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? 

Etude House Dear Darling Soda Tint

I'd been wanting to get some nice brightly colored but sheer lip products for this spring/summer. I'm not at all a fan of the the dark matte lip trend - at least for myself. My lips are pretty asymmetrical and get chapped easily, plus I'm just too lazy to put much effort into the application. I just want something cute and glossy that I can throw on in the morning! I was thinking about buying one of the Tarte's tinted lip balms because the bullets they come in are so pretty. In the end the price made me back away, though. Instead, I decided to get one of the oil tints in Etude House's limited edition Wonder Fun Park collection.

The collection has ten really fun and bubbly shades to pick from! I got the shade PK001 Sparkling Grapefruit Soda, which is a very bright pinky red with a cool undertone. Or maybe you'd call this color a reddish pink? I don't think it's a true red or a true pink. In any case, it's hella pretty and it has a glossy finish. 

Etude House's oil tint formula is closer to a lip gloss than a traditional lip tint. You can apply it very opaquely or smudge it along your lips for a more sheer tint. I like to apply a sheer layer first, then blot to remove the excess and finally stipple in an opaque layer on the center of my lips for a glossy gradient look. The tapered applicator comes in handy, because it allows you to put it on very precisely. The tint will definitely wear off when you eat or drink. I don't mind reapplying, and the product does stain, so your lips won't be left looking completely naked. The formula feels very comfortable and moisturizing, though my lips do get a little bit dry at the end of the day. But that's something that happens with or without the lip tint if I don't apply lip balm at all.

I've really been loving this lip tint! I've worn it almost every day ever since I received it. It's such a nice low-effort product, which is perfect for me, haha. I even ended up ordering another color, but it hasn't arrived yet. I definitely recommend this collection to anyone looking for an affordable, cute and bright lip color. 

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?

Accessories to combat wardrobe funk

I've been having a bit of a hard time with my daily outfits lately. I've been getting that frustrating feeling of not having anything to wear, without being able to single out what exactly is missing. Or maybe I'm just too picky when it comes to clothes. The thing is, I don't really want to experiment with new looks or dive into trends too much. But at the same time, I'm not really buying the whole idea of having a "capsule wardrobe" either, because it feels kind of limiting. Oh, well. I've been trying to add some fun accessories to my wardrobe to break up some of the monotony, though.

Try not to mind the over-exposure. I was too lazy to try and re-take this photo, haha.

Here are some of the things that I've gathered in the past few months, I got the removable collar, bow-tie and ponytail holder from Asos. The blue moon choker is just a cheap little trinket I found on eBay. The close up photos I tried to take of it didn't turn out well, so I didn't include them in this post. It's just a velvet ribbon choker with a little crescent charm. I've yet to wear it, but it's pretty cute!

I fell in love with the rhinestones and all the different kind of sequins. I guess I'm a magpie at heart. This collar is definitely eye catching, and I think it'll be great for dressing up a plain top. The material feels kind of stiff, but I suppose otherwise it probably wouldn't hold its shape.

I love the snake embroidery on this thing. I think it looks pretty cute paired up with a collared shirt or blouse.

Okay, that over-exposure in the background is ridiculous. I'll do better with the pictures in the next post, I promise. 😅

Lately I've been getting more into hair accessories because of how low-effort they are. I'm generally pretty bad at accessorizing, but with hair things I feel like you can just throw one on to add detail and create some visual intrigue. I really like embellished ponytail/bun holders like this one! It was just something I threw into the cart to get free shipping the last time I bought something at Asos, but I've actually been getting a lot of use out of it. 

How do you feel about accessorizing?

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.