on my arms and legs, I can't tell if it would clog pores or cause breakouts. I tend to get eczema from just about everything, but there were no major signs of irritation from this product.
So there... It smells like furniture polish, it has pig placenta extract and it seems to be discontinued. Pity. They should have just fixed the scent. And changed pig to sheep to make it kosher / halal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next up we have Mentholatum Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++.
Here is what Ratzilla has to say about it.
As the name suggests, Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++ is supposed to be moisturizing. It has collagen, two kinds of hyaluronic acid and amino acids, and yeah, it is moist. Very moist.
Again, only PA+++ rating here.
These are the UV filters in Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++:
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate a.k.a. Octinoxate (to absorb UVB rays)
- Zinc Oxide (to protect against UVA and UVB)
- Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate a.k.a. Uvinul A Plus (to absorb UVA rays)
And here's the list in Japanese up close:
It's the same as what's on the manufacturer's website.
Here is the CosDNA analysis of Mentholatum Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++. No major irritants found, it should be good for sensitive skin.
There was no offensive smell. In fact, I didn't detect any noticeable smell at all.
This is how Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++ behaved on the skin:
It's more watery than Solanoveil and doesn't look as oily when it's spread out.
It dried to a semi-matte, semi-satin finish.
Again, it's supposed to be water-, sweat- and sebum resistant.
All fine and lovely, except for one thing.
This sunscreen didn't work for me at all.
At. All.
I don't spend much time outside. In fact when I work, I don't spend any time outside. I just walk from my car to the building in the morning, and then back to the car in the afternoon. It's not a long walk. Less than 5 minutes.
And during that walk on the first day I used this sunscreen my arms got tanned.
I'm not a sunscreen virgin. But in my stupidity, even the tan on my arms, I decided to test it on my face.
The result?
My face now is a tone darker than my neck.
Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++ went straight to the garbage after the photo session.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other details:
Both sunscreen bottles are semi-transparent, if you hold them against the light, you can see how much product is left inside.
As both products are milks, they have a mixing ball inside. You need to shake the bottle to make sure the contents are uniformly blended.
Both have a typical spout dispenser:
Of the two Solanoveil is thicker and more substantial. Skin Aqua is more watery.
Both claim to double as makeup bases. I didn't test Solanoveil on my face, so I can't tell you how it would perform under makeup.
And I didn't put any makeup on top of Skin Aqua. That was supposed to be stage two of face testing. However, we never got that far.
Here you can see them side by side:
Skin Aqua looks a lot lighter. Pity it didn't work for me.
So that's that.
The one that worked smelled bad and seems to be discontinued.
The one that didn't work for me had a lighter texture and no offensive smell. And it's still in production.
Murphy's Law.
The search goes on...
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant skincare line
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a fan of A-True. I like that the brand is trying something, while maybe not exactly new and original, definitely solid and reliable. In other words, A-True is doing what it can to stick to the plan and claim a very small, tiny niche in the very crowded world of Korean skincare.
I admire that ambition. And I admire the gumption. And the mostly moderate amount of crap in their PR blurbs. And I appreciate that instead of giving us a magical ingredient that can't really be independently verified (yes, Cremorlab, I am looking at you and your thermal water), A-True goes with a tried and true (haha, I'm so clever) approach.
Which is - tea. And tea is good. Hard to argue with that (unless you're an LDS, but just give it a couple more decades and even that sad bit of the gospel will be revised, mark my words).
And even though I am A-True's biggest fan girl (here are my other A-True reviews), I am not blind to the brand's shortcomings. And just like in the case of Cremorlab, I must say that while A-True is good, solid, basic skincare, it's also terribly overpriced.
Overpriced to the point that unless you can find it somewhere for 30% to 50% off, don't bother buying otherwise.
That's how I got today's products. My friend, who runs an online shop, was having a massive A-True clearance.
Today we are going to take a closer look at these three products:
White Snow Tea is A-True's bestselling "whitening", or rather - brightening, line. Last year samples from this line were also my initial introduction to the brand.
Yes, A-True is a Korean cosmetic brand that, instead of water, uses either tea, or fermented tea extract in its cosmetics.
A-True White Snow Tea line features, as the name suggests, white tea.
White Snow Tea? Snow Buds? Is there even such a thing?
Turns out there is. It's grown primarily in the Fujian province in China.
And "cultivated in spring during 2 days out of the entire year"? Well, almost true. Not "cultivated" but harvested. And not 2 days, but a very short window of time. And yes, in the spring.
The whole idea is to harvest the leaves and tea buds when they are very young, as only such young tea leaves can produce high quality white tea.
Why is it white? The name comes from the "fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the plant a whitish appearance." (source: Wikipedia - white tea).
The tea itself is not white, but pale yellow.
And what about the claim that "the extract of white tea protects the skin from dark spots..."?
Well, turns out that A-True might be onto something here.
Wiki again helpfully explains that:
A-True gets its tea from a real place, which apparently, is quite fancy - Compagnie Coloniale.
For some of its skincare it then ferments the tea water. Yep, ferments. Not once, but twice. 1st fermentation uses Saccharomyces, and 2nd - Xylinum.
Today's contestants are not fermented. They all use straight tea water and tea leaf extract.
So let's get started, shall we?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream
Seriously, Korean companies must have some sort of an ongoing competition who can come up with the longest and the most convoluted name.
The box is plain and simple, just the way I like it. No cutesy designs and zero childishness.
Inside the box we have a 50 gram jar of cream, a spatula and a leaflet.
The lid is secured with a sticker. The jar looks fancy, but it's all cheap plastic. It bothers me when brands that aspire to be seen as fancy, pack their "fancy" creams in cheap, plastic jars. Why does it bother me? Plastic for cosmetic packaging is always "virgin" plastic, meaning it has to be made fresh, and not from recycled materials. And after the products are all used up and the jars are empty, such cosmetic packaging cannot be fully recycled. It can only be "down-cycled" for industrial use. Meaning, every time you open a plastic jar of "fancy" cream, it's a fresh, purpose-made piece of plastic.
In contrast, glass packaging can be infinitely recycled. But... glass packaging is expensive to make. Plastic is cheap. Money talks.
This is not the first time when I see Asian companies (even super fancy ones) pissing on the environment. And I don't know about you, but the environment is important to me.
Anyway, back to the cream...
In a typical A-True fashion, the inner cover got stuck inside the lid and as I have short nails, it took a kitchen knife to pry it out. (It seems to happen with all their creams).
And in a typical A-True fashion, the content of the jar has shifted.
The cream is very light. It's PERFECT for our hot and humid summer. It moisturizes without being greasy. It absorbs in a flash. It has a faint scent. But it's a pleasant scent. Vaguely tea-like, but not quite.
This is exactly what I loved about this cream last summer. This is exactly what started my obsession with A-True.
I'm using the entire A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant line in the morning. Let me repeat it once again, it's PERFECT under makeup. My skin is dry, but with close to 100% humidity outside, I don't need to slather on extra moisturizers. A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant does the trick.
I'm guessing it would be ideal for combo and oily skin in less extreme climates.
The cream is slightly pearlescent, but as you can see, it dries to a nice, matte finish.
Nothing to complain about here.
It doesn't break me out, it doesn't clog my pores, it doesn't make my red face any redder.
To be honest, I didn't notice any major "brilliance", but then again, it's not what I was expecting.
I was expecting moisture that would work under makeup in extreme conditions, and I got exactly that.
But to be honest, I also noticed that my complexion is, indeed, more even, when using A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant line.
However, it's a temporary effect, probably due to the pearlescent nature of the products.
This is what the leaflet has to say about A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream:
They talk about moisture - I agree. Comfort - yes, I agree again. Improves overall radiance? Yes, but temporarily.
Still, good enough for me. I like it.
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream ingredients:
Because Korea doesn't follow the American (and Japanese) ingredient listing order rules, please use it only as a general guidance to see what's IN a product.
Next up we have the essence. Yes, I realize that we are going backwards here. We started with the cream, now the essence, and yes, we are going to finish with the toner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Essence
Again, the same simple design.
Inside the box we have a 40 ml bottle of essence and a leaflet.
There's a pump. Not airless, but better than nothing.
This essence is almost like a light cream, or a heavy milk.
Again, slightly pearly, with a gentle, delicious smell.
And as you can see, it absorbs fully, and leaves NO white, sticky residue.
I love A-True essences (though they are really more like emulsions), and if there is one item from this line that I'm going to definitely repurchase, this is it.
I really can't find anything to complain about here. Except maybe for the price...
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Essence ingredients:
And here is the official spiel:
And the expiration date:
Again, I like it.
A good, solid product worth trying, if you can find it on promotion somewhere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
And finally, last but not least:
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner
Don't know about you, but toner is one of those skincare products that I use a lot of. It goes the fastest at my house. The fact that I use it with dry sheet mask capsules for instant refreshment for my poor face surely has something to do with it as well.
Either way, I go through liters and liters of toner. So when I hear that someone is using the same bottle of toner for a few months, I always wonder how they manage that. Because I can't.
Inside the box we get a 180 ml bottle of toner and a leaflet.
Look guys, this is what I really liked about this bottle. It came sealed like that:
And if you are really obsessive about your skincare, you could save this plug and reuse it. I didn't. I tossed it in the garbage. My toner isn't going to last long enough to be stored with a plug.
I like how A-True prints expiration dates on their products, instead of manufacturing dates. Though, in all fairness, having both dates would be even nicer.
As you can see, A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner is a clear liquid that dries to a nice matte finish. It's light and non-greasy. It absorbs fast. Again, perfect for the summer. And it smells yummy!
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner ingredients:
All three products in this line have Niacinamide in them to even skintone and fade discolorations. Some people swear by Niacinamide. Personally, it does nothing for me.
I like this toner for its refreshing and moisturizing properties.
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner official blurb:
All in all, it's a solid skincare line. It delivers ample moisture without being heavy, or greasy, or sticky. It's perfect for the summer. It should work well for combination and oily skin types. It works well under makeup and thus makes an ideal morning routine.
As all A-True products, this line is formulated without alcohol and parabens:
And A-True doesn't test on animals! Yay!
The only problem with A-True is that it's terribly overpriced. However, if you see a promotion on it somewhere, buy it. It's worth it.
You can purchase A-True at Jolse - a reputable Korean online cosmetic shop.
I got my A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant set at Berdever.pl.
I admire that ambition. And I admire the gumption. And the mostly moderate amount of crap in their PR blurbs. And I appreciate that instead of giving us a magical ingredient that can't really be independently verified (yes, Cremorlab, I am looking at you and your thermal water), A-True goes with a tried and true (haha, I'm so clever) approach.
Which is - tea. And tea is good. Hard to argue with that (unless you're an LDS, but just give it a couple more decades and even that sad bit of the gospel will be revised, mark my words).
And even though I am A-True's biggest fan girl (here are my other A-True reviews), I am not blind to the brand's shortcomings. And just like in the case of Cremorlab, I must say that while A-True is good, solid, basic skincare, it's also terribly overpriced.
Overpriced to the point that unless you can find it somewhere for 30% to 50% off, don't bother buying otherwise.
That's how I got today's products. My friend, who runs an online shop, was having a massive A-True clearance.
Today we are going to take a closer look at these three products:
- A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream
- A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Essence, and
- A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner
White Snow Tea is A-True's bestselling "whitening", or rather - brightening, line. Last year samples from this line were also my initial introduction to the brand.
Yes, A-True is a Korean cosmetic brand that, instead of water, uses either tea, or fermented tea extract in its cosmetics.
A-True White Snow Tea line features, as the name suggests, white tea.
White Snow Tea? Snow Buds? Is there even such a thing?
Turns out there is. It's grown primarily in the Fujian province in China.
And "cultivated in spring during 2 days out of the entire year"? Well, almost true. Not "cultivated" but harvested. And not 2 days, but a very short window of time. And yes, in the spring.
The whole idea is to harvest the leaves and tea buds when they are very young, as only such young tea leaves can produce high quality white tea.
Why is it white? The name comes from the "fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the plant a whitish appearance." (source: Wikipedia - white tea).
The tea itself is not white, but pale yellow.
And what about the claim that "the extract of white tea protects the skin from dark spots..."?
Well, turns out that A-True might be onto something here.
Wiki again helpfully explains that:
"Like black and green tea, white tea is also derived from Camellia sinensis. Thus, white tea shares many of the same chemical properties and health effects of tea. However, white tea contains the most antioxidants."But how exactly that translates into skincare is a mystery to me.
A-True gets its tea from a real place, which apparently, is quite fancy - Compagnie Coloniale.
For some of its skincare it then ferments the tea water. Yep, ferments. Not once, but twice. 1st fermentation uses Saccharomyces, and 2nd - Xylinum.
Today's contestants are not fermented. They all use straight tea water and tea leaf extract.
So let's get started, shall we?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream
Seriously, Korean companies must have some sort of an ongoing competition who can come up with the longest and the most convoluted name.
The box is plain and simple, just the way I like it. No cutesy designs and zero childishness.
Inside the box we have a 50 gram jar of cream, a spatula and a leaflet.
The lid is secured with a sticker. The jar looks fancy, but it's all cheap plastic. It bothers me when brands that aspire to be seen as fancy, pack their "fancy" creams in cheap, plastic jars. Why does it bother me? Plastic for cosmetic packaging is always "virgin" plastic, meaning it has to be made fresh, and not from recycled materials. And after the products are all used up and the jars are empty, such cosmetic packaging cannot be fully recycled. It can only be "down-cycled" for industrial use. Meaning, every time you open a plastic jar of "fancy" cream, it's a fresh, purpose-made piece of plastic.
In contrast, glass packaging can be infinitely recycled. But... glass packaging is expensive to make. Plastic is cheap. Money talks.
This is not the first time when I see Asian companies (even super fancy ones) pissing on the environment. And I don't know about you, but the environment is important to me.
Anyway, back to the cream...
In a typical A-True fashion, the inner cover got stuck inside the lid and as I have short nails, it took a kitchen knife to pry it out. (It seems to happen with all their creams).
And in a typical A-True fashion, the content of the jar has shifted.
The cream is very light. It's PERFECT for our hot and humid summer. It moisturizes without being greasy. It absorbs in a flash. It has a faint scent. But it's a pleasant scent. Vaguely tea-like, but not quite.
This is exactly what I loved about this cream last summer. This is exactly what started my obsession with A-True.
I'm using the entire A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant line in the morning. Let me repeat it once again, it's PERFECT under makeup. My skin is dry, but with close to 100% humidity outside, I don't need to slather on extra moisturizers. A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant does the trick.
I'm guessing it would be ideal for combo and oily skin in less extreme climates.
The cream is slightly pearlescent, but as you can see, it dries to a nice, matte finish.
Nothing to complain about here.
It doesn't break me out, it doesn't clog my pores, it doesn't make my red face any redder.
To be honest, I didn't notice any major "brilliance", but then again, it's not what I was expecting.
I was expecting moisture that would work under makeup in extreme conditions, and I got exactly that.
But to be honest, I also noticed that my complexion is, indeed, more even, when using A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant line.
However, it's a temporary effect, probably due to the pearlescent nature of the products.
This is what the leaflet has to say about A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream:
They talk about moisture - I agree. Comfort - yes, I agree again. Improves overall radiance? Yes, but temporarily.
Still, good enough for me. I like it.
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Aurora Cream ingredients:
Because Korea doesn't follow the American (and Japanese) ingredient listing order rules, please use it only as a general guidance to see what's IN a product.
Next up we have the essence. Yes, I realize that we are going backwards here. We started with the cream, now the essence, and yes, we are going to finish with the toner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Essence
Again, the same simple design.
Inside the box we have a 40 ml bottle of essence and a leaflet.
There's a pump. Not airless, but better than nothing.
This essence is almost like a light cream, or a heavy milk.
Again, slightly pearly, with a gentle, delicious smell.
And as you can see, it absorbs fully, and leaves NO white, sticky residue.
I love A-True essences (though they are really more like emulsions), and if there is one item from this line that I'm going to definitely repurchase, this is it.
I really can't find anything to complain about here. Except maybe for the price...
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Essence ingredients:
And here is the official spiel:
And the expiration date:
Again, I like it.
A good, solid product worth trying, if you can find it on promotion somewhere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
And finally, last but not least:
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner
Don't know about you, but toner is one of those skincare products that I use a lot of. It goes the fastest at my house. The fact that I use it with dry sheet mask capsules for instant refreshment for my poor face surely has something to do with it as well.
Either way, I go through liters and liters of toner. So when I hear that someone is using the same bottle of toner for a few months, I always wonder how they manage that. Because I can't.
Inside the box we get a 180 ml bottle of toner and a leaflet.
Look guys, this is what I really liked about this bottle. It came sealed like that:
And if you are really obsessive about your skincare, you could save this plug and reuse it. I didn't. I tossed it in the garbage. My toner isn't going to last long enough to be stored with a plug.
I like how A-True prints expiration dates on their products, instead of manufacturing dates. Though, in all fairness, having both dates would be even nicer.
As you can see, A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner is a clear liquid that dries to a nice matte finish. It's light and non-greasy. It absorbs fast. Again, perfect for the summer. And it smells yummy!
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner ingredients:
All three products in this line have Niacinamide in them to even skintone and fade discolorations. Some people swear by Niacinamide. Personally, it does nothing for me.
I like this toner for its refreshing and moisturizing properties.
A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant Toner official blurb:
All in all, it's a solid skincare line. It delivers ample moisture without being heavy, or greasy, or sticky. It's perfect for the summer. It should work well for combination and oily skin types. It works well under makeup and thus makes an ideal morning routine.
As all A-True products, this line is formulated without alcohol and parabens:
And A-True doesn't test on animals! Yay!
The only problem with A-True is that it's terribly overpriced. However, if you see a promotion on it somewhere, buy it. It's worth it.
You can purchase A-True at Jolse - a reputable Korean online cosmetic shop.
I got my A-True White Snow Tea Brilliant set at Berdever.pl.
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