[COLLECTION] Best of Beauty 2015

Stock Photo from PinkPot

2015 ~ It wasn't my best year. There were a lot of changes and transitions that really force growth. Even now, I don't know if there will ever be a moment when I won't be growing. I think that's just life. You face challenges, you meet them, and then you deal with it to the best of your abilities. While in the meantime, indulge in things that make you happy - which in my case is playing with makeup.

MAKE UP

On the beauty front, I really stuck with simple, easy things that I knew I could depend on.  Here are my beauty favourites of 2015. This is the first time I'm writing this type of post and I'm truly showing everything that I would genuinely repurchase if I ever use up. Many, many of the things are stuff I've shown before and if you ever ask me for recommendations, these are the things I would suggest.

Too Cool For School - Artclass by Rodin: It's become my go-to-contour palette this entire year. Neither too cool nor too warm, I think it will suit a lot of skintones. (Reviewed Here)

Clio Touching Apple Cheek: This is my second favourite for contour. Simple and quick, it gives me instant cheekbones - though it's not as long lasting as the TCFS.

Urban Decay Duo Shadow in Sin/Mushroom: I love this combination. Sin is amazingly natural, bright, and beautiful while Mushroom is warmer and taupe. It's just an easy duo to have and to throw into my purse when I'm traveling.

Etude House Surprise Concealer: My go-to for amazing coverage under the eyes. Got to keep those bags under control!

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick (Barely There): I highly recommend this lipstick range for anybody. It's a drugstore gem. (Shown Here)

Dior Addict Lip Glow: This goes into my work bag everyday - simple, moisturizing, and gives a natural tint of colour.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow 20E: Just about my favourite stick shadow at the moment. The colour is light neutral taupe.

Innisfree Ampoule Intense Cushion: It's really hydrating but not overly dewy!

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner (Black Scotch):  I love this liner! It's seriously a great everyday special something colour. I see it on Sephora.ca so I guess, it's back this year? (Reviewed Here)

Tony Moly Peach Lip Balm: This is my favourite lip balm of all times. It's clear but really hydrating. I put it on before I sleep and in the morning I can still feel it. It smells really tastey too!

Dior Rosy Glow Blush: This is actually my second favorite blush of this year and every time I use it, I try to be really careful not to dent the design. My absolute favourite blush is Etude House's Cookie Blusher in Grapefruit. I've lost it somewhere though. 

Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer: This mascara primer out performs a lot of more expensive lashes primers.

Physician's Formula Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio: I've been using these for years and I still can't find anything better. They last really well and does not smudge on my oily eyelids.

Etude House Drawing Eye Brow Pencil: This is a simple slanted pencil that twists up. It's really cheap and easy to use. I've gone through many of these.

Darkness Eye Lash Glue: The best eyelash glue ever. It's got a wand tip that allows for more precision.

SKIN CARE

Missha Flower Bouquet Cherry Blossom Cleansing Oil: It gets everything off easily and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry nor irritated. (Reviewed Here)

Mamonde Lotus Mud Mask: This draws out clogged pores without feeling overly drying. In fact, after rinsing it off, my skin feels pretty nice. (Reviewed Here)

Aritaum Fair Smile Fermentation Lip and Eye Remover: This really gets even the most stubborn eye makeup off easily. (Reviewed Here)

Physician's Formula Ultra Nourishing Argan Oil: I love adding a drop of this into my moisturizer just to amp up hydration.

Scinic Snail Matrix Cream: This stuff is wonderful! I pulled it out after my skin began having really dry patches again. When I use this I don't need the Physician's Formula Argan Oil. (Reviewed Here).

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream: This eye cream has a bit of cooling sensation as well as a peach tint so it's great in the morning when I'm in a hurry but I'm also feeling tired.

Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate: Really light, hydrating, sinks in quickly and does not mess with my eye makeup. The only downside is that it's expensive. I've just been using this at night time to ration out the sample. 

Bother Pure-Fect Skin Gel Cleanser: Although it may seem like a runny clear gel, it actually lathers up amazingly and cleans my skin without stripping it. 

That's it for my favourites 2015! I felt almost a bit guilty pulling this list together after realizing a lot of the products are things I've reviewed but I hope you've found it helpful. I'd like to know, what are your favourite item of last year?

6 comments Aritaum, biotherm, bobbi brown, clarions, Clio, collection, Dior, etude house, Innisfree, Mamonde, missha, Origins, physician's formula, scinic, Tony Moly, too cool for school, Urban Decay

[REVIEW] Mamonde Lotus Mud Mask

When I look in the mirror these days, I am no longer satisfied with how my skin looks. There are dry patches, itchiness, redness, lines, pimples, and congested pores. It's a constant reminder that I'm not taking enough care of my skin even though I try really hard to. I think Korean skincare has really spoiled me over the years and at the moment because I'm not using any, my skin is really going through issues.

One of the ways I try to clear my skin is through the use of mud masks. Previously I've written about the Innisfree Volcanic Clay Mask, which is a cult favourite, but I believe I may have found something even better. Mamonde Lotus Micro Mud Mask is a relatively new product compared to Innisfree's clay mask.  It came out around last summer and is not as well known. 

I received a few samples of it in a trial kit and have been loving it since. 

Mamonde Lotus Micro Mud Mask ~ 80ml ~ 15 000Won 

Claims:

Cleans dirt and makeup, deep cleansing effect on pores.

Ingredient from lotus flower, salt, mud provide moisture and 

nutrition, protect skin against external irritant factors.

One of the reasons why I love the Mamonde Lotus Micro Mud Mask is that it's really wet. I don't have any issues of tugging during application because it glides onto the skin easily and it feels really refreshing. When it dries, it still feels really comfortable. It doesn't make my skin feel like it would crack underneath the dry clay which some drying masks can do. 

Even after being opened for almost a year, the Mamonde mud mask was nearly just as moist as when I first opened it. This is incredible because the Innisfree Volcanic Clay Masks dries up in the tube within a few months, making it unusable even before I finish the tube up. Since I tend to use mud masks only once a week, it's impossible for me to finish a 100g tube within that time. 

It's recommended that you leave the mask on for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. 10 minutes usually isn't long enough for the mask to dry on me so I keep it on for 15. With a bit of gentle massaging, it comes off easily. 

Before 

 First applied - wet surface

 After 15 minutes - dry surface

After

Although there isn't a very noticeable difference between the before and after pictures, I find that this mask is really good at raising blackheads and pimples. It doesn't remove them completely but it does bring them to the surface so that they can come out faster. 

As I've mentioned before, the mask doesn't make my skin feel tight nor dry. Even after rinsing it off, my skin feels really nice, supple and oddly hydrated. While rinsing the mud mask off, the massaging, heat and warm water also help buff dry patches off. 

After clearing off the mask completely, I find that my skin absorbs my moisturizer faster. Perhaps it's because my pores are open from the warm water. 

Overall, I really love this mask. It doesn't magically pop out the blackheads or pimples but it does help bring them up slowly. It doesn't dry in the tube so I can still use it even after almost a year. Most importantly, it makes my skin feel great. 

Thanks for reading!

6 comments Korean, Mamonde, mud mask, review, skincare

Current Skincare Routine (Mostly Korean Products)

Hi everyone! Today, I'd like to share with you the products that I use almost everyday as part of my skincare routine. These products are mostly Korean skincare products that I've purchased while I was in Korea and they work well for me.

CLEANSING

1. MISSHA Green Tea Eye and Lip Makeup Remover (reviewed here)
2. Banila Co Clean It Zero (reviewed here)
3. Mamonde Lotus Micro Mild Foam - this is a really gentle cleanser that I like to use as a second 
step. It foams up just a little and it's not really all that strong. 

SERUM AND EMULSION

1. Hanyul Optimizing Serum (review coming soon)

2. Hanyul Rice Essential Skin Emulsion (review coming soon)

Normally, I like to use a toner after cleansing my skin. However, at the moment I'm out it. If you guys have any recommendations, please leave it in the comments section :)

 OIL AND SKIN CREAM

1. Physician's Formula Argan Oil (Night Usage Only) - I've been really enjoying this argan oil. I see a noticeable softness and hydration in my skin after applying it on the night before.
2. Iope Ultimate Hydro Cream (review coming soon) - this is a really light weight gel like cream that provides amazing hydration even in the coldest and driest of winters.

SLEEPING MASK

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask (review coming soon) - I like to use this on days when my skin feels a bit beaten up. 

EYE CREAM

Innisfree Eco Science Eye Cream - yes, I'm still using this product. I've lost count of the number of times I've repurchased this. I adore it and I've yet to find a replacement. (Reviewed here).

15 comments Banila Co, beauty, cleansing oil, hanyul, Innisfree, iope, Korean, makeup, Mamonde, missha, physician's formula, regime, review, skincare, Sulwhasoo