[REVIEW] MISSHA EYE FIT STICK SHADOW

Hi everyone, it's been a while since my last blogs but I'm glad to be back with a review of something I've been really enjoying. Back a few months ago, I hauled a MISSHA Eye Stick with my Snoopy haul. I was a bit disappointed with the color that I choose because it was a good deal warmer than the promo picture.  HOWEVER, I actually came to really like the actual product and since then I have purchased two more to review!

I don't usually use eyeshadows because my eyelid space isn't that large and I don't really know how to work eyeshadow nor have the time to figure out the whole contouring thing. However, eyeshadow sticks have been a huge time saver! Although, I'd say I've used quite a few from different brands, these have definitely been my favourites.

The Missha Eye Fit Stick Shadows are incredibly pigmented and creamy. While I've started out with a shimmery shade, SVL01 Dry Lavender, I really appreciate that they've also got matte shades which are equally as creamy and pigmented.

PRICE

5 800 Won ~ 1.3g

PACKAGE

In terms of packaging, Missha has done a really good job matching the ends of sticks to the actual colour inside. I also love how it's a twist up. However, the lid does not close tight. It feels almost like it doesn't sit right. It's similar to how the NARs lip crayon packaging where you kind of just shove the lid on top. I have a major issue with this kind of packaging because I usually end up cracking the lid from pressing it too hard onto the pencil.

The tips of the pencils are rounded which makes it really soft and easy to glide all over the lids. 

COLOURS

MBR01 MAPLE HONEY: A cool tone, tan brown.

MBR02 SAND CASTLE: A matte, pinky brown (reminds me of Etude House BR401)

SVL01 DRY LAVENDER: A sparkly, warm tone taupe with pink shimmer. It's slightly got a hint of purple. Although the promo picture reminds me of Wet n' Wild's taupe in Silent Treatment, in reality it's nothing like it!

OVERALL

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much when I first purchased this because Missha products are either hit or miss and these were pretty much dirt cheap. However, these truly impressed me. They glide on like butter (smoother than anything I've used so far) and with pretty solid colour payoff. After application, they can still be smudged and they're not completely budge proof if I rub my eyes, but if I don't touch my eyes, they stay really put. These factors make these my go - to shadows for everyday. I really appreciate how these have a variety of matte, shimmer, and glitter shades. I really recommend these! They make getting ready so much faster and easier.

5 comments eye, eyeshadow, makeup, missha, review, stick

[REVIEW] Aritaum Shine Fix Eyes #1 Snow Magic #2 Pink Oyster #13 Brown Bunny

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've last blogged and I apologize for going MIA.  The main reasons have been lighting and dissatisfaction with my photos. Over the last few months, I've realized that I'm not happy with how my photos look. They're quite plain and I don't want that anymore.  I really wanted to improve but my mind just isn't picking up on any type of creativity or inspiration lately. I didn't want to put out anymore photos that I'm not proud of and the stress of it just made me stop blogging altogether. I've realized now that not blogging is counter-productive and so I'm back. My photos are just going to have to improve along the way.

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Although I've been thoroughly enjoying the matte, naked look I've decided to come back with a little bit of bling to give my eyes a bit more life.  The holidays may be over but I love keeping a bit of shine in my daily life and there is nothing more sparkly in my collections then the Aritaum Shine Fix Eyes.

Aritaum Shine Fix Eyes originally came out as part of a Limited Edition Holiday Collection back a few years ago. However, due to the amazing response and demand they received, Aritaum decided to make it part of their permanent collection and over the years, they've added more and more colours. To date, there are 35 colours and the collection seems never endingly expanding - which just speaks volumes of its success.

PRICE
8 000 Won ~ Aritaum (Often on 1+1 deals)

NEW COLOURS

(Source: Aritaum Website)

Today, I will be sharing with you my picks which are pretty basic colours. 

 #1 Snow Magic, #2 Pink Oyster, and #13 Brown Bunny.

PACKAGING

Aritaum Shine Fix Eyes are housed in simple, plastic containers with a little plastic piece in the middle to keep the product flat. The tops of the lids are also flat making it easy to stack on top of each other. The large sticker on the back makes it easy to read the names. It's quite similar to the Maybelline Colour Tattoo pots except a study plastic instead of glass. 

TEXTURE

In the pots, the shadows are soft and cushiony. Once applied on the eyes, they feel quite dry. There is quite a lot of product squished down in the little pots. The glitter, although fine, do have a range of sizes. 

#1 Snow Magic: before I even went into the store and swatched these, I knew I wanted Snow Magic. I feel that it's the most versatile out of all the shades in this collection because it could be layered on top of other shades of eyeshadow. It's just a white base shadow with white/silver sparkles.

#2 Pink Oyster: I fell in love with this shimmery pink sparkle. It's beautiful for the inner corners of the eyes and on the lower lash line. This is a great alternative to #1 because it offers the same brightening effect but more natural as it's less stark than the white in #1 Snow Magic. The base is a soft pink with a harmonious blend of pink, orange-gold sparkles.

#13 Brown Bunny: This is a beautiful neutral-cool brown with gold and silver glitter. Although I love the brown in this, the colour of the glitters are too cool toned to match it. Out of the three colours I got, the texture of the shadow on this one is the driest.

PERFORMANCE

These shadows are beautiful and the sparkliest things you can find in the Korean market at the moment (which is saying a lot). Many people compare them to the Georgio Armani Eyes to Kill but I've never tried those so I can't comment on it. I do feel that although initially the shine is really bright, it does die down as time goes by. I think it's probably because the glitter falls off whenever you rub your eyes. In the case of #13, most of the glitter fell off by the end of the night, but the base colour did not budge one bit.

I love using #1 Snow Magic and #2 Pink Oyster on the inner corners of my eyes and at the centre of the lids as a highlight. It really draws a lot of light and focus without being overly obvious. #13 Brown Bunny is the only one I use all over the lids. I'd say the staying power is decent. I didn't notice any creasing or smudging at the end of the day but a lot of the glitter did wear off. For better application, I use a small brush to apply and blend. You can use your fingers but they will pick up a lot more product and thus creating a hassle to blend out.

 As these are meant for the eyes, the glitter is not abrasive. It doesn't irritate the skin around my eyes but they do irritate my eyes a little bit, especially when it comes to removal time. Glitter is a pain in the butt to remove and these do take a bit of effort to get everything off. 

OVERALL

I think these are fun additions for everyone's makeup arsenal but I don't think they're absolutely necessary. Personally I don't wear glitter on the daily so I don't reach for these much. However, I can imagine they would be great for the holidays and special occasions.

6 comments Aritaum, eye shadow, makeup

[HAUL] Snoopy x Skinfood, Missha Korean Cosmetics Haul

For some reason, ever since the Christmas season came around I've been watching Charlie Brown on replay so when I saw the items in the Snoopy x Skinfood collection, it was an immediate "MUST BUY" moment for me. I've rarely ever been as excited for a Limited Edition collection as I've been with the Snoopy x Skinfood. I think the last time I was excited must have been when Skinfood released their Milky Rose collection which really made my jaw drop when I saw it.  Skinfood is one of my favorite brands for skincare. Unlike some of my favourite brands like Etude House, Innisfree, and Aritaum, it's not owned by Amore Pacific. I believe someone told me that Skinfood was actually one of the oldest cosmetic brands still around. There's just something very special about it. That being said, I love their Skincare products but not so much their colour cosmetics.

When my package came and I saw all those Snoopys, I was beyond excited. I placed my order on TesterKorea and I'm glad everything fit perfectly in the box and none of the paper boxes were crushed. 

This is everything that came in the box - minus the vase and flowers of course. 

All the loose items were placed in plastic bags and the cushion was bubble wrapped so that it wouldn't be damaged when shipped around. 

What I Ordered

Aritaum Fresh Essence Mask x 5: These are one of my favourite sheet masks. 

Skinfood Black Sugar First Serum 2X Essential: I have reviewed the Skinfood Black Sugar First Serum (Gold Edition) here before and I love it. I remember it really help brighten my skin and I've been meaning to repurchase for a while now. I couldn't find the original so I'm guessing Skinfood has replaced it with 2X Essential and Essential Light version. 

Missha x Wonderwoman 4D Mascara: I've tried the 3D and sadly, it didn't work that well for me. I think my eyelashes are just too wimpy for it. Regardless, I'm trying the 4D now because it's cheap and the packaging is really adorable. Originally I ordered only one mascara but one of the items I ordered was out of stock, so I replaced it with the 4D mascara since they were at similar price points. It was either that or store credit. 

Missha Eye Fit Stick Shadow (Dry Lavender): I was really excited for this because the promotional pictures show it as a cool tone taupey colour. I've used it now and I have to say, it's actually got a lot more red in it then expected. I think this colour might work on some people but it makes me look like I got an eye infection as most warm tone colours do. On the plus side, it glided on stayed all day. 

Royal Honey Bounce Cushion [Snoopy Limited Edition]: This item is what propelled this haul. Korea knows it's all about the cushion cases now and tons of really beautiful cases are coming out. Even though I currently have a few cushions open, I really wanted this purely for the case.  I'm so glad that the picture is imprinted into the case - won't have to worry about that scratching off! Of course, hopefully I will adore the Royal Honey Bounce Cushion as well. 

Skinfood Royal Honey Good Moisturizing Cream [Snoppy LE]: Skinfood has said that this can be used on the face as well as the body. Although I was expecting to really love this product, the scent threw me off a bit. It smells a bit like olive oil mix with spoiled milk or just plain repulsive.  Did I get a bad batch or does this product really smell like this? Someone please confirm. Skinfood skincare usually smells amazingly delicious and this is far from delicious. Reviewed Here.

Skinfood Snoopy Dry Decal Nail Stickers: These were just way too cute. I should have got the black and white ones too. 

Samples: everything here is something I want to try. 

That's it for my haul! Happy Holidays everyone! 

10 comments Aritaum, cushion, haul, Korean, makeup, mascara, masks, missha, Skinfood, snoopy, testerkorea

[REVIEW] Too Cool For School Art Class By Rodin

Hi everyone, you might have seen this bad boy around everywhere recently. It's the Too Cool For School Art Class by Rodin [contour kit?]. I saw it in numerous places but I think what really got me was Ssin's stamp of approval. As I've mentioned in my August Favorites post, I've recently gained a bit of weight - around 10 to 15 - to be exact and I've been using the Clio's Apple Bronzer to contour and make my face look less puffy.  While the Clio's Apple Bronzer makes an quick and obvious difference, this product does not. I will explain why.

Read more »

Leave a Comment blog, cosmetics, Korean, makeup, review, too cool for school

Skincare and Hair Product Empties #3

Despite it being a while since I last did my empties post, I haven’t actually accumulated many products.  I think besides body care and creams, it’s quite hard to finish many types of cosmetics. As a person who don’t really wear makeup everyday, it’s especially hard for me to finish things like lip sticks and eyeshadows. It’s more likely that I will have thrown them away due to expiration.

Anyhow, moving onto today’s post~

St. Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion

This is the first spray lotion that I’ve purchased. It sprays evenly and lightly. You do need to rub the product into your skin even after spraying or else you might be left with a white streak of lotion. Since it’s in a spray form, there’s less product in this then the ones in the regular pump bottles. However, I’ve purchased both and I have to say that even under the same scent name, they don’t smell the same. Whereas the spray bottle lotion smells sweet and fresh, the pump bottle lotion smells artificial. Another thing to be careful of is that when you are spraying the lotion, it’s very easy over mist and have some lotion end up on the floor – thus making the floor very slippery.

Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist (150ml)

I love this facial spray. It has quite a force, it smells good, and it’s pretty moisturizing for a spray. If you intend to use this while wearing makeup, I highly suggest standing as far away from it as you can OR misting the air and catching it with your face because it sprays out quite a lot and can ruin your makeup if you stand too close.

Mamonde Lotus Micro Facial Foam

This is just a mini size tube that I received in the sample kit. It’s a really gentle cleanser that doesn’t remove much. I use it as a follow up after cleansing oil. 

Hanyul Rice Essential Skin Emulsion

I did a review on this recently. You can find it here.

Innisfree Eco Science Eye Cream

I think this needs no introduction as I have been using this product for ages. I think this might be my 5^th bottle.  For the winter and dryer seasons, it’s awesome but for summer seasons, I think it can feel quite heavy. Nonetheless I love using this at night time. It makes a noticeable difference and it’s still my favorite eye cream. (Reviewed here).

Mise En Scene Perfect Serum
Although this product didn’t make my hair shiny as I’ve hoped, it did make my hair very soft. I like to apply this to the roots of my hair when it’s still 60% damp. My hair absorbs the product pretty well and there's no oily residue left over on my hair after it dries.

Ryoe Herbal Anti-Hairloss Shampoo

It took me a really long time to finish this bottle and that’s because half way through I tried other shampoos before coming back and finishing it. Although I usually really like Ryoe hair products, I found this shampoo to be lacking. Even after consistant usage, I feel like I still loose a considerable amount of hair every time I shower. I still have a smaller bottle of this that came with the set and I will probably do a more indepth review on it soon.

3 comments empties, hair product, Korean, makeup, review, skincare

August Favorites

August has been a relatively slow month but stressful month for me but I do have some favourites to share with you. Unlike my usual monthly favourites, this time around I will be including some of my non-beauty favourites as well. Enjoy!

Beauty Favourites

Skinfood Vita Water Drop CC Cream 
This CC Cream isn't new to the beauty world and it hasn't received a lot of love either. However, I really enjoyed it. The consistency is light and slightly runny and the coverage is light. It gives me just enough coverage to even out my skin tone while still allowing my skin to breath. It has SPF 35 PA+++ which is perfect for days when I don't want to wear sunscreen. 

Clio Touching Apple Cheek #5
Although it looks like you have to twist, you actually just have to pull to take the cap off. I forget this every single time! Sadly, what you see is what you get. The product doesn't twist up.  Salty and savoury food is my guilty pleasure and it bloats up my face and that makes contouring my new best friend.  I've been enjoying this product for its convenience - a few swipes along my jaw bones and a little blending is all it takes.  The color payoff is nice but it's easy to over blend it.

Maybelline Illegal Lengths (Waterproof)
Western mascaras don't usually work that well for me but this one was just awesome. It's been pretty good at holding curl and the fibre extensions really give my eyelashes the length it needs.  Some people say that this is similar to the Maybelline Lash Stilleto but I have to disagree. Although both mascaras have a similar brush and contain fibres, the Lash Stilleto's formula is wetter and provides more volume. As a result, it weighs down my eyelash curl. It also irritates my eyes, something the Illegal Lengths doesn't do.

Origins Spot Remover
Due to being under constant stress, a huge pimple appeared on my face. I applied this twice a day and noticed that the pimple popped on its own after a few days. Usually for large pimples like this, it would take a month or so to clear. I think this product definitely helped speed up the process. 


psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo
What's summer without a good dry shampoo? I've featured this before in a previous favourite and I still feel the same way about it.  It absorbs hair oil quickly, thus giving flat hair some volume.

Non-Beauty Favourites

TV Show: Destined to Love You  (Chinese Drama)

Look at Bosco Wong's serious poker face. It's quite hilarious how he's able to maintain it  when all the other squad members are fooling around. 

My goodness, Chinese dramas have recently really stepped up their game.  The story is set in the late 1910's Shanghai at a military academy. The main heroine is a circus performer (Joe Chen) who steals the identity of Xiao Han (an instructor). There were so many aspects of this drama that I enjoyed. The rich and vibrant backdrop to the story is amazing and visually stunning. I loved both the full colours that were incorporated into each scene as well as the characters' costumes.  Another thing I love were the characters (besides the villains of course). I suffered from major second lead syndrome in this drama. I think Bosco Wong did a great job portraying the very reserved Shen Wen Tao.  There was also so much love in this drama - not just between the leads but also among the side characters and the good nature bromance amongst they squad members (whom all looked very dashing in their uniforms).  If you're getting tired of Korean dramas, Chinese dramas are a refreshing change! The only problem is that I couldn't find all the episodes fully subbed. I had to watch the later half only partially subbed.

Game: Cookie Run

Cookierun is addictive like many repetitive cellphone games. There are many cookies and they have their own unique skills. You have to jump and dodge obstacles. The longer you run, the more points and coins you can collect. These cookies are the cutest. In the past year, new stages and episodes have been added. However, the overall objective of the game has remained the same - to get out of the oven. If you're just starting out, I highly recommend you to look for the secret codes online to get free crystals.  You need a Line account to play. 

Leave a Comment Clio, favorites, games, Korean, makeup, maybelline, Origins, shows, Skinfood

[REVIEW] Missha Signature Glam Art Gloss (SCR06 LOTTA CORAL)

Missha Signature Glam Art Gloss (SCR06 Lotta Coral) ~ $16 USD

with SPF 12

Claims: Shiny, vivid colors for glamorous lips.

Botanical Ingredients keep lips moisturized for up to 12 hours.

Sweet Almond Peptide and Marine Collagen help restore elasticity.

Gloss has subtle pearls for a beautiful shimmering look.

The slim fitting lip gloss applies on lightly for a comfortable wear.

Provides high stay power - 12 hours moisture and color fix system for clear long lasting color. 

(Source: Missha U.S. Website (here).)

I first saw this product one day as I was leaving HomePlus (HomePlus is a Korean supermarket - they have some Korean beauty stores - like Tony Moly and Missha -  near the entrance /exits). Missha had set up a display with three different sets of colours - Lotta Orange, Lotta Coral, and Lotta Pink. This gloss belongs to the Lotta Coral family which also includes a lipstick, eyeshadows, and some nail colors. 

Missha's Signature line packaging always manages to capture my attention with it's beautiful and sophicated looks.  It's the type of packaging that I wouldn't mind buying collections of (if I had the money) and displaying  them on my vanity and just admire and sigh over them all day long. 

The tilted applicator is pretty standard. It holds onto the product well enough for the application process to be mess free and non-streaky. It applies on with a bit of resistance but it doesn't feel too thick nor too streaky. 

I've never been a gloss fan but I was so drawn to the swatch color of this product that I made an impulse buy. It's a corally pink color that looks beautiful swatched across the back of my hand. As someone who is used to wearing brights, this soft corally pink color is a very toned down color for me. I've been trying to get into nudes and I still haven't found the perfect one. For the time being, this is as "nude" as I'm getting.

As you can see, the gloss is not the super shiny-in-your-face type. It's more subtle and soft and this makes it wearable throughout the day. This color is rather forgiving should you apply it without a mirror because it doesn't accentuate dry areas and even when applied out of the lip lines, it makes the lips look plump rather than messy.  Even when it wears off, it comes off evenly so you don't have to worry about random patches or lines left behind. 

Although it claims to be long lasting, I found the lasting time to be pretty average (around 2-3 hours or pretty much wiped out after eating) on my lips. However, it meets it's claims in comfort because it's  moisturizing but not sticky despite a definite cling on the lips. 

Overall,  I really like this product. It is a really pretty gloss housed in beautiful packaging and it does all the things a gloss should. 

Leave a Comment cosmetic, gloss, Korean, lip, makeup, missha, review

[REVIEW] Innisfree Glow Liquid Shadow

Innisfree ~ 9 000Won

What’s unique about this product is that it is one of the first liquid eyeshadows to hit the “drugstore” market. I know that just in the last two years, many of the higher end brands, such as Dior and Georgio Armani, have came out with their own liquid eye shadows. These liquid eye shadows have been quite a hit amongst consumers. Korean make up trends and products usually quickly follows any type of hypes so I knew it was just a matter of time before liquid eye shadows would start appearing in the Korean market.

Have you watched the KDrama Warm and Cozy? It takes place on Jeju Island and these lady divers remind me of the ones in the drama!

From the side: the tip of the applicator is tilted. It allows for easy application and control.

The back of the applicator - it's wider than the side.

There are five colors in this range and they are all inspired by the earthly beauty of Jeju - for example, the rocks, water, greens and so on. Jeju is an island at the very southern part of Korea. It’s known for it’s lush natural beauty and is the source and inspiration for all Innisfree products.

Dabbed

Blended Out

Swiped 

#1 is a cool tone champagne color. It’s inspired by the soft sand of Jeju. I usually see this product being dabbed and blended out to achieve a light layer of shimmer – that is very subtle and natural. However, I find that you can achieve an almost foiled look when you swipe it on and just gently blend it out. This creates a more dramatic shiney look that I feel is perfect if you want people to really catch onto your eyes without being in their face.  I really like to use this on the center of my lids on top of a matte eyeshadow to give my eyes more depth.

I've swiped the product on the centre of my lids and blended out the edges.

When this product is applied, there is an odd cooling sensation. It only lasts a few minutes but you can definitely feel it. I think this cooling sensation comes from the wetness of the product because the longer you wear this eyeshadow, the less shine it has.  Also, you have only a little bit of time to smudge the product out. Once it sets, it's won't budge.

Overall, I think this is a really versatile product. I really like that it provides a lot of shine without being sparkly. Just a little bit will give you a sheer, slightly shimmery base but swiped and you have yourself a little bit of glam. I am really glad to have #1 and I'm thinking of getting #5 too. I love Jeju Island and I love how these colors take inspiration from it. 

1 comment beauty, cosmetics, drama, eyeshadow, Innisfree, jeju, Korean, makeup