Collective Haul : Lush, Aesop, Chanel, and More

Hi Girls~ Sorry for the lack of posts! My sister is currently visiting me here in Cali, so I have been very busy juggling work and sightseeing/shopping lol.. Anyways, I still wanted to show you the stuff I collected over the past few weeks so here is my haul, hope you enjoy!

1. Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel, Mr. Punch, Snowcake

I love this time of the year because everything Lush is 50% off! I got two of the snow fairy shower gels (gave one to my sister, so it's not in the pic) which smells like bubble gum, my all time favorite soap snowcake soap, and lastly Mr. Punch Soap that smells like a fruity punch! So happy with my purchases. *^^*

2. Aesop Fabulous Face Cleanser, B & Tea Balancing Toner

So if you have been following me on instagram or twitter, you know how annoyingly excited I got over the new Aesop store XD. They were supposed to open last fall, but ended up opening during Christmas time. Anyways, I got one of their cleansers and one of their toners since I was running low on my previous ones. They are both targeted for combination skin and they're supposed to be very gentle. Will post a more in-depth review in the near future!

3. Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara in 10 Noir

I first saw this mascara on Jessica's YouTube Channel and she basically said that she liked it better than the YSL Shocking mascara, so I guess there really wasn't an option. I had to try it. The applicator looks pretty intense as well so hope it'll work for me too eep! Oh and how gorgeous is the packaging?!!!

4. YSL Glossy Stain #27

This is the perfect peachy-pink! And you know how much I love glossy stains :)

5. Caudalie Divine Oil (Sample size 30ml $15)

I've been eyeing this all- purpose oil for quite a bit since I've heard so many good things about it. Basically, you can use this oil as a face moisturizer, body lotion, or a hair treatment. I tried it on my hair already and I have to say the scent is too strong for my taste :(. It's quite moisturizing tho. 

6. Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum (sample 15ml)

100 point perk sample :). There were some good samples to pick from (like the clinique lip pencil, etc), but I picked this one because I'm always in a search for a good hair serum. Let me know if you tried it! I'd love to hear what you guys think.

And that is all for now-

I will be posting more whenever I have time ;)

Hope all is well

&

Have a great day!

xxx

Amy

Review : Missha Red Ginseng Sheet Mask

Hi Girls~ I don't know if I mentioned this or not, but I am an avid mask user. I wear (or apply) masks probably 5-6 days a week at night and I strongly believe that it makes a huge difference to the skin. Whether if it's a sheet or a cream, I really do love them all. That being said, I was thinking of doing some reviews on the masks I recently tried out. What do you think? Do you like masks? Or are you not interested at all? Let me know in the comments :).

Anyways, enough rambling and let's get started with the review already! 

How to Use ? Wash face -> apply mask -> leave it for 15-20 mins -> remove -> lightly pat the leftovers so the essence will be fully absorbed

Scent ? Smells like red ginseng. I'll say that it's not for everyone, but some people like it.

Design ? This is not your normal flat sheet mask. When you unfold it, it becomes to this 3 dimensional object haha (contoured to fit the curves of the face like a real mask). At first I thought it was a genius idea, but it turns out that it's "too 3D" for my flat Asian face. Doesn't fit at all and it's very uncomfortable. 

Ingredients ? Water, glycerin, butylene glycol, carbomer, PEG-60 hydrogenated caster oil, hydroxyethylcellulose, triethanolamine, allantoin, red ginseng extract, aloe barbadesis leaf extract, sodium hylauronate, phenoxyethanol, disodium EDTA, methylparaben, 1,2-hexane dial, caprylyl glycol, illicium velum (anise) fruit extract, fragrance (parfum). Bunch of stuff that I don't know :/.

Pros ?

- Contains 350 mg of Korean red ginseng extract

- Affordable / Free at times

- Not tested on animals

Cons?

- Poor design

- somewhat stiff (so you can't manipulate it according to your face shape)

- Hydrating, but didn't see any improvements on my skin

- dries out very quickly (you literally have to get rid of the mask after 15 mins)

Value ? $2-$4. I got mine for free as a sample.

Overall Rating ? 1/5.

Repurchase ? No. This mask is hydrating, but that's really it. For the same price I think you can get better ones. Sorry Missha!

That's how the mask looks like!! - Pic #2

Review : Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35 PA+++

It's been like a year since I've been using this bb cream, so I thought it was time to give a proper review. Hope you like it ;)

Scent ? "no scent" scent. If that makes any sense.
Finish ? Dewy finish
Coverage ? Light
Best Applied with ? Flat top kabuki or fingers
Color ? Mine is in extra light. Has warm under tones. Comes in 5 shades - extra light, light, fair, medium, medium to dark.
Lasting Power ? Around 4-6 hours on my combination skin without primer.
Pros ?
- Texture is silky smooth
- Gives a natural glowing look to the face
- Evens out the skin very well
- SPF 35
- Doesn't get into pores
- Doesn't accentuate dry patches
- Feels comfortable
- is NOT a tinted moisturizer
Cons?
- Doesn't last for a long time
- Doesn't come in too many shades (but again, I guess it's a lot for a bb cream)
- Didn't see any results from their "skincare benefits"
Value ? $42 at Sephora or Nordstrom.
Overall Rating ? 4/5. The finish is just amazing and I love the sleek packaging!
Repurchase ? Yes. I'm currently considering to get a shade darker.

NOTD : Essie To Buy or Not to Buy + TonyMoly GP01 Hologram

Hi guys! Today I have a NOTD/ Nail Polish review post for you! Hope you like it ;)

Essie To Buy or Not to Buy (2 coats) is a beautiful pale lavender with micro holographic glitters in it. I have to say it looks absolutely stunning in the bottle. However, once it's applied, you can't see the glitters and it tends to look like a cream finish. The consistency is quite thin, but goes on pretty even and opaque. It lasts for average of 2 days without topcoat. Although there are many lavender nail polishes out in the market, I think this one suits my skin tone the best. I just want it to last a little longer on my nails :/. $5-$9.

TonyMoly GP01 Hologram (applied on the tips only/ 2-3 coats) is a holographic glitter top coat. It's packed with big and small glitters, but overall the glitters don't get any bigger than a diameter of 0.5mm. Although you really can't see in the picture, the top coat is super shiny and I think it definitely gives dimension to the nails. One of my favorites! $3 (KRW 3000).

Review : The Body Shop Banana Shampoo

Hi Guys :) Happy New Year! Today I'm trying out the new (or was it around for ages?) Blogger app on my iPad, so let's see how this goes haha. The layout might be slightly different and stuff, but if this works out well, I will be blogging more often since it's more convenient. I know, how lazy, right? Anyway, If you've been following me on instagram, you know I recently purchased the Banana Shampoo from The Body Shop. I felt like a lot of people wanted to hear my thoughts on this product so here it is- a review! :).

Scent ? Smells like straight up bananas or banana milk. Honestly, I'm not too crazy about the scent, but I don't hate it at the same time.I find that it doesn't linger for too long on my hair.
Texture ? It has a gel consistency like other shampoos. Lathers well, but not too crazy like the big shampoo from Lush.
Pros ?
- Very nourishing, great for dry/ dull hair (like mine :/)
- makes the hair super shiny
- made with community trade banana purée
- scent is not too strong after rinsing with water
- container is made from recycled plastic
Cons?
- expensive
- doesn't come in a bigger bottle. I believe they only carry the 250ml ones which seems like 15-20 uses for me (I have shoulder length hair). However, I feel like this shampoo is more of a "nourishing shampoo" rather than a "clarifying shampoo", so I don't use it everyday.
Value ? $8 for 250ml (8.4oz). So if you are interested in this shampoo, I do recommend getting this on sale.
Overall Rating ? 4/5
Repurchase ? Maybe. Only because I like trying out new things. It's a great shampoo overall and I do recommend it.

So that was my short review on the banana shampoo! Hope you liked it and thanks for stopping by ;)

Amy xx

March Empties (Products I've Used Up)

I decided to do a monthly "empties" post along with my favorites. As you can see, I finished quite a few products (well, that is, for me haha, but hey I'm trying here ;))! Most of them are skin care products that I reviewed in the past, but I thought I would show you guys anyway. Hope you like this post and let me know if you're doing this, too!

1. Lush Tea Tree Water Toner

This toner honestly doesn't do much to the skin, but I happen to really like it, because it's light and  refreshing. It has a tea tree/ minty kind of scent and I love how it's in a spray bottle. Repurchase? Yes. 3.5/5

2. Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion

I use this for preventing break outs and it works great! Already repurchased :) 4.5/5

3. Philosophy Purity Cleanser (Sample)

I have a brief review of this cleanser in my last post and I already bought another one. Absolutely love! 5/5

4. TonyMoly Intense Repair Live Snail Skin Toner (Sample)

I got this sample while I was in Korea last year and I know, what an odd name :p - and gross, too. However, I figured to try it out since it was really popular in Korea. Apparently, this toner contains 45% of snail extract and I guess it is a good toner after all. It is very hydrating and doesn't smell like a snail or anything - that would be disgusting, right? In fact, it has a pleasant perfume-y/ floral scent with a gooey texture. However, I find it to be too thick for my taste, so I won't be repurchasing it. 3/5

5. Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes

These wipes are great for removing makeup, but they happen to irritate my eyes just a tiny tiny bit. Because of that reason, I'm going back to my trusty Neutrogina wipes. 3/5

6. Skin Food Honey Red Orange Mask

I have a review here. Will repurchase if I can :). 4.5/5

7. St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Wash (Travel Size)

If you have been reading my blog, you know I talked about this guy in my 'What's In My Shower' post. I lerrrvvvve this body wash so much! It makes my skin extra smooth and smells delicious. Also, it's really cheap and I believe you can find it at any drugstore. Already repurchased. 4.5/5

8. MUFE Aqua Liner #12

This is a great waterproof liner and I love the formula to death, but I have to say the packaging is kind of crap. As you can see in the picture, the cap cracked on me and I didn't even drop it or any thing. I'm usually very gentle with my makeup and nothing like this happened to me before. One day I just closed the cap a little bit tighter than I used too and it just cracked. Like that :(. Also, the stopper wouldn't stay in its place (you know when you open a mascara or liner the stopper comes out along with the applicator sometimes) and make a huge mess all the time. I don't know... For a 23-dollar liner, I think that's a huge no-no. Swatch in my July Favorite. 2/5

9. Nature Republic Cooling Massage Leg-Shot

Have a review here. Will repurchase if I can. 4/5

And that's it! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and I'll talk to you soon xx.

March Favorites 2012

*OMG I ACCIDENTLY DELETED THIS POST :(*


 I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS JUST HAPPENED...
 HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM THE ORIGINAL POST!!

1. Philosophy Purity Cleanser

2. Bobbi Brown BB Cream in Extra Light

3. Nars Orgasm

4. MAC Peaches

5. Too Faced Bronzing Powder in Sun Bunny

6. Nars Habanera

7. YSL Volupte Sheer Candy #2

8. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain #7

9. Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat

10. Revlon Runway Pearl

11. Essie Chinchilly

12. Essie Navigate Her

13. Essie Set in Stones

14. Jo Malone Red Roses Body Creme