[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! 

[REVIEW] Sulwhasoo Over Night Revitalizing Mask

Just got back from a 4-day trip to Bangkok recently before the military took over. Thank god we got home safe :)

Anyway I was totally not prepared for the weather!  Bangkok was a million times warmer and drier. I felt like my skin was going to shrivel up like a prune anytime..  And I actually forgot to bring along a moisturizer.. *Slaps forehead* It was a result of debating which cream I should bring because I only wanted to bring ONE cream to save baggage space. And then my indecisiveness led to absent mindedness.

I only realized it when I unpacked my luggage in the hotel after a long day of shopping.. It was a complete nightmare.. *slams hands on table*

The only saving point was that I actually bought the Sulwhasoo mask at duty free before I flew to Bangkok. And this was the best decision I ever made. This mask was my savior! It is during these trying times that you can actually test how good a product is.

I put a layer of this on my face and..OMG..when I woke up in the morning my face was looking so hydrated and glowing.. I’ve never had trouble free skin when I travel overseas..my skin never fails to react to weather changes and the environment. I was really expecting a break out on the second day of my trip because of the dry scorching heat and air pollution..

But I have never used a mask that revitalises and heals my skin as much as this.. I had no dry patchy skin and breakouts the next day and I could still put on like foundation without trouble. I applied a thin layer of this and it is actually not that sticky as expected. So I was able to sleep with much ease (I sleep sideways all the time).

I continued to use this almost every other day when I came back to Singapore. I guess because it is more humid here, I noticed that my face was a a little oily in the morning after using this the night before. But other than that, this still revives my skin and I could see that the pimples on my face were actually healing better.

The only concern that some people might want to note is the scent. This has a herbal ginger scent which I happen to love it but might not be so for others. 

This mask is retailing for $68 at local Sulwhasoo counters. At duty free, it is only selling for $58 and $50 if you get the duo pack which I did not regrettably. 

I would definitely repurchase this and I recommend this to those who are looking for instant results from a sleeping mask :)

[REVIEW] Etude House Precious Mineral Magic Any Cushion - Magic Pink

Hi there ! Etude House recently launched their new product for SPRING 2014! It is the Precious Mineral Magic Any cushion .  So what is this cushion for? It actually works as a base after primer before foundation/BB/CC creams. It comes in 3 colors each for a different purpose - Peach : For brightening dull/yellowish skin tone,  Mint : For correcting redness and Pink : For pale skin tones.

Unfortunately I have redness to cover, dull and also pale skin and I was thinking ‘I need all three!’. But of course I can only afford one at the moment so I settled on Pink because I needed something to give my pale skin a healthier tone on days when I really want very minimal makeup.

My review :

Firstly, let me say how sweet the packaging is. You just can’t help but feel young using Etude House products. The cushion cover is pink , the puff is pink and even the cushion itself is pink! This is one of the rare pink items I carry in my bag everyday.

I really like how versatile this product is. It is a very convenient makeup base + highlighter. 

I dab a little of this on my T-zone and under eye areas before makeup and it just instantly adds a healthy tone to my pale face. I also like that it helps brighten my eye area and make me look awake in the mornings. This looks a little dewy when I first apply it on my face but it settles into a matte finish.

Tested the product on the right side of my hand.

I carry this around with me quite often nowadays because I like to re-apply under my eye areas if my eyeliner smudges towards the end of the day and I don’t want to look like a raccoon. Best thing is it doesn’t cause my existing make up to cake or smudge!

Because it acts like a highlighter/base, this product does not provide any coverage. I’m not sure about the other two colors but don’t try to apply too much of this at one go.. you will look like you just put on a white sheet mask on your face. One tap on the cushion is enough for the whole face.

This retails at $29.00 (without refill) at local Etude House stores. I find it a little expensive for a makeup base but I figured that I can use this for a long time because a little of it is really enough for an entire face.

I would recommend this for those who has pale skin tone and wish to have a healthier looking skin with a natural glow. This would also be ideal for those who doesn't like too much make up but wish to just provide a radiant/healthy tone to the face without too much hassle! 

[REVIEW] Laneige waterdrop lip tint - Neon pink , Etude House Color Lips Fit, Chanel Rouge Allure 138

Hello everyone！I am on my way to Bangkok for a short getaway :) Thought I'll write a quick post on three lip items which I have been using a lot lately. I am totally into the whole bold pink lip color trend right now !

Swatches on the lippies - From left to right : Etude House Color Lips-Fit , Laniege Waterdrop Tint and Chanel Rouge Allure



                            1. Etude House Color Lips-Fit in Fantasy pink

This has such a gorgeous sweet pink color and has a matte finish.

The pigmentation is really thick and glides on lips quite smoothly. It comes with an applicator and I really love how cute the packaging is! I also find that this lip tint is very long lasting. The color is still visible on my lips after a meal :)

The downsides that I have with this product is that this stains my front teeth quite easily (Spotted by my friends twice which is really embarrassing -_-). Therefore, best to check yourself in the mirror after applying this. This tint also dries out my lips quite a bit so I find myself having to apply either the top coat (It came with a small bottle when I purchased it) or a lip balm over it several times. 

2. Laneige waterdrop lip tint in Neon Pink

I actually wrote about this item some time back here. I love the coral shade so much i ordered a backup. Recently, this lip tint was officially launched in Singapore and I was tempted to try another colour. So I picked the neon pink color and love it so much. The consistency and pigmentation are really good 

My attempt to do a gradation effect on my lips with the Laneige Waterdrop tint :) What do you guys think? 

3. Chanel Rouge Allure in 138 

Finally this is my current fave lipstick from Chanel in number 138. I was told by the beauty advisor at the Chanel counter where I bought this that this colour was sold out for a while. This is a beautiful shade of pink - very similar to the Cheon SongYi' famous Iope lipstick which she uses in the k-drama "You who came from the stars". This lipstick is moisturising and doesn't dry out my lips at all. It is quite pricey for a lipstick though. It retails at SGD43.

Taking a shot for reference. Lighting doesn't do much justice to the lip color ! 
-_- It is a slightly darker shade of pink.