Inoface Vitamin Modeling Cup Pack

Welcome to another review!  I got this in a blogger package from Skin18.com to review. I've never used a modeling pack before, so this was pretty exciting. 

Claims:

 For elastic and brightening skin. Improves skin tone, clear skin, and skin moisturization. 

Ingredients:

 Diatomaceaous Earth, Glucose, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Calcium Sulfate, Terasodium Pyrophosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Fragaria Chiloensis (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, CI 47005, Fragrance

https://www.amazon.com/Inoface-Modeling-Cup-Pack-Korean/dp/B00RAQEUG2

Process:

 Clean face with warm water. Optional to prepare you skin with toner. Prepare the Inoface Modeling Cup Pack with clean water. Apply modeling pack to your face gently and evenly, except eye area and nostrils. Wait 15 to 20 minutes to dry. Peel off the mask from your face slowly. Wipe off the rest of left over mask with a cotton puff that's soaked in toner. 

Performance:

 I followed the directions as closely as possible. Unfortunately, all of the instructions and labels on the package are in Korean, but Skin18 has directions on their website. This baby come shrink wrapped, and when you open it up, the powder goes everywhere. There's a tiny pink spatula that comes with it to mix the mask with. The mask has a light citrus scent. It's pretty messy to apply, but there's still a good bit left over after you're done. It dries down in about 25 minutes. It was easy to remove, but it didn't come off in one piece like I expected. 

Final Thoughts:

 I'd say this was a great first experience with a modeling cup. It was easy to apply and easy to remove. I was expecting it to stick really firmly to my face since its technically rubber, but my skin felt very soft and supple afterwards.

Where to Buy:

  Skin18 | Amazon  

Kiss, Kiss.

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Cracare Anti-Aging Aloe Soothing Mask

Skin18.com was kind enough to send me my second blogger package a few weeks ago. I had a few sheet masks in the package, and I thought I would try out this multi-step mask first.

Claims:

Refresh your skin by Aloe Soothing Mask that soothes and moisturizes. Natural and fresh ingredients penetrate deeply into the skin. It helps your complexion remain crystal clear, fresh, smooth, revitalized and moisturized.

Ingredients:

I could only find ingredients for the mask, and even with that, the full list isn't listed. Only the main ones. 

Adenosine, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Luilium Candidum Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Betaine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract

Step 1 Active Ampule

Process: 

1. After cleansing, apply a moderate amount of Step 1 Active Ampule to be absorbed on around eyes and lips. The remaining ampule can be applied onto the area you concern of the face. 

2. Position Step 2 Mask on your face and smooth on lightly with your fingertips.

3. Leave on for 20-30 minutes and remove the mask.

4. After removing the mask, gently massage essence into the skin.

5. Apply a moderate amount of Step 3 Night Cream to be absorbed on around eyes and lips. The remaining cream can be applied onto the area you concern of the face.

Step 2 Mask

Performance: 

The ampoule was thick and lotiony in consistency. It felt more like am emulsion than an ampoule, but it sinks in quickly and has a fresh scent. The mask is made of a thick cottony material, but it had a nice cling. I didn't have any problems with it staying on. It was coupled with a thin, watery essence. There was none left in the package after application. I wore the mask for a total of 30 minutes before it was dry in places. After about 10 minute, the remaining essence had sunk in, but it left my skin feeling slightly tacky. As for the night cream, it is really thin and extremely emoliant. A very small amount goes a long way. For being as thin as it it, it's very hydrating.

Final Thoughts:
The next morning, my skin felt supple, but the night cream isn't as thick as I would have liked. I like the feeling of being completely hydrated and feeling like I have to wash off the excess cream from the night before. 

Step 3 Night Cream

Where to Buy:
  Vitamall | Skin18 | TannLo | TradeKorea

Disclaimer: I received this for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kiss, Kiss.
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Holika Holika Lazy & Easy Character Mask Sheet

If you haven't heard of Gutedama, you've clearly been living under the biggest rock, under the sea, in the Mariana's Trench. Gude is the cutest, laziest little egg you will ever see. He's part of the Sanrio gang, and Holika Holika recently released a bunch of products with his cute little indifferent face on them. I got to try this mask out thanks to my girl Amy of PeepingPomeranian.

THIS was my part of the package! I was not expecting this at all! I know @peepingpomeranian said there would be extras, but I wasn't expecting all this! Thank you so so so much! I'm seriously stoked about all these masks! And there's tea!!! WITH CUTE SNAIL TEA HOLDERS😍🐌😍🐌😍🐌🍵 . . . #giveawayprize #sheetmask #naisture #gudetama #holikaholika #blusher #ginsengmask #pearlmask #kbeauty #hydratingmask #rasianbeauty #skincare #facemask

A photo posted by Aramicah "Mikey" Johnson (@aplaceforthese) on Jul 21, 2016 at 9:01pm PDT

Claims: This mask sheet restores the balance of tired skin with soothing essence containing vitamins.

Ingredients: Water, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Egg Yolk Extract, Albumen Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Trehalose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethyl Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

Process: After washing the face, tidy up skin texture with toner. Open the pouch, take out the mask, and closely attach on the face while aligning it with the eyes and nose. After 10-15 minutes, remove the sheet and gently pat skin to promote absorbtion of the remaining essence. 

Performance: I set a timer for 15 minutes when I first put this on. After the timer went off, (in the spirit of lazy & easy) I left it on for a few more minut

es because I didn't feel like getting up yet. I had it on a total of about 25 minutes. This tingles a bit on the skin. I wasn't expecting that. I thought it would be more of a soothing mask, but it definitely gives you a kick start. My skin felt more awake after I removed the sheet.

Final Thoughts: The sheet is made of a super thick fabric. I had a hard time getting this to set on my face smoothly. There were lumps and bumps all over. I found that the upper lip part was very large. It overlapped the top of my lip a little. It's cute to wear or to have as a collector's item, but I wouldn't buy it for its effects.

Where to Buy: Imomoko | KPopTown | IBuyBeauti | Memebox 

Kiss, Kiss.

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The Llang On The Skin Mask Sheet in Everlasting From Italy

Has anyone else heard of Llang, or have I just been living under a rock? I randomly came across this mask in a set with the other 4 varieties of the On the Skin line while being lame and browsing eBay. It's become a problem. Anyway, since I wasn't familiar with the brand, I bought the set to try, and I'm pretty dang happy I did.

Claims: Calming, Illuminating

Ingredients: purified water, butylene glycol, glycerin, cetylethylhexanoate, shea butter, trehalose, caprylic/capric triglyceride, poly sorbate 60, panthenol,everlasting extract, teatree extract, grapefruit extract, allantoin, xanthan gum, acrylate/C-10-30 alkyl acrylate cross polymer, sorbitan stearate, phenoxy ethanol, sodium hyaluronate, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol, disodium EDTA, potassium hydroxide, fragrance

Process: After cleansing, attach the mask on your face tightly. About 10~20 minutes later, take off the mask. Dab your face softly and lightly.

Performance: This mask is made of a thicker fiber. It feels like cotton, but I can't be sure what it is. The essence is thick and milky, and this masks fits really well. I had just a tiny bit of lifting around the nose, but it didn't give me mask beard! I found this super hydrating. It didn't leave a sticky residue, and it lasted lasted about 45 minutes before drying out.

Final Thoughts: My favorite part of this was the scent. It smells so good! I have all 4 of the other varieties of the On the Skin Masks, so hopefully they're all as good as this one. 

Where to Buy: MaskSheets | eBay  

Kiss, Kiss

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Phyto Tree All Day Cheese Essence Mask

It's no secret I like cheese one my face. If you read my July Favorites, you'd find more dairy for my skin. I saw this on the Memebox site a while back, and it flew into my cart, because CHEESE!

Claims: Moisturizing, Exfoliating, Nourishing

Ingredients: water, glycerin, whey, xanthan gum, panthenol, betaine, butylene glycol, biosaccharide gum-1, sodium hyaluronate, tremella fuciformis sporocarp extract, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, caprylyl glycol, arginine, carbomer, sodium polyacrylate, fragrance, 1,2-hexanediol, propanediol, disodium EDTA, illicum verum (anise) fruit extract

When first applied.

Process: Evenly apply mask pack to whole face after washing it. Wait for 20-30 minutes to remove. Gently pat allow to absorb. 

Performance: This had such an amazing fit! I don't know a ton about different mask fabrics, but this one is definitely a winner. It immediately clung really well, and it didn't lift for the 45 minutes that I had it on. After 30 minutes, only the upper lip section had dried down significantly. The sheet was saturated with a lotiony essence (probably thick because its cheese). It has a bit of a cooling sensation while wearing it. Once I patted in the remaining essence, my skin felt pretty sticky for a while. Even after 20 minutes, there was still tackiness. 

After 45 minutes of wear.

Final Thoughts: I ended up with slight irritation on my upper lip and around the nostrils. If something made my face irritated, I would definitely stay away from this if you have sensitive skin. The irritation didn't last long, but it was there and I thought it should be noted. 

Where to Buy: eBay | Yamibuy

Kiss, Kiss

-A 

July 2016 Skincare Favorites

Cleansers: 

Sally's Box Salt Pore Cleansing Foam

I got this from 0.8Liter to review a while back, and it's slowly worked its way into my routine. I've really been enjoying this as a gentle exfoliant as well as a foaming cleanser. There isn't tons of Yellow Dust here in Indiana, but I do work at a pizza place, and I can't tell you how much flour gets caked on my face. That's kind of the same, right? (Right?!) Anyhoo, I love the feeling of this on my skin. The salt crystals dissolve as you cleanse, and yes, this tastes salty. 

Toners:

Klavuu White Pearlsation Revitalizing Pearl Treatment Toner

This is also from 0.8Liter, and MAN am I happy I got chosen for this. The packaging is gorgeous, the scent is divine, and the effects... A1. The texture and effects of this are similar to an FTE, so sometimes I use it as such after I use a different toner and other times (like when I have a short skincare night) I use it alone. This has helped me so much with my hyperpigmentation. I absolutely adore this!

Naruko Luffa Super Hydrating Lotion-Toner

I picked this up on a whim while browsing through eBay after trying out the Naruko Snail and CoQ10 Masks. I figured I'd try more of their products, and toners tend to be non offensive. Well, my bottle broke in shipping, so I had to decant what I could into a container while they sent me out a new one. I'm so glad it broke! Now I have more of the toner than I would have before haha. It has a thicker-than-water but thinner-than-gel consistency that reminds me of the Sulwhasoo Balancing Water. The scent is slightly sweet, and it hydrates really well. 

First Botany Niacinamide B3 Magic Facial Toner

This is how niaciniamide came into my life. This is how I discovered a truly amazing ingredient. I particularly like that this toner tingles on the skin. I honestly don't know how much it's doing for my skin, but I really love it. The spray bottle is really nice. It has a fine mist that doesn't leave big droplets of product on my face. I'm almost done with this, and it saddens me. 

Masks:

Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask

You guys. YOU GUYS! If you haven't tried this mask, go buy it right now! The hype is so real on this. The first time I used this I had some really bad breakouts, and after I took this off, they were smaller, less red, and overall less irritated. So now, whenever I have an angry spot, I whip out one of these babies.

Annie's Way Arbutin + Hyaluronic Acid Jelly Mask
I already have a full review posted on this, but if you need a TLDR, it's so cool! It has a nice cooling effect, and I just love how hydrated my skin feels afterwards.

Pure Bliss Antioxidant Mask
This has been a favorite since I bought it. It contains glycolic acid, which exfoliates the skin. My face always feels super soft after I use this, but never dry. The glycolic acid makes your face tingle, so if you have sensitive skin, I'd probably stay away from this. 

Moisturizers:

Dear by Enprani Bounce Cheese Cream

Two words: Holy Grail. I can't with this cream. I just can't. I love everything about it from the texture to how plump my skin feels in the morning. This is a pretty heavy cream, which is why I only use it at night in the warmer months. In the winter, I can get away with using it both morning and night. I have a travel size of this to hold me over the shipping time when I use this one up. I have to repurchase it.

Sunscreen:

Mizon UV Sun Protector Essence SPF 35 PA++

Being a woman of color, it's hard to find a sunscreen that doesn't leave a white cast. This one actually doesn't! My last sunscreen left a slight one, but it didn't mesh well with any of my eye gels that I'm currently using. I have zero problems with this particular sunscreen meshing with anything. There's no weird pilling or milky residue after I put on my eye gel on top of this, and I really appreciate that. 

Where to Buy: 

Sally's Box - K-beautyholic | Vitamall 

Klavuu -  Klavuu 

Naruko - eBay 

First Botany - Amazon | First Botany 

Papa Recipe - Amazon | Memebox | Wishtrend | Yes Style 
Annie's Way - Amazon | Yes Style | Beauteque
Pure Bliss - Amazon  

Enprani - Memebox | Korea Depart 

Mizon - Amazon | eBay | RoseRoseShop

Kiss, Kiss

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NO:HJ Black Intracell Boosting Mask

Got these @nohj_korea masks in the mail today! Gonna try one out tonight👌🏾 . . . #nohj #sheetmask #facemask #kbeauty

A photo posted by Aramicah "Mikey" Johnson (@aplaceforthese) on Jul 29, 2016 at 8:08pm PDT

NO:HJ has been releasing so many new masks lately. I got the pleasure of trying out this variety thanks to 0.8Liter free of charge for review. You can look into how to get product here. The Intracell line is the newest thing to hit the shelves, and I was so excited to get this campaign. You get 10 sheets per pack, and each pack looks like a little book sleeve!

Claims: Exfoliating, Nourishing, Purifying

Ingredients: I couldn't find a complete ingredients list for this ANYWHERE, and trying to translate the ingredients from the package wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. So I'll just list the notables, ok?

Ascorbyl Tetraisylpalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, Orange Peel Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Hollyhock Extract, Green Tea Extract

Process: After cleansing and toning, apply the mask sheet to the face. After the mask starts to bubble, leave on for 5-10 minutes. Remove the mask and massage in bubbles, then rinse.

Performance: Almost as soon as I got the mask on my face, it started to foam up. The mask smells like hand soap, which isn't bad. It just does. I kept this on for 10-15 minutes because I forgot this wasn't a normal sheetmask. My skin felt super soft once I washed it off, but after it dried, it felt a little tight.

Final Thoughts: I love the thickness of the mask sheet. Black mask sheets are my favorite. They usually have a thick, feltlike texture. I'm so glad I got a full set of these masks, so I can get more uses out of them.

Where to Buy: Beauteque | Korea Depart | eBay

Kiss, Kiss.

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Kose Clear Turn Babyish Moisture Mask

Japanese sheetmasks are a new discovery for me. If I'm thinking of sheetmasks, it's probably Korean or Taiwanese brands, but thanks to trusty eBay, I found a 7 days mask pack of these adorable Babyish sheetmasks.

I decided to go take a picture of my morning routine outside and I saw a gian Amazon package! But it was for my mom😢 I'm on a no buy at least until September because I have a problem. Anyhoo! Here's my morning routine😁 . . . ▶️#LeeJiHam Tea Tree 90 Essence . ▶️#DermaNu Youth Activating Eye Gel . ▶️#Olay Tone Perfecting Cream . ▶️#Mizon UV Sun Protecter Essence . ▶️#Foxbrim Peptide Complex Serum ▶️#BeautyByEarth Facial Toner ▶️#TreeOfLife Retinol Serum . ▶️#Foxbrim Vitamin C Serum . ▶️#Strexderma Hyaluronic Acid Serum . ▶️#MaryKay Timewise Cleanser ▶️#Kose Clear Turn Babyish Mask . . . #kbeauty #sunblock #spf #sunscreen #essence #ljh #teatree#eyegel #peptides #toner #facialmist #retinol #vitaminc #hyaluronicacid #cleanser #sheetmask #sheetingaway #facemask #jbeauty

A photo posted by Aramicah "Mikey" Johnson (@aplaceforthese) on Jul 28, 2016 at 11:04am PDT

Claims: Moisturizing - soft and smooth as a baby's bottom

Ingredients: Water, BG, DPG, Sorbitol, Chamomile Extract, Glycosyl Trehalose, Peppermint Extract, Serine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyquarternium-51、Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

What a cute resealable package!

Process: After cleansing, apply mask sheet to face. Leave for 15 minutes and pat in remaining essence.

Performance: Maybe I have a big face, or maybe Japanese women have smaller faces, but this didn't cover everything. It has a cooling effect on the skin, and lasts about 20 minutes if you're being conservative. I don't know that my skin felt like a baby's, but it was definitely hydrated and plump.

The downsides of not being able to read Japanese. 

Final Thoughts: The masks aren't super wet with essence, probably because there's several sheets in the pack, but the cling is good, and they work how they're supposed to.

I completely forgot to get a pic after I put this on. So this is how it dried. 

Where to Buy: Amazon | Yes Style | Rakuten | Imomoko 

Kiss, Kiss.

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PreLab Skin Energy Mask in Aqua Energy

PreLab is a relatively new company to the sheetmask game, and y'all know that I LURV sheetmasks. I got one of each of their Skin Energy Masks a while ago in the Memebox FOMO Mask Box, and I've used 2 of them so far and really enjoyed them, so I thought I'd review at least one of them.

My @memebox_usa FOMO Mask Box came😁😁😁😁 using one of these tonight for #maymaskmonth! #koreanskincare #koreanbeauty #asianbeauty #rasianbeauty #kbeauty #sheetmask #facemask #mediheal #oozoo #urbandollkiss #prelab #banobagi #memebox

A photo posted by Aramicah "Mikey" Johnson (@aplaceforthese) on May 4, 2016 at 7:17pm PDT

Claims: Moisturizing

Ingredients: Water, methylpropanediol, glycerin, butylene glycol, sea water, trehalose, sodium hayluronate, allantoin, panthenol, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, xanthan gum, tromethamine, carbomer, disodium edta, ethlhexylglycerin, chlorphenesin, ethyl hexanediol, 1,2-hexandiol, fragrance 

Look at all that precious face goop!

Process: Open the mask pack and unfold mask. Place the mask on your face and let sit for 10-20 minutes. Remove mask and pat in excess essence.

Performance: There were no issues with the fit of this. It clung pretty well. I like to leave sheetmasks on for as long as they'll last, so this one stayed on for 30 minutes before I took it off. I could have left it on for another 10 minutes if I wanted to. My skin felt cool and plump once I took the mask off. After 15 minutes, all of the essence had soaked in. My skin was left feeling just the tiniest bit tacky. 

I'm sorry I look so angry.

Final Thoughts: There is so much essence in these masks! The sheet was absolutely soaked. Did I mention these come with 25mL of essence?

Where to Buy: Memebox | Beauteque | RoseRoseShop | Amazon

Kiss, Kiss.

-A

Algenist Algae Brightening Mask

Sephora doesn't play when it comes their Favorites collections. I finally decided to pick one up, and I got the Skincare Rituals. In it was this little cutie. Algenist is a line I've never tried before. Masking is totally my thing, so this was right up my alley.

I went into Sephora to get my birthday gift, and saw this! It's the Sephora Favorites Skin Ritual set. I had to have it lol. It's such a good deal with all these travel sized items to try out. Trust and believe that there will be mini reviews on every single one of these products over the next few weeks. I'll list what comes in the kit below! . . . 💧#Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser . 💧#Origins Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash 💧#Marula Foaming Facial Oil 💧#PeterThomasRoth Irish Moor Mud Purifying Black Mask 💧#Glamglow Thirsty Mud Hydrating Treatment. . 💧#Algenist Algea Brightening Mask . 💧#KateSomerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream. . 💧#OleHenrikson Sheer Transformation Face Creme . 💧#FirstAidBeauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum. 💧#Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield . . . . #skincare #Sephora #sephorafavorites #blackcleanser #checksandbalances #foamingcleanser #cleansingoil #ptr #irishmoormud #mudmask #facemask #cleanser #algea #thirstymud #sunscreen

A photo posted by Aramicah "Mikey" Johnson (@aplaceforthese) on Jul 5, 2016 at 9:40am PDT

Claims: Exfoliating, nourishing, brightening, hydrating

Ingredients: Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Ilite, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Silt, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Stearate, Algae Exopolysaccharides, Algae Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Sea Water, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glucosamine HCl, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium (Orange) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Chromium Oxide Green.

My adorable 10 mL sample from the kit.

Some notable ingredients are alguronic acid (polysaccharides for anti-aging), brown algae (reduces wrinkles and whitens), blue green algae silt (reparing old cells and build new ones)

Process: Sephora's website says to smooth onto clean skin in a circular motion. Then rinse off after 10 minutes. Use once or twice a week.

A quick peek inside to see the olive green color.

Performance: I couldn't take the mask off at the right time. I was tending to my son. That mask stayed on for a good 30 minutes or so the first time I used it. Putting it on, it feels kind of gritty, but it does contain 2 kinds of clay. It has a fresh scent to it that I really like. When I finally got around to washing it off, my skin felt AMAZING! It was so incredibly smooth and soft and not dry at all. I find that clay masks suck all the moisture out of my skin, but this is absolutely hydrating.

It has a whipped texture.

Final Thoughts: The jar this comes in is glass, even for a 10mL sample. That says a lot to me. That says this company invests in it's products and likes to have happy customers. I really want to try out more from this brand based on what this mask did for my skin.

Because I have to show you my face.

Where to Buy: Algenist | Sephora | Ulta | Amazon

Kiss, Kiss.

-A

Identifying Your Pimples: Purging VS Reaction Breakouts

As a beauty blogger, I try out a lot of products. Like, a lot! I have new things come in at least once a week that I have to fit into my routine and give a try to write reviews on. That being said, I sometimes breakout from new products, and I'm sure you do to. I mean, why else are you here? Lol So before you return, toss, or give that cream to a friend, I'm gonna help you learn what your breakouts mean. 

Purging - It gets worse, but then it gets better. 

Purging only happens when you're using actives. Actives are things like AHAs, BHAs, retinoids, scrubs, and peels. These all remove dead skin and allow any oil and gross stuff to come to the surface. Purging = bad stuff already in there comes out of there. Purging is cleansing your skin of existing yuckiness. So unless you're testing a new serum or something, you aren't breaking out. That's just your skincare doing it's job, and once you've used it for a while, they purging will stop. Just give new actives about 6 weeks to get out of the purging phase. If it last longer than a few months, yeah stop using that. 

Breakouts - That is NOT supposed to be there!

To tell if you're having a breakout from a product, and not just a purge, you should be getting acne where you don't normally get it or your normal breakouts get a whole lot worse and don't go away. Just don't confuse this with an allergic reaction or skin irritation. Allergic reactions happen your skin burns or gets red and itchy. Immediately stop using the new thing. Try applying a hydrocortizone cream to calm the skin. Irritation is when your skin feels sensitive from a product. 

Take your time when testing new beauty items. That new scrub you got is probably helping you. 

Kiss, Kiss.

-A

July 2016 Sephora Play! Box

My first look into the July box.

This is my third month getting this box, and I've just been getting acclimated to being a mother of 2 while taking a break from blogging. In case you didn't know, Sephora Play! is a 10$/month subscription service from Sephora (duh!) that offers deluxe size samples of prestige beauty brands. You get 5 samples and a perfume shipped to you in a cute striped box with an even cuter little bag inside. On top of that, you get a little Sephora Play! card that you can take into your local Sephora and redeem for 10 Beauty Insider Points. This month, I got 3 makeup, 1 hair care, and 1 skincare product, in addition to my fragrance sample.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Pore Minimizing

I've tried the original primer, and it has a silicone feel to it. It definitely makes your foundation glide on really nicely, but this variety I haven't tried. This version is supposed to be mattifying, minimize your pores, and help your foundation stay on for 8 hours.

Blotterazzi by BeautyBlender

I remember when this first came out! It got such mixed reviews. I know it's made from the same material as the original BeautyBlender, just in slice form. I haven't been super oily since my pregnancy, but I still have some oils creep through over a long day at work.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

I was so freaking excited when Too Faced brought this out in a deeper shade! I always wanted to use the Chocolate Soleil, but it was never dark enough for my skintone. I'm really upset that this STILL isn't dark enough!

Ouai Haircare Wave Spray

I know I won't use this, haha. I don't like texturizing sprays for my hair. As soon as I opened my box and saw this, I immediately messaged my friend and asked her if she wanted it. So this will be going into her next package. Plus, I'm not liking the scent of it.

First Aid Beauty Deep Cleaner with Red Clay

YES! Skincare! If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't, please feel free to), you know that I mostly post about skincare. This is a brand I've wanted to try for a good while. Cleanser are a great way to get to know a brand. They're such a must in your routine.

Nest Fragrances Citrine Eau de Parfum

I'm not big on scents, but this is soooo nice. I suck at describing scents, but it's warm, musky, and fresh all at the same time. The perfume sample actually comes with a spray nozzle. Thank you, Sephora!

Kiss, Kiss.

-A

Sol Theory: The Subscription For Accessory Junkies

I have many, many, many (many!) obsessions, one of which is sunglasses! It all started with my very first pair of Ray-Bans. And then I was hooked! But Ray-Bans get expensive, and so I was lost. Left to my own devices in a sea of expensive eyewear, I had to continue wearing last year's styles. It was traumatic. But then, Sol Theory came into my life! And can you believe that they send you the latest styles for as little as 12.99/month plus shipping?! 

You can choose from 8 different subscriptions ranging from 12.99 to just 26.99 a month! And they have accessories!!! You can get a single pair, a pair for you and a pair for bae, 2 pairs for you, and a few other options. For my first month, I decided to just get my toes wet with a single pair of shades for her. I got these babies!!!

 

If you guys wanted to get a subscription and save some money on your first box, you can use the code "PLACE4" to save 20%. If you're lazy like me and don't wanna copy and past, just click here and my coupon code will automatically apply at checkout^-^

Kiss, Kiss.

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Annie's Way Arbutin + Hyaluronic Acid Brightening Jelly Mask

My journey into K-beauty has also taken me into T-beauty. That's Taiwanese for those who don't know. Annie's Way is a Taiwanese brand that pops up a lot when T-beauty comes up, so I decided to find a mask and try it out. I recently won an auction for this on eBay, and got this massive 250 mL (8.33 oz) tub for 6$. SIX DOLLARS!!! The lowest priced tub on eBay the day that I'm writing this review (7/21/16) is going for 17.49$. But enough about what a great deal I got on this product. Let's get into the details!

Each tub comes with a tamper evident seal.

Claims: Whitening, moisturizing, reduces fine lines

Ingredients: Water, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocotrienols, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Fragrance, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Alpha-Arbutin, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylisothiazolinone, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.

When the sticker is removed, this is what you're left with: a bunch of voids.

Process: After cleansing and applying toner, apply the mask with the provided spatula to a thickness of 0.3-0.5 cm. After letting the mask set for 30 minutes, gently scrape off the mask and wipe off any residue with a tissue, then rinse the face. Apply moisturizer. Use twice weekly, or as needed. For sensitive skin, wear for only 15 minutes.

This definitely looks like hair gel.

Performance: I followed the directions listed on the packaging as closely as I could. I definitely left the mask on about 10 minutes longer than I should because I went out and walked my neighborhood playing Pokemon Go with my sister, but give me a break! Once I dried my face, my skin felt so incredibly soft. It LOOKED soft. And it felt super smooth and hydrated. There was an immediate brightening effect, too.

The evolution of the mask: (L) when first applied, (C) after 30 minutes, (R) after removal.

Final Thoughts: I'll definitely be adding this into my regular rotation. The claims on this are spot on. I love anything with hyaluronic acid in it, and it definitely plumps up my skin. I'm probably also gonna buy 1 (or all?) of the other varieties of jelly mask Annie's Way offers.

Where to Buy: Amazon | eBay | Yes Style | Beauteque | Beautibi

Kiss, Kiss

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How to Get Free Stuff (or at Least for Really Cheap)!

As a beauty blogger, I spend a lot of my paycheck on beauty items. But as a single mom of 2, that money has places to go other than to creams, cleansers, and highlighters (It's a dilemma, I know!). So I had to find ways to get my fix while spending as little of my actual money as possible.

Giftcards

One of the easiest ways to get money to spend is through giftcards. I get my giftcards through research panels. One that I use all the time is Cross Media Panel. You can only use this is you have Google Chrome. Basically, you install their software, and it monitors what kinds of sites you frequent on the web. It's that easy! Then they pay you for it each month. It isn't a lot, but it does add up. You redeem your money through giftcards (they offer ones from Sephora!). This used to only be available for Android and other non-Apple devices, but it's now available for download on their website for iOS. 

You do the same thing with Media Insiders Panel. I've used both for about 2 years now. I haven't had any problems with either one giving me any type of virus or malware, and none of my information has been stolen.

Free For Review

Apart from earning points or money for giftcards, you can just get free product! I use three programs on a regular basis. The one I found out about first was Influenster. Feel free to use my referral link here. With Influenster, you take surveys and review products to get product in the form of VoxBoxes. You're not guaranteed a box, but the more active you are on their site, the more likely you are to get one.

Another Review program I like to use to get stuff for free is BzzAgent. This one needs no referral to get into. You take surveys to get your spending habits, likes, and dislikes, and other info to determine which programs are right for you. Then when a campaign matches your profile, they shoot you an email and you get free stuff to review!

The most recent addition to my free for review repetoire is 0.8L. This is specifically for those of you interested in k-beauty. There are prerequisites to using this, but they're really easy to get. They used to be in Korea only, but now have platforms all over the place. They just recently launched their website, where you request the available products, and wait to see if you're approved. I've had the most success with this avenue. There are new products posted daily. Just make sure you have your language set to English, and your campaigns set to USA!

Super Discounts

If you're impatient like me and just want product NOW, there are sites out there where you can get coupon codes for products on Amazon to review. This is fun for me, because I get to try out smaller brands. I'm helping to support someone's family this way. There's a couple different sites I use to review things on Amazon. The catch with these is you have to have an Amazon Prime account.

The one that is the easiest to use is called Amazon Review Trader. On this site there are thousands of different items to choose from. This isn't just beauty related. You can search within categories or search for specific products. All you have to do is request the product, and wait to get approved. The more reviews your submit, the more likely you are to get approved for products. After you submit your review to Amazon, all you do is submit the permalink to AMZ Review Trader and move on to your next product.

I have two other Amazon review sites to mention. They're HonestFew and iLoveToReview. These two are very similar. You sign up through their websites and they send you emails when they have new products to review. Both of these work on a first come first serve basis, so I have my email set up to send me a notification on my phone when either of them email me. That way I'm not missing out on product that I want. Just like AMZ Review Trader, these sites offer more than just beauty products.

That's everything I know of so far. If you guys have any other ways to get product for review, please comment below, or leave me a comment on my Instagram page. Happy blogging!

Kiss, Kiss

-A