Review: Etude House Bubble Tea Sleeping Masks

How cute are these? Etude House launched their Bubble Tea Sleeping packs in three different "flavours" meant for different skin types. Black tea for firming, strawberry for moisturizing and green tea for oil control. There's boba capsules that contain the main hydrating ingredients and a little straw/spoon to scoop everything out hygienically.

So, as cute as they are, how did they perform?

Etude House – Honey Cera Line Review

Along with the Snowy Dessert collection I reviewed last week, Etude House also sent their new Honey Cera skincare line. The line boasts the use of honey to moisturize, ceramides to heal and repair the skin barrier so as to retain moisture, and immortelle flower essence to firm. The trial set includes a toner, emulsion, eye serum, and a cream.

Now, Korea's winter is a bit dry (not as dry as Calgary's, but definitely dry enough to feel and see a difference in my skin). Not only that, but the dermatologist put me on a super low dose of accutane again as he thought my topical retinoid was too irritating. So basically, I have dry skin, with a compromised moisture barrier. The Honey Cera line should, in theory be perfect for me.

Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb Review

Introducing my new favourite cream for sensitive skin – Belif's True Cream Moisturizing Bomb. Belif says this cream coats your skin in comfort, and they weren't lying. Belif uses simple ingredients and says it's uses a 150 year old processing method to create it's skincare goodies. How true this is, I don't know, however it comes with rave reviews from Korean bloggers and has been featured in magazines and beauty shows. My Korean friend says it's a good line if you have sensitive skin – kind of like Korea's version of Avene or La Roche Posay.

Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 Ampoule Review

As someone who constantly deals with dehydrated skin, I'm always on the lookout for good hydrating serums to add to my routine, especially ones that aren't going to break the bank (seriously, a very basic hyaluronic serum is at least $20/oz Cad). This is probably why I started to get into Asian cosmetics when I was 18 – everything was more reasonably priced, and they just seemed to work better.

The Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 Ampoule is a no frills serum. It only claims to provide lightweight, yet lasting hydration, and it performs quite well at that. Because of how sensitive my skin was at the time I purchased it (acne, over-exfoliation, rashy and eczema patches), I was looking for some key ingredients including ceramides (healing) and hyaluronic acid (hydrating).

Notable Ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid: This atttracts and maintains water in the skin. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it a great ingredient for dehydrated and dry skin.

Copper Tripeptide-1: Increases collagen and elastin production and promotes skin regeneration

Cholesteral: Helps to restore and maintain the skin's barrier, maintaining normal skin function.

Ceramide 3: Helps to restore and maintain the skin's barrier.

Beta Glucan: Has anti-oxidant, wound healing and moisturizing properties.

Adenosine: An anti-aging ingredient that promotes collagen and elastin production, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties.

Full ingredients list here.

Performance

I bought this to provide extra hydration for my poor dehydrated skin around the same time as the Hada Labo Perfect Gel (it came in the mail about a week later). It too has hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help with my dehydrated skin, as well as anti-aging and healing properties to help with my acne and acne scarring. Mizon is known for providing quality products that are full of plant extracts (these often provide anti-inflammatory, brightening, and antioxidant properties), for a cheap price. I've actually used a few other products from them that I never got around to reviewing (namely their snail lines).

This particular serum is just a basic hydrating serum. It doesn't make any other claims, and for that, it performs its job well. Combined with the Hada Labo Perfect Gel, I almost had enough hydration to last a full day (assuming I was at home and not dealing with air conditioning). It's very lightweight and silky, absorbing easily. Seriously, my skin just drank this up and sighed happily, like it just had a sip of a well-made cup of tea. Like the Perfect Gel, I feel like this helped my skin to better retain moisture so that I wouldn't get that uncomfortable tight feeling, or overly oily (both signs of dehydrated skin) quite so soon in the day.

This isn't the best at "long lasting hydration" like it claims (okay it doesn't claim to be the best, but I've used better). Mind you, for half the price, I can't really complain either. It lasted about two months with twice a day usage (three quarters of a dropper each time).

For the price, I don't think you can get a better hydrating serum, especially if you're not in Korea. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm always looking to try something new.

Pros

Cheap, unless you buy it from Urban Outfitters. I got mine for about $12/oz Cad with free shipping on Roseroseshop.com

Does what it claims

Not only hydrates, but as anti-aging ingredients as well (long-term benefits as well as short term!)

Cons

You'll need to wait in the mail for it (if you want it immediately, it's available at select Urban Outfitters stores for a very marked up price)

Hada Labo Perfect Gel Review

Hey guys, I'm back! It's been a nice hiatus, wrought with multiple skin rashes, acne, and allergies galore. But I look normal again, so here I am! So I've decided to write my first post about skincare (or maybe the first couple). A lot of you who know me in person know I'm the biggest geek about skincare, and it seems to have gotten worse (or better, if you like me rambling on about ingredients) after my latest little bought of skin mishaps. I've gotten a lot pickier with my skincare after having some sort of allergic reaction in March and April. I had a rash all over my hands and arms, as well as around my mouth. It took weeks to heal and multiple visits to the dermatologist, and it still likes to pop up now and again. For the record, I'm just super sensitive to alcohol in my skincare and prone to over-exfoliation.

Since my newfound love of ingredients lists and the beauty bloggers who post them, I've decided to follow suit in my reviews as well.

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Deep Cream Review

I've done a mini review of this before, but I wanted to give you guys something a bit more in depth, as I couldn't find too many reviews of this particular cream online when I went to buy it myself.

Winter Skin Saviors

It's winter and you know what that means. Dry, irritated and possibly wind burnt skin from days skiing and hiking in the mountains.

With the change of seasons, a change in skincare is called for. Our skin condition changes given the weather, and in the winter, we're more prone to dryness, dehydration, and irritation – especially if you're living in a winter desert (hey Calgary). 

Etude House Baby Choux Mint Base Review

Hello all! I'm back with a bunch of beauty reviews for you as that's where my money seemed to go for the month of November! This time I'll be reviewing the Etude House Baby Choux Base in mint.

OST Vitamin C20 Serum Review

UPDATE: I have since stopped using this (I ran out and never bought more), and have noticed that my skin quality has suffered. My skin is less glowy (but more oily, go figure) and I think I've broken out slightly more since I've run out. Nothing else has changed in my routine. This just goes to show the effects of a skincare product aren't always apparent (to us) while using them.

The OST Vitamin C20 serum is a highly concentrated vitamin C serum. It contains 20% vitamin C, which is definitely one of the highest I’ve come across.

Vitamin C is well known for it’s brightening properties, as well as providing essential nourishment to the skin, and helping to lighten hyperpigmentation. The OST serum promises to do all of this, as well as provide moisture and help get rid of pesky blackheads.

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener Review

The Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener is a simple toner meant to work miracles. Okay, not really, but it does claim to do plenty of good for your skin.

Innisfree Water Glow Cushion Review

Cushions are all the rage in makeup in Korea right now, and making there way here through lines such as Dr. Jart and Laneige, which are sold at Sephora and Target.

Review: Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX

Everyone knows the ultra famous Laneige Water Sleeping Pack, and yet not everyone has tried it. Which is a shame, because this stuff is like heaven.

Review: Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Emulsion

As you read last week, I've been in love with Sulwhasoo's Essential Balancing Line since I first started using them last fall. While a bit pricey (they are a luxury line in Korea), they're definitely worth every last penny in my opinion.

Review: Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water

Sulwhasoo is by far the best skincare I've had the pleasure of using. My friend sent it to my mom as a thank you gift last year, but since my mom doesn't use anything on her face, I stole it. Hehe.

Want a V-Line? Try the Face Shop's Sharp Face Modelling Gel Patch

The Face Shop has officially opened in Calgary at Chinook Centre, and needless to say, I was there the minute they opened their doors. Okay, not quite, as I had to work, but I was there right after my day ended! Any one of my friends can tell you I'm obsessed with skincare, possibly more so than fashion (most likely because I've always had troublesome skin). I'm especially in love with Korean skincare since I first tried it while on exchange in Korea nearly two years ago. While I haven't used a lot of products from the Face Shop before (just a BB cream and eye shadow), now that they're so easily accessible, I'll be shopping there a lot more, and posting reviews on some of the things I try.

Tanda Zap Review

Today, let's talk about acne. It's something a lot of girls (and guys) struggle with at some point in their lives, myself included. I decided to switch things up today because guess what? I broke out. And I broke out bad – the worst I have in the last two years. In retaliation, I immediately went and bought the Tanda Zap, recommended to me by a friend who also struggles with the occasional breakout.