rogobeauty

[rogobeauty]

Comeback!

Hey!

Sorry I haven’t been updating this month, I took a bit of a hiatus to focus on my studies.

I’ll be resuming my regular posting schedule mid-april, so don’t worry!

I have lots of reviews coming up, including skincare from popular brands like Holika Holika, Tonymoly and Secret Key as well as less well known brands like Skin1004 and Labelyoung! 

Look forward to it!

P.s. if you have any specific requests or questions, feel free to send them in! I’ll be sure to answer them ASAP.

[rogobeauty]

Heya!

Night-time cream moisturizers will generally give a lot more hydration than emulsions. However, there are lots of sleeping packs you might find suit your needs quite well! Milkydress has a very affordable and popular one, while Shara Shara’s has a bit of a cult following for its uniqueness. You can’t go wrong with the green tea-based innisfree sleeping pack, especially for combination skin in need of hydration!

I hope that helped!

Hey! what I should buy for night treatment? -emulsion or cream

Which is more moisturizing? I have combination skin , I am looking for really good moisturizer for nigh?

[rogobeauty]

RogoBeauty Wishlist #1

Hello beauty lovers!

Everyone has products they want to buy, but just can't; whether it's that they're low on cash (me), they already have too many products to use (also me) or that what they want is too darn hard to get. Here's some products that have shown up on my radar but I just can't bring myself to buy (yet!).

1. Chosungah - Tangle Ice Spot (20ml)

Honestly, I've been eyeing a TON of Chosungah products on Koreandepart and the brand website (including the Ice Jelly Pack and  Mint Sun Essence), but this one looks lovely, is in a small enough size for testing AND is on mega-sale. It sounds like a really excellent moisturizer and a good intro to the brand. I'm definitely going to pick this up on my next koreandepart haul (as long as it's still on sale!). (Image Taken from chosungah22.com)

2. Moonshot - Color Moonwalk Paint (in Drunken Red and Bonne Mares)

When YG first launched their new cosmetics label Moonshot, there was a lot of hype for it online. However, afterwards there wasn't much noise on the products in the (english-speaking) blogsphere. I'm really curious! Of their products, the Moonwalk paints interested me the most. However, regardless of how divine the Bonne Mares (pictured above) and Drunken Red colours look, this is just too damn expensive for how teeny-tiny it is (7.5 ml). Waaay out of my budget, especially considering how there's tons of cool lip products out there I'd love to try for a lot less. Oh well. (Image from moonshot-cosmetics.com)

3. Mizon Vita Lemon Sparkling Pack

Yes, It's super ultra gimmicky. But...I still want it. It looks so fun! The packaging is so fresh! I just want the whole Vita Lemon line. It's a super frivolous purchase though, so...I probably won't get around to getting it. (image from beautynetkorea.com)

4. NEOGEN Miracle Lighting Eye Lifter

I've always wanted to try one of these types of eye products! This one has good reviews, so I'm interested in seeing if it will actually work well. At the very least, it looks like it will be nice and cooling. (Yes, the shape of the product looks a little....odd...).(image from http://www.neogenderma.com.hk)

5. Missha Signature Volume Brightening Concealer (SPF30/PA++)

I've been looking for a new concealer lately, since all of mine are running out. This one has great reviews AND the applicator looks really nice. Fancy looking concealer with a reasonable price? I'm all here for that. If I ever do pick it up, I'm hoping it will have good coverage without drying out my skin.  (image from http://en.koreadepart.com/)

BONUS: Fascy Tina Mask Pack

Ok, so there are: no reviews, no product website, basically no information whatsoever outside of koreadepart and gmarket for this product. But. BUT. The packaging is so cute! SO CUTE. And it's a cheapy sheet-mask, so it's not like it's a big money investment in trying it out, right? If these are in stock during my next koreadepart haul, I'll definitely throw one or two if them into my cart! Definitely have my eye on that cute AC mask. (image from http://item2.gmarket.co.kr/)

[rogobeauty]

Review: Etude House Green Tea Face Mask

The morning after a long, exhausting Halloween night (and an even longer, more exhausting work week) I tried the Etude House Green Tea face mask and let me tell you: it was lovely.

The mask came out of the package cold and refreshing (even though I'd stored it in a drawer, not the fridge!). Drenched in essence, the mask went on very wet but not sticky, and stayed chilled through almost its entire wearing. Even after 20 minutes, it still felt like the mask had plenty of essence left in it (but you shouldn't leave your sheet masks on for much longer than that, since It can irritate your skin). It soothed my tired skin and left it cool, moisturized and refreshed.

The mask is also perhaps one of the best fitting face masks I've worn yet: the eye, nose and lip holes actually matched up with my eyes, nose and lips (a shockingly rare thing for mask sheets). Not to mention that i didn't have to fold over excessively long or wide edges like I had to with my 3W Clinic masks. This mask lacks the flaps over the cutout regions that most masks opt to keep, and I actually like it better! I find that the flaps just tend to feel uncomfortable and don't sit right, so I usually pull them off anyway.

This face masks is perfect for soothing and refreshing your skin after a stressful week or a long day, and I highly recommend it.

Pros:

- well-fitting

- nicely hydrating

- cold, refreshing, calming

- non-sticky

Cons:

- None!

Rating: 5/5

Repurchase? Yes! I think I'll actually stock up on these (if I can find them). I love them!

I got this mask as a free gift with my purchase from jolse. If you'd like to buy this mask, pretty&cute sells it for $1.99 and sasa sells it for $2.50, although both are currently out of stock.

[rogobeauty]

Review: Skinfood Royal Honey Nutrition Massage Cream

A while back I received a bunch of Skinfood Royal Honey Nutrition Massage Cream sample packets with a purchase of mine. Now, usually I straight up don't review sample packets (you can't usually get a proper feel for or understanding of a product unless you use it for a long time), but I had quite a few of these and I feel like I should give you guys a heads up on the product.

The samples are cute little honey-pot shaped packets, intended for one time use. There's a lot of product in there though, so if you get your hands on a packet of this I'd suggest sealing it up (maybe in a zip lock) and using it again. I think one packet should get you about 2-3 uses. The full-sized product comes in a honey jar, I believe.

The massage cream itself is a thick, heavy off-white cream. It has your typical cream moisturizer texture and smell, just more heavy-duty. I was very disappointed, since I was hoping it would smell like honey but it smells more like a baby cream. 

The second I took the cream out of the packet, it felt really greasy. I'm okay with massage creams being oily or greasy while I'm using them, but I like them to either absorb to a clean finish or come off without leaving gunky residue. Sadly, this massage cream did not provide in that sense. Although the actual 5 minute face massage was nice and the cream provided good slip so I didn't tug at my skin at all, the cream basically didn't absorb. I tried both methods of removal suggested by Skinfood: on one use I took the cream off with a tissue, and the other I cleaned it off with water. Both methods gave the same result: my face was still greasy. About 15-20 minutes afterwards, my skin was way less greasy and felt super moisturized and soft...but there still seemed to be a somewhat "slick" texture to my skin. It's not very pleasant, and doesn't fully disappear for another couple of hours.

Overall, I don't much like the product. I have really dry skin so I appreciate how moisturizing it is, but there's so many moisturizing products, masks and creams out there that I don't feel like I need to put up with this cheap greasy feeling to get some skin hydration for the day.

Summary:

Pros:

- moisturizing

- makes skin very soft and supple

Cons:

- boring baby cream smell (doesn't smell like honey!)

- very greasy texture

- leaves skin slick/greasy for a long time

Rating: 2/5, moisturizing, but super greasy

Purchase the full size? No, even though it's great for my dry skin, I really can't deal with the greasiness.

If you have really dry skin and you still want to try out this product, you can purchase the full size from KoreaDepart for about 11$, or from any authorized seller of Skinfood products.

[rogobeauty]

Review: Nature Republic Original Power Argan Oil Ampoule

After trying out the It's Skin Power 10 Li and VC effector I wanted to try a serum from another popular serum line. Nature Republic's Original Power line was both in my budget and from a brand I liked, so I decided to give it a go. I got the Argan oil ampoule, since argan oil has tons of skincare benefits. The product didn't turn out how I expected, however....

The product comes in a lovely amber coloured 30ml glass jar. Despite holding the same amount of product as its It's Skin counter-part, this serum's container is fatter and shorter, and bigger due to its slightly thicker glass. It travels equally well, however. It likewise has a pipette/dropper in the cap.

I actually like this container more than the Its Skin one, because the pipette works better because its slightly wider, and the top of the bottle has a little plastic cover the prevents the pipette from moving around and from excess serum to come up.

So why is it that this serum disappointed me? It's very simple: it's not really a serum. It appears that every other product in the Original Power line is a serum EXCEPT this. This is a facial oil. And, sadly, not a great one. Despite "argan" being the key word for this, it's honestly mostly made out of grapeseed oil (not exactly a high-potency product, mostly a filler-oil to be honest). The product is a slick, thin clear oil with a somewhat earthy smell that I can't say I'm a fan of. When applied, it leaves a gross oily feeling on the skin after it's absorbed. It actually does do a decent job moisturizing, but it also gives my skin a really weird texture. After a week or two of using it, I decided it just wasn't worth using it on my face at all. I tried using it in my hair, and again it moisturized a bit but also gave my hair an odd clumpy texture. I've finally just switched to using it as a nail oil. I would not recommend this one at all, but I will happily re-use the packaging when I'm done.

Summary:

Pros:

- great packaging: sturdy, functions properly, pretty

Cons:

- not a serum as advertised

- unpleasant oily after-effect

- not that effective

- gives skin (or hair) a weird texture

Rating: 1/5, Great packaging, everything else sucks. 

Repurchase? No. This isn't any good.

You can buy this from honestskin or any authorized seller of Nature Republic products, if you still want to try it.

[rogobeauty]

Review: Vella Fresh Creamy Soap (from Cafe box memebox)

Several months ago, I ordered my first ever set of memeboxes. For those of you that have never heard of it, memebox is an online Korean beauty shop that specializes in curating themed boxes filled with Korean cosmetics. Most boxes go for 20-32$, and have 70-100$ worth of products (the catch being that you don't know what's in the box until you get it).

This cleanser was in the "Cafe Box" I ordered, and I was pumped to try it out. Before this, I'd never used a tub-style daily cleanser, only tube foam cleansers. Furthermore, the design is super cute! Like a little tub of ice cream !

The cleanser came in a little cardboard box, along with a wide and sturdy plastic spatula which was excellent for scooping out the product hygienically. The cleanser itself is housed in a little 100ml tub, covered in a cute design naming the different types of ingredients in the cleanser and what they are good for (Donkey milk for nutrition, Aloe, Piper Methysticum, Portulaca Oleracea and witch hazel for soothing, Propolis, Royal Jelly and Honey for moisturizing...wow!). A side panel also indicated what the cleanser is positively free of (No petroleum surfactant, Paraben, Artificial dyes, synthetic flavor (ha!), Benzophenone, Phenoxythanol, Ethanol and mineral oils). The bottom of the tub has the product's expiry date printed on it (I received the cleanser in 2014, and it expires in July of 2016 so the products shelf life is about 2 years).

At first I thought the tub was made of cardboard and I was kind of horrified (I mean, if it gets wet than the whole thing would be toast!) but luckily it's actually a very sturdy plastic tub with a big plastic screw on cap. It's very easy to open and close, but has a tight enough seal to keep the product fresh.

From the product description, I thought the texture would be a very smooth, light, whipped texture, like whipped cream. However, the cleanser is actually rather dense, like cream that's been whipped too long and is starting to turn into butter. It's still quite airy though, and feels smooth and creamy to touch. The cleanser has a light lemon smell, a bit like a cross between a softer smelling dish soap and lemon rind. I'm a bit here-nor-there on the smell, since I don't strongly dislike it but I do find it a bit too "dish-soap" smelling.

I loved using the cleanser, both night and day. It's creamy, soft and super gentle but has AMAZING cleansing power. This stuff can get off my makeup and then some easy-peasy (with the exception of my particularly stubborn waterproof eye makeup), and that's saying something. Honestly, I was shocked to see that such a gentle cleanser could clean so thoroughly and still leave my skin feeling so soft and smooth.

The cleanser doesn't really bubble or foam up quite like it's advertised to. All the product images for the cleanser show big fluffy bubbles but, as you can see, in actuality it's more of a thick, soft cream application than a fluffy bubbly one. Although you could try using a bubble net to get that fluffy consistency, I really don't think its necessary as its normal texture feels very luxurious.

As a reference for its cleansing power, I swatched several waterproof eyeliners, my waterproof mascara, a concealer, several lipsticks and a liptint. After using the cleanser, everything is gone except traces of the waterproof eye makeup. 

Overall, I loved using this cleanser, it's really wonderful for sensitive skin. Sadly, I used it all up pretty quickly and its really hard to find unless you wanna pay memebox's ridiculous shipping costs (plus I hear they are going to stop doing global shipping! Ugh!). I hope one of my go-to shopping sites starts carrying Vella Cosmetics, because I'd love to try more of their products!

Summary:

Pros:

- doesn't cause dry or tight skin

- great for sensitive skin

- good cleaning power

- leaves skin soft, smooth and clean

- can be used as a "1-step" cleanser (apart from eye makeup removal)

Cons:

- very hard to find

Rating: 5/5, my favourite cleanser yet!

You can buy this elusive cleanser from memebox for 24$ (its currently on sale for 11$!) or any authorized seller of Vella products (you might have a hard time with this one since they're a smaller, less global company, so maybe check ebay or memebox product swap groups). Vella is supposed to have a website (it's written on the side of the cleanser), but going to vellacosmetic.com gives me nothing (the website could be down, it may not be accessible outside of Korea or the company may have shut down...I just don't know!)

[rogobeauty]

Review: Etude House Skin mal:gəm Deep Moist Toner

About two years ago I suffered from really bad dry patches. It was especially irritating when it came to makeup application, since even the moist moisturizing base products still look horrible. I saw an ad for the skin mal:gəm line of toners (very new, at the time) and read a couple of good reviews and decided to give it a go. There's five different types of toner for different skin types, so I picked up the Deep Moist type for dry and sensitive skin (if you're into SHINee, it's the one advertised by Key!). And let me tell you...boy am I glad I did.

All the Skin mal:gəm toners (also written "malgeum") come in very pretty and cute 250ml sturdy plastic bottles. They have white twist-on caps, and a protective seal to protect the product before you open it. This toner, like many Korean toners, has a small hole at the top to let the product out. This kind of toner dispenser is not my favourite...it can get irritating when you're near the end of the bottle, and its harder to control the flow. I'd much prefer a pump dispenser. It's also good to note that the plastic the bottle is made out of is hard, which is good in case you drop it...but also means that you have to invert and pat/shake the bottle to get out the product (ie. you can't really squeeze it).

This toner is a cool, milky white toner that's not sticky or greasy at all. It's a bit on the thick side for a toner (it's more on par with the texture of an emulsion), but I personally like that. However, that does mean it takes longer to absorb (of all my morning skincare products, this one takes the longest to absorb). This is, by far, the MOST moisturizing toner I've ever used. After I started using it, I never got dry patches ever again. Ever. My makeup always applies smoothly, and my skin feels moisturized and soft. It also has a lovely, light scent (somewhat floral?). My only real complaint about this toner is that when I first started using it, it made my skin a little red (but that would disappear about 10 minutes after application). I pushed through it since the effects were promising, and after a couple of weeks my skin adjusted and that no longer happened. However, that does seem a bit odd for a product supposedly for sensitive skin...luckily, it otherwise didn't cause any other side effects (no burning, no acne, no itchiness...it's actually quite soothing!). Personally, I really love this toner so I think those first few weeks of temporary redness was worth it. The bottle should last you about...8-10 months of twice a day use.

Summary:

Pros:

- super ultra moisturizing (fixed my dry patches permanently)

- makes skin soft & smooth

- mildly brightening

- pleasant texture (not sticky, not greasy)

- nice scent

- multipurpose (it can be used as a facial spray if you have a bottle, or a mask if you have cotton sheet masks)

Cons:

- takes a long time to absorb

- pin-hole style dispenser

- takes a few weeks to adjust to

Rating: 4.5/5, Wonderful Toner!

Repurchase? Yes, I’m just finishing up my second bottle!

You can buy this excellent toner for 12$ at the Etude House website, 12$ at HonestSkin, about 15$ or 3 for $39 special at Jolse (with free shipping), or any authorized seller of Etude House products.

[rogobeauty]

Review: NuSkin Epoch Glacial Marine Mud

You NEED this mud pack. Do you hear me? YOU NEED IT. If you want wonderfully cleansed, acne-free skin then this is for you. I've used this facial mask for YEARS. You can use it anywhere on your body for treating acne or dirt buildup. Acne? Got ya' covered. Back-ne? Got ya there too. Pimple on your chin? Use it as a spot treatment. Just want a full renewal-style facial? You bet.

The 200g of product are stored in a simple thick green tube with a pop-open top. The packaging works well the first few times, but after a while the mud will cake on the top of the tube and might break the lid, making it very hard to close. This also means its not very travel friendly unless its a new bottle. I'd definitely suggest cleaning the top of the tube after every use to prevent any dry-mud buildup, or unscrew the lid instead of popping it open. Its good to note that even if the top breaks, most of the mud inside generally doesn't dry up so you can still use the contents, its just a pain to get rid of the crust on top.

This mask is a rich, dense earthy green mud that feels cool and relaxing upon application. To apply, start by shaking the bottle (makes sure its closed tightly! I usually hold down the top just in case) and then squeeze out a large amount onto your hand. Cover your entire face generously with the mud (or just problem areas if you're doing a spot-treatment). It's important to apply generously so that it can really deep clean your pores, but keep in mind that the thicker you make the mask the longer it will take to dry (also if its too thick you're just wasting product!). Make sure to avoid your eye and lip areas, but DO cover your eyebrows! The skin under the eyebrows generates a lot of oil and has lots of dirt buildup so it is a big pimple-hotspot, and this mask is the perfect cure for that.

Next you wait for the mask to dry. It usually takes about 10-20 minutes, but you may need more or less time depending on the amount you applied. A few tips for this step:

1. Wait for the whole mask to dry. If you have a few wet spots left and you wash off the mask, those spots won't benefit from the treatment!

2. Try not to move your face too much. If you laugh or smile you'll crack the mask, which might be uncomfortable and will tug at your skin.

3. Don't leave it on too long. After it dries completely, wash it off relatively soon. You risk irritation if you leave it on for super long periods of time when its dry.

4. Don't pick at it! I know its tempting, I know. But it might hurt your skin.

I I usually treat myself by watching an episode of a tv show or watch some youtube videos while I'm waiting for it to dry. Alternatively, you can take the time to moisturize your body, read a book, get some work done or dance around to some music. Whatever you feel like!

When its all dry, wash it off with lukewarm water. It's important that when you wash it off that you DO NOT rub it. Try patting or splashing the water onto your face or letting the water run over your skin. Rubbing it in is not good for your face, especially since the dried mud has absorbed all of the dirt and oils from your skin...you don't want to rub it back in!

Once it's all off, give your face one last once-over with some cold water to seal up your pores then follow up with your favourite moisturizer (I like to follow up masks with toner and a gel moisturizer for double the hydration! Alternatively, facial mists work well!). Your face will feel a bit tight initially, but after moisturizing it should feel smooth and fresh.

If you have products like toners, emulsions, serums or sleep masks, they also make a nice indulgence to replenish the skin after this mask.

This mask will make your skin feel super clean and smooth. It exfoliates a little bit in addition to its deep cleansing properties, but I wouldn't suggest relying on it for exfoliation. It's true talent lies in its cleansing power. Whenever I see signs of acne or get hormone-related pimples, this treatment gets rid of them lickety-split! If you use it regularly (1-2 times a week) it also prevents new pimples from appearing by keeping your pores oil and dirt free. If you suffer from bad acne (on your face, back or chest) using this mask several times a week will greatly reduce your acne and improve the look of your skin. It's really a Holy Grail of a product. I'm a huge believer that everyone needs at least one mud pack in their skincare routine.

Summary:

Pros:

- improves and prevents acne

- deep cleanses

- doesn't heavily dry out skin

- doesn't irritate skin

- feels cooling and relaxing like an expensive spa treatment

Cons:

- lid breaks way too easily

- packaging allows mud to cake on lid easily making it hard to close

- a bit pricey

Rating: 4/5 (I love it, but they need a better lid!)

Repurchase? Yes Yes Yes! I've bought this product again and again!

You can purchase this mud pack on the NuSkin website for about $27 (here's the international site).

[rogobeauty]

insatiablytaken reblogged your post Review: Its Skin Power 10 Formula Li E... and added:

Well this has now been added to my list of must buys next time I order!

I'm so happy to hear that!

Tell me how it goes when you try it!

[rogobeauty]

Review: Its Skin Power 10 Formula Li Effector

Depending on which website you read the description from, both the VC and LI effector have essentially the same purpose: to brighten and even skintone. The VC emphasizes the brightening, while the LI emphasizes the skintone evening. I figured the formulas would be almost identical, but I was wrong. Both serums come in a small 30ml glass bottle, with a pipette dropper attached inside the screw on cap. There is a little measuring chart on the side so you can see how much product is left and how much you use each time. The bottle is fairly durable and portable, and I've taken a bottle of the serum with me on two separate trips overseas with no breakage or leakage. However, the dropper is not as effective as I'd like, since it occasionally has trouble dispensing product that's left in the pipe. At this point you may be asking yourself why I've only shown pictures of the one blue bottle (the LI effector) and none of that iconic yellow VC effector bottle that It's Skin insists is the miracle of the century. Well...that's because it's not. I tried the VC effector. I used the whole damn bottle. It's alright. It absorbs somewhat faster than the LI effector, and is more milky in colour. But otherwise...meh. No real brightening, no real nuthin'. Wouldn't waste your money on it. The LI effector, on the other hand, is more than worth it. Hence my blue-bottle centric review.

The LI effector has a slightly viscous watery texture and is a very translucent yellow colour. It's basically scentless and feels light (not heavy or greasy) on my skin. It absorbs fairly quickly for a serum and leaves skin smooth and not sticky. Applying this serum also relieves light redness on the skin temporarily. However, the best part of this serum by far is the fact that it fades blemishes/acne scaring. At the end of the second week of use my acne scars had already faded significantly, and by the time I'd finished the bottle they were barely visible. I was incredibly impressed that such a cheap serum could give such wonderful results.Like most products of this nature, you'll need to have patience to see the effects, but it's worth it. I use this serum both night and day, and as such the bottle gets used up in just over a month. I wish it came in a larger bottle, but its really no big deal to stock up on a few of them since they're pretty inexpensive (not to mention that 30ml is pretty standard for serums).

Summary:

Pros:

- pleasant, non-sticky, non-greasy texture

- fades blemishes/acne scars

- temporarily reduces redness

- very cheap and easy to find

Cons:

- dropper/pipette has minor dispensing issues

- doesn't last very long

Rating: 5/5, I keep coming back to it. Cheap & it works!

Repurchase? Yes, I'm on my second bottle!

You can buy this serum from HonestSkin for 6$ (on sale), RoseRoseShop for 7$ (on sale), BeautyNetKorea for 10$ (with free shipping), or any authorized seller of It's Skin products. This product is super common, so if you have a favourite shop for Korean cosmetics, they are very likely to carry it.

[rogobeauty]

Review: NuSkin NaPCA Moisture Mist

I'm just going to do a quicky review on Nu Skin's NaPCA moisture mist. I've used this facial mist for several years now, and it's probably one of my favourite products from the NaPCA line from Nu Skin.

The NaPCA Moisture mist comes in a generously sized 250ml spray bottle. The spray covers your whole face when held from 15-20 cm with a medium-soft spray strength, so it won't disrupt your makeup or feel at all harsh (you'd be surprised at how many facial mists have ridiculous water-hose levels of pressure). The mist itself has a light watery feel to it (not at all sticky or slick) that's cool and refreshing and has a light parfume-like scent (the scent disappears pretty much immediately after you spray it, thankfully). It's a pretty big bottle so I wouldn't recommend it for travel, but it does have a lot of product so it will last you a long time (and you can use it on your body or hair as well!).

I like to use this in the morning to wake me up or whenever my face starts feeling dry throughout the day. It's also a nice way to follow up any skin treatments that have left your skin feeling tight (like clay and mud masks, or the NaPCA Moisturizer from the same line).

I transferred some of this product to a travel spray bottle for my trip to Israel last summer and it was GODSEND. I was constantly spraying myself with this to hydrate my skin and just generally feel cooler. It was especially lovely to use when I was climbing mountains or Masada as a pick-me-up (and it made me feel less sweaty and gross). I highly recommend this for people who live in or are vising hot climates.

Summary:

Pros:

- hydrating

- refreshing

- holds up in extreme weather conditions

- great value/lots of product

Cons:

- not travel friendly (easily solved by purchasing a travel spray container, this product transfers easily!)

- very simple (no extra benefits like brightening)

Rating: 4/5, love it, but I wish it had more skincare benefits

Repurchase? Yep! I'm on my 3rd-4th bottle already

You can purchase this moisture mist on the NuSkin website for about $12 (here's the international site).

[rogobeauty]

Review: Maybelline Volum' express the Falsies Hydrofuge Waterproof mascara in Very Black

The Falsies is my Holy Grail mascara. Basically I'm obsessed with it. I love the 'false eyelash' look but I refuse to spend the time or money on wearing fake eyelashes on a regular basis. It's just not gonna happen. So when I found this mascara and its big claims of grand, doll-like eyelashes I was a bit skeptical. AND WRONG. OH SO WRONG. Basically if you like big, dramatic doll-esc eyelashes this is the mascara for you!

The design of the container and the wand are pretty standard. The bottle is designed with a small opening so that you don't take out too much product on the wand. The want itself is curved to fit the shape of your eye, but there's nothing spectacular or revolutionary about it.  The brush is very full so it coats your eyelashes evenly and fully. Like with any mascara, I suggest wiping the excess off of the wand on a tissue or piece of paper before applying it to avoid clumps.

After 2-3 coats, my eyelashes look longer, blacker and more full. As long as you wipe the excess before hand, it doesn't clump or gather your lashes awkwardly. I don't curl my eyelashes before using it or anything, I just quickly brush on a couple of coats and VOILA! instant beautiful lashes. Obviously you can't magically have a super full lashes look without actually wearing fakes, but this mascara gets you pretty darn close! I constantly get comments about how noticeable and full my lashes are when I wear this mascara, including being asked if I'm wearing false lashes! Mission accomplished!

Also, it's awesomely waterproof! I get caught in the rain all the time (I really should buy an umbrella...) and this mascara never runs. If you accidentally rub your eye, though, some of it will likely transfer to your lower lid (under eye) but not that much. As with any waterproof makeup, you'll want to take it off with a good makeup remover before cleansing at night. This mascara is extra clingy, so double check to make sure you got it all (you don't want to know how many times I've woken up with raccoon eyes because I didn't cleanse thoroughly enough).

When I use this with a dark black cat-eye liner, it can be quite dramatic. For a more natural day-to-day look, I suggest using this mascara with a CC cream and a tinted lip balm. It's a brilliant way to quickly make your eyes look bigger and more noticeable (especially if you highlight the inner corners of your eye with white or nude eyeliner). Whether you use it on its own or with other eye makeup, it looks stunning.

Summary:

Pros:

- makes eyes look bigger, lashes fuller

- lengthens and darkens lashes

- no clumps, easy and quick to apply

- great for doll eyes/false eyelash look

- waterproof

Cons:

- hard to remove

- minor smudging when rubbed

Rating: 5/5

Repurchase: Yes! I'm currently on my second tube! I've heard they've upgraded this to a double ended wand with a separate formula for under lashes, so I might check that out as well!

You can purchase this mascara at most drugstores; I bought mine at Shoppers Drugmart for about $7, but I'm sure you can find it at Rexall as well (or Ulta and the like in the US). If you don't live in North America, you might have to find a site/store that carries North American products through the Maybelline site.

[rogobeauty]

Review: Holika Holika Jewel-light Water Proof Eyeliner (Lovely Pop Collection) in Ballerina Pink

I bought this eyeliner when Cosmetic-Love was having a sale on their Holika Holika products. I'd always wanted a bright pink liner and this one caught my eye! It is a creamy pencil eyeliner in a bright peachy-salmon pink (NOT neon or barbie pink!). I absolutely love the colour: It's not a super synthetic bubblegum/pop style pink, but more of a natural pink with some orange undertones. But it's still super vibrant and stunning.

It glides onto the eyelid really easily without much tugging or pulling, and goes on vibrant and gorgeous in just one swipe! I usually go over the line a second time since I want it super vibrant, but one swipe is definitely enough if you're in a rush. It sets reaaaally quickly, so I wouldn't really suggest it if you were planning on seriously blending or smudging it. On the other end, that means it's also really smudge-proof!

I like using this eyeliner with my falsies mascara and a light pink lipstick for a cute and fresh look. If you're feeling especially fun, you can actually colour your eyelashes with this! It takes a little more time, but the pencil can transfer and hold really nicely onto lashes. I personally prefer black mascara, but I noticed this when I accidentally hit my lashes with the pencil while doing my makeup (so if you are wearing mascara definitely put it on after using the pencil, otherwise you'll get random pink blotches on your eyelashes if you're not careful). Alternatively, you can cover your whole lid and use the pencil as a eyeshadow.

When I saw it online, I thought it would be a auto-style pencil (i.e. you twist it up to get more) because of the plastic outside but I was wrong! You do need to sharpen it. Luckily the plastic is really soft so its not a big deal. I was a little disappointed though, because I find auto-style pencil less messy. After many uses and sharpenings, the top of the pencil is starting to look ugly and gunky. It still works just fine, but you're gonna have to sharpen it more often if you want a clean or thin line.

It terms of waterproof power and wear time, this eyeliner is fantastic. I can wear the eyeliner all day (10+ hours!) and it basically looks the same as when I first put it on! No fading, no smudging, no transferring to my upper lid. Nada. Super impressive. I've even been caught in the rain with it and it stayed put! I did a waterproof test with a swatch on my hand by running tap water over the eyeliner. No smudging, no fading. It looked exactly the same! I then tried rubbing the swatch and only after 20 seconds of rubbing did it start to fade.

Because it is so waterproof, you're going to want to ensure you remove this with a good makeup remover and not just wash your face with a cleanser: most cleanser won't be able to get rid of it. I used etude house's eye makeup remover and it came off clean and easy.

Summary:

Pros:

- easy to apply (no tugging)

- vibrant, unique & bright colour

- waterproof, smudge-proof

- 10+ hour wear time

Cons:

- doesn't blend easily

- needs to be sharpened (not auto-style)

- gets messy/gunky with frequent use

Rating: 4/5 (I really wish it was auto-style...)

Repurchase? Yes! I love this eyeliner! I'm gonna get some more colours!

You can buy this eyeliner anywhere that sells Holika Holika products, or online at Cosmetic Love ($8.25) or BeautyNetKorea ($5.47) with free shipping worldwide!

[rogobeauty]

Shop Review: BeautyNetKorea

When I first got into Korean cosmetics a few years ago, I bought my products pretty exclusively from a mall outside of town and at cosmetic-love, but when they bumped up their prices and I saw how low the prices were at the newly opened (at the time) BeautyNetKorea store (formally an e-bay store) I had to try it out. Flash forward to today and I've happily received two separate orders from them. After buying from several different online stores, I'm still quite partial to this one. 

They have free standard shipping through Korea post, and it costs $2.50 to get a tracking number (tracking is free if you spend over $50). My first order shipped out in a couple of days and took just under three weeks to get to me (in Canada), which is a fairly standard amount of time for most packages to get to me from East Asia. I didn't get hit by any customs or extra taxes since they declared it as a lower value or as a gift(yes!). You also get points for every order, which can be used to discount future orders.

The package arrived neatly packed into a cardboard box, with each item individually wrapped in bubble wrap. Everything was in great condition except for the box of the mizon moisturizer, which was slightly bent out of shape. But its no big deal, since it's just the outside packaging.

I bought 4 products and they gave me 6 samples, which is a pretty decent amount!

The samples I got were:

- Etude House fresh cherry tint (in Cherry pink and cherry red)

- Etude House Collagen Moistfull cream (x 2)

- Etude House SunPrise water essence gel 30spf/PA++

- Missha Super Aqua Ultra water-full clear cream

Although I like that some online shops have a clearer set amount of samples and gifts for certain number of purchases, BeautyNetKorea has generally lower prices and constant sales and is easy to navigate, so I'm more inclined to order from them. They carry the usual global brands (Etude House, Tonymoly, etc) but have recently started carrying some harder to find brands (like Borntree, BBIA or Rire) at rock bottom prices. Super pleased about that!

Summary:

Pros:

- free shipping

- excellent prices (constant 10-20% of sales)

- easy to navigate

- usual shipping time and packaging

- nice amount of samples with order

- decent points/rewards program

Cons:

- a bit limited inventory compared to other stores

- never any huge discount sales (sales usually max out at 25% off)

Rating: 5/5, A great store, especially for Korean cosmetics newbies

Shop with them again? You bet! I recommend to everyone that if there's a certain product you want, check BeautyNetKorea FIRST. I bet if they have it, it will be a lower total price (since shipping is free) than any other site!

Happy Shopping!

[rogobeauty]

Review: NuSkin NaPCA Moisturizer

This product is a cream type moisturizer from NuSkin that comes in a travel-friendly plastic jar that holds 75ml of product. It doesn't come with a spatula, so if you don't have a spare one make sure your hands are super clean before you dip-in to avoid contamination. The lid fits well and the packaging is good enough for travel: I've had this in my bag for both a 6 hour car ride and a 2 hour flight without any spillage/leakage.

I used this moisturizer during the summer months and can safely say that it was perfect for taming my moderately dry summer skin. It's not hydrating enough to use on its own for the drier months (fall, winter), but would still work if you layered it with other products or a secondary moisturizer if your skin is crazy dry like mine (I suggest using a gel style moisturizer afterwards, like Nature Republic's Super Aqua Max Cream). If you have normal to oily skin, I imagine this moisturizer could be used year-round.

When applied, the cream glides onto your skin really smoothly and isn't too oily or runny. It takes some time to absorb because it requires you to spend a bit of time seriously massaging it in. By forcing you to blend it (do it gently!) it actually penetrates deeper into your skin so you'll get a deeper hydration. It sets to a very smooth matte finish but also leaves my face feeling a little tight, which I don't really like. To counteract this, I finish off by spraying a facial mist and tapping it lightly ('tapping' as in pressing your hands lightly to your face) on my skin (I use the sister product to the moisturizer, the NaPCA Moisture Mist). The final result is smooth a soft skin without dry flaky patches!

A little of it goes a looong way though, so use it sparingly. In fact, if you use too much product it will be too hard to blend into your skin and will leave unpleasant white residue that will dry up and flake! So start by taking a very small amount and doting it around your face, and use a bit more if you need it after blending. 

Because it takes so little product with each use, the jar will last you a really long time. I used it twice a day for about 4 months now and barely got half way through the jar.

Summary:

Pros:

- provides enough moisture for dry skin in the summer, or other skin types year-round

- leaves a matte, smooth & soft finish (non oily)

- good for sensitive skin / no breakouts

- product last a long time

Cons:

- leaves skin feeling too tight

- not enough moisture on its own for dry skin in drier climates/seasons

- not very budget friendly for students (I got mine as a gift)

Rating: 3 / 5

Re-purchase?: No, I think there's better moisturizers out there for less money.

You can purchase this moisturizer on the NuSkin website for about $27 (here's the international site).

Disclaimer: I received this moisturizer as a gift from a family member.

[rogobeauty]

Review: Etude House Happy Essential Cleansing Foam - Hyaluronic Acid type (Blue) review

This cleansing foam is packaged in a 150ml tube and comes in several different types. I bought the Blue Type (Hyaluronic Acid) because it promotes hydration which my skin is in dire need of. 

I used this as my go-to cleanser for about a year and it was very nice. I use it to cleanse both in the morning and in the evening.

Basically it comes out as a thick, creamy white...cream gel? It's a bit hard to describe the textures: its more solid and slick than a cream but not quite as fluid or as clear as a gel. You only need a pea sized amount to cover your whole face, because the product lathers up beautifully. It feels like a luxurious mix between a cream and a foam that completely coats your whole face. The smell is a soft floral, but its light and calming and not overpowering.

When I wash it off, my skin feels super smooth and not too tight; it doesn't dry out my skin at all.

This cleanser is great for your skin and can remove most makeup (bb/cc cream or foundation, coverup, lipstick etc) but you'll still need a makeup remover for anything heavier like waterproof mascara/eyeliner. Here I have several concealers, waterproof cream and liquid eyeliner (pink, brown, black, silver), a lipstick and a liptint as well as a smear of waterproof mascara swatched.

As you can see, it gets off the majority of the makeup, but not all of it. It's not so much a "deep cleanser" or a "makeup remover", but instead a really nice daily cleanser. I would definitely recommend it for any two-step cleansing method (ie. pre-cleansing with a balm, oil, cream etc) or for non-makeup days. Otherwise, you'll need something with a higher cleansing power.

Summary:

Pros:

- non-drying (great for people with dry skin)

- leaves skin soft and not tight

- decent cleansing

- no breakouts, doesn't irritate my skin

- not expensive

Cons:

- doesn't remove waterproof makeup

- hard to find

Rating: 4/5

Repurchase: Sure, but I want to try some other cleansers first!

I bought mine on sale from Cosmetic Love, where you can get it for $10 with free shipping, or you can get it for $4 from the official international Etude House site (who miraculously still stock it). You can also buy it from ebay or any seller of Etude House products that still carries it. It's a bit of an old product now though, so you may have trouble finding a store that still has it in stock.