Innisfree Canola Honey Pack & Cream Mini-Review

   How was your weekend guys? I guess some of you my dear readers have already received their Christmas bonuses last week and some are done with their shopping *wink*. I am done with mine last weekend and it feels like Christmas already. 

   Let's start the week with a mini-review of a pack/cream from one of my favorite Korean skincare brand Innisfree. Today's spotlight is on Innisfree Canola Honey Pack and Cream. Another mouthful for a product name right? This sampler was sent to me as a freebie from a Korean ebay seller, behappywithme. She's one of the top sellers on ebay.

   The sachet contains only 1ml of product. Which can last for 2-3 days (nightly use). As always and expected, the back part of the sachet has product details written in Hangul/Korean. This product helps create a moisture barrier for hydrated skin. Its main ingredient, Canola Honey, is rich in flavonoids and protein for firm and elastic skin. Since this is a product meant for skin hydration, I only consumed the pack at night. Before opening the sachet, I thought it was cream-like as the name implied but it was a sticky thick gel...like honey only clear. The scent was like honey. A tiny drop (like the one above) was enough to cover my entire face. And a rice grain size for my neck. I used it after washing and toning. Once applied, the product does feel really sticky but after massaging my face and neck it felt like I applied a cream instead of a gooey substance. It felt light once the product was absorbed by my skin. The next day my skin felt hydrated and the little bumps on my chin were gone. 

   Overall, this product is very suitable for women in their 30's-above for skin hydration. People with dry skin will benefit much from this product as well. As to people like me with oily skin, may opt not use this as this will produce more oil especially when used during daytime. A big no no. But a tiny amount during your nightly beauty regimen can help you have a moisturized skin when you wake up the next day. So therefore very optional for us. 

PROS:

- does its claims

- works as a cream and as a sleeping pack

- mild

- absorbs quickly

- very natural scent

- a tiny amount is needed

CONS:

- sticky when applied

- may not be suitable for oily skin

- produces more oil on face

   Though I belong to the oily skin group, I still like this product. Though I have no plans of purchasing a tub. There are so many products out there that does the same but for a cheaper price. I give this honey a 4 out of 5!

Innisfree Green Persimmon Pore Dual Kit Review

   Are you one of the many struggling with huge pores? If you are, I officially welcome you to the club! Today I will review a mini kit from Innisfree that targets pores and sebum. It is the Green Persimmon Pore Dual Kit. This kit was one of the many goodies I received from @hellogorgeous17 a month ago. As you already know, skincare products targetting pore and sebum control are my main collection.

   So what's the story behind green persimmons? Unriped persimmons are harvested during summer while they are still green. Though they taste bitter, they contain high levels of tannin that tightens pores. This line from Innisfree helps manage aggravated pores and controls the balance between oil and moisture for skin.

   The pore dual kit consists of 5ml toner and essence which are neatly packed in this earth-friendly box. I used these two during daytime for about 3 days for the toner and almost 2 weeks for the essence. According to their shopping site, the pore care toner is ethanol-free and helps prevent skin infection from excessive sebum and remove dead skin cells that cause skin trouble (pimple or acne). It also keeps the skin in healthy condition of ph 5.5. The essence is free from 6 harmful ingredients: paraben, synthetic colorants, mineral oil, animal-originated ingredients, artificial fragrances, and imidazolidinyl urea. This essence claims to control sebum, tighten pores, promote skin elasticity, enhance moisture level of skin, and prevent disassembling of collagen.

   This particular line's got a lot of claims right? Now the question is did it live up to its claims? The kit includes 2 small bottles so my views are based from my observations during the short span of time I have used it. To begin with, the two products smells citrusy. The toner cleans the skin very well and does not have a sticky after-feel like other korean toners I have tried. It is also mild and I haven't had any irritation nor redness. Sebum control was not "met" by this toner. No pore reduction as well. Disappointing. I would prefer sticking to my Wonder Pore toner. The regular sized bottle is pricey for a 200ml. The essence reduced sebum production a bit but my pore size remained the same. It is not sticky. It is very light to wear during daytime, alone or under makeup. It is also mild on skin. It is also non-drying. It kept my skin balanced. The regular size of this essence is pricey for more than a thousand bucks. 

   After using the kit, I think there is no need for me to purchase the regular sized ones. Aside from the fact that it is pricey, it did not help in minimizing pores which is the main target of this line. The essence, though it helps with balancing oil and moisture of the skin, just thinking of the price makes me instantly choose other products with the same claims. Comparing between the Green Persimmon and Jeju Volcanic line of Innisfree, I prefer the Jeju Volcanic line. The verdict... 3 out of 5!

Etude Moistfull Super Collagen Cream Mini-Review

   Hi everyone! I am back with a sampler for my mini-review. Our spotlight is on Etude House' s Moistfull Super Collagen Cream. I got this sampler from my last set of purchase from @hellogorgeous17 from Instagram. According to the website, this is a cream that contains 63% super collagen, spreading gently but thoroughly onto skin for smooth and elastic skin.

   

   I have used this sampler for 4 nights. I applied it on both face and neck. The packet's got the same color as the normal sized tub. The Moistfull Collagen line has a lot of products- toner/skin, emulsion, cream to name a few. I haven't tried any other product from the line. This sample was the first one.

   

   The cream has a very light texture and scent. The scent fades as you massage the cream. I like the light texture of this cream. It does not feel heavy and absorbs easily. I applied a few dots on my face and neck and spread it outwards. I rinsed it out the next morning. The good thing I noticed whenever I rinse it out in the morning was how soft my skin felt even if I use a facial wash. It did not trigger my face to produce more oil during daytime but this will be a good cream for people with dry skin. For oily skin, I would suggest a dot size amount at night after toner. This is a good product to try out this cold season or if you are living in a winter wonderland.

PROS:

- a little goes a long way

- moisturizing

- makes skin soft

- has a subtle scent

- light texture

- not sticky

CONS:

- may be too moisturizing for oily skin

- did break me out a little

- a bit pricey (regular size)

   This product is good for people with normal to dry skin. It did caused breakout in my case maybe because it is not for my skin type. But I can say it is mild because I never had redness nor itchiness. If it did not caused any breakouts I will purchase the regular size. The verdict: 3.5 out of 5!!!

Sample Review: Skinfood Premium Tomato Line

   I have quite a number of sample products and mini kits here so I decided to do a mini review after I finish using each one of them. A mini review because they are only samples and they may or may have instant or noticeable effects when and while using them. They are also skin care product samples and not make up samples. Make up samples can have an in-depth review compared to skin care samples. 

   I receive a number of samplers with each purchase I make especially online purchases because online sellers are more generous (unconditionally generous IMO) unlike actual stores. But I would have to make an exemption when referring to actual shop this time...the Skinfood kiosk at Wellworth Fairview Terraces. The saleslady assigned there was friendly and generous and not to mention, knows a lot about each product she's selling. I just forgot to ask her name. Anyway, she gave me quite a number of samples and the product I will review today's one of the few she gave- Skinfood's Premium Tomato Line. It includes a toner, essence, emulsion, and cream (used in that order). 

   The Premium Tomato line targets skin whitening. Its main ingredients are tomato extract and vitamin C derivative. The picture above is how the actual sizes looks like. This line also includes a milky face pack (wash-off mask) and a sleeping mask. Those 2 are add-ons to the basic inclusions. Each product has different tomato extract content. The toner has 10%, essence has 30%, emulsion and cream has 20%. 

   The samples I got does not have anything written in English except the name of the product so I had to rely on Skinfood's website for details. The toner included was good for single use but all I can say is that it is effective in removing dirt on my face that I have accumulated the whole day. The amount was so few I was not able to detect if there was any scent present. The only thing I did not like was face felt sticky.The essence has a watery consistency and absorbs quickly. The emulsion was translucent white and a bit thick compared to the essence. The cream was white and thick but glided on skin easily and smoothly. The essence, emulsion, and cream has the same divine scent as the black pomegranate emulsion but only lighter but I like it. The quantity of the product shown on the pictures are the actual quantity I used to cover my entire face. So a little goes a long way don't you think? I also applied a little amount on my neck.

   I used the samples before bedtime because they felt heavy on the skin and they have no oil control claims. They didn't get absorbed easily and felt sticky unlike the other (usual) night time products I use. The good thing about this line was I woke up with fresh and soft skin. After a few nights of using this, I noticed my skin became brighter, softer, fresher, and the pimple marks slightly improved. I also noticed how soft my skin was after rinsing it in the morning using a facial foam. I have not experienced such soft skin sensation with other overnight products I have used. I cannot attest the overall whitening effect though because I only used samples and I was born with a yellowish white complexion so I am not much into whitening facial skin care stuff. 

   I was impressed with the samples from this line. But since I am not into whitening products for my face, I have no plans of purchasing the big ones. The normal sizes are expensive. I guess people looking for whitening products but are on a budget will stay away from these. Well, Skinfood is expensive here and that's the harsh fact we have to accept. My score for this samples? 4 out of 5!

Mini Review: Etude Milky You One Step Cleansing Foam

   I am back with another mini review and this time it is about Etude's Milky You One Step Cleansing Foam. This product is a dual functioning facial cleanser that can be used for makeup and facial cleansing. This packet is good for almost a week of usage (if used once daily). I used this as my night time cleanser because I use my Innisfree facial wash during daytime. 

   One thing common among samples of Korean products is that the back part is entirely written in Hangul. The actual sizes of their products are entirely a different story. Some have and some have no English translation. One good thing about Etude is that they have English translation on every actual sized product (on the box most of the time). The pictures above are the sample and actual size (150 ml) of the product. 

   This facial wash is white with a runny consistency. It smells like coconut but not very noticeable. I wonder why it does not smell like milk at all. The consistency of this facial wash is not good for a tube container to hold the product because there is a tendency to leak especially if it is not securely shut. IMO it would have been better in a bottle or in a tube with screw cap instead. The actual size costs PhP 428 in stores. 

   You're aware how your skin (especially hands) feels like after rinsing a body wash right? It's smooth and soft and you feel like there's still some product left because of the smoothness you feel right? That was how my hands felt after rinsing this product off my face and hands. To be honest, it was the first time I felt that after using a facial wash. I just love the feeling. After each use, I did not feel any tightness unlike other facial wash and the disturbing excess oil on my face were completely gone. I was not able to try its effects on my skin with make up. By the way, when using this to remove makeup, you should apply this on dry skin. But I would rather use it the normal way. I have a make up remover anyway. 

   I recommend this facial wash for people with normal to dry skin. It provides a right amount of moisturization for those skin type. It feels light and not tight after rinsing. People like me with oily skin and combination skin types can also use this of course. I have not experienced any breakout nor irritation during the entire time I have used this. I may opt to buy the full size but I guess I will opt to have the cleansing foam instead because it is in a bottle container and is a couple of bucks cheaper. I give this facial wash a 4 out of 5 score!!!

Skinfood Black Pomegranate Emulsion Sampler Review

   I have tried a couple of emulsions from my stash of samplers here. Most of them are for oily skin. Almost all Korean skin care brands offer emulsions for various skin concerns. Emulsions acts as a light moisturizer. Most are the 2nd or 3rd step for a Korean skin care routine (after toner usually). They are usually a borderline between watery and creamy in consistency. If a brand's skin care line offers a serum/ampoule, emulsions serves as 2nd step and is usually used during daytime because of its consistency. 

   I was recently given this emulsion sampler sachet from Skinfood last week. It came with a toner from its Black Pomegranate line as well but it was good for a single use that's why I cannot include so much about it here. All I can say about it was it deeply removed my makeup and skin dirt in one sweep unlike other toners I have tried. Anyway, let us focus on the emulsion instead. I decided to write a review about it before I throw the sachet away because I instantly fell in love with this particular product.

   This emulsion is used to make skin soft and plump according to the Skinfood website. This line consists of several products I cannot clearly remember. The normal packaging of this product is a red/black glass bottle with 150 ml of the product. It smells divine. The product itself is milky white and is slightly creamy in texture. It is a bit thick as well so a tiny drop can almost cover your entire face. I use this on my neck as well. Of course the skin on our neck needs hydration as well. This tiny sampler lasted for 5 nights.

PROS:

- moisturizing/hydrating

- skin will look and feel refreshed and plump

- smells great

- a tiny drop can cover the entire face/neck

- gives immediate results

- did not cause any breakouts 

CONS:

- (the actual size is) pricey

- sticky and/or heavy when applied excessively

   The result was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! For 5 days I woke up with hydrated, smooth, plump skin. No kidding. No exaggeration. This was the FIRST emulsion I have ever used that gave IMMEDIATE RESULTS. I recommend this product for people who want to have instant results. For people with dry skin and are looking for anti-aging product that delivers its promise. If you have normal/combination or oily skin like mine and still want a dose of hydration, I suggest you try this emulsion and use it at night only before dozing off to dreamland. I will definitely purchase the one in the bottle as soon as I have saved enough for it because a bottle is more than a thousand bucks online and in stores. The verdict? 5 out of 5 for this heaven sent product!!!!

Etude House Stay Up Foundation Review

    A week ago, I wrote a review about Etude's BB creams. Now I will give you my views about their latest product- Stay Up Foundation (Pure and Beige). As I have mentioned on my previous post, I have never used a foundation before. Now that I have received some samples from one of my suking online seller Margarita Shop I might as well give it a try to wear one instead of a BB cream and see how it will go.

    

    The Stay Up Foundation is one of the latest products Etude is currently promoting. This foundation claims to complete smooth and flawless makeup with its smooth up, cover up, moist up “Stay Up” formula.It contains 25 grams and comes in 5 different shades. I like the idea that this comes in 5 shades because ladies with morena skin can get a hold of this. Also each shade's got a specific name. I find it convenient and easy to memorize instead of the codes Etude normally use.It costs PhP 778 a bottle. The samples I've got were Pure and Beige. Here are the photos of the swatches...

    The Stay Up Foundation did a fantastic job in covering flaws. The veins on my hand appeared to be less noticeable in the picture with flash. The beige looked obviously darker than pure. Pure is almost ivory-like. Etude did not specifically mention as to what skin type this product is suitable for. But feeling the product on my hand I guess this suits all skin type BUT if you have dry skin I would suggest you apply a moisturizer prior to foundation because this one's got a powdery feel when it dries (which ladies with oily skin will be happy about). I have applied it on my face like 4 hrs ago (I just don't want to have my selfie taken) without any finishing powder whatsoever. My face still looks normal...not my usual oil factory looking face. Well, what do you know? This one's got some oil controlling power. It also covers up the small pores yehey! I still have to try this one when I go out. How it will appear when I have my makeup on and all.

    Overall, this foundation gives a good coverage. It does not cake up and it's lightweight. It is suitable for foundation users who wants to lessen time doing their makeup as well as powder touch-ups. The 2 things I don't like about the Stay Up Foundation are the size and price. It is small for a 700 something right? Whether to buy the standard size or not? NO. I am happy with my BB cream. It's big enough to last for me compared to the foundation. But if you are a foundation user this is a must-try. A 4 out of 5 for this baby!

    Have you used this foundation or any of the Etude House foundations? Would you prefer this over a BB cream? Kindly share your thoughts. I would love to hear and learn from you.

Which Etude BB Cream Suits You?

     I may be born (not so) yesterday but I started using a little amount of makeup during my late 20's, or should I say 25's to be more specific. I have never tried using a foundation of any kind. I started using BB cream instead and just how old was I then? (You do the math). Unlike now that (if you are in your 20's, 30's whatsoever and an earning individual) you will be stunned seeing tweens and teens with much more makeup in attendance on their faces and in their makeup arsenal compared to yours. Younger ladies nowadays look more mature than the real mature ones. And have tons of foundation and powder you can hardly distinguish how many layers of stuff are in their faces before you reach their actual skin.

   So much for that piece of bitchiness, today we will take a look at Etude House's 3 best selling BB creams- Precious Mineral Cotton Fit (white tube), Blooming Fit (pink tube), and Perfect Fit (light peach tube). I won't explain what a BB cream is. You should know it by now. According to Etude's website, the Cotton Fit is suitable for oily skin. Perfectly glides onto skin providing clear and bright complexion with a smooth, cotton-like powdery finish. Perfect Fit is suitable for normal or dry skin. It comes with a "double layer cover formula" that perfectly covers imperfections and areas with uneven skin tone for smooth, bright, and flawless skin. Blooming Fit is for all skin type. It comes with a "slim layer fit formula" that smoothly glides onto skin even when you apply several layers, helping to express clean, bright, and smooth skin with its mother of pearl.

    I got those babies courtesy of Marianne of margaritashop_korea as freebies from my purchases. She gave me the 3 variants for me to check which among the 3 variants suits me most. I chose the Cotton Fit because it is suitable for oily skin. I am still waiting for my new treats from her shop to arrive. I will review them very soon. Please check out her shop on instagram and on facebook. You can find tons of korean products there to suit your beauty needs and her shop's got great deals and discounts. Way cheaper than mall prices I guarantee you that!

       Let's have a look at the swatches...

     My bare right hand and my finger with one of the bb creams. All three are W13 (natural beige) so I did not bother took a pic of the other 2. BTW this is available in 3 shades: light beige, natural beige and honey beige.

    

      On the left side is my awful looking bare left hand. On the topmost right is my left hand with Cotton Fit (CF), middle with Blooming Fit (BF), and bottom right with Perfect Fit (PF). If you will look closely, the CF has the right amount of coverage. Smooth looking and has the right amount of coverage my veins were less noticeable. BF has a shiny finish with a lesser coverage compared to CF. I applied it twice but still got the same shiny result. I guess this will be perfect for girls who wants to achieve that dewy look. PF has got the perfect coverage. As you can see my veins were hardly noticeable. I guess this one is perfect as a foundation substitute.

     I really like the Cotton Fit variant. It suits my skin type. But having tried the 3. They all give amazing results. You will appreciate them more once it "melt" on your skin. It will blend perfectly and you will look flawless. These babies never caused any breakouts. These don't get off your skin easily. I don't know if it's a plus or a minus point. I would suggest to properly cleanse your face especially at night when all the gunk have piled on your skin and pores. Use the right cleanser. Etude suggests using their Baking Powder BB Deep Cleansing Foam because it is ideal for BB cream removal. 

     I give Etude's Precious Mineral BB Creams a super 5 out 5 rating! Now that you have an idea about the 3 variants of BB cream Etude has to offer...have you decided which one to purchase soon? 

Innisfree Fest 3: Jeju Volcanic Pore Solution Kit Review

    We are on the last part of our Innisfree Fest but I hope there will be more Innisfree products to come to my possession. Hihihi. Who knows?! Santa might grant my wish this X'mas right? 

      

     Anyway, today our part 3 will be the Jeju Volcanic Pore Solution Kit. The contents of this kit are miniature versions of the line's toner, lotion, and emulsion. Koreans are not into shortcuts when it comes to skin care. I mean facial wash, toner, and a moisturizer is enough right? They are into multi-step beauty routine. Like the facial wash, this kit is focused on controlling oil and pore care.

     I got this kit from hellogorgeous17. I don't exactly know if this kit is still available in Innisfree. I have read that Innisfree sells testers and tester kits. Cool right? I mean if you are a fan of Innisfree you are aware how much their products costs. This line is one of their best sellers and one of the expensive line (huhuhuhu...). It is a nice idea that you can use not just one of  the line's product at a fraction of a cost or for free.

Here's how the big ones look like. And I want to have them all!!!!

     I don't use the kit like everyday because it is so small. I just use it when I plan to go out (`1st step before makeup) for oil-control. To be honest I saw/felt its effect on the first use. I used it after taking a bath and it really kept oiliness at bay. I mean, of course there will always be a little production of oil on the T-zone, chin, and nose. But everytime I use this the secretion's cut in half. Like really!!!! And because of that I am sooooo hoping to have the big ones this X'mas. Ummmmm....ok the lotion and emulsion and masque are fine. Hahaha!

     (Again) this product is meant for individuals with oily or combination skin. Peeps with normal or dry skin's fine to use this but there are Innisfree products which are more suitable for you guys like the Green Tea line. Innisfree's got products for every skin concern. I would love to have them on my X'mas stocking (am I overemphasizing this or what?). But since the big ones are not budget-friendly, I am still weighing things down and seeking help whether to buy this or the Green Persimmon line which is almost the same as Jeju Volcanic line but instead on focusing on sebum control, it targets pore reduction (yessssss!!!). I give this baby a whopping 5 out of 5 rating. A freakin' must try!!!!