Well, after the Wildberry Milk cleanser ruined my skin's progress, I can honestly say that the Goodal travel masks helped bring it back under control. The kit comes with 4 masks.
First Impression:
The packaging reminds you of the ketchup containers they give you at fast food places when you order fries to-go. They are small, light, and portioned so you can get at least two mask applications from each packet. On the front of the masks, it features whatever the 'star ingredient is'.
Instructions:
The instructions were straightforward and foolproof. Smear it on your face. Let it sit. Rinse it off. Bam. That's it. But, each mask has a different purpose. The glacial clay mask is supposed to help with cleansing and minimizing your pores. I totally needed that after I turned into Pizzaface. The Brightening mask has vitamin C and citrus extracts to help remove dead cells and speed up cell turn-over rate. DEFINITELY needed that. The Keeping Youth coconut mask boasted thta it would supply the skin with superior moisture and elasticity. After scrubbing my face to bits, I avoided that. Anything "anti-aging" is really more of an "anti-drying" treatment, which usually clogs my pores. Instead, I opted for the Aloe, moisture mask to help repair my "tired, stressed skin".
Actual Use:
I rotated the masks over the course of several days, using them in this order: Day 1: glacial mask, Day 2: brightening mask, and Day 3: moisturizing mask. I used them at night before bed to help maximize their effectiveness.
The glacial clay mask was very THICK and grainy. It was good to use it as both an exfoliant and a purifying mask to help clear up my skin. It was my first attack against my nasty acne flair up because scrubbed away impurities and squeeze the gunk out of my pores.
The brightening mask was number two in my line up. While my pores were still mostly clear, it acted to reduce inflammation and start to fade the lighter dark marks- and prevent new ones from forming. The removal of the dead skin cells helped keep more junk from getting into my pores.
The brightening mask has a certain level of acid in it and the glacial mask was actually physically abrasive.
Following those two heavy hitters with the moisturizing mask was like curling up on silk sheets after a hard day chopping down trees and a deep scrub down in a primitive shower. I didn't want to treat my skin with sandpaper and lemon juice without giving it time to heal in between. The aloe of the moisture mask helped to soothe my skin and protect it after I was done abusing it. It had a creamy texture and it left my skin plump and moisturized after a 30 minute application.
Recommendations:
I was on vacation, away from my usual products and I had to work with what I had. You should probably try these out individually to see if you like them instead of using them as an aggressive emergency skin repair solution like I did. It would give you a lot more time to actually enjoy using the products yourself. The glacial mask was like a clay mask/scrub. If you need to exfoliate and you like to FEEL it happening, instead of passively doing it, this is the mask for you. If you prefer gentler methods, the brightening mask will gently dissolve dead skin and treat dark spots without feeling like you scrubbed your face with ground pumice. The moisture mask, I'll say this, it's best if you have a sunburn, really dry skin, or a recent chemical peel. Don't use it if you have greasy skin. You will regret your life. Also, I apologize for not having a review for the coconut mask. I wasn't going to touch it after my face was so wrecked.
Showing posts with label Stay Beautiful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stay Beautiful. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Skinfood: Wildberry Milk Foaming Cleanser
 |
| Borrowed from Holicmom.blogspot.com |
What do I say about this one other than it is HORRIBLE.
Ahem. I bought this a while ago and just stuffed it in a drawer while I continued using my Vitaberry cleanser. I decided to take it with me to Poland to give my skin a break from my usual routine. Mistake. BIG mistake. I assumed that because I've never had a bad reaction to Skinfood's products or foaming cleansers in general that this one would do well on my skin.
I have never been more wrong. I was in Poland for two weeks. I stopped using this junk within a week because I had broken out with the worst acne I've had since I got blue-light laser treatment to help control my break outs. Since the laser treatments, the worst I get is one or two semi-underground zits that clear after a week and that is if I use regular old bar soap to wash my face and no pore cleansing masks. With this stuff, I had a plethora of fine zits, semi-underground ones, and deep, painful cystic boils that didn't clear up until, like, literally 4 days ago. That's a MONTH.
This caused damage to my face that took an entire MONTH to clear up and I'm still trying to fade the resulting dark marks. Right when I was feeling happy about the clarity of my complexion.
Oh. I thought of something nice to say. It's got wholesome looking packaging and it smells good. Yeah. Let me go back to trying to fade these dark spots.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Foot Therapy: Baby Foot Peel
People have been telling me about baby foot peels forever. Initially, something about it made me feel like it was a frivolous and unnecessary purchase. I could soak and scrape my feet for free at home. Well, I learned quickly that a baby foot peel is an entirely different beast, preferable for people who don't want to spend two hours soaking and scraping their feet.
I used the Kocostar brand sold on Memebox (Not Urban Outfitters. It's a dollar cheaper on Memebox if you buy the two pack!)
First of all, the only work you have to do is your regular foot care routine. You wash your feet, slip on the baby foot peel socks and chill for 1.5 hours, then take them off, rinse, and go about your day. These instructions are universal for all baby foot peels. ALL OF THEM.
For the first 3 days, your feet are normal. There's not even the slightest sign that something's going to happen. By the fourth day, though, your feet begin to peel. Soon, all the dead skin, thick calluses and even snagging cuticles peel right off. And by the seventh day, you have soft, smooth, callus free feet. Usually.
Drawbacks:
The things I had issues with were the unpredictable start day of the peeling and the wait time for it to finish. The package says it should start within 4 days, but sometimes it starts earlier. It causes problems when your feet just bust out with flaking skin on a day you decided to wear sandals. Having your feet look like they're covered in nasty mummy skin for about a week can be quite shocking... and send an attentive S/O into a panic. Like mine. The poor dear thought my shoes were causing an allergic reaction.
Also, though the package says it should be complete within a week, I've had a foot peel treatment continue for nearly 10 days. However, I suppose it's important to note that if you have really thick calluses (like me) or thick foot skin (like me again), the product won't work the same for you and you won't get feet that are actually baby soft. You may have to leave the treatment on your feet for an extra thirty minutes to get any effect at all. You may even have to use the treatment 2 or 3 times before your skin is the desired smoothness.
Benefits:
I still love it. It's much less effort to keep my feet smooth and my calluses don't build up as fast. I don't risk cutting a callus off wrong and hurting myself. I don't spend an hour each week scrubbing, scraping and buffing my feet to get them to feel smoother. My shoes FIT better. One application of the foot peel treatment every 6 weeks keeps my feet as smooth and supple as 6-12 hours of scraping over the same time period. I cannot complain. I would totally recommend this product to anyone who has thick calluses and cracked heels.
I used the Kocostar brand sold on Memebox (Not Urban Outfitters. It's a dollar cheaper on Memebox if you buy the two pack!)
 |
| Courtesy of Ebay: Forgive the poor grammar. Language barriers |
For the first 3 days, your feet are normal. There's not even the slightest sign that something's going to happen. By the fourth day, though, your feet begin to peel. Soon, all the dead skin, thick calluses and even snagging cuticles peel right off. And by the seventh day, you have soft, smooth, callus free feet. Usually.
Drawbacks:
The things I had issues with were the unpredictable start day of the peeling and the wait time for it to finish. The package says it should start within 4 days, but sometimes it starts earlier. It causes problems when your feet just bust out with flaking skin on a day you decided to wear sandals. Having your feet look like they're covered in nasty mummy skin for about a week can be quite shocking... and send an attentive S/O into a panic. Like mine. The poor dear thought my shoes were causing an allergic reaction.
Also, though the package says it should be complete within a week, I've had a foot peel treatment continue for nearly 10 days. However, I suppose it's important to note that if you have really thick calluses (like me) or thick foot skin (like me again), the product won't work the same for you and you won't get feet that are actually baby soft. You may have to leave the treatment on your feet for an extra thirty minutes to get any effect at all. You may even have to use the treatment 2 or 3 times before your skin is the desired smoothness.
Benefits:
I still love it. It's much less effort to keep my feet smooth and my calluses don't build up as fast. I don't risk cutting a callus off wrong and hurting myself. I don't spend an hour each week scrubbing, scraping and buffing my feet to get them to feel smoother. My shoes FIT better. One application of the foot peel treatment every 6 weeks keeps my feet as smooth and supple as 6-12 hours of scraping over the same time period. I cannot complain. I would totally recommend this product to anyone who has thick calluses and cracked heels.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Skinaz: The Kissable Lip 24 Hr Lip Tattoo
It's not often that I have a bad experience with a product... but I had a bad experience with this one.
I bought it from eBay, curious about its mystical properties, after hearing of from them from the darkest corners of the internet. I applied it to my lips with little thought. The results were horrible. It was thick, sticky and messy. I didn't think a peel off lip tint would be a turn off for me. I've used plenty of peel off masks.
It was like spreading extra thick glue. It formed a polymer coating over my pout and adhered strongly to my lips, but this experience was horrible and uncomfortable. It's supposed to exfoliate while it stains your lips... But what I experienced was more like having my lips glued together and then the skin ripped off them.
Once I peeled it off, it left a nice, long lasting stain, but the unexpected aftertaste was bitter...and perfumey. My lips felt tender, and looked a bit...patchy. I wouldn't be surprised if it actually tore off some of my skin for real.
Maybe I didn't do something right... but for now, I'm going to stick to my Etude House Dear Darling lip jelly tiny.
 |
| Courtesy of Instagram |
I bought it from eBay, curious about its mystical properties, after hearing of from them from the darkest corners of the internet. I applied it to my lips with little thought. The results were horrible. It was thick, sticky and messy. I didn't think a peel off lip tint would be a turn off for me. I've used plenty of peel off masks.
It was like spreading extra thick glue. It formed a polymer coating over my pout and adhered strongly to my lips, but this experience was horrible and uncomfortable. It's supposed to exfoliate while it stains your lips... But what I experienced was more like having my lips glued together and then the skin ripped off them.
Once I peeled it off, it left a nice, long lasting stain, but the unexpected aftertaste was bitter...and perfumey. My lips felt tender, and looked a bit...patchy. I wouldn't be surprised if it actually tore off some of my skin for real.
Maybe I didn't do something right... but for now, I'm going to stick to my Etude House Dear Darling lip jelly tiny.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Try K-Beauty Sweepstakes
Snarktopus has been up and running for a while, and I've been wanting to give back to you guys for a long time. Since, I've been yapping about K-Beauty for a while now, I want to share some of the products that I liked most with you as well. SO. Introducing the....
All you have to do is like me on Facebook, Subscribe to the Snarktopus Blog (How else will you know if you won?), and Share the post on your FB or Twitter accounts. I will randomly select a winner and ship them out their prize package.
I will run one sweepstakes giveaway each month, starting in February. You'll have a week to enter. After that, I will randomly select a winner and publish their name in a blog post along with an email address that you can privately share your contact information so I can ship your prize. Each prize will include something for your lips, face, a skin care product, and some samples. You can find the legal dialogue below. Good luck, guys and thanks for sticking with me!
Try K-Beauty Sweepstakes:
Disclaimer: This promotion is in no way sponsored by blogger, Facebook, or any other social media outlet, nor does it reflect the views of those outlets’ respective owners or staff.
Terms and Conditions: Only open to residents of the 50 United States. All entrants must subscribe to Snarktopus Blog, like the Snarktopus Facebook page, and submit a comment. One Winner will be selected, at the Snarktopus’ owner’s discretion, from all eligible entries. The winner will be announced via blog post one day following the sweepstakes' closing date.
The winner must contact the Snarktopus’ owner within 48 hours of the announcement or another winner will be announced and the previous winner will forfeit the prize. The prize is valued between approximately $15-$30.
The Snarktopus’ owner reserves the right to substitute the original prize with a prize of equal or lesser value. The item will be shipped via USPS with a tracking number, which will be emailed to the winner. Prizes will only be shipped within the United States. All federal, state, and local taxes, insurance, and registration are the sole responsibility of the winner.
The Snarktopus’ owner is also not responsible for any delays, or lost or stolen packages. Any form of mishap resulting from the use of the prize is the sole responsibility of the winner. The Snarktopus’ owner is not liable for any fees, damages, or compensation for injuries, property damage or unforeseen dangers.
By participating in this sweepstakes, the entrants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions, the decisions of the sweepstakes holder, and the rules of the sweepstakes. By accepting the prize, the winner assumes all responsibility and liability associated with damage caused by or claimed to be caused by the prize, the sweepstakes, or their participation in the sweepstakes.
The Snarktopus’ owner reserves the right to obtain the names, likenesses, and personal information of the entrants for the sole purpose of administering the sweepstakes prize.
The Snarktopus’ owner will not distribute, share, sell, or otherwise circulate entrants’ personal contact information (email address or home address) with any third party for any reason not directly related to awarding the prize. The Snarktopus reserves the right to publicize the name and likeness of the winner.
All you have to do is like me on Facebook, Subscribe to the Snarktopus Blog (How else will you know if you won?), and Share the post on your FB or Twitter accounts. I will randomly select a winner and ship them out their prize package.
I will run one sweepstakes giveaway each month, starting in February. You'll have a week to enter. After that, I will randomly select a winner and publish their name in a blog post along with an email address that you can privately share your contact information so I can ship your prize. Each prize will include something for your lips, face, a skin care product, and some samples. You can find the legal dialogue below. Good luck, guys and thanks for sticking with me!
Try K-Beauty Sweepstakes:
Disclaimer: This promotion is in no way sponsored by blogger, Facebook, or any other social media outlet, nor does it reflect the views of those outlets’ respective owners or staff.
Terms and Conditions: Only open to residents of the 50 United States. All entrants must subscribe to Snarktopus Blog, like the Snarktopus Facebook page, and submit a comment. One Winner will be selected, at the Snarktopus’ owner’s discretion, from all eligible entries. The winner will be announced via blog post one day following the sweepstakes' closing date.
The winner must contact the Snarktopus’ owner within 48 hours of the announcement or another winner will be announced and the previous winner will forfeit the prize. The prize is valued between approximately $15-$30.
The Snarktopus’ owner reserves the right to substitute the original prize with a prize of equal or lesser value. The item will be shipped via USPS with a tracking number, which will be emailed to the winner. Prizes will only be shipped within the United States. All federal, state, and local taxes, insurance, and registration are the sole responsibility of the winner.
The Snarktopus’ owner is also not responsible for any delays, or lost or stolen packages. Any form of mishap resulting from the use of the prize is the sole responsibility of the winner. The Snarktopus’ owner is not liable for any fees, damages, or compensation for injuries, property damage or unforeseen dangers.
By participating in this sweepstakes, the entrants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions, the decisions of the sweepstakes holder, and the rules of the sweepstakes. By accepting the prize, the winner assumes all responsibility and liability associated with damage caused by or claimed to be caused by the prize, the sweepstakes, or their participation in the sweepstakes.
The Snarktopus’ owner reserves the right to obtain the names, likenesses, and personal information of the entrants for the sole purpose of administering the sweepstakes prize.
The Snarktopus’ owner will not distribute, share, sell, or otherwise circulate entrants’ personal contact information (email address or home address) with any third party for any reason not directly related to awarding the prize. The Snarktopus reserves the right to publicize the name and likeness of the winner.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Memebox Special #44: Very Berry PART THREE
I swear to goodness I'm going to post something I've made soon. ...Soon. Hee hee hee.. But first, let me tell you about another of the memebox products that I got in the Very Berry box that I really, REALLY liked. The Reinplatz Essence Mask. I got blueberry.
Out side of the package, it looks like this. It's a little bit strange looking if you're used to American clay masks, but it is still functional.
You smooth the mask on your face and just let it sit for 30 minutes. The essence mask sinks into your skin and leaves it refreshed, revitalized, and smooth. I haven't had to do my usual, twice weekly exfoliating mask in 2 weeks since using it. My acne is reduced as well. I should probably use one of these regularly.
You smooth the mask on your face and just let it sit for 30 minutes. The essence mask sinks into your skin and leaves it refreshed, revitalized, and smooth. I haven't had to do my usual, twice weekly exfoliating mask in 2 weeks since using it. My acne is reduced as well. I should probably use one of these regularly.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Memebox Special #44 Very Berry: PART TWO
The next product I tried, of course was the lip color. Mine came in the Cherry Punch color. It's reported to adjust the pH level, moisture level, and prevent moisture loss. Sounds like chapstick- well. No it doesn't.
Yadah's lip tint has a faint, natural-smelling cherry scent and literally melts into your lips. Shortly after applying, my lips seemed to soften and smooth. They looked plump. I mean... I have fat lips to begin with, so they ALWAYS look plump, but they looked lifted. This lip tint gave me a lip lift. A dab of lip gloss over the tint brought them to the full pout I usually sculpt into being.
After about 4 hours the lip tint was gone because I was eating and drinking. That aside... the scent of the tint lingered, just as advertised and, stranger still, my lips were still soft, supple, and hydrated. I decided to test this one again. This time, for a longer time frame.
I put it on before I left for work, didn't add gloss. The tint survived 6 hours, until I had lunch and wiped my mouth off. It wasn't until I hit the 7.5....closer to 8 hour mark that my lips started to feel a little dry. This is a notable feat because the hospital I work in has air is as dry as the Sahara. I put a little more on to renew it. It held until I took my make up off. I think if I had added the gloss, it would have stood up better.
For a lipstick, it falls short. For a tinted lip balm, I must admit, it works BETTER than chapstick and the creamy long-lasting effect is on par with MAC creamy lipsticks. Chapstick feels waxy. MAC lipstick smells like crayons. The Yadah lip tiny was creamy and left my lips super hydrated and plump. No more chapstick for me.
Here are some photos of my bare lips, then 1 coat of the lip tint, and finally 2 coats. After two coats, it's pretty opaque and kind of glossy on its own. After 3, watch out. It starts to get runny.
Yadah's lip tint has a faint, natural-smelling cherry scent and literally melts into your lips. Shortly after applying, my lips seemed to soften and smooth. They looked plump. I mean... I have fat lips to begin with, so they ALWAYS look plump, but they looked lifted. This lip tint gave me a lip lift. A dab of lip gloss over the tint brought them to the full pout I usually sculpt into being.
After about 4 hours the lip tint was gone because I was eating and drinking. That aside... the scent of the tint lingered, just as advertised and, stranger still, my lips were still soft, supple, and hydrated. I decided to test this one again. This time, for a longer time frame.
I put it on before I left for work, didn't add gloss. The tint survived 6 hours, until I had lunch and wiped my mouth off. It wasn't until I hit the 7.5....closer to 8 hour mark that my lips started to feel a little dry. This is a notable feat because the hospital I work in has air is as dry as the Sahara. I put a little more on to renew it. It held until I took my make up off. I think if I had added the gloss, it would have stood up better.
For a lipstick, it falls short. For a tinted lip balm, I must admit, it works BETTER than chapstick and the creamy long-lasting effect is on par with MAC creamy lipsticks. Chapstick feels waxy. MAC lipstick smells like crayons. The Yadah lip tiny was creamy and left my lips super hydrated and plump. No more chapstick for me.
Here are some photos of my bare lips, then 1 coat of the lip tint, and finally 2 coats. After two coats, it's pretty opaque and kind of glossy on its own. After 3, watch out. It starts to get runny.
 |
| 0 |
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
Monday, December 8, 2014
Memebox Special #44: Very Berry
This is the first Memebox that I ordered from eBay for myself. On the memebox website, it was advertised as having the following items: Skin CRONies Aronia Moisture Cream, Konad Niju Blueberry Moisture Hand Cream, Swanicoco Super Brightening Hydro Solution, Reinplatz Essence Mask, Borntreen VitaBerry Cleansing Foam, eChoice Fall in Love Berry Body Lotion, and Yadah Lovely Lip Tint Stick.
The one I got from eBay had everything but the Cronies Moisture Cream, and the Swanico Super Brightening Solution. I won't miss them too much, though. They were anti-aging creams and radiance boosting formulas. I figured I could live without something to fight crows-feet. At least until I'm 30. I've got a few more years.
When I opened the box, the scent of berry things wafted up from the very paper in the box. I don't know if that's an effect of the products inside or if memebox engages in some subtle mind-fuckery when they assemble their signature pink boxes. I dove in, examined all the products to see if they had been tampered with. They hadn't. Then, I had to decide what I would use first. The answer was simple.
The cleanser was the clear choice for my first product test. I opted not to do a lame test like a lot of bloggers- you know the one. Where they test the product ONE TIME and then you never hear about it again? Instead, I tested this product over the course of five days to see how it truly affected my skin, using it the same way I use my other cleansers. I used it over the course of 5 days and documented the changes in my skin in a little mini-diary. My findings were thus.
Day 1: Product left my skin feeling velvety and soft, hydrated and supple. Since it claims to be a 'gentle' cleanser, I'm worried that there's a residue on my skin instead of just clean, fresh skin like my usual cleanser leaves behind.
Day 2: The zit I was getting it smaller than I thought it was going to be and kind of sore, but my skin still feels velvety and soft. Nothing weird here. My skin's not as oily and my whiteheads seem to have calmed down.
Day 3: Today I used it with my cleansing brush, like I usually do with my usual cleanser. It worked into a nice, rich lather. My face tingled for a little while afterwards, so I let it sit and sink into my pores for a while. It actually works well for a facial mask.
Day 4: I washed as usual today and used my usual facial mask.. The mask tingled more than usual and the blemishes that were hiding under my skin were clearly visible when I took it off. Made short work of them.
Day 5: The blemishes I popped yesterday appear to be healing well and the mild abrasion caused by popping is already starting to peel. Overall, my skin is VERY supple, soft, and velvety. My spots seem lighter too. I'm going to switch to my regular cleanser to see if that makes a difference.
In the end, after using my regular cleanser for just two days, my skin had returned to its usual either painfully dry or fried egg greasy state. My whiteheads came back with a vengeance and I got new zits. As soon as I used the VitaBerry cleanser, my skin returned to the supple, fresh, dewy texture I had gotten accustomed to.
Wow. I guess I should make a switch to the Vitaberry Cleanser...permanently.
The one I got from eBay had everything but the Cronies Moisture Cream, and the Swanico Super Brightening Solution. I won't miss them too much, though. They were anti-aging creams and radiance boosting formulas. I figured I could live without something to fight crows-feet. At least until I'm 30. I've got a few more years.
When I opened the box, the scent of berry things wafted up from the very paper in the box. I don't know if that's an effect of the products inside or if memebox engages in some subtle mind-fuckery when they assemble their signature pink boxes. I dove in, examined all the products to see if they had been tampered with. They hadn't. Then, I had to decide what I would use first. The answer was simple.
 |
| The same place a lady starts her beauty regimen |
Day 1: Product left my skin feeling velvety and soft, hydrated and supple. Since it claims to be a 'gentle' cleanser, I'm worried that there's a residue on my skin instead of just clean, fresh skin like my usual cleanser leaves behind.
Day 2: The zit I was getting it smaller than I thought it was going to be and kind of sore, but my skin still feels velvety and soft. Nothing weird here. My skin's not as oily and my whiteheads seem to have calmed down.
Day 3: Today I used it with my cleansing brush, like I usually do with my usual cleanser. It worked into a nice, rich lather. My face tingled for a little while afterwards, so I let it sit and sink into my pores for a while. It actually works well for a facial mask.
Day 4: I washed as usual today and used my usual facial mask.. The mask tingled more than usual and the blemishes that were hiding under my skin were clearly visible when I took it off. Made short work of them.
Day 5: The blemishes I popped yesterday appear to be healing well and the mild abrasion caused by popping is already starting to peel. Overall, my skin is VERY supple, soft, and velvety. My spots seem lighter too. I'm going to switch to my regular cleanser to see if that makes a difference.
In the end, after using my regular cleanser for just two days, my skin had returned to its usual either painfully dry or fried egg greasy state. My whiteheads came back with a vengeance and I got new zits. As soon as I used the VitaBerry cleanser, my skin returned to the supple, fresh, dewy texture I had gotten accustomed to.
Wow. I guess I should make a switch to the Vitaberry Cleanser...permanently.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Memebox Special: eBay
Now, you all know I'm a bargain hunter... but with memebox that's actually not necessary. Each regular sized box costs about $23 bucks and contains from 4-7 FULL SIZED HIGH END BEAUTY PRODUCTS. Full sized. Not sample. FULL. Get that in your mind.
On average, the products included will cost from $10-$25 each. So, if you get 1 15 dollar item and 3 $5 items, you've still spent less than you would have if you had bought them separately. I can't do any better than that. My Google-fu and eBay-jitsu is not as mighty as the memebox bargain.
Unfortunately, memebox's set up doesn't cater to those of us with specific tastes. They announce a box 3 months before it actually ships, give it a theme...and you have to wait until they're sold out or shipped before they will actually tell you what's in them. The only thing you know is that each box will always include some sort of cleanser, moisturizer, mask, and lip balm- at the very least. Even then, a lot of memebox's good or really interesting boxes sell out FAST.
A lot of the boxes that I knew I wanted to try had already sold out, so I waited. I kept missing the new boxes as they were released. Then, one day, on a whim, I typed in memebox in eBay's search bar and BAM! People were selling their memeboxes.
As it turns out, the mystery effect memebox shrouds their boxes in leads to people ...overbuying. The results are a bunch of folks with boxes full of things they can't use, have too many of already, or they don't like. The effect? A surplus of memeboxes sold on eBay. "Used" memeboxes anyone?
Now, under normal circumstances, I'd be afraid to buy something like this from eBay. A USED beauty product could have anything in it. However, a "used" memebox is a horse of a different color... You aren't buying a single, used product. You're buying a used box. There may be one or two products missing, but all the others are still tightly sealed in their original foil and shrink wrap packaging.
The best part is: memeboxes for less than $20. I bought one- I mean... a few.
On average, the products included will cost from $10-$25 each. So, if you get 1 15 dollar item and 3 $5 items, you've still spent less than you would have if you had bought them separately. I can't do any better than that. My Google-fu and eBay-jitsu is not as mighty as the memebox bargain.
Unfortunately, memebox's set up doesn't cater to those of us with specific tastes. They announce a box 3 months before it actually ships, give it a theme...and you have to wait until they're sold out or shipped before they will actually tell you what's in them. The only thing you know is that each box will always include some sort of cleanser, moisturizer, mask, and lip balm- at the very least. Even then, a lot of memebox's good or really interesting boxes sell out FAST.
A lot of the boxes that I knew I wanted to try had already sold out, so I waited. I kept missing the new boxes as they were released. Then, one day, on a whim, I typed in memebox in eBay's search bar and BAM! People were selling their memeboxes.
As it turns out, the mystery effect memebox shrouds their boxes in leads to people ...overbuying. The results are a bunch of folks with boxes full of things they can't use, have too many of already, or they don't like. The effect? A surplus of memeboxes sold on eBay. "Used" memeboxes anyone?
Now, under normal circumstances, I'd be afraid to buy something like this from eBay. A USED beauty product could have anything in it. However, a "used" memebox is a horse of a different color... You aren't buying a single, used product. You're buying a used box. There may be one or two products missing, but all the others are still tightly sealed in their original foil and shrink wrap packaging.
The best part is: memeboxes for less than $20. I bought one- I mean... a few.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Korean Skincare
A while ago, I reviewed the Etude House Baby Choux peach primer, the Dear Darling Jelly lip tint, and the Princess Etoinette lipstick. I raved over the benefits I saw, the positive skin changes I experienced with the products as well as glee over the scents and effects they rendered. Because I am a scientist at heart, I began to research South Korean beauty trends, products and skin treatments.
What I found was intriguing. For one thing, South Korean Beauty culture is one of the most frighteningly damaging things I could ever hope to learn about. Sure, they based a person's beauty on a standardized "Golden Ratio". They also view beauty as a sign of good health and invest a great deal of research in products that will treat beauty problems from the inside out... That's all fine. The Golden Ratio is hardwired into our brains to help us pick out healthy partners for reproduction. It's science.
But they also have an absurd frankness when it comes to evaluating their beauty. The stigma of possibly being ugly shadows both men and women. There's an also a destructive amount of esteem placed on plastic surgery...to the point where parents are recommending it preteens to get it before their kids hit puberty. As damaging as this plastic surgery culture is... I have to admit that they still have some very effective skin treatments.
Serious stuff aside, since my affectionate relationship with Etude House began, I've been on the look out for any other cool, cute, and effective beauty items I can snag from Korea. It was through this that I discovered that Etude House, with all its pretty packaging, sweet scents was only considered a "Drug Store Brand" as far as Korean cosmetics go.
Now Etude House is cheap for a drug store cosmetic brand, so I was intrigue and went forth to learn more about higher end products. Let's face it, in the past, I've had luck with finding the right shades in American drug store brands, but the skincare products are of lower quality and break me out. My line of thought was, if Etude House is drug store for Korea and it does nice things for my skin, then surely the higher end products will do even more wonderful things for my skin....
I was right. Check back for a review of the first product on Monday.
What I found was intriguing. For one thing, South Korean Beauty culture is one of the most frighteningly damaging things I could ever hope to learn about. Sure, they based a person's beauty on a standardized "Golden Ratio". They also view beauty as a sign of good health and invest a great deal of research in products that will treat beauty problems from the inside out... That's all fine. The Golden Ratio is hardwired into our brains to help us pick out healthy partners for reproduction. It's science.
But they also have an absurd frankness when it comes to evaluating their beauty. The stigma of possibly being ugly shadows both men and women. There's an also a destructive amount of esteem placed on plastic surgery...to the point where parents are recommending it preteens to get it before their kids hit puberty. As damaging as this plastic surgery culture is... I have to admit that they still have some very effective skin treatments.
Serious stuff aside, since my affectionate relationship with Etude House began, I've been on the look out for any other cool, cute, and effective beauty items I can snag from Korea. It was through this that I discovered that Etude House, with all its pretty packaging, sweet scents was only considered a "Drug Store Brand" as far as Korean cosmetics go.
Now Etude House is cheap for a drug store cosmetic brand, so I was intrigue and went forth to learn more about higher end products. Let's face it, in the past, I've had luck with finding the right shades in American drug store brands, but the skincare products are of lower quality and break me out. My line of thought was, if Etude House is drug store for Korea and it does nice things for my skin, then surely the higher end products will do even more wonderful things for my skin....
I was right. Check back for a review of the first product on Monday.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Stay Beautiful: Make-up review: Etude House Etoinette
Remember when I said I'd do another Etude House make up review the second I got my hands on some more of their products? Yep. But before I get into that, let me show you some pictures of their Baby Choux packaging and such. I forgot to do that in my last review. Many of the photos are from Atomic Nony's blog because I forgot to photograph my Baby Choux box and such before I tossed it.
With that out of the way, this is a review for a lip color from their Princess Etoinette line. For the first lipcolor, I chose the PPK005 from their 'Season 2' line released around Christmas time.
Once again, the packaging is adorable and even comes with a sweet message telling the customer to 'be the princess!'. Also on the box are English descriptions that I can read. "This perfumed, smooth lipstick delivers a surge of moisture and soft shimmering flush giving your lips a gorgeous look."
A close up of the lip stick reveals a slightly shimmery, berry red color. It's actually a shade that I use most of the time, so it's perfect. First, I tried putting it on the skin of my inner arm. It glided on smoothly and was semi-sheer not unlike my M.A.C. Sheen Supreme creamy lipstick. A welcome discovery considering that Etude House's lip color was about $10 less...with shipping.
The lipstick has a very faint smell, like roses and peony. It's not overwhelming but is VERY pleasant. Also a welcome change, because I HATE that waxy crayon smell that most lipsticks have. It's like carrying the Crayola factory right under your nose. The sweet, gentle scent of flowers, though? That gives me a good feeling.
Well. The moment you guys have been waiting for. Time for me to slather this stuff on my fat lips and show you how it looks.
As you can see, the lipstick isn't very dark, despite the photo. What it really does is smooth out the pigmentation of my lips and makes them... SUPER glossy. I used no lip gloss at all and yet in each photo, my lips looks fuller, more moist, supple. The lipstick didn't have any plumping agents that I could feel (those usually tingle a bit), it just gives more shine and color to your lips.
First of all, I have to say, that I LOVE the look and feel of this lipstick. Since I favor a dramatic eye over a dramatic lip, this has great potential for me. It's also got enough emollients so I can skip my usual lip color +gloss/vaseline on the first application. However, after wearing it for a while, that plush glossiness wears off and you'll need to apply some light lip gloss to refresh it. However, the color remains fairly strong. In fact, I've washed my lips twice and they're still berry pink.
I would recommend this lipstick to anyone who wants a light lip color that refreshes easily, has a good smell and leaves your lips supple and soft. The price isn't bad either. Give Etude house a try next time you have a chance!
 |
| The promotional materials in the original Korean Language. |
 |
| The original packaging was a little pot. Cute, but cumbersome, if you ask me. |
 |
| The current packaging. Sweet, streamlined and you get a few ounces more. |
With that out of the way, this is a review for a lip color from their Princess Etoinette line. For the first lipcolor, I chose the PPK005 from their 'Season 2' line released around Christmas time.
 |
| The filigree on the box is actually metallic, though you can't tell. |
 |
| That's how the actual lipstick tube looks. No joke. |
 |
| The color of rose petals. It even has filigree on the actual product! |
The lipstick has a very faint smell, like roses and peony. It's not overwhelming but is VERY pleasant. Also a welcome change, because I HATE that waxy crayon smell that most lipsticks have. It's like carrying the Crayola factory right under your nose. The sweet, gentle scent of flowers, though? That gives me a good feeling.
Well. The moment you guys have been waiting for. Time for me to slather this stuff on my fat lips and show you how it looks.
 |
| Naked Lips |
 |
| One pass of the lipstick |
 |
| Two passes |
As you can see, the lipstick isn't very dark, despite the photo. What it really does is smooth out the pigmentation of my lips and makes them... SUPER glossy. I used no lip gloss at all and yet in each photo, my lips looks fuller, more moist, supple. The lipstick didn't have any plumping agents that I could feel (those usually tingle a bit), it just gives more shine and color to your lips.
First of all, I have to say, that I LOVE the look and feel of this lipstick. Since I favor a dramatic eye over a dramatic lip, this has great potential for me. It's also got enough emollients so I can skip my usual lip color +gloss/vaseline on the first application. However, after wearing it for a while, that plush glossiness wears off and you'll need to apply some light lip gloss to refresh it. However, the color remains fairly strong. In fact, I've washed my lips twice and they're still berry pink.
I would recommend this lipstick to anyone who wants a light lip color that refreshes easily, has a good smell and leaves your lips supple and soft. The price isn't bad either. Give Etude house a try next time you have a chance!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Etude House: Baby Choux Peach
When I first heard of Etude House, it was from a video by CutiePieMarzia, on Youtube. Since Marzia has become synonymous with 'adorable adult' in many people's minds, you can already tell that this product line was brain-meltingly cute. With her invitation to her 'Marzipans' to check out the product, I went on the hunt for more information.
Marzia and other beauty bloggers and Youtubers had featured various Etude House cleansers, primers, lip colors and foundations. The products were all adorably packaged, reported to have a light fragrance, and seemed to give the users a smooth finish. Unfortunately, there was a shortage of reviews from People of Color, particularly from those with a skin tone darker than Becca's 'Buttercup' shade.
Unacceptable.
After hours of searching, I finally found a review from a girl a few shades darker than myself. She loved the way the Etude House: Sweet Recipe Baby Choux primer felt, nourished her skin, wicked away oil, and prevented breakouts with her usual foundation. After a bit more research, I learned that the primer came in three colors: Berry, Mint and Peach. Peach was recommended for those with dark skintones. I went to eBay to find some of Etude House's primer for cheap. They have it on Amazon for $15+ shipping, but some eBay sellers offer it for $9.99- shipping included. I'll take waiting ten days over spending $15 more to try a new product.
Now, to give you a bit of comparison, I took photos of my usual makeup results. Forgive the darkness of the photo. It was taken in the bathroom with a cellphone.
Beauty products used: Derma E Tea tree oil moisturizer, Ambi Even and Clear Daily moisturizer with SPF 30, American Beauty liquid foundation in shade 11, Covergirl Professional Powder in shade 120. Avon Glimmersticks eyeliner in black, Maybelline Collosal Volume mascara. L'occitane Pivione Flora No. 4 lipstick (Just a dab to help even out my lips), Vaseline to smooth out the subtle application of the lipcolor.. There you go. That's my usual routine
Since I knew that Baby Choux is Etude House's BB cream/primer base, I understood that it was supposed to be your SPF protection, moisturizer and primer all in one. So I skipped the Dema E, Ambi SPF moisturizer and jumped straight into my foundation right after I applied it.
Beauty Products Used: Etude House Baby Choux in peach, American Beauty liquid foundation in shade 11, Covergirl Professional
Powder in shade 120. Avon Glimmersticks eyeliner in black, Maybelline
Collosal Volume mascara. L'occitane Pivione Flora No. 4 lipstick,
and Vaseline.
Things I noticed:
This primer didn't make me feel like I was wearing a mask. It's smooth and creamy, like you'd expect. Although it initially looks chalky when applying, once it's rubbed in, your skin appears smoother, acne scars seem faded, and pores smaller. I noticed that I used less foundation after applying this product. It provided better coverage and looked more natural. My lip color and eyeliner seemed to glide onto my face. Since I applied Baby Choux to my lips as well, they looked more pouty. Since they are already big, I decided not to do that again.
The results you see above were successfully duplicated on subsequent applications of the Baby Choux primer. I look more natural in my makeup and was frequently complimented on having 'cleared up my skin'. HA! Another unexpected, added benefit is that my skin seems smoother and better hydrated overall after using the product a few times per week. My acne break outs are also less severe. The fact that the product includes pore clarifying extracts could have something to do with that. Other, more expensive anti-acne primers I've purchased don't yield equal results and often make me feel like I'm wearing a mask.
I recommend Baby Choux to anyone willing to try it. As a BB cream or just a primer, it works beautifully. Just work out the optimal amount for your skin-tone. In the future, I'm going to try some other products by Etude House. I was so pleased with their primer; maybe their lip colors, stains and cleansers would work for me as well.
Marzia and other beauty bloggers and Youtubers had featured various Etude House cleansers, primers, lip colors and foundations. The products were all adorably packaged, reported to have a light fragrance, and seemed to give the users a smooth finish. Unfortunately, there was a shortage of reviews from People of Color, particularly from those with a skin tone darker than Becca's 'Buttercup' shade.
 |
| About this color |
After hours of searching, I finally found a review from a girl a few shades darker than myself. She loved the way the Etude House: Sweet Recipe Baby Choux primer felt, nourished her skin, wicked away oil, and prevented breakouts with her usual foundation. After a bit more research, I learned that the primer came in three colors: Berry, Mint and Peach. Peach was recommended for those with dark skintones. I went to eBay to find some of Etude House's primer for cheap. They have it on Amazon for $15+ shipping, but some eBay sellers offer it for $9.99- shipping included. I'll take waiting ten days over spending $15 more to try a new product.
Now, to give you a bit of comparison, I took photos of my usual makeup results. Forgive the darkness of the photo. It was taken in the bathroom with a cellphone.
 |
| There I am. |
Beauty products used: Derma E Tea tree oil moisturizer, Ambi Even and Clear Daily moisturizer with SPF 30, American Beauty liquid foundation in shade 11, Covergirl Professional Powder in shade 120. Avon Glimmersticks eyeliner in black, Maybelline Collosal Volume mascara. L'occitane Pivione Flora No. 4 lipstick (Just a dab to help even out my lips), Vaseline to smooth out the subtle application of the lipcolor.. There you go. That's my usual routine
Since I knew that Baby Choux is Etude House's BB cream/primer base, I understood that it was supposed to be your SPF protection, moisturizer and primer all in one. So I skipped the Dema E, Ambi SPF moisturizer and jumped straight into my foundation right after I applied it.
 |
| I look 20 times brighter. |
Things I noticed:
This primer didn't make me feel like I was wearing a mask. It's smooth and creamy, like you'd expect. Although it initially looks chalky when applying, once it's rubbed in, your skin appears smoother, acne scars seem faded, and pores smaller. I noticed that I used less foundation after applying this product. It provided better coverage and looked more natural. My lip color and eyeliner seemed to glide onto my face. Since I applied Baby Choux to my lips as well, they looked more pouty. Since they are already big, I decided not to do that again.
The results you see above were successfully duplicated on subsequent applications of the Baby Choux primer. I look more natural in my makeup and was frequently complimented on having 'cleared up my skin'. HA! Another unexpected, added benefit is that my skin seems smoother and better hydrated overall after using the product a few times per week. My acne break outs are also less severe. The fact that the product includes pore clarifying extracts could have something to do with that. Other, more expensive anti-acne primers I've purchased don't yield equal results and often make me feel like I'm wearing a mask.
I recommend Baby Choux to anyone willing to try it. As a BB cream or just a primer, it works beautifully. Just work out the optimal amount for your skin-tone. In the future, I'm going to try some other products by Etude House. I was so pleased with their primer; maybe their lip colors, stains and cleansers would work for me as well.
 |
| Stay Beautiful! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)