October Favourites - Espoir , Innisfree, Giogio Armani and Too Faced

Hi everyone! I'm back !

Sorry I have been putting off updating my blog for some time. I am currently trying out products that I have purchased during this time and I am working hard to put up all the drafts that are like sitting in my inbox. 


For today, I am so excited to share with you my favourite items for this month :)

From left to right :

1) Espoir No Wear G Lipstick - Love Cloud 
This is my favourite everyday lipstick ! It's moisturising with good pigmentation. Its a lovely shade of pink - not too bright, more like a cherry pink shade which is great for fall as well. Super in love with this lipstick right now :) See my not so sexy lips with the lippy on below ! heehehe

2) Innisfree Mineral UV whitening pact SPF 50 / PA +++ 

Do you have a hard time reapplying sunscreen in the middle of the day or just ended up not reapplying at all because its such a hassle? If you do , you are not alone. I've been having that same problem too.

That is why I have been searching around for a sun pact - a sunblock but in a powder form and I found this Innisfree Mineral UV whitening pact.  It has a high SPF coverage and the power is so fine it doesn't cake up my makeup at all. 

You don't really need to apply the powder to your entire face. For me, I just use the puff included and dab a little of the product on the highest point on both sides of my cheeks, forehead, nose bridge, under eyes (to prevent wrinkles) and chin because these are the areas where the sun exposure is supposedly the highest. 

So far I've been using this before I head out to lunch under the hot afternoon sun and I really love how convenient it is to use :)




3) Giogio Armani Lasting silk UV Foundation SPF 20 - Shade 4 

This product might not be new to most of you. It has been raved by so many beauty bloggers and Youtubers and has been on my list for the longest time as it's pretty expensive .. it cost SGD78 for a 30ml bottle of foundation. I finally decided to buy it after I got my pay check last week :) 

This foundation is just like what it claims to do. The formula is silky and smooth. Its like spreading butter ~ Even though it is creamy it doesn't feel heavy on my skin at all and the texture is really silky and smooth.

With a primer this lasted me from about 8am to 7pm without fading or smudging. It definitely lasted longer than most of my cushion foundations which is awesome because my face still look decent even if I just want to do some quick shopping or dinner after work without having to touch up. 

This foundation comes in a number of shades which is a plus because usually the base products I've used (cushion foundations) mostly comes in only 2 shades. I picked shade 4 which is a perfect shade for me. It is 1/2 a shade lighter than my skin (I'm usually a N21 based on Korean standard) so it turns out really natural. 

The finishing is a subtle, glowy and velvety finish and it just makes my skin looks so smooth and polished. Plus it also does blur out pores which is a huge plus point because I have really large pores -_-.

One pump is enough for my entire face and it has medium coverage which means one layer is enough to cover the redness on my cheeks. 

Really love this foundation as it is so easy to apply and suitable for everyday wear, not to mention the super luxurious looking frosty glass bottle :)


3) Too faced Prime & Poreless Primer Pure for sensitive skin

I must say this is the best primer I've used thus far ! 
I finished the entire tube of POREfessional and was doing some research on good primers that are effective in concealing large pores. 

Too Faced Prime & Poreless Primer was one of those with good reviews that doesn't rip up my wallet. When I checked it out at Sephora , I was pleasantly surprised that there is a version that is oil free and meant for sensitive skin! Weeeeee how awesome ! Plus it is the same price at $39 which is about the same as the Benefit one. 

This primer is colourless and has a more liquid like texture which makes it easier to spread out onto skin as compared to the Benefit one. 

This primer sets my foundation really well and could blur out pores more effectively. From a distance my skin looks much less like a tangerine skin hahaha. 

I highly recommend this for those who are looking for a good pores concealing and skin smoothing primer. And don't worry - this is safe for those with sensitive skin like me. Yay!


4) Too Faced Prime & Poreless Finishing veil 

This powder has a dual function. It acts as a primer (yes you can sweep this across your face as a primer before foundation to conceal pores) and also as a finishing powder to set your makeup and control shine! 

I tend to get oily as the day goes on. I was using the Chanel Les Beige Finishing powder and it doesn't contain the sebum very well. I always have to blot my face after 3 hours as my face will look greasy.

But this truly helps alleviate that. This powder is also so lightweight that it doesn't feel like you have put on anything at all! It is available at Sephora stores :)

ETUDE HOUSE MINI HAUL! - Wonder pore fresher , Precious Mineral BB cream , Precious Mineral Cushion Foundation, Play 101 Pencils

Hi ! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far. This post is my own review on some Etude House products

The products in today's review may not be new to most of you already as they have been in the market for some time. I've been quite late to try out these Etude House products. Anyway this is my two cents worth about these products :)


Precious Mineral BB Cream - Cotton Fit (Shade N2)

I was given some samples for the BB cream cotton fit sometime ago and I only tried it recently because I was too busy with all the cushion pacts haha. 

What I like most about this BB cream is how it adheres onto skin so smoothly that it really gives a 'no make up look' look. It has pretty good coverage given how lightweight the formula is. 

With just a pearl size of the product , it is sufficient for my entire face. I would reapply a second coat on my undereye areas and blemishes. Another good thing is that even with a second coat it doesn't show the lines on my face or make it look cakey! 

I chose the cotton fit because it gives a soft glowy powdered look which I really like. Even without a finishing powder and just the BB cream itself, it can last like a good 8 hours without darkening. I like that it doesnt darken or turn patchy.. the product will just fade off or 'disappear' at the end of the day. But touching up is not a problem because the BB cream is light weight and moisturising :)

Now I use this BB cream every day  !

  Swatches with the product applied on the right side of the back of my hand.

 

Etude House Wonder Pore Fresher


I happen to run out of toner (yes , I used up every last bit of my favourite Mamonde Rose Water Toner) and I decided to try the Etude House Wonder Pore Fresher. It is not a new product but many beauty youtubers seems to swear by it .. so it was right next on my list.

It mainly claims to cleanse pores thoroughly without leaving your skin dry, set your skin to the right PH, even skin tones, control excess sebum.

My thoughts ...

 It does a pretty good job as the last step of my cleansing routine. However I do feel a slight tingling feeling whenever I use this. Not sure if it is because it is meant to give a 'refreshing' cool feeling? So far I didn't experience any irritations after using it so that's all right for me I guess.

It is not as moisturising as I would like it to be. Having said that it does not dry out my skin. But you definitely need to follow up with an essence or cream immediately.

The scent is really faint which I like that there's no added purfume and it absorbs onto skin rapidly without any stickiness. All in all, I think this toner is useful for those who wants a toner with effective cleansing function.

For me I still preferred the Mamonde Rose Water Toner.. It moisturises better and smells way better.. (read my review here ).


Precious Mineral Any Cushion - Shade W13 Natural Beige

Yes, another cushion review. Haha :)

This foundation cushion looks like any other cushion compact. I'm not too crazy about the design of the compact . I think Hera and Lirikos have more sophisticated designs but well, for the price of SGD29.90, the quality of the packaging is pretty decent. 

This cushion foundation actually features 6 functions - 
1. Sun protection as it has SPF50/ PA ++
2. Moisturising
3. Anti-wrinkle
4. Skin tone adjustment
5. whitening
6. Absorbs sebum

The shade that I chose was towards a warm tone.. and I find it a tad too yellow for me which is strange because it looks alright when I tried it in the store. I guess it could be the lighting. I am usually a shade N21.. I guess I should have gone for a shade lighter which for Etude House is N02 light beige. 

The coverage is medium and buildable to full coverage. However, I tried to apply two layers and it does set into lines. The foundation can hold up for about 6 hours without touch up and darkening which I think is considerably long lasting.  

The finish is semi matte with a slight glow. I did two swatches below :)

Under natural lighting

Under sunlight

  
                               
For this review purpose I actually applied two layers on the right side of the back of my hand therefore it looks a little heavy. 

I'm not too inclined to continue using this cushion at this moment as the shade just isn't right for my skin tone.. and I feel that the finishing is not as natural as the other cushions and just feels like my makeup is heavy. 

However, if you are looking for an affordable high coverage foundation with some skin care benefits, then this might be an option. Otherwise, I think it is passable :) 

Etude House Eye Play 101 Pencils in shade 15 (coral), 33 (plum) and 50 (deep brown)

These are multi-purpose pencils released by Etude House recently. There are a vast range of colours to choose from with different functions. Some are used as eye shadows, blushers, lip colours and even concealers !

Etude House also worked with PONY , a gorgeous makeup designer, to create different amazing looks with those pencils. 

   Aren't these pencils awesome ?!

                From left : No.15 (Coral) , No.33 (Plum) , No.50 (deep brown)

 Sadly, there are only like limited 10-20 colours to choose from in Singapore. You will have to get it online if you want the rest. 

I've got 3 from local stores and I am really impressed with how creamy and pigmented these pencils are. 

My favourite is the No.15 Coral shade. The colour is really pretty and it is easily blendable for an eyeshadow, blusher and as a lip colour without drying up! I also got No.33 which is a pretty matte plum as an eyeshadow and eyeliner sometimes and the brown shade because it really makes a good smudge proof liner :) 

I feel Etude House is really clever with this series because it actually makes makeup so portable ! 


I hope you have enjoyed this review :) Happy weekend everyone!

[REVIEW] IOPE All In One Radiance Cream SPF35 PA++

Hi everyone ! Recently I've been loving this product - the IOPE All in One Radiance Cream. I think it is very similar to the Etude House Face Conditioning Cream. It is a sunblock + make up base + skincare all in one cream. If you are lazy like me who just wants to avoid all the hassle of layering multiple products especially in the wee mornings, then this cream actually helps save a lot of time and reduces steps in your makeup routine.

The cream texture is smooth and easy to apply. It is moisturising and helps to even out skin tone although it doesn't provide much coverage. It gives a shimmery soft glow finish that is natural looking. I feel this is also great for those who doesn't put on much makeup but still wants to achieve the radiant skin look. 

This cream contains 50% hydrolyzed collagen which, from my own research, is essentially a form of collagen that helps skin to absorb moisture better and prevents ageing!

The cream gives a really natural glowy finish as seen on the right side of my hand :)

What I like about it:

• The cream is very lightweight although it is a sunblock and makeup base
• The finishing gives a really natural soft glow and is moisturising.
• Minimises steps in makeup routine
• Suitable for sensitive skin - have not had any breakouts or irritations from using it.
• Contains collagen (yay!) 
• A little of it goes a long way. A small pearl size amount is sufficient for my entire face so I reckon the tub will last me a looonnnggg time. 

What I think can be improved..

• Packaging - The cream comes in a tub which might not be the most hygenic for some people.
• Higher SPF -  As most of my cushion foundations already has SPF50/PA+++ so this is not a major factor for me :) But as a sunblock and base cream, having a higher UV protection may appeal to more people especially during summer.

Where to purchase - Gmarket or Qoo10 (About SGD40 for 50ml)

[REVIEW] Isa Knox X2D2 Original Recovery Cream

Hi everyone ! 

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post. I have been trying out some new products and I can't wait to share it with you guys :)

First up I will be reviewing on a new skincare product that I have been testing for the past 2 weeks already. It is the Isa Knox X2D2 Original Recovery Cream. Isa Knox is actually a Korean skincare brand under LG Household & Healthcare and the face of Isa Knox is the beautiful Han Ga-In !

I bought this cream earlier this year but have yet to start on it until recently. It is essentially an anti-ageing cream that uses a type of plant stem renewal technology (Cambium Stem Cell) to nourish damaged ageing skin which is caused by various factors like stress , dust and exposure to sun overtime and also improve hydration.

From the appearance it looks like a thick rich cream and I was a little apprehensive to start using it for fear that it will be too oily for my skin especially in this extreme temperatures in Singapore. That's why it has been left unopened for a while. But I was really glad I opened it finally 2 weeks ago !

This cream is actually lighter than I thought. It has a really smooth texture and absorbs even faster than the Hanyul Rich Effect Revitalising cream which I am quite impressed with. What I also like is that it has a mild floral scent as compared to some of the other creams that I own.

I have been testing it, applying twice a day, after the IOPE Bio Intensive Conditioning Essence for about 2 weeks now. It didn't break me out at all. Instead I can see my pimple marks lighten slightly and the redness on my cheeks has toned down quite a bit and my skin feels nourished n the morning :) 

I am not sure which of the products (the essence or cream) did a better job at the results above but this combination definitely works very well for my skin and I really hope it will last longer. Now I can do away with correcting bases and I just need a light layer of CC cream as my base make up routine ! I am really happy with the results and I would highly recommend this cream who wants to improve their overall skin complexion.  However I am not sure if this is effective in reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Will have to monitor for the next couple of months to see if there are any results. 

[REVIEW] HERA SUMMER FAVOURITES - HERA UV MIST CUSHION LONG STAY SPF50/PA+++ & HERA GALA FEVER ROUGE

      Credits to Hera. Hera Summer 2014 collection :)

t's summer in Korea right now and that means new collections of makeup and skincare products suitable for warm temperatures! Hooray! It's permanently humid and warm in Singapore and so it's really great to be able to have some products which are suitable for our temperatures :)

Recently I've been really into Hera's new summer collection. The colours are simply gorgeous and vibrant! Too bad it's pretty hard to find these products online. But I managed to get my hands on two items :) I got the Hera uv mist cushion long stay from ibuybeauti.com and rouge holic in sandy fever from Qoo10. 

Credits to Hera

Credits to Hera

The UV mist cushion long stay is a summer limited edition that is meant to last up to 12 hours even in hot and humid temperatures. Given how humid it is here, it is impossible to stop sweating even just for a short walk from my house to the bus stop which is just 5 mins away. I always have to do touchups after lunch because my make up would start melting away after 4 or 5 hours.  I was quite excited to try a foundation that can last until work is over without having the need to do touchups :)

The long stay version only comes in C21 and C23 which is meant to provide better coverage then the N21 version I'm using now. I chose C21 and the shade is perfect for my skin tone.

The UV mist cushion long stay definitely lasts longer than any of my cushion foundations. I've used it for the past week and I really like how my face can remain bright and radiant even after a full day in the office. I only notice slight smudging after I blot my face but this really holds up better than anything else I've used before. However because of the extra coverage I would recommend not to dab on too much at one go else your makeup might look too thick. Despite the coverage, touchups were easy. My makeup didn't look cakey. 

This foundation has a semi dewy finish which I prefer over the matte finish from the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion. Somehow matte finish just makes my face looks dull.. I think it's just my own weird preference haha somehow dewy finish gives a healthier look. And this is semi dewy which is just right. 

This cushion comes in a light purple casing which I think is sooo pretty. I think Hera has one of the best packagings. 

I got this from ibuybeauti.com for USD45 which comes with a refill pack. There is also one without refill which is cheaper at USD33.99. This is my second time purchasing from the website and I think their prices are really reasonable. On the packaging, the cushion costs 45,000KRW so after converting both prices into SGD its actually a couple of dollars difference because KRW exchange rate has gone up slightly recently. And I must say shipping is really reliable. I paid $2.50 for registered mail that comes with a tracking number. You can choose not to if you want which means shipping is completely free :). My package took about 1.5 weeks to arrive from date of order. 

Rouge Holic in Sandy Fever (No.224)

This is currently my favourite lippy at the moment. I really love this peachy colour! And it has glitter in the lipstick which is quite different from the lipsticks I have. The texture is creamy and gives a natural coral colour. The pigmentation is great as well so the colour comes through even if you have darker and/or uneven lip tones like me which I really love because sometimes its really a hassle to have to use a concealer to tone down the lips before applying lipsticks. 

Two down factors about this lipstick is that it has a really strong perfume scent and I happen to really dislike this scent.. like jasmine oil or something.. and secondly this lipstick does accentuate flaky or chap lips. Therefore a lip balm prior to applying this lipstick is a must ! 

[INNISFREE MINI HAUL] Eco Safety Daily Sun Mist, Olive Real Oil Mist, Long Wear Cushion, Gel Liner, Shadow Pencil and Eco Eyebrow Kit

Innisfree has been expanding recently in Singapore. Now they have a total of 3 stores! I just love stepping into an Innisfree store because there is this subtle green tea scent. Its just so natural and therapeutic. And to top it off you get to stare at Lee Min Ho's face while you shop hahaha. 

Anyway I bought a couple of items from them in the last couple of months and I thought I will just consolidate all my favourite items into this post :). 

Innisfree Eco Safety Daily Sun Mist - SPF PA 30++

The thing that I like about this sun mist is that it doesn't ruin my makeup! It is light and doesn't leave white patches on my face. It absorbs onto skin really quickly as well. I put this at on my work desk and I like to spray a little of this on my face , arms and legs before lunch time everyday so I could get some sun protection while walking to the hawker centre for lunch :)

 I also love that this contains organic sunflower oil and green tea which are good for my skin. It has a signature Innisfree citrusy herbal scent. 

Innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist - with extra virgin olive oil

Mists are a huge thing in Korea but not so in Singapore because our weather is soooo humid. But I discovered that mists are really great for travelling. I could bring this on the plane (its less than 100ml) and it's an extremely convenient way to moisturise my skin on the go. And this was one of my survival items when I was visiting Bangkok last month. The weather was so warm and dry my skin was like shrivelling up into a prune. I find myself spraying this mist like every hour. The mist has this citrusy scent which is so refreshing and with extra virgin olive oil? I wish that I had discovered this gem long agoo.. 

Innisfree Long Wear Cushion SPF50 PA+++ - Shade N21

My first cushion from Innisfree ! This is one of their new products for this summer and this cushion foundation is meant for those with oily skin who wish to have long lasting make up coverage. This cushion comes in a casing with a simple clean design. The highlight would be the product itself. It has powdery matte finish and doesn't feel sticky at all. On top of that it has really good coverage, I would say medium to high! And I find that it could last about 8-10 hours (2 hours under the sun and the rest in an air con room). Probably wouldn't last that long if you need to be under the sun constantly) However as it has a powdery finish, layering would cause some product to sit into lines a little. Otherwise this cushion is really awesome for humid and warm weathers. 

With the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion :)

Upper swatch - Innisfree Shadow Pencil in shade 02, Bottom - Innisfree Gel Liner - 07 


Innisfree Gel Liner - 07 Brown 

Super in love with this liner right now. It glides on really smoothly and the pigmentation is fantastic. Love the deep brown colour which is not too stark like black but still dark enough to make my monolid eyes bigger. It smudges slightly but nothing too raccoon like. Only issue would be having to sharpen this eyeliner which might have some product wastage.

Innisfree Shadow Pencil in shade 02

This eyeshadow pencil is highly versatile. I use it as an eyeshadow base and only for undereye to highlight the aygeo sal :) I am not really a fan to use white shadow for undereye as it doesn't look too natural. This shadow pencil has a beige pink tone which I find is more natural for my skin tone. 
It can stay on for 4-5 hours without a need for touch up:)

Innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit 

I've always been a eyebrow pencil user but not a very good one. Haha I always end up with brows like two strips of sea weeds. But let me tell you using a powder is so much easier. The brush that comes with it is surprisingly easy to use. You just need to swipe the lighter colour on the front of your brows and then the darker colour towards the end. It is quick and fuss free. Plus I use the lighter colour powder to contour my nose. Highly recommend this for those who just suck at using a pencil like me or beginners who are still getting the hang of drawing brows :).


I hope you guys like my reviews :) Would be happy if you could share what is your favourite Innisfree item :)

[REVIEW] Mamonde Real Skin Founder SPF 33/PA++

Hey guys! Today I'm back with a review on a new foundation pact - the Mamonde Real Skin Founder. The word founder is actually a combination of the words 'Foundation' and 'Powder'. It provides coverage and helps set makeup all in one pact ! Perfect for those who just doesn't want to go through a whole regime of base make up every morning. 

Read on to find out what I think about this product :)

Gorgeous Yuri from SNSD fronting the brand :)

It comes in two shades and I got shade #1 which suits my skin tone quite well.

My review 

What I like about this product:

• Firstly I would say the coverage did not disappoint me. With just one swipe of the product, it is enough to cover blemishes and redness on my face. So I think one pact is enough to last quite a long time and ideal for those who are looking for a foundation with good coverage. 

• Secondly, even though this is quite a thick formula, the foundation glides onto my skin pretty easily and can be blended onto skin without much trouble. It also brightens up skin very naturally. I also like that it has a semi-matte natural finish. What I really like about this is that it is non-sticky and has a powdery feel to it after you apply it on your face which is great for those living in humid weathers like myself. 

What I do not like about this product :

• The biggest issue I have with this foundation is how it just creases at the corners of my mouth and eye areas. When I smile, the lines become so visible it is like I have aged 5 years older all of a sudden :( 

• This foundation is also not forgiving on dry skin patches. It just accentuates the patchiness even more.

• I also do not think it is advisable to build coverage with this foundation because it tends to get cakey. So if you are using this, be aware of the amount of product you apply. Best to dap a little at a time and check the mirror to see if it gets caked up.Because it gets cakey, I am also unable to bring this compact out with me because I am weary of retouching my makeup with this.

• The level of sun protection. Although it is minor issue for me but I am quite used to using my other BB/foundation cushions which provide SPF50+++. So I would have to be mindful to use a sunscreen with higher SPF before apply this product. 

Before (there are some red patches on my cheeks)

 After 

All in all, I was slightly disappointed in the product , maybe because I had quite a high expectation of it after so reading many good reviews. But I bought this for 21,000KRW on Gmarket which is about SGD25? (without refill). At this price I think it is a pretty good product I would say. This would be great for those who are looking for an all in one (Foundation + Powder) product.

Have you guys tried this product as well? Let me know what you think and if you like my review :) 

Thank you!