Empties from August and September

My last empties post also covered two months. I kind of like the idea of making this a bimonthly thing! Anyway, here's my most recent report of all the stuff I've managed to use up.

Lumene's Waterproof Eye-Makeup Remover makes yet another appearance. They changed the packaging earlier this year. Here you can see the old and the new bottle side by side. I like the new version a lot. I think it looks a lot sleeker and more current than the old, slightly tapered one. The old packaging on the right appears a bit bigger, but they actually hold the same amount of product.

These three make up my usual cleansing routine! I've talked about The Saem's Healing Tea Garden Green Tea Cleansing Water in my previous empties post. It's one of my favorite skin care discoveries this year. I usually get Nivea's Moisturizing Cleansing Milk for removing whatever makeup and grime remain after using micellar water, but last time I picked up the Gentle Cleansing Milk in stead. I don't notice much of a difference between them. This one is maybe slightly creamier, if that's possible? My last cleansing step is Nivea's Soothing Toner, as always. 

When I die, I want my body to be preserved in a 90 percent snail mucin filtrate. In the mean time I slather my face with Mizon''s Snail Recovery Gel Cream. It's another one of my staples! I wrote more about it here.

I regret purchasing Missha's Super Aqua Ice Tear Essence. I got it last winter when my skin was really drying up from the cold air. It seemed like a nice light moisturizing essence based on its description. Unfortunately, it contains alcohol, and I didn't notice it when I was reading the INCI. In the end, I used it up as a foot cream, haha. At least the experience taught me to always Ctrl+F for ingredients I want to avoid.

Benton's Snail Bee High Content Masks are my favorite sheet masks. I feel like I can actually see the difference before and after using one. My skin looks so plump and refreshed afterwards! I like to get the 10 mask pack.

Pore strips are kind of a controversial beauty product. Some people swear by them, others worry they might cause skin damage and permanently widen pores. I tend to use Nivea's Refining Clear-up Strips once a month or so, because I find it helps to keep me from otherwise attacking the sebaceous filaments on my nose. It's not something I'd recommend, though.

I got a few strips of A'Pieus NonCo Tea Tree Spot Patches some time ago, but they didn't really work for me. In fact, I think the tea tree oil in them just irritated my skin further. This was my packet of them, and I won't be purchasing them again. I'll just stick to CosRX's Pimple Master Patches, because I've had much better luck with them.

You can tell it was the end of the summer from these next items. I don't usually purchase Calypso's SPF 30 Sun Lotion or LV's SPF 30 Sun Screen for sensitive skin. My current preferred product is the Satin Protection Sun Lotion SPF 50+ by Hawaiian Tropic, but I didn't have access to it or it was out of stock when I got these two. They were fine, I guess. Both felt kind of sticky and a bit heavy, so they're not something I'd jump to buy again. Plus I prefer a higher SPF.

You know when you dislike a product so much you make it your mission to use it up completely to show it who's boss? I hated The Saem's Eco Earth Power Tone Up Sun Cream by the time I was done with the tube. I ended up just applying it on my hands and the tops of my feet, because it just was not right for my face. I made sure to squeeze up every drop of the sun cream, just out of spite. A'Pieu's Pure Block Natural Sun Cream is much nicer to my skin and so far my favorite sun care item. I have a full review of them both here.

I also went through another batch of Erioil's Aisti moiturizing emulsion and Batiste dry shampoo, but I forgot to take a photo of them. They're such staples that I almost take them for granted, haha. And on that note, it's time to wrap up this post. 

Tending to troubled skin

Hey, that's me!

I've been having some minor, but annoying, skin issues lately. It's just some breakouts, that I've attributed to seasonal change and probably a slight product overload. I've simplified my skincare routine a bit, in the sense that I'm now rotating my products throughout the week rather than just layering all of them on at once, haha. But I've also added a new item - which I know is really counter-intuitive if the goal is to make things less complicated. I think the addition of Innisfree's Bija cica balm has actually helped to improve my current issues, though.

Innisfree's Bija-line is aimed at treating, nourishing and protecting troubled skin. I first learned about this product through a review by Ammarah. I was really intrigued by the ingredient list. It contains Panthenol and Centella Asiatica (Pennywort), which has antioxidant and soothing properties. It's used in a lot of skin care and also in traditional medicine. The "star" ingredient, however, is bija or Torreya Nucifera seed oil. According to my Wikipedia-research, Bija (also known as kaya or Japanese nutmeg yew) is a corniferous tree native to Japan and South Korea's Jeju Island. Apparently they use to wood to make shogi and go boards, and the leaves and the seeds have ritual uses in Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Quite Interesting. Innisfree claims on their site that bija seed oil can help gently smooth skin and reinforce its natural defence system. Sounds good to me!

The balm has a smooth texture and it glides over the skin effortlessly when applied. I don't think it feels too heavy on the skin, but it's definitely very rich. Thankfully, the skinny nozzle on the tube makes it easy to squeeze out the right amount. I don't think it does much for redness, but I can feel the soothing effect almost immediately. I can see myself reaching for this a lot next winter! I do notice that my current foundation doesn't always apply that well over it. The moisturizing and nourishing effects are no joke, though, so I'm willing to put up with it. Plus I do notice that my blemishes disappear a bit faster since I've started using it. It's a bit on the pricier side, but I like it enough to purchase it again. 

Empties from June & July

I'm back with my second ever empties post. I can't believe July is almost over! Time flies like a discount airline. 

The Saem's Healing Tea Garden Green Tea Cleansing Water is my current favorite makeup remover. It doesn't melt off mascara or eyeliner too well, but it does a good job getting rid of the bulk of my daily face paint. This big jug was a holiday release that I got around New Year's and I got almost six months of daily use out of it. I've already picked up a regular sized one for a refill. 

I've been using Nivea's Soothing Toner for dry skin for ages. I don't like to spend a lot of money on cleansing products, because I go through them pretty fast. I like this toner because it doesn't dry out my skin and it's available pretty much everywhere.

Hey, it's Lumene's Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover again! This is a GOAT-status product for me. Lumene re-did their packaging a few months back and I think the new version of the bottle is really pretty. 

I got a bunch of A'Pieu's Nonco Tea Tree Spot Patches some time ago. Sadly, I don't think they do much for me. Unlike COSRX's Acne Pimple Master patches, I didn't notice them helping blemishes heal faster. The adhesive is pretty strong, though, so they did stay on all night. Not repurchasing.

I'm a big believer in Nive Creme aka your grandma's moisturizing cream. It's a great multipurpose item! I have very dry skin, so I use it as a daily face cream. I love this stuff, but I don't think I have anything to say about it that hasn't been said before. It's one of my staples.

My second jar of Petitfée's Ruby & Bulgarian Rose Hydro Gel Eye Patch. I have a dedicated review of them here. 

A'Pieu's Pure Block is another product that I keep repurchasing. I have more written about it here.

The next two items aren't strictly speaking empties, but they've expired and I need to get rid of them, so I chose to include them in this post.

When it comes to mascaras, I tend to set the bar pretty low. All I want is that when I look in the mirror at the end of a day, I won't see two messy panda eyes staring back at me. This is my second tube of  the Double Needs Pang Pang Mascara by TonyMoly. I'm not sure that it noticeably volumizes or lengthens my lashes that much, but it's very cheap and it doesn't smudge. I'll most likely purchase it again.

Skinfood's Salmon Dark Circle Concealer is a big cult favorite. I didn't realize it until I checked my email for the receipt, but I've had this particular jar... way longer than you are supposed to keep any makeup, let alone makeup you apply so close to your eyeballs. And it still has a ton of product left. My concealer pot runneth over! I got a replacement, so it's time for this guy to retire.

I buy Gillette's Satin Care Pure & Delicate in double packs whenever I find them on sale. It does it's job and I've got no complaints.

Nivea's Invisible Black & White used to be my go-to antiperspirant. It doesn't completely eliminate sweat stains caused by aluminum oxidization, but I think it's the least bad of similar products I've tried in the past. I often wear white tops, so I've decided to switch to a completely aluminum free deodorant in an effort to keep my clothes wearable longer.

I'm the type of a person that can't live without hand cream, but I'm not very picky about what I use, as long as it's deeply moisturizing and doesn't irritate my skin. Natusan's 24hour Hand Cream served me well. It's alright.

Kleancolor's Wizard Pads are some kind of sorcery! They wipe of my nail polish super quickly without drying out my nails. I've actually started wearing nail polish more often because of them. I was introduced to them by my bff Whitney, and she also gifted me a whole display box of them last Christmas. You'll probably see them in a lot of these posts.

That's it for the past two months! 

Two Sun Screens

From the left: The Saem's Eco Earth Power Tone Up Sun Cream, A'Pieu's Pure Block Natural Daily Sun Cream

Since July is fast approaching, I thought it would be fitting to do a little review of the two facial sun screens I've been using recently: The Saem's Eco Earth Power Tone Up Sun Cream (SPF 50+ PA+++) and A'Pieu's Pure Block Natural Daily Sun Cream (SPF 45 PA+++). This isn't really a comparison of the two, since they have pretty different formulas. The former is an inorganic (meaning that it contains zinc oxide and titanium oxide) and the latter an organic sun screen. I'm just too lazy to make a dedicated post for each, lol.

I have to say right off the bat that I'm not a fan of The Saem one. I tried to make it work, but I just don't think it's right for my skin. I wore it every day for two or three weeks - and probably looked like a hot mess. To be fair, this wasn't a carefully researched purchase. I bought it on a whim from a holiday sale at the beginning of this year. I had been using The Saem's Eco Earth Power Perfection Waterproof sun screen and I thought it was alright, so I wanted to try another product in their line. Plus it was discounted on top of having a very affordable price in the first place. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a bargain!

Here's swatches of both sun creams. The Saem's Tone up Sun Cream on the left and A'Pieu's Pure Block on the right.

I was expecting the Tone Up Sun Cream to have a thick texture and some sort of a white cast. I wasn't expecting it to leave me looking ghostly, though. Which it does. I think this sun screen might look really weird on someone with a darker skin tone. Once applied, it settles into a matte finish with a bit of an adhesive feeling. I wouldn't call it sticky, but it kind of feels like a makeup primer. But it still leaves behind a powdery residue on top of the skin? I don't understand how, but it makes the surface of my skin feel a bit tight as the day goes on, yet somehow it also makes my makeup break down faster. It's almost like whatever base I'm wearing on top of it shrinks and goes all patchy after a while.

Here are the swatches after a little bit of blending. You can definitely get the Tone Up Sun Cream less white if you keep patting it; this is just to give you an idea of the texture.

The sun cream seems very waterproof to me. In fact, I've had difficulties removing it properly, which might have contributed to some small break outs I've had recently. I've been trying to use the cream up by applying it all over before going out running. It's really not ideal for that either, because it leaves white powdery marks on my clothes. I definitely can't see myself buying it again. It's a bummer, because the actual sun blocking properties seem to work well. I just personally can't handle the consistency. That said, I really like a lot of The Saem's other products. Their concealers are the bomb.com and I love their Green Tea cleansing water!

The A'Pieu Pure Block is a lot nicer to my skin. I've used it much longer, so it might just be a case of my skin being more accustomed to it. It doesn't leave a heavy white cast and applies very smoothly. The consistency is more on the lighter, runnier side. The finish is definitely shiny, but it doesn't bother me. I like my base makeup dewy, plus I can always knock it back a bit with some loose powder. The Pure Block is not waterproof and it will probably come off pretty easily if you sweat a lot. I'm not sure how well this would work in a more hot and humid climate. Luckily the weather is pretty cool for most of the year where I live. I've already purchased this product again four or five times already, so I think I'm going to stick to it from now on. I actually don't have much to say about this product, even though I like it! I just think it's a nice staple in my morning routine. It's A-OK.

Which sun screens are you using this summer? 

May empties!

I've always liked empties posts and videos. It's interesting for me to see what kind of products people use up and how they feel about them after going through a full container. So here I am, documenting all the stuff I slathered on my face/body last month.

I only used up two makeup products in May:

Skinfood's Royal Honey Cover Bounce Cushion in the color No.1 Light Beige is the first cushion base I've ever used. I know I'm really late to the party, but I was always a bit skeptical of the concept. The formula had an interesting texture. It was kind of sticky when I first started using it, but it seemed to become less so as the cushion got saturated. I really liked the shade, coverage and the dewy finish. You can really get an even application with the dispensing system. But to be honest, I'm still not really sold on cushions. Towards the end, I just started to find the whole thing kind of gross. I don't really like how you have to keep dipping into the cushion inside the compact. It just seems like a breeding ground for all kinds of germs. I probably won't write cushion products off completely, but I can't see myself trying another one any time soon. I also won't be repurchasing this guy. 

Next up is Missha's Perfect Eyebrow Styler in Light Brown. I'm a bit miffed to include this item in this post, because it ended up here prematurely. The actual color stick had detached from the base of the pen-casing, but I was set on finishing it up because there was only a little bit left. I guess the last time I tried to use it I had my hand tilted at a bad angle, because the thing flew out of the packaging and shattered when I opened it. I really liked this brow pencil, but since the packaging seems kind of unreliable, I won't repurchase it. 

The Saem Eco Earth Power Perfection Waterprood Sun Block was my go-to sun screen during the winter, but it started to feel a bit too dewy even for me once the weather warmed up a bit. It had a light beige tint, but it could still leave a white cast if I went a bit over board with the application. It's probably not my all-time favorite sun cream, but I'm going to keep it in mind when I'm on the market for a new one.

COSRX's Acne Pimple Master Patches are a staple for a lot of K-beauty lovers, myself included! They don't really make blemishes go away over night, but I do think they shorten their lifespan. Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking. In any case, I always stock up again when I run out. Though last time I got A'pieu's hydrocolloid patches instead, because I'm curious to see how they measure up - or if there's a discernible difference at all.

ACO's Lip Cerat lip balm is my favorite! It really saved my lips when I had to take isotretinoin to treat a bad cystic acne flare up a few years ago. I've since been lucky enough to have mostly clear skin but I've stuck with the lip balm. All the other ones just pale in comparison for me. 

I love, love, looove Mizon's Multi Function Formula Snail Wrinkle Care Sleeping Pack! I have a dedicated review of it here.

Innisfree's Jeju Sparkling Mineral Mist was a nice enough thermal water mist. I would spray it on if I applied too much power to make my make up look more natural, I'd spray it on kaolin clay to make my white clay mask, and it really came in handy during work outs when I needed something quick and fresh to cool my skin down a bit. I don't think it's the be-all end-all of facial mists, though, so I'm getting something else next time.

I've been using Lumene's Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover forever. It's like the nuclear option of eye makeup removers: I've yet to own a product it doesn't melt off. It removes all traces of eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and eyelash glue, Hell, it'll even remove the mineral stains from your bathroom floor! Don't ask how I found out. I've heard some people say it irritates their skin, but I must have built up a resistance over the years, haha.

The Erioil moisturizing emulsion is another another old faithful product I've been using for years, ever since I was a child. It's a very simple, no-nonsense body lotion without fragrance, bells or whistles. I always end up coming back to it in the end, even if I sometimes try something else.

I've been really into Batiste's dry shampoo in Bare ever since it launched. I love Batiste's dry shampoos! I used to use the Heavenly Volume and Beautiful and Brunette ones, but to be honest, I was never a fan of the fragrance. They'd just end up smelling kind of stuffy to me. Bare on the other hand has a more light and neutral scent, so it doesn't bother me. I'll probably stick to getting this one, because all the other brands I've tried so far have been really disappointing.

That's it for May! Do you have any skin care or make up staples that you keep coming back to again and again? 

3 x Mizon: Two favorites and a new friend

Mizon's Multi Function Formula Snail Wrinkle Care Sleeping Pack and Snail Recovery Gel Cream are cult favorites, and I'm a huge fan of them too. I've been using both for about two years and I always repurchase when I run out. I recently also picked up the Deep Sea Marine Collagen Ampoule, because I'm addicted to moisturizing products. Honestly, I'm like Lady Cassandra from that one Doctor Who episode, haha.

I've added the ampoule to my evening routine, where I use it after I've allowed my enzyme exfoliator to neutralize. According to the box, it consists of 72% of marine collagen solution. The ingredients also include Japanese white birch juice and Trehalose. Birch juice supposedly has 11 nourishing amino acids, sugars and minerals, while Trehalose, a sugar found in plants and fungi, is a low molecular weight humectant that also has some antioxidant properties. Another ingredient that caught my eye in the index is Bamboo sap extract, which is used as an emollient.

The consistency is super light and watery. My skin absorbs it pretty quickly and it feels very refreshing and soothing. I'm not sure if it's enough to satisfy my moisturizing needs on its own, but it seems to be working really well combined with the Snail Recovery Gel Cream. It doesn't have a scent, which is a huge plus for me. I've really enjoyed using it so far, and I'm interested to see if it'll produce any positive effects in the long run. So far it seems like a good product for it's price, which was less than ten Euros! I highly recommend anyone looking for a light moisturizing serum to check this one out.

The Snail Recovery Gel Cream is another product with a nice light weight formula. I'm all about that snail mucin! I feel like my skin has really become more balanced since I started using it. 

The sleeping pack is like the king of all snail goo products for me. The consistency is really thick, sticky and stringy. It's weird and down right fascinating. This is the first sleeping pack I ever tried, and there's no going back for me. I tried using one by a different label once, and I hated it. I had to go straight back to this baby. I love applying it because of the funny texture, and it really seals in all the moisture. My skin feels so supple when I wake up! 

I really love Mizon as a brand. They make quality items for really affordable prices. Have you tried any of their products?

Ruby & Bulgarian Rose Eye Hydro Gel Eye Patch by Koelf

I wanted to try hydrating under eye patches to see if they would help me combat my dry skin. I decided to pick up the Ruby & Bulgarian Rose Hydro Gel Eye Patch made by Koelf, which is the co-brand of Petitfée. Both specialize in skincare and seem to put particular emphasis on their sheet masks and hydro gel eye patch lines. Why exactly do they promote under two labels, I have no idea. So far it seems like Koelf just has more colorful packaging? Petitfée has been around since 2007 and I've seen their products floating around here and there, but I hadn't tried anything by the sister brands before. I liked the eye patches enough to purchase them for a second time after I was done with my first container! I feel like they performed as well and have an affordable price too (I paid about 10 euros after conversion).

I love the package's design and color-scheme! The rose illustration is very pretty.

According to the brand's description, the hydro gel patches are infused with Damask rose water from Bulgaria, which they claim is high in vitamins and intensely moisturizing. Since the patches come in a twist top jar, I feel like whatever vitamins they might have will destabilize once you open it. I think they do boost my eye cream and feel nice and soothing on the skin, though! I apply them after my eye cream, while I'm waiting for my AHA/BHA to neutralize. I like to keep the container in the fridge to make the patches feel extra refreshing. Plus I'm always into adding more steps to my skincare routine, haha. It's just something to do, isn't it?

One container has 60 pieces for 30 uses, and its shelf life is two months after opening. They've also included a little spatula that you can use to fish out the little hydro gel sheets. I dropped the last one I had in the sink, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time until I need to throw this one away too. The patches themselves are shaped like a comma (or the Taeguk, as Koelf puts it). I sometimes have trouble placing them on so they don't poke me in the inner corner of my eye, because the curve is kind of tight. Once I get them on correctly, they do stay put pretty well until I peel them off. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the packaging! The container is made out of plastic, but it doesn't feel too cheap and it has a nice heft to it. The top screws in pretty tightly, too. The biggest downside is the amount of waste you generate while using this product. One container lasts for a month and the patches have to be discarded after use. I always feel a bit bad about using sheet masks, so I probably won't be continuously repurchasing this item, although I did get a second one. I think I'll lay off them after I've used all the patches up, at least until the winter.

All in all, I think the patches are pretty good! I doubt they'll drastically improve the skin under my eyes, but I enjoy the calming effect and the extra layer of occlusion for my eye cream. I feel like they do help when my skin is feeling tired. They are a nice and affordable way to pamper yourself during your usual skin care routine. But because of their disposable nature, I'm only going to purchase them occasionally.