Review of TONYMOLY Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream (exfoliate)

I wish it was Spring break..

So today I was in need of an exfoliator, I realized I haven't exfoliated in a long while.

I went for TONYMOLY Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream. I didn't want to open it because of the adorable packaging  (I'm such a hoarder)

It was bigger than I imagined, fits in the palm of my hand, pretty much medium apple size.

It comes in the form of a lovely Green Apple

It boasts  3 in 1 functions: Massage, Moisturizing Pack and Exfoliating

 Peel = Exfoliation

comes with 80g of product

Special Ingredients:

Green Apple Extract 

AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)

Papaya Extract

The Green Apple extract contains Vitamin A, B1, and C

these vitamins help with blemishes and aging skin.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid helps naturally exfoliate skin by loosening dead skin cells.

The Pectin in the apple ingredient also helps with reducing pore size

This is why I love korean skincare, I love reading the labels for the ingredients. There is so much variety and they are usually multi-functional

  How do you use it?

Apply to the face (avoid eyes and lips)

Massage for 1-2 minutes 

Leave on for 30 seconds

Then Massage again to loosen the dead skin cells 

Wash off with warm Water

After opening you get a tub of white cream

The texture feels smooth with a sprinkle of very tiny grains like fine sand, but you could miss it if you weren't feeling for it.

The Smell:

Smells like Green Apple of course!

It's light and not overwhelming

After using it my skin felt smoother and definitely moisturized.

Why is it important to exfoliate?

It removes the dead skin cells we naturally shed revealing smoother skin.

Without exfoliating the dead skin cells can clog your pores.

It promotes even skin-tone by helping the skin regenerate faster, the dark spots and blemishes get shed with the old skin, leaving you with fresh smooth skin.

If you are looking for a gentle exfoliator that moisturizes, TonyMoly Appletox is worth giving a try. Its great for dry skin, or if your skin is too sensitive for the tougher exfoliators

Plus it looks super cute on your vanity or bathroom counter.

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Review of Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream 8 in 1 Glow and Silky

Again I'm lagging behind with my blogging >.<
I need to come up with a Speech for school and it's driving my anxiety up overdrive!

Okay to the point! I have been Using the Etude House Correct and Care CC Cream Lately , So now I can finally review them for you.

Etude House 8 in 1 Multi-Function Correct and Care CC Cream 

The 8 functions are:

• Anti-Aging
• Stress Relief
• Hydration
• Whitening
• Sun Protection (SPF30 PA++)
• Tone-up
• Smooth Texture
• Luminosity

The come in tubes with pumps (35g or 1.23 oz)
Very Compact and can easily fit in your cosmetic bag.

These don't come with an option of any shades, since it's supposed to change to match to your skin tone. What I do like about the Etude House CC Cream is that is comes with a choice of finish, Silky or Glow

When you pump it out it comes out as a white cream, then slowly adapts to your skin color.

Coverage is Light - Medium, However I use it as a base under my foundation during the day so I get the coverage and benefits of a CC Cream.

Which Finish to Choose?
It's up to your preference, 
I love the Silky finish and I definitely use it over the Glow
Living in a Hot Tropical place and it can get humid and the Silky finish helps prevent that shiny look.
If your skin is on the dry side I would go with Glow if you want that dewy finish

I find it lighter on my skin than the Skin79 BB Cream ,which why I have been using the Etude House CC Cream more lately, it also has a higher SPF

Tip: Using SPF in the day is very important ( the sun rays can reach you through windows)
but it doesn't look too well with flash photography, so if you are going to a night event try to avoid it  or too much of it. Another option is to put foundation over it.

Warning: Don't Forget the Sunblock..
My mom got stuck in traffic for a significant amount of time in direct sunlight with her windows up and AC on. The UV rays penetrated the glass and her face ended up getting severely burned and damaged. It was not the normal sunburn,  she had dark pigmentation on both cheeks for 2 years and not to mention the unseen skin damage it may have caused. So I always remind her to put on unblock, so now she never forgets her bb or cc cream. So I always stress the importance of Sunblock!

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Review : Holika Holika Jewel-Light WaterProof Eyeliner

Happy Valentines Day! or Singles Awareness Day, Whatevs everyone can celebrate and partake on the valentines day chocolate sales the next day lol. 

Sorry I have not been so active lately School and work combo is kicking my butt. I also started the Insanity workout again so that is literally working my butt off.

Something I wanted to try for a while were the Holika Holika Jewel-Light Waterproof Eyeliner. I am always looking for the perfect waterproof eyeliner.  I have been using Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils and they are good but technically not waterproof, so on those hot-hot days I still end up with raccoon eyes when I'm not careful.
 So onto the Review....

The Holika Holika Jewel-Light Waterproof Eyeliner Comes in 20 colors I got 5;  Black Gem, One Carat Diamond, 18k Gold, Pink Topaz, and Brown Amber

The Product Promise:
• Water Resistant
• Smudge Resistant
• Pigment Color
• Long Lasting

I was very impressed these did their job as well as some high end US brands.  Yes they are pigmented and it doesn't pull like some of the other waterproof brands. 

Black Gem and Brown Amber have a slight shimmer, Black Gem looks like it would have more shimmer but it's very subtle which I like. The rest of the colors have shimmer.

Pink Topaz reminds me of a Dolce & Gabbana Eyeliner in Shimmer 12 that I got from Sephora with my Beauty points.

The Tests:
Test 1: I did some swatches on my arm and let it set. I rubbed and it didn't budge! There where some shimmer transfer though that is understandable. I literally had to vigorously rub my arm and almost scratch at it to get it just a bit off. 
  
Test 2: I ran it under some water and no runny make up goop, yay! Yes i would definitely say it's water resistant! The only way I got it so budge was wet it and then rub vigorously again.

I love these, These will be great for the gym. I know some people are self conscious about going to the gym barefaced, well just throw on some waterproof eyeliner and you're good to go. Make sure it's one that does it's job , because a sad emo clown face is way worse than bare face.

You could also use these to the pool or beach, just make sure when you sweat or get wet not to rub them. 

Price:
I love that they are decently priced! They sell for about $5 in Korea and $8.99 USD (at the time of this post) on their US Website www.holikaholikausa.com

I think that's a deal for the quality you are getting.
I definitely want to try some other colors like purple.


How to Sharpen:
I know it looks like a twisty pencil but don't be afraid to sharpen it in a cosmetic pencil sharpener, as it was intended.

Heres How it looks after a long hot sweaty day of wear...
My mascara is a mess but the Holika Holika Eyeliner stayed put :)

Thank you for reading :)
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Skin79 Super+ Triple Functions BB Cream (Pink) Updated Review & Swatch

It's time for an updated look at the SKIN79 Triple Functions Beblesh Balm BB Cream (pink). It has since improved since my last review so let's take another look!

Skin Background, I got a bit tanned-ish due to all my recent garden projects. I just started a hydroponics garden as well as a mini garden with some veggies (my way of starting to eat healthier) but more on that later..

any way current foundation is Urban Decay Naked Foundation in 4.0

My Arms and Hand is a bit lighter than my face.

Here is some info before the review...

What is BB Cream?

Beauty Balm? Blemish Balm?

I'm sure most of everybody and their mama knows what a BB Cream is by now, but once a upon a time it was Asia's little secret. For those who haven't discovered BB Cream yet.. it is basically make-up and skincare all in one. It provides coverage, protection from the sun, and helps improve your skin as you wear it. Magical isn't it? 

Each one has special ingredients and function for your skin so go out there and discover the BB Cream for you!

What's New about the Skin79 Triple Function BB Cream?

Upgraded Ingredients: 

Tangerine Oil for Lively Skin

OSMOPUR (Sunflower, Rice Bran, Ivy, and Green Tea) Protects the Skin

Ceramide 3  Provides Moisture to the Skin

Phyto-Complex Provides Nutrition for Skin

Still Contains:

Arbutin to help Whiten Skin

Adenosine for Wrinkle improvement

What Are the Functions of Skin79 Triple Functions BB Cream?

Whitening, UV A and B Protection SPF25 PA++, Wrinkle Improvment

Arbutin extracted from the bearberry plant (safer than Hydroquinone) Helps brighten skin and even skin tone.

UVA and UVB Protection, this is very important, I cannot stress sun protection enough, maybe it's because I'm from a tropical place (aloha!) but the sun can do irreversible damage to our skin as well as speed up aging. I know sometimes I get lazy and forget sunblock plus sunblock smell is usually bleh. 

I really love the fact that my skin is protected when I have my BB Cream on.

Wrinkle Improvement, now this doesn't mean that BB Cream is only for grandmas. It is more of a prevention, prevention is the best cure. It's recommended that people start using anti-aging in their 20's or even earlier. It's easier to preserve youth than to turn back time!

Skin79 BB Cream also Functions as both make-up base and foundation, lets not forget the sebum-control properties.

Why only one shade?

It is from Korea and usually matches many skin tones there.

I understand that some people may find it too light on them, but there is a solution.

Tip 1: Use it as a base, and then apply your preferred foundation over it.

Tip 2: Mix it with a darker foundation then apply

On to my Swatches and Review:

Here is the Skin79 BB Cream on my Arm, I chose a spot with a scar I got from cooking  >.<

The Scar actually appears darker in person. The BB Cream does a well-enough job of blending it in.

I'd say the coverage is light to medium but you could always  build it up or put concealer and foundation over it, if you really need more coverage

Here it is on my hand with flash, as you can see it subtly blends and evens the skin-tone, the green veins are less visible.

The Cream looks grayish / neutral but don't be alarmed it does well with blending in the skin, and if it's too light for you follow the tips above.

It feels very light ,I actually put this on half of my face and after a while I forgot it was on, but that is without foundation or anything else just the BB Cream.

Recommended:

I recommend this for daily use, it's very light on its own and provides skin protection as well as helps improve skin over time.

You can still use it as a make-up base for nights out or big events but I would highly recommend this for everyday use instead. It's made for daytime , casual, easy light make-up and it does well at that.

Please be careful when buying this online as there are a lot of fakes of this product out there.

you can read my other post on How to spot a Fake and Authenticate your Skin79 BB Cream

Pay attention to the item price and location

Also be careful when buying locally, I saw one of these for sale at a local korean store for $50-$60.

I understand they probably need to pay for taxes and shipping, but that's a bit steep for this particular BB cream which sells for about $24.00 to $27.00 USD in Korea or $30 USD on their official american site.

Here is a good online store to purchase it from http://dolcepanda.storenvy.com/

Thank You for Reading 

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Korean Cosmetics and Skin Care Haul

 Hello Sweeties ^.^ Hope you all had wonderful Holiday Celebrations. I definitely enjoyed a nice calorie-filled christmas.  I know I haven't been very consistent with this blog, but things are about to change.  Along with me being more active, I will be making design changes here and there so please look forward to that. 

On to the Haul..
I recently made a big purchase from Korea for various BB Creams, CC Creams, Make-up , and Skincare products :) From brands like Skin79, Etude House, Tony Moly, Dr. Jart+, The Face Shop, Skinfood, Laneige, 3 Concept Eyes, Holika Holika and Leader's Insolution. So lots and lots of reviews coming hehe. I also just got the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, I'm so excited to play with it.

I am looking forward to getting this blog going. Please subscribe if you want to see the reviews or just to keep posted
thank you!!
xoxo Mari

Skin79 Pink BB Cream Fake or Real: How to authenticate 2013

As you may know, there are a bunch of skin79 bb cream fakes being sold out there, It's never a good feeling to get duped so hopefully this will help better arm you in your online shopping adventures.

I've noticed people freaking out, thinking they got a fake product just because there was no authenticity sticker on their BB cream. Well, skin79 continually changes the product packaging to help prevent counterfeiting. As of January 2013 they have removed the authenticity label as well as several little changes to help you differentiate real from fake.

Here are some photos of an authentic skin79 Pink Triple Functions BB cream bought recently , straight from South Korea:

Side by side comparison with an old very used bottle from 2010

The new bottle is shorter

Both are Authentic

Description and directions available in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean printed on the inside.

Bottom of the box shows manufactured date and then expiration date

Manufactured on August 19, 2013

Expires: February 18, 2016

The top has a big round button and no seal.

Bottom of the bottle also shows manufactured date and then expiration date

Manufactured on August 19, 2013

Expires: February 18, 2016

Make sure the bottle and box match!

So if your Skin79 Pink Triple Functions BB Cream does not have an authenticity label please do  not panic as they have removed it. If yours has a label and was manufactured after January 2013 it most likely is a fake!

If you want to thoroughly check your BB Cream

Here is a more detailed history of the package changes for the skin79 Pink Triple Functions BB Cream from the official site:

This does not only apply to Skin79's Pink BB Cream but to several other products if you would like to check Skin79 Gold BB Cream or Beblesh Pact please check their notice on the Official Site Check it Out

Now you can check your BB Cream and find comfort in the fact that you have the real deal.
Reap all the happy BB Cream Goodness and benefits!

Not only do they change the packaging they also continually improve the product so a review of the new Skin79 Pink BB Cream will be coming soon.

Thank you 
XOXO Mari

SKINFOOD Honey Red Orange Mask Review

I got this a while back, it is an exfoliating scrub from Skinfood. When it first came out there were (i think) 6 types, each one featured key ingredients from around the world that are beneficial to the skin. There was the Acai Berry Mask, Acorn Jelly Mask, Ginseng Mask, Olive Mask, Chocolate Mask, & Honey Red Orange Mask. For some reason I can't find the chocolate mask on the skinfood site anymore but i bought that one too so I will review it soon too.

The packaging is too pretty and is top quality, like most skinfood products it is packaged to look like food. It's contained in a glass jar (see pics) which could pass as jam or honey. I know it looks & smells like it's good enough to eat but try not to.  Although I did get some on my lips accidentally and it had a sweet taste to it, don't eat it, and keep out of reach from children or unsuspecting people that might think it's edible.

Skinfood Choco Eyeline Jam in: Choco Dip Black & Choco Dip Mocha Review & Swatch

Another Skinfood review:

I got the Skinfood Choco Eyeline Jam in 2 colors : Choco Dip Black & Choco Dip Mocha.
I believe they have a total of 3 colors available , Satin Brown is the 3rd color.
It's a cream eyeliner or "soft-gel eyeliner" - according to the site, the first cream eyeliner I've ever tried. I usually kept to liquid eyeliners. It's meant to give a nice matte finish.

The packaging is a cute, jam - jar inspired, pot made of glass.
Sadly it does not come with a brush unlike most cream or gel eyeliners, so you need a tiny smudge brush, a slanted brush , or any small precise brush you are comfortable with.

These actually work pretty well and stay on for awhile. It usually stay on until I decide to take it off at the end of the day. I always wear eyeshadow primer so that might contribute to how long it lasts.

Click on photos to view Full Size
Here are some pics to show you the packaging:

It should be sealed when you receive it

Date on the bottom is manufacturing date
not expiration date.


The 2 colors look similar until you do a side by side comparison.
The color I didn't get is a much lighter color called Satin Brown

I used a small brush to swatch the eye liners on my hand
It applies smooth, well depending on the brush you use,
but its nice n creamy I'll update if it dries out on me.

nice n matte, if that's what you're looking for

Pros:
Creamy
Lots of product (value)
nice packaging
Good application
Long lasting

Cons:
No brush
Hard to find outside of Asia
Cost more out of Asia
Comes in only 3 colors


I am currently using these for everyday make up
and I am very satisfied although if it's a special/ important occasion
I would buy a waterproof eyeliner.
I am very happy to have these as my first cream eyeliners.

visit the skinfood site:
http://www.theskinfood.com/
english: http://eng.theskinfood.com/

If you have any questions just ask ^_^

<3

Skin79 Super Plus Beblish Balm BB Cream Review & Swatch

An aspect that makes the BB cream so alluring are the variety of beneficial ingredients they put inside. It is also the ingredients that differentiate the BB creams from each other.

Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream (hot pink) according to their site & the box the main ingredients include:

Adenosine & Arbutin: for whitening , brightening, improving elasticity, and preventing wrinkles.
Phyto Complex: Skin nutrition & Moisturizing. (soothes skin) Lotus extract: Skin flexibility (I guess it adds to the elasticity as well)
Coenzyme Q10: Skin protection
Aloe Vera: Healthy Skin
Also Contains Osmopur which contains:
Sunflower, Rice Bran , and Ivy extract that also protects your skin from various harmful conditions
So when looking for a BB cream for your self pay close attention to the ingredients and benefits and choose what is right for you.

Now that we got ingredients out of the way lets move on to the functions & review

What it is:
Skin79 Super Plus triple functions BB cream ( Hot pink Version )
(BB Cream in a "short" summary is a all in one skincare / foundation)

What it is supposed to do (functions):
Whitening
SPF 25 PA+++
Wrinkle protection
Also mentions:
Skintone correction, Pore coverage, & Sebum Control

Replaces both make up base & foundation.

I love the packaging its sleek , make sure the safety seal is intact on the top where you push the pump. Safety first as there are already some fake bb creams out there.
I got it in the pump version, I think theres a tube one and a mini tube one you can put on ure phone hehe.



I like the coverage on this one, it does a good job on the pores and gives that porcelain finish. Like many BB creams it comes in one shade which is on the lighter side.
It does well in layering and does not look cakey just dont put like 100000x layers on.
when i first pumped it out it looked grayish to me and I was scared it would look dull, but it actually brightened my skin.
I'm on the lighter side right now ( havent tanned in awhile)
so this is definitely one of my faves.


I even feel like its evening my skin tone ^_^
I love BB creams because it takes the guilt away from putting on foundation.
Usually I feel wary about slapping foundation on my face, like my pores are getting clogged every minute I have it on. With BB cream its guilt free & i hardly feel it ( maybe because i'm not feeling guilty hehe) Plus the SPF protection is veeerry important. Just knowing its benefiting my skin instead of hurting it helps me rest easy.
Hoped that help


Additional Info:
Price:27,000 won on their official site
I don't think they ship internationally
You could always try other sites
prices vary and shipping charges also
Beware of fake skin79 products there are some out there
so if it's super cheap be careful also check where it's from

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